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Mandelic acid

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Mandelic acid

Mandelic acid gently clears acne, reduces dark spots, and softens scarring with high comfort. It suits both dry skin and oily skin best, and it comes in daily exfoliators usually at 5%, 6%, and 8%. It fits into a routine nicely alongside panthenol, ferulic acid, and glycerin, while remaining separate from adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020BMJ Open, 2018

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Mandelic acid exfoliators

What reviewers say about popular mandelic acid products

The highlight reviewers mention most for each popular mandelic acid product on Lovi.

Other mandelic acid products

Mandelic acid for dry skin

Mandelic acid for oily skin

Mandelic acid for combination skin

Mandelic acid for sensitive skin

Mandelic acid for acne-prone skin

All mandelic acid products

See all 26 mandelic acid products

What to combine mandelic acid with

IngredientTogetherHow to use them
Panthenol Works well Use them together by applying the mandelic acid first and following with panthenol, because panthenol helps calm any irritation from the acid. Mandelic acid and panthenol
Ferulic acid Works well Use them in the same routine by applying mandelic acid first and ferulic acid right after, because antioxidants protect freshly exfoliated skin. Mandelic acid and ferulic acid
Glycerin Works well Apply mandelic acid first and glycerin right after, because the moisturizing ingredient soothes the skin and restores hydration. Mandelic acid and glycerin
Vitamin E Works well Use them in the same routine by applying mandelic acid first and vitamin E right after, because antioxidants protect freshly exfoliated skin. Mandelic acid and vitamin E
Linoleic acid Works well Use them in the same routine by applying mandelic acid first, waiting for it to sink in, and then following with linoleic acid to restore your skin. Mandelic acid and linoleic acid
Silk amino acids Works well Use them together by applying the mandelic acid first, because they hydrate and balance the skin. Mandelic acid and silk amino acids
Arginine Works well Use them together by applying mandelic acid first and arginine second to keep skin hydrated and balanced. Mandelic acid and arginine
Allantoin Works well Use them together by applying mandelic acid first and then allantoin, to help soothe your skin. Mandelic acid and allantoin
Taurine Works well Use them together in the same routine by applying mandelic acid first, because they team up to keep skin soft and balanced. Mandelic acid and taurine
Gluconolactone Works well Use them together in the same routine, applying the mandelic acid first and the gluconolactone right after, because they balance each other out. Mandelic acid and gluconolactone
Cholesterol Works well Use them together by applying mandelic acid first and cholesterol after, because cholesterol helps comfort the skin after exfoliation. Mandelic acid and cholesterol
Lactobionic acid Works well Use them together in the same routine, applying the mandelic acid first and following with the lactobionic acid. Mandelic acid and lactobionic acid
Betaine Works well Use mandelic acid and betaine together by applying the acid first and following it with betaine to keep skin hydrated. Mandelic acid and betaine
Sodium lactate Works well Use them together by applying mandelic acid first, followed by sodium lactate, to keep your skin balanced and comfortable. Mandelic acid and sodium lactate
Bisabolol Works well Use them together by applying the mandelic acid first and following with bisabolol, because bisabolol helps calm any irritation caused by the acid. Mandelic acid and bisabolol
Lauric acid Works well Use them in the same routine, applying the mandelic acid first and the lauric acid right after. Mandelic acid and lauric acid
Tromethamine Works well Use mandelic acid and tromethamine together, applying mandelic acid first and tromethamine second, to keep your skin calm and comfortable. Mandelic acid and tromethamine
GABA Works well Use mandelic acid and GABA at different times of day, applying mandelic acid first and GABA second, because they work well together to hydrate and balance skin. Mandelic acid and GABA
Theanine Works well Use them together in the same routine, applying the mandelic acid first and the theanine after, because they balance moisture levels. Mandelic acid and theanine
Niacinamide Depends Apply mandelic acid and niacinamide at different times of day because strong acids can clash with niacinamide and cause skin flushing. Mandelic acid and niacinamide
Hyaluronic acid Depends Use them at different times of day, applying the acid first and hyaluronic acid a few minutes later, because strong acids can break down the hydrating product. Mandelic acid and hyaluronic acid
Adapalene Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because they are both strong and can irritate your skin when used together. Mandelic acid and adapalene
Benzoyl peroxide Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because combining them causes over-exfoliation and irritation. Mandelic acid and benzoyl peroxide
Retinol Keep apart Use retinol and mandelic acid on alternate nights to prevent skin irritation. Mandelic acid and retinol
Azelaic acid Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because combining them can cause too much peeling. Mandelic acid and azelaic acid
Salicylic acid Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because they are both strong exfoliants that can irritate skin. Mandelic acid and salicylic acid
Tretinoin Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because combining them too often can cause skin irritation and redness. Mandelic acid and tretinoin
Bio-placenta peptides Keep apart Use mandelic acid in the morning and bio-placenta peptides at night, because the acid breaks down the peptides. Mandelic acid and bio-placenta peptides
Hexapeptide Keep apart Use them at different times of day by applying mandelic acid in the morning and hexapeptide at night, because acid breaks down the peptide. Mandelic acid and hexapeptide
Carnosine Keep apart Use them at different times of day, applying the acid first and the peptide later, to protect your skin barrier. Mandelic acid and carnosine
Pro-retinol Keep apart Use mandelic acid and pro-retinol on alternate nights, because combining them in the same routine can cause skin irritation. Mandelic acid and pro-retinol
Retinal Keep apart Use them on alternate nights because they are both strong and can irritate your skin when mixed together. Mandelic acid and retinal
Acetyl hexapeptide-3 Keep apart Use them at different times of day by applying your acid first and your peptide later, because acids break down peptides. Mandelic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-3
Retinoid blend Keep apart Use mandelic acid and the retinoid blend on alternate nights to prevent irritation, using the acid one night and the retinoid the next. Mandelic acid and retinoid blend
Granactive retinoid Keep apart Use mandelic acid and granactive retinoid on alternate nights to prevent skin irritation. Mandelic acid and granactive retinoid
Hydroxypinacolone retinoate Keep apart Use them on alternate nights, with mandelic acid on one evening and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on the next, because combining them causes irritation. Mandelic acid and hydroxypinacolone retinoate
Collagen peptide Keep apart Use mandelic acid and collagen peptide at different times of day, applying the acid first, because the acid breaks down the peptide. Mandelic acid and collagen peptide
Copper peptide Keep apart Use them at different times of day with the acid first, because the acid destroys the peptide. Mandelic acid and copper peptide
Hexapeptide-9 Keep apart Apply mandelic acid and hexapeptide-9 at different times of day because the acid destroys the peptide's firmness benefits. Mandelic acid and hexapeptide-9
Peptide-rich plasma Keep apart Use them at different times of day by applying mandelic acid in the morning and peptide-rich plasma at night, because acids ruin peptide strength. Mandelic acid and peptide-rich plasma
Tri-ceramide complex Keep apart Use mandelic acid and tri-ceramide complex at different times of day, applying the acid first and the soothing ceramides afterward. Mandelic acid and tri-ceramide complex
Triple peptide blend Keep apart Use them at different times of day, applying mandelic acid first and the peptide blend later, because the acid is too harsh for peptides. Mandelic acid and triple peptide blend
Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 Keep apart Use them at different times of day, applying mandelic acid in the morning and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 at night, because the acid ruins the peptide. Mandelic acid and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 Keep apart Use them at different times of day by applying mandelic acid in the morning and the peptide at night, because the acid is too harsh for it. Mandelic acid and palmitoyl tripeptide-1

From the ingredient rules behind the "Works well with" and "Don't mix with" notes on every product in the Lovi app.

Questions and answers

What does mandelic acid do for the skin?

Mandelic acid is an exfoliant that helps improve acne and skin texture with fewer adverse effects. Studies show that treatments combining mandelic acid can significantly improve acne severity and reduce melasma scores.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

How do you use mandelic acid?

You can use mandelic acid by applying it first and then following with panthenol, because panthenol helps calm any irritation from the acid.

Should you use mandelic acid in the morning or at night?

You can use mandelic acid in the morning, but certain ingredients should be applied at different times of day. For instance, you should use mandelic acid and bio-placenta peptides at different times, applying the acid in the morning and the peptides at night because the acid breaks down the peptides.

Can you use mandelic acid every day?

Yes, you can use mandelic acid regularly, but certain partner ingredients should be kept apart on alternate nights or used at different times of day to prevent irritation.

Does mandelic acid cause purging or irritation?

Yes, mandelic acid may cause skin irritation, especially when combined with strong ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids, which is why those should be used on alternate nights. Mandelic acid peels offer better tolerability with fewer adverse effects compared to some other chemical treatments.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Which skin types is mandelic acid best for?

Yes, mandelic acid is well-suited for multiple skin types, with Lovi rating The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA as a Superior fit across dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin.

Can you use mandelic acid with panthenol?

Yes, you can use mandelic acid with panthenol by applying the mandelic acid first and following with panthenol, because panthenol helps calm any irritation from the acid.

Can you use mandelic acid with adapalene?

You should keep mandelic acid and adapalene apart and use them on alternate nights because they are both strong and may irritate your skin when used together.

Research on mandelic acid

Behind this ingredient guide

Lovi checks every ingredient with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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