Skin care concerns like acne and hyperpigmentation can feel overwhelming, especially when the UVB rays cause some aversive reactions. But if your go-to products aren’t cutting it, trying a new gentle exfoliant can help. Mandelic acid is a solid active ingredient that can elevate your complexion while controlling the invasion of unwanted oily bumps.
This gentle ingredient is ideal for those with blemish-prone skin and dark spots. It also offers other added benefits, such as exfoliating and clarifying skin texture.
To learn how to combine mandelic acid with the rest of your skin care regimen, Shop TODAY spoke with two dermatologists for their insight on the benefits of this ingredient — along with a few products that’ll save the day — and your skin.
What is mandelic acid?
“Mandelic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that’s a common exfoliating ingredient in over-the-counter skin care products,” said board-certified dermatologist Mara Weinstein Velez, M.D. This acid is derived from bitter almonds and is often used to “address skin care issues such as dark spots, wrinkles, dullness, aging skin and acne.”
While other AHAs also serve as exfoliants, mandelic acid also works “to increase cell turnover by dissolving the bonds holding skin cells together. Given its larger molecular weight, it tends to be less irritating than other types of smaller AHAs such as glycolic acid,” mentioned New York-based board-certified dermatologist Tatyana Nektalova, M.D.
What are the benefits of mandelic acid?
According to Nektalova, one of the great things about this non-irritating ingredient is its ability to “improve various skin concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles, especially for those with sensitive skin.”
Also, this gentle ingredient can accelerate cell turnover, promote collagen production and exfoliate your skin while removing dead skin cells. “As a result of that, it improves the skin’s appearance [while reducing] the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark marks and sun damage,” added Velez.
How to use mandelic acid
Mandelic acid can be paired with other popular skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin C, glycerin, squalane, ceramides and other hydarators.
“Oftentimes, it’s found in chemical peeling agents that have multiple ingredients. [However], always seek out a board-certified dermatologist for professional-grade chemical peels if you are looking to try one!” added Velez.
Velez recommends implementing a small amount of mandelic acid to your evening skin care routine once a week after cleansing and before moisturizing to ensure skin tolerability. After, you can increase it from once to twice or three times a week in small concentrations.
“How often you use it depends on how your skin reacts,” mentioned Velez. “If you have reactions to it like redness, stinging or breakouts, cut back to every other day. Be aware that since it exfoliates the skin, it can increase sun sensitivity.”
If you’re going to be out in the sun, Nektalova advised pairing mandelic acid with at least a SPF 30 sunscreen.
“It works well with hydrating products like hyaluronic acid and should not be used together with retinoids,” she mentioned.
Mandelic acid products to shop
This lightweight serum from The Ordinary is formulated with 10 percent of mandelic acid to deliver a gentle exfoliation on your skin. With strong ratings across several retailers, the formula works well on acne scars, according to several reviewers.
"As a former beauty writer, I feel like I have tried everything on the market (and I just might've), but very few products have stuck with me through the years," says editor Vivien Moon.
"This product is what I turn to when my skin needs rescuing or feels like it has been through it (especially after travel). They are tiny but mighty and offer me a glow within one use which is harder to maintain now that I am in my 30s and more cautious about what I put on my skin and how I take care of it. I love that they are travel-friendly and come in a pack of multiple because I know if I travel with a friend, they will want to grab one too," adds Moon.
The combination of natural fruit AHAs and niacinamide is what makes this formula super gentle on sensitive skin. According to the brand, this formula is highly efficacious in achieving radiant skin while balancing your skin’s pH.
“I’ve been suffering from hormonal acne and flakiness and somehow this product cured both issues. My skin looks even, clear, and smooth,” said one verified buyer.
Clarify your pores with a blend of alpha and polyhydrox acids in this gel cleanser. The formula is soap-free, which helps to control oil secretion while improving the skin’s texture.
“It is a go-to cleanser for me in the evening after a day of sunscreen and/or makeup. It has helped to even out my acne-prone complexion that is in spots oily, flaky, and dry,” said one buyer.
This popular face wash is ideal for dry, combination and oily skin that feels congested and dull. The acid wash formula offers key ingredients such as glycolic acid, mandelic acid, Australian caviar lime extract, tamanu and rosehip oil that exfoliate your skin while achieving small-looking pores. One verified customer said this cleanser “works really well with my acne-prone skin by limiting the amount of breakouts.”
This cleansing serum has become a favorite among customers for its anti-folliculitis, anti-aging and anti-ingrown hair features. The cleanser is meant to be used all over your body while targeting acne-prone areas. Many customers also rave about how this cleanser helped their folliculitis journey.
This power exfoliant combines five alpha-hydroxy acids to smooth skin and minimize your fine lines. Plus, according to the brand’s clinical study, 94 percent of people who used this formula experienced clearer skin after one month.
Absorb all the stuck oil from your skin with this three-in-one treatment. The formula delivers physical, enzymatic and cellular exfoliation to minimize pores while smoothing your skin. According to customers, their pores have reduced in size after using this treatment.
The mandelic and lactic acid in this formula work together to pause wrinkle formation while targeting acne, age spots, discoloration and wrinkles. If you need to brighten your skin, this serum is here to slow down aging and return your even-toned complexion.
How we chose
We chose skin care products based on the advice from experts regarding their benefits, and those that contained mandelic acid as their key ingredient. We also considered other ingredients that help with moisturizing, anti-aging, and more.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Tatyana Nektalova M.D., is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist with over a decade of experience. She focuses on medical, cosmetic and surgical care for adults and children.
- Mara Weinstein Velez M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist who focuses on laser, cosmetic and dermatologic surgery.
