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From puberty to the fully developed frontal-lobe years, I’ve struggled with acne-prone skin. Mandelic acid solved what years of trial and error with AHAs, BHAs, spot treatments, and facials seemingly couldn’t, producing consistently clearer skin. Celebrity aesthetician Sofie Pavitt (a.k.a. the acne whisperer) has long sung the praises of this gentle yet effective ingredient for clearing breakouts and even launched her own serum, which I love above all others. With mandelic acid, you get the same zit-zapping, congestion-clearing, exfoliating results without any of the irritation—which is why she developed her very own serum.
“Mandelic acid is my holy-grail ingredient for acne,” Pavitt tells Vogue. “A lot of acne brands steer toward salicylic because it’s an acne monographed ingredient by the FDA that allows them to claim it’s an acne product.” But she finds salicylic acid to be far too dehydrating. “Mandelic is not drying. It works on the surface of the skin to lightly buff away dead cells that can contribute to the formation of acne breakouts.”
It’s a derm favorite as well. Board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose previously told Vogue that it’s been popular among her peers for as long as she’s been practicing, but “it may be increasing in popularity due to increased awareness among consumers.”
Vogue’s Favorite Mandelic-Acid Products
Featured in this article
In This Story
- Can you use mandelic acid daily?
- What ingredients should you avoid using with mandelic acid?
- Why is mandelic acid effective for treating acne?
- Meet the experts
Whether you’re dealing with acne, hyperpigmentation, skin dullness, or congestion, scroll to discover the best mandelic-acid products on the market now.
Best Overall: Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Acid Clearing Serum
- Why We Love It: There aren’t enough words in the English language to express how much I love this serum. In short, thank you, Sofie Pavitt. I’ve never before been able to use an acne treatment daily without causing total irritation and flaring red rosacea speckles. After using this clearing serum for five months and counting, I’m never going back. The results are clear—clear skin, that is. “I love a daily exfoliating protocol for acne sufferers,” Pavitt says of why she developed her serum. “If you’re predisposed to acne, you shed dead cells at a higher rate than someone who isn’t prone. So helping your skin buff them away with something gentle works best.”
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, panthenol, hyaluronic acid
- Type: Serum
- How to Apply: Apply two to three pumps of the serum
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Entirely noncomedogenic formula | A pricier pick per fluid ounce |
| Gentle enough for daily usage—not blended with any other AHAs or BHAs | |
| Fast drying with a nonsticky feel |
Best Affordable: The Ordinary Mandelic Acid
- Why We Love It: The Ordinary’s mandelic-acid serum is proof that high-performing skin care doesn’t need a high price tag. This under-$10 bottle still harnesses the power of mandelic acid for a fraction of the price. Think smoother texture, refined tone, and renewed radiance.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, sodium hyaluronate, mountain-pepper extract
- Type: Serum
- How to Apply: Apply once daily in the evening after cleansing, and always follow with a moisturizer.
- Size: 30 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Noncomedogenic formula | Some find this formula to have an oilier consistency and slightly sticky feel |
| Contains soothing ingredients like mountain-pepper extract |
Best Cleanser: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Cleanser With Mandelic Acid
- Why We Love It: This cleanser is a dream for anyone seeking exfoliation without the harshness, thanks to the gentlest AHA of all. Meanwhile, Caudalie’s signature Viniferine ingredient (grapevine sap) reduces hyperpigmentation by helping brighten skin. It’s an everyday option that’s as gentle as it is effective, revealing smoother, clearer skin without redness or irritation.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, Viniferine, grapeseed oil, aloe vera
- Type: Cleanser
- How to Apply: Use one to two full pumps of product, and lather on your face as normal. Then allow the formula to sit for 30 seconds before rinsing thoroughly. For sensitive skin, Caudalie recommends using no more than twice weekly.
- Size: 5 fl oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Prebiotic-rich formula with soothing benefits | Contains one potential pore-clogging ingredient, algin |
| Dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested vegan formula | Not fragrance-free |
Best Low pH: Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum
- Why We Love It: With a blend of 10% mandelic acid, PHAs, and dual‑texture hyaluronic acid, it refines, brightens, and soothes, without a demanding price tag. “This affordably priced serum features three gentle peeling agents—mandelic acid, phytic acid, and gluconolactone—to promote a clearer, smoother, and more even complexion,” says double board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp. Plus, it boasts a low pH level to maintain optimal skin health.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid (10%), phytic acid, gluconolactone, mixed-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid
- Type: Serum
- How to Apply: Apply a few refined drops at night, up to four times weekly. Press onto freshly cleansed skin, wait 30 seconds to set, then follow with your moisturizer.
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Noncomedogenic formula | Some experience irritation |
| Low-pH-level formulation |
Best Intensive Treatment: Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum
- Why We Love It: This formula tackles pigmentation and uneven tone from multiple angles. “In addition to mandelic acid, this brightening serum contains lactic acid, salicylic acid, and bakuchiol to reduce the appearance of pores and diminish the appearance of uneven skin tone,” says Dr. Camp, adding that it’s best used sparingly and intentionally. Due to the cocktail of exfoliants, this pick is a more intensive treatment—and perhaps not the best choice for those with supersensitive skin.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, bakuchiol, niacinamide, white-tea extract, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, tamanu oil, rose-hip oil
- Type: Overnight treatment serum
- How to Apply: Shake well before each use, and apply two to four pumps evenly across your face and neck. Always follow with a moisturizer. The brand recommends limiting sun exposure for several days after use.
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Potent formula stands up to strong hyperpigmentation and texture | The blend of salicylic and lactic acids may be too intense for sensitive and acne-prone skin types |
| Vegan and cruelty-free formula |
Best Spot Treatment: The Inkey List Mandelic Acid Treatment
- Why We Love It: When hyperpigmentation lingers long after a breakout fades, this targeted night treatment delivers a quietly effective solution. Powered by mandelic acid that softens post-blemish marks and uneven tone, a whisper of 0.1% retinol accelerates skin renewal beneath the surface, helping fade stubborn spots and refine texture over time. Meanwhile, glycerin locks in moisture, ensuring skin remains supple and balanced as actives do their work.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid (10%), retinol (0.1%), glycerin, vitamin E
- Type: Spot treatment
- How to Apply: Use a pea-size amount on dark spots, pimples, or post-blemish marks
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Noncomedogenic formula | Mandelic acid and retinol (despite low dosage) may be irritating for sensitive skin |
| Affordable price point |
Best Peel: M-61 Perfect Peel
- Why We Love It: A blend of lactic, mandelic, and salicylic acids gently dissolves dull surface cells, polishes away unevenness, and refines the appearance of pores and fine lines. Vitamin E steps in to hydrate and fortify the skin barrier while neutralizing environmental stress. Soothing notes of lavender and green tea round out the formula, calming skin and offering subtle anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s a one-and-done wipe.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lavender extract, green-tea extract, vitamin E
- Type: Wipe-on peel
- How to Apply: First, thoroughly clean and pat dry skin. Wipe one single pad across face, neck, and décolleté; be sure to avoid your eye area. Finish off with a replenishing moisturizer.
- Size: 10 treatments per pack
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Presoaked towelettes are quick, convenient, and hygienic | Blend of AHAs is likely too harsh for sensitive skin types |
| Free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances | Some experience dryness after use |
Best Liquid Exfoliant: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant
- Why We Love It: This AHA elixir swipes on like a toner and exfoliates like a peel. With 6% mandelic acid and 2% lactic acid, it offers a refined solution for promoting clarity and fading discoloration while maintaining skin comfort. Yarrow-root extract provides a quietly calming presence, supporting the barrier and microbiome.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid (6%), lactic acid (2%), yarrow-root extract
- Type: Liquid exfoliants
- How to Apply: Dispense one to two presses into a cotton pad. Swipe across your face and neck.
- Size: 3 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A gentler alternative to the Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant | Potential for mild irritation |
Best With Fruit Enzymes: Naturium Mandelic Acid Serum
- Why We Love It: This serum delivers a powerful yet gentle solution for resurfacing and brightening. “A potent concentration of mandelic acid in this serum is coupled with natural fruit extracts and niacinamide to gently exfoliate skin to target the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation,” says Dr. Camp, noting the concentration is noticeably higher than most other picks on the market.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid (12%), niacinamide, fruit-derived AHAs, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin E
- Type: Serum
- How to Apply: Shake well, then apply one to two pea-size drops to cleansed face, neck, and chest, avoiding the eyes. Beginners should start by applying twice weekly and increase frequency as tolerance builds.
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Noncomedogenic formula | Mandelic acid blended with fruit enzymes may be mildly irritating on sensitive skin |
| Affordable price point |
Everything You Need to Know
Can you use mandelic acid daily?
The experts agree it’s safe to use mandelic acid in your daily skin-care regimen, but only once per day and in one dedicated product. “Most people can use mandelic acid every day, at low concentrations like 5% or 10%,” says board-certified dermatologist Noah Gratch, noting this gentle exfoliant is less likely to cause redness or irritation. “This is because mandelic acid has a larger molecule size that penetrates the skin slowly, reducing the risk of irritation compared to skin-care solutions like glycolic or lactic acid.”
What ingredients should you avoid using with mandelic acid?
Dr. Camp advises using mandelic acid cautiously with any other active exfoliants. This includes AHAs (such as lactic acid and glycolic acid), BHAs (salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide), and retinoids.
Dr. Gratch agrees that “using harsh actives with mandelic acid can over-exfoliate the skin and cause irritation and barrier damage.” This is especially true for those with sensitive skin. Instead, pair your mandelic acid of choice with gentle, hydrating products—though if you do choose to mix and mingle liquid exfoliants, do so sparingly.
Why is mandelic acid effective when treating acne?
“Mandelic acid exfoliates inside pores, removing dead skin cells that trap oil and bacteria in our skin,” says Dr. Gratch. “Plus, it has antibacterial properties that reduce acne-causing bacteria, keeping your pores clear over time with regulated cell turnover.” Not to mention the ingredient’s gentle anti-inflammatory effect helps further soothe breakout-induced redness—all while making it a safe pick for those with rosacea and eczema.
Meet the experts
- Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York and Long Island.
- Noah Gratch, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in treatments for acne, eczema, hyperhidrosis, rosacea, psoriasis, and skin cancer.
- Sofie Pavitt is a New York–based skin-care expert and licensed esthetician specializing in problematic skin. Known as the acne whisperer, Pavitt recently founded her own product line, Sofie Pavitt Face.
