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Mandelic Acid
Mandelic AcidExfoliant
Largest AHA. Slower-acting and gentler — often the entry point for sensitive or darker skin tones.
What it does
Mandelic acid's larger molecular size means slower penetration and less irritation. Often recommended for first-time AHA users, sensitive skin, or melanin-rich skin where aggressive exfoliation can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusMandelic acid is the gentlest common AHA, but stacking it with a retinoid in the same routine still raises irritation risk for sensitive skin.Kornhauser 2010 · Clinical and Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Pairs worth knowing
Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
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