Mandelic Acid
Active (AHA exfoliant) · INCI: Mandelic Acid
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Mandelic Acid comedogenic?
No. Mandelic Acid isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Mandelic acid is an exfoliant from the alpha hydroxy family, originally derived from bitter almonds, with a larger molecule than glycolic or lactic acid, so it works into skin more slowly. It is not an oil, and we do not flag it. We read mandelic acid as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Its almond origin is where the confusion starts. We flag almond oil, but mandelic acid is a purified acid with none of that oil in it. Being slower than other hydroxy acids does not mean it cannot sting.
Where it shows up
It is most common in serums and toners made for acne-prone or easily irritated skin, along with professional peels and some cleansers and body washes.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: The types of acne lesions.