PoriMandelic Acid at a glance
| Function | Active |
|---|---|
| Active class | AHA |
| Comedogenic rating | 0/5 |
| Irritation potential | Mild |
| Also listed as | None |
| How common | On 21 of 21,918 product labels in Pori's copy of Open Beauty Facts |
What does Mandelic Acid help with?
In Pori's database it's linked to rough texture, breakouts, dark spots and uneven tone. How much it helps depends on how high it sits on the label: ingredients are listed from most to least, and anything past roughly the tenth spot is usually present at 1% or less.
Is Mandelic Acid good for my skin type?
These ratings come from the same fixed rules Pori's ingredient scanner uses, applied to a typical profile for each skin type. Your own result in the app also weighs your scan results and concerns.
| Skin type | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Neutral | Large-molecule AHA, gentle on sensitive skin. |
| Dry | Neutral | Large-molecule AHA, gentle on sensitive skin. |
| Oily | Good fit | Large-molecule AHA, gentle on sensitive skin. |
| Combination | Neutral | Large-molecule AHA, gentle on sensitive skin. |
| Sensitive | Neutral | Large-molecule AHA, gentle on sensitive skin. |
What should I watch for?
- Sun sensitivity: wear sunscreen while you use it, as it can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Is Mandelic Acid comedogenic?
It has a comedogenic rating of 0 out of 5 in Pori's ingredient database, so it's unlikely to clog pores. Ratings like this come from older tests on single ingredients, and a finished product with it isn't necessarily pore-clogging. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that finished products made with comedogenic ingredients were not necessarily comedogenic, so treat the number as a hint, not a verdict.
Which products contain Mandelic Acid?
Products in Pori's curated catalogue that list it as a key ingredient:
- Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover (cleanser)
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant (exfoliant)
How do I check a product with Mandelic Acid?
Scan the barcode or photograph the ingredient list with Pori's ingredient scanner (a Pro feature). It rates every ingredient for your skin type, flags fragrance, pore-clogging and irritating ingredients, and gives the product an overall match score. It's a guide to ingredients, not a diagnosis, so see a dermatologist about any reaction.
Keep reading
- Acne Severity Scale Explained: Mild, Moderate and Severe Acne
- Best Acne Tracker App: 7 Apps to See What's Actually Working
- The Best Clinique Products by Skin Type and Concern
- The Best Exfoliators for Sensitive Skin: Gentle Acids and Enzymes
Ingredient data from Pori's ingredient database; product counts from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL). General information, not medical advice.