If your skin has started responding differently than it used to—more sensitivity, more dryness, more unpredictability—you’re not imagining things. Skin can shift for many reasons, from stress and environment to hormones, lifestyle changes, or simply doing a little too much in the name of skincare.

Mandelic acid was made for these moments. Extracted from bitter almonds, this gentle exfoliating acid helps smooth texture, brighten tone, and keep pores clear, all while respecting skin that prefers a slower, steadier pace.

You’ll find mandelic acid in Hydratone, where it works alongside gluconolactone to gently exfoliate, smooth texture, and support skin that’s sensitive, changing, or simply craving balance.

Other names: AHA (alpha hydroxy acid)

What it is: gentle chemical exfoliant, supports cell turnover, refines texture and tone, antibacterial, promotes skin longevity

You can find it in: Hydratone

What Makes Mandelic Acid a Great Skincare Ingredient?

To understand why mandelic acid feels so different on the skin, it helps to know how the main exfoliating acid families work—and how they behave once they’re on your face.

AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)—like glycolic and lactic acid—work on the surface of the skin. Think of them as a fine sandpaper for dullness: they loosen the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together, helping them lift away so fresher, glowier skin can come through. They’re effective, but because some AHAs are very small, they can move quickly and feel a bit intense—especially if your skin is sensitive or already stressed.

BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids)—most famously salicylic acid—are oil-soluble, which means they don’t stop at the surface. Instead, they travel down into the pores, dissolving oil and debris along the way. If AHAs polish the surface, BHAs are more like a drain cleaner for pores, which is why they’re often recommended for breakouts, blackheads, and congestion. Powerful, but sometimes a little drying.

PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids)—like gluconolactone—take a gentler approach. Their molecules are much larger, so they move more slowly and stay closer to the skin’s surface. Picture them as a soft polishing cloth rather than sandpaper: still effective, but far less likely to irritate. PHAs also attract water, so they exfoliate while helping skin stay comfortable and hydrated.

Now here’s where mandelic acid stands out.

Although mandelic acid is technically an AHA, its molecule is much larger than most AHAs. That means it behaves more like a PHA in practice—working gradually at the surface instead of rushing deep into the skin. You get the smoothing and brightening benefits of an AHA, with a gentler, more forgiving feel that sensitive or easily overwhelmed skin can appreciate.

Mandelic Acid Offers Gentle Exfoliation

Because mandelic acid works at a slower, more surface-focused pace (as we touched on above), the experience on skin feels very different from traditional exfoliating acids. Instead of an immediate tingle or tightness, exfoliation happens quietly in the background—leaving skin feeling smooth, calm, and balanced, rather than “just exfoliated.”

In the short term, many people notice that skin feels softer to the touch, makeup applies more evenly, and the overall complexion looks clearer and more refreshed. Texture becomes less noticeable, pores appear cleaner, and skin has a natural brightness that comes from clarity, not shine.

Over time, this gentle exfoliation supports consistent skin renewal, helping prevent dead skin cells from building up and dulling the complexion. When renewal is steady rather than aggressive, skin tends to look more even, feel more resilient, and respond better to the rest of your routine. Hydration absorbs more easily, congestion is less likely to linger, and skin feels more comfortable day to day.

This is especially meaningful for skin that’s sensitive, hormonally shifting, or prone to discoloration. Because mandelic acid exfoliates without triggering irritation, it helps improve tone and texture without setting off the cycle of redness or post-inflammatory pigmentation that harsher acids can cause. For darker skin tones in particular, this gentler approach allows for visible brightening without compromising evenness.

Rather than chasing quick results, mandelic acid offers something more sustainable: skin that looks clearer, feels smoother, and stays more in balance over time—making exfoliation feel like an ongoing support system, not a stressor.

Mandelic Acid Has Pro-Aging Benefits

As skin matures, one of the first things to slow down is cell turnover—the natural process by which old skin cells are replaced with new ones. When this process becomes less efficient, skin can start to look dull, feel rough, and show fine lines more readily.

By gently encouraging consistent exfoliation, mandelic acid helps support healthy skin renewal, contributing to smoother texture and a more refreshed appearance over time. Because it works gradually, this support feels sustainable rather than aggressive, making it well suited for skin that’s becoming more sensitive with age or hormonal shifts.

Beyond exfoliation, mandelic acid has also been studied for its effects on skin structure. In clinical research, mandelic acid treatments were associated with improvements in skin thickness and collagen organization, suggesting a supportive role in maintaining skin firmness and resilience.

Collagen plays an important role in skin health—it helps keep skin feeling firm, flexible, and supported. By helping maintain healthy skin structure and encouraging balanced renewal at the surface, mandelic acid contributes to skin that looks smoother, more even, and more resilient over time.

Rather than pushing the skin to change quickly, mandelic acid offers a gentler, pro-aging approach—supporting skin as it evolves and helping it look its best at every stage.

Mandelic Acid Gently Treats Acne

Mandelic acid is uniquely positioned when it comes to acne care, especially for adults who want results without excessive dryness or irritation.

Mandelic acid has antibacterial properties, helping reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin while also calming inflammation and redness. This makes it useful not only for surface breakouts, but also for deeper, inflamed blemishes.

In addition to its antibacterial effects, mandelic acid helps:

• Unclog pores by removing dead skin cells
• Regulate excess oil production
• Reduce inflammation associated with breakouts

All together, this leads to a great skin support system for dealing with acne.

In one clinical study, a 45% mandelic acid peel was found to be just as effective as a 30% salicylic acid peel in treating mild to moderate acne—this is interesting because salicylic acid is usually considered the go-to acid for acne. Notably, mandelic acid showed particular promise for inflammatory acne (such as papules and pustules) and was associated with fewer side effects than salicylic acid.

This makes mandelic acid a compelling option for acne-prone skin that’s also sensitive, reactive, or experiencing hormonal fluctuations.

Who Is Mandelic Acid Good For?

Mandelic acid tends to be a favourite for skin that wants results, but not at the expense of comfort. If your skin is easily overwhelmed, prone to sensitivity, or just doesn’t respond the way it used to, this gentle exfoliating acid is often a very good match.

For sensitive skin, mandelic acid offers a smoother, calmer exfoliation experience. Instead of stinging or redness, skin is left feeling soft and refreshed—which can be especially welcome if sensitivity has crept in over time due to stress, hormones, or doing a little too much in the past. 

As always, we still recommend doing a patch test for any products containing mandelic acid, as how your skin reacts to it can change based on the percentage of the acid in a given formula (For reference, Hydratone contains 3% mandelic acid). Plus, all skin is different, and some ingredients that are generally considered suitable for sensitive skin may not work for your skin in particular.

If breakouts or congestion are part of your routine, mandelic acid helps keep pores clear while staying gentle on the skin. Its antibacterial properties make it a thoughtful option for acne-prone or hormonally shifting skin that needs balance.

For uneven tone, dark spots, or post-acne marks, mandelic acid supports gradual brightening without increasing irritation—something that’s especially important for medium to deep skin tones that are more prone to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

And for skin that’s changing with age, mandelic acid helps maintain smoothness and clarity while respecting skin that prefers a slower, steadier pace. The overall effect is skin that feels more comfortable, more even, and easier to care for.

In short, mandelic acid is for anyone who wants exfoliation to feel supportive—not stressful.

Mandelic Acid in Hydratone

You’ll find mandelic acid in Hydratone, our hydrating, exfoliating essence designed to gently refine and tone skin without leaving your skin feeling tight or dry.

In Hydratone, mandelic acid works in harmony with gluconolactone to smooth texture, clarify pores, and enhance radiance. Hydratone’s gentle exfoliation makes it well suited for regular use (Graydon herself uses it twice a day!), especially for sensitive skin.

Shop Hydratone Exfoliating Essence here.

In Summary

Mandelic acid is a gentle yet effective exfoliating acid that supports clear, smooth, and balanced skin.

Why we love it:

• Gently exfoliates to smooth texture and improve tone
• Supports healthy cell turnover and collagen for resilient-looking skin
• Offers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits for acne-prone skin
• Well suited for sensitive, hormonal, aging, and darker skin tones
• Delivers results without irritation or downtime when at a suitable percentage
• Can be found in Hydratone, our 3-in-1 toning, exfoliating, and hydrating essence

At the end of the day, mandelic acid is one of those ingredients that works steadily in the background—helping skin feel clearer, smoother, and more at ease, while respecting where your skin is today.

P.S. Check out our Ingredient Glossary to get bite-sized information on your favourite skincare ingredients, including mandelic acid!