An aromatic alpha hydroxy acid used in exfoliating skincare and peels.
Sources: 1, 22-Hydroxy-2-phenylacetic acid
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Limited evidence
Mandelic Acid
What it does
Used to improve surface texture. Marketing it as a gentle acid does not establish suitability for every skin type.
Sources: 1, 2Good for
- Surface texture
How to use it
Use a finished exfoliant as labeled, introduce it cautiously and follow appropriate sun-protection advice. Do not improvise professional peels at home.
Sources: 1, 2Who should be careful
Excessive exposure can cause irritation or chemical burns. Avoid unsupervised high-strength peel use.
Sources: 1, 2Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Acid activity can promote surface-cell shedding; the effect depends on pH and exposure.
Sources: 1, 2Potential adverse effects
Over-exfoliation can cause burning, redness, peeling and subsequent pigmentation changes.
Sources: 1, 2Formulation considerations
Acid strength, buffering, vehicle and application time matter more than the ingredient name alone.
Sources: 1, 2Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research (1 studies)
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitLimited evidence
An open study of 5% and 10% leave-on cosmetic formulations in 60 people with acne over two months reported improvement, without a vehicle control. These results do not establish the effects of every mandelic acid product.
Sources: 1, 2Dębowska et al.: Efficacy and tolerability of mandelic acid-containing cosmetic formulations for acne skin care
- Design
- Open study, no vehicle control
- Population
- 60 patients with papulo-pustular acne, two groups of 30
- Studied concentration
- 5% versus 10% mandelic acid cosmetic formulations
- Duration
- 2 months
Both groups improved gradually (fewer pustules, inflammatory nodules and comedones); the share of patients improving on the Hellgren-Vincent scale was similar.
Limitations: Open design without vehicle control, testing finished cosmetic formulations; results do not establish the effects of every mandelic acid product.
Small clinical studySources: 2Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
mandelic acid
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 1292 | PubChem compound 1292: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C8H8O3 | PubChem compound 1292: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 152.15 g/mol | PubChem compound 1292: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (3)
Scientific sources
- FDA: Risks of unsupervised high-strength chemical peelssafety guidance
- Dębowska et al.: Efficacy and tolerability of mandelic acid-containing cosmetic formulations for acne skin careopen human study · 2015
- PubChem compound 1292: chemical identitychemical identity
Keep exploring: ingredient library or build your skincare routine.
