Ingredient
Mandelic acid
Also called: AHA, Alpha hydroxy acid
The gentlest common AHA, often useful when stronger acids trigger irritation or pigment.
Sharon’s verdict
Worth it
What Sharon would tell you
Mandelic acid has the largest molecule of the common AHAs, so it tends to be the gentlest. That matters for patients whose skin pigments easily or reacts to stronger acids.
It is not the most dramatic acid. That is part of the point. Sometimes the right active is the one your skin can actually tolerate.