Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Updated July 2026
The gentle end of the acid aisle, honestly dosed and cheap. The evidence for mandelic is thinner and younger than for glycolic or lactic, so treat it as a patient, low-drama pick rather than the strongest resurfacer.
- Evidence21 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Mandelic Acid: moderate evidence
- Hyaluronic Acid: moderate evidence
- Score is the average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency24 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Mandelic Acid (10%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
- Hyaluronic Acid: dosed at a studied level
- Potency tracks how strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability14 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: tinted glass
- No fragile actives here, so packaging barely moves the score.
- Formulation4 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 1 of 2 actives disclose a concentration
- 2 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- No current-generation or synergy bonus
- Value15 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $5 per month to use
- $8 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
- Band: $6/month or less earns full marks, $60/month or more hits the floor.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Mandelic Acid | 10% | Clinical |
| Hyaluronic Acid | n/a | Studied |
10% mandelic acid, disclosed, over hyaluronic acid for slip, in a frosted glass dropper. Mandelic is the largest of the common AHAs, so it penetrates slowly and is usually the mildest-feeling option, aimed at the appearance of an even, clearer-looking tone.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.