Scientifically Proven Results…Mandelic Acid
Scientifically Proven Results…Mandelic Acid
Skin care use:
Alpha-hydroxy acid peeling agent with antibacterial properties.
Most commonly used for:
Improving skin quality and addressing common issues like acne rosacea, hyperpigmentation and inflammatory non-cystic acne.
Where you can find it:
- Almond Serum, Skin Care by Suzie https://skincarebysuzie.com/products/almond-serum
- Mandelic Serum, Bion, https://skincarebysuzie.com/products/mandelic-serum-8-and-15
- Mandelic 5% Toner Pads, Bion https://skincarebysuzie.com/products/mandelic-5-toner-pads
Fun fact:
The name Mandelic Acid comes the German mandel (“almond”) because its made from an extract of bitter almonds.
What the science says:
Superficial peels fight the signs and effects of aging by making cells, “proliferate and become metabolically more active as well as influence the skin lipids.” Cells turn over faster and skin retains moisture better. Compared to AHA superstar glycolic acid, Mandelic acid is bettertolerated by most people with no adverse effects. It is absorbed slowly and evenly, so it’s safe to use on sensitive skin and even dry elderly skin.
Lower eyelid skin wrinkling and sagging can be particularly challenging to treat with peels because that skin is so delicate. Yet researchers found that when applied topically to the face twice a day for four weeks, mandelic acid was well tolerated and improved lower eyelid skin elasticity by 25.4% and overall skin firmness by 23.8%!
Mandelic acid is also safe to use on darkly pigmented skin types. Aggressive peels can have adverse effects on those with darker skin tones, resulting in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. For people of color, that means aggressive peels can make hyperpigmentation even worse. Mandelic acid has been researched and deemed safe and effective on various skin tones, including Indian, Egyptian, and Korean, among others.
You don’t need an overly strong peel to see results. When using a lotion of 10% mandelic acid, researchers found that melasma improved up to 50% after 1 month of treatment, and those using a 2% lotion saw improvements in skin shine and oiliness after 8 weeks.
As a general practice, everyone should wear sunscreen regularly, but it’s particularly important when using peels. Make sure to protect that fresh layer of skin with sunblock and other sun protection like hats and umbrellas.