How Often Can You Use Mandelic Acid?
I always find it interesting when certain ingredients are in the spotlight. Mandelic acid has certainly had its moment to shine, but it’s an ingredient that’s been around forever. Dubbed the new hyaluronic acid, mandelic acid is an ingredient we’re all obsessed with, but that interest also brings with it some questions. That’s exactly what we want to answer in today’s blog post, so stay tuned as we take a look at how often you can use mandelic acid and what results you can expect on your skin.
If you’re still not fully aware of mandelic acid and its effects on your skin, don’t worry because I’ll give you a quick summary. Feel free to skip this section if you’re familiar with this trend powerhouse.
What is Mandelic Acid?
Mandelic acid is extracted from bitter almonds and belongs to the family of alpha hydroxy acids, also known as AHAs. This is a family of exfoliating acids with varying strengths that work primarily on the outer surface of the skin.
Mandelic acid can help alleviate skin issues like acne and hyperpigmentation, as well as improve fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture.
It’s known to be very gentle on the skin, even gentler than lactic acid, which is hailed as a good acid for people with dry and sensitive skin.
Mandelic acid is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, because it works on the skin and penetrates the skin more slowly, resulting in less irritation.
It has antimicrobial properties, which h. It fights acne and regulates sebum production. This unclogs pores and reduces inflammation, resulting in fewer breakouts.
By stimulating the skin’s collagen, mandelic acid can help treat melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and dark spots caused by sun damage.
By removing the outer layer of dead skin cells and built-up impurities, the skin texture becomes smoother and the skin feels firmer.
You can learn more about mandelic acid in our Skin School. Now that we’ve got a quick review, let’s take a closer look at this clever AHA.
Can mandelic acid be used daily?
Yes, you can, but only if your skin agrees to the application. Although mandelic acid is gentle on the skin, everyone is different and it really depends on how your skin reacts to AHAs and other exfoliating skin ingredients. If you find that you have a sensitive skin type, it’s best to slowly introduce mandelic acid into your routine. Try using it once a day in the evening and remember to do a 24-hour patch test before applying to your face. This allows you to see how your skin reacts and build its tolerance over time without worrying about irritation.
Don’t forget that mandelic acid can exfoliate your skin, making it more sensitive to sun exposure. For the health of your skin, it’s important to wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every day to prevent free radicals and further skin damage.
How often should I use mandelic acid on my face?
As I mentioned before, this depends a lot on how your skin reacts to the acid. If you’ve properly incorporated mandelic acid into your skin care routine, you’ll find that using it twice a day won’t be a problem or a concern.
However, I recommend keeping a close eye on how your skin feels and how it reacts to new products or formulas. If redness, irritation, flaking, dryness, and itching increase, it’s a clear sign that you need to stop using the product. Adverse reactions to mandelic acid are rare, so you don’t need to worry too much.
I’ve mentioned this before, but make sure you wear sunscreen every day. Even on drizzly and cloudy days, you must always wear sunscreen. This protects the skin from UV rays, especially UVA. Unlike UVB, this radiation is always present and can penetrate clouds, water, and glass.
Many people tend to postpone the application of mandelic acid until the evening. This means that the acid can work on the skin undisturbed while you get your beauty sleep. You will also find that you don’t have to worry about or risk overexposure to harmful UV rays.
How long should mandelic acid be left on?
Ideally, you should leave mandelic acid products on the skin for about 20 minutes before applying other products. This may seem long, but because mandelic acid is slower to penetrate the skin, it takes longer to reach the areas where it is needed.
This can easily be changed depending on the formula you use that contains mandelic acid. The most commonly used products are usually exfoliating toners and serums. The difference in how long the two products stay on the skin determines how long you need to wait before continuing with your skincare routine. This is also useful for finding the best product formula that works best for your skin type. For example, exfoliating toners are best for people with dry, sensitive skin, as toners don’t sit on the skin for long.
What not to mix with mandelic acid?
You should avoid using mandelic acid with other alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and the popular anti-aging ingredient retinol. However, that doesn’t mean mandelic acid can’t be used with other active ingredients. Here are some examples of how acids work on the skin.
First, you’ll find that mandelic acid can address many skin concerns on its own, so there’s no need to combine it with other exfoliating ingredients. Second, you’ll find that there are products that contain mixed acids. These formulas are very effective on the skin and can deliver impressive results if used correctly.
What to do after using mandelic acid?
After applying mandelic acid and waiting for the active ingredients to penetrate the skin, you can apply a serum formula that contains hyaluronic acid and other hydrating ingredients. Using hydrating ingredients helps draw moisture into the skin and lock it in place, leaving the skin plump, hydrated, and healthy. You can then apply a moisturizer to create a protective layer on the surface of the skin, allowing the active ingredients to work on the skin and limiting exposure to free radicals and other environmental aggressors
