Name: Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Brand: TheOrdinary
Rating: 4.59 (34 reviews)

Rich and earthy shades like mustard yellow, olive green, and chocolate brown look great on you

How to Write a TikTok Review
 Help us keep the Hwahae community trustworthy by following these guidelines: 
Reviews that violate these may be removed without notice.

Bright and fresh shades like coral, warm pinks, and fresh greens look great on you

Soft and muted shades like pastel blues, dusty pinks, and soft lavenders look great on you

High-contrast and bold shades like pure white, black, icy blues, and deep reds look great on you

I confirm this is my own TikTok video and agree it maybe featured on Hwahae.
 Any misuse may result in removal or restrictions.
 For details, tap the

Our service will be temporarily unavailable during:

Scheduled Maintenance

This is a Health Functional Food certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of Korea, designed to help maintain and improve your health.

This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions.

Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.

Each ingredient is selected for its specific purpose, such as improving skin hydration or brightening. However, the inclusion of these ingredients does not guarantee the overall effectiveness of the final product. Simply using these ingredients does not ensure the product will deliver the claimed benefits.

AI-Analyzed Reviews are coming soon!
We're gathering more reviews to provide you with the best insights.

Be the first to share your experience!
Used this product?
Share your TikTok review to help others discover it.

The content is currently being reviewed by the Hwahae operations team, and the verification will be completed by the next business day (excluding weekends and holidays) from the date the review was written.

디오디너리

Mandelic Acid 10% + HA

Oily

Causes Allergic Reactions

Doesn't Remove Sebum

Not Rich

Flips

Causes Itching

Too Watery

Exfoliates Well

Not Irritating

Smooth

Clears Breakouts

Doesn't Sting

Removes Whiteheads

Improves Skin Texture

After washing, it's really hard and painful to open things with my slippery hands haha. And it's hard to find them offline too :( I couldn't find mandelic acid at Sephora or Olive Young stores.

After reading the reviews, I bought it, but when I first tried the chemical exfoliator, I was scared by the instructions to dilute it, so I used too little, and in the first week, there was almost no effect. I wondered why nothing was happening, so I increased the amount from my usual, and the texture became smooth, and some very minor unevenness was slightly improved.
There was some talk about the formula being unusual - it feels like an oil, yet light. It really flows a lot on the hands!!
If I use it consistently, the effects are great!! My bumps have definitely decreased, and my skin used to be full of blemishes, but it's much better now. But if I stop using the product for a few days, the bumps come back... It seems my skin is very vulnerable to dead skin buildup...haha

만델릭 애시드 10% + HA

🌷 Apply a drop or two on each cheek and wait 15 minutes before applying the product
🌷 Dilute acidic products to avoid irritation when using them
🌷 Don't be greedy! Otherwise, your skin barrier will be compromised
🌷 The effects will start to show after about 2 weeks of consistent use
🌷 Once the acne has subsided to some extent, use it twice a week

🌼 The only downside is that there is almost nothing disappointing, and I only found this product after developing acne scars from the breakouts.

🌸🌸My Own Purchase🌸🌸

Skin Type: Dry, Severe Acne

🍀 Very gentle AHA product
🍀 For real... The acne I've been struggling with for ten years has completely disappeared...
🍀 Incredibly reasonable price
🍀 Simple ingredient composition (which divides opinions)
🍀 Fragrance-free
🍀 Scars are also gradually fading (but not disappearing completely)

A lifelong essential... Those suffering from acne, buy it right now!

---------2023.08.15---------
I'm still using it well, and as a former acne expert, I no longer have any acne...(only one or two when I'm lazy with exfoliation).

Those struggling with acne... Be sure to use it at least once.

Just to be safe, I've been avoiding using it around my eyes.

There's nothing really disappointing about the price or the effectiveness.
I bought it when it was on sale at Olive Young.

As someone with problematic skin, thorough exfoliation is key for me.
If I'm not careful, my makeup can get cakey and uneven 😢
That's why I've been using a variety of products like retinol, AHA, and BHA consistently.

The blue ampoule from Medicube has been effective for me in exfoliating, so I've been using it regularly. But after using it for a while, I feel like it's not as effective as it used to be, so I decided to try alternating it with other products.

The price is affordable, the reviews are good, and the ingredient composition is great, so I had high expectations. But surprisingly, this product is barely irritating at all for an exfoliating product, and my skin doesn't feel stripped.

With other peeling products, I often have to deal with flaky skin for a certain period, but this one leaves my skin feeling smooth without that. My makeup also applies better, and my pores seem a bit smaller.

I've been using it for 2-3 days now and I'm really satisfied so far.

There's hardly any scent, and it's not as heavy or oily as an oil, but it has a bit of a in-between oil and ampoule texture due to the glycerin. Just a few drops cover my whole face.


Since my skin is so sensitive, I wanted to calm it down quickly, so I used it for 3 days in a row, took a day off, and then used it for 3 more days. As others have mentioned, I wouldn't recommend using it like an ampoule right away - it's better to give your skin some time to adjust by using it intermittently at first.

Oiliness: When I first applied it, the oiliness was almost too much, and the absorption was quite slow, so I had to wait 5-10 minutes for it to fully absorb each time.

Doesn't Absorb Well into Cotton Pads: When I put a few drops on a cotton pad, it got absorbed quite a bit, but then applying it directly still felt like something was being applied on top of my skin...

Wow, this is truly a whole new world!!!!!!!!!!

Skin Type: Acne-prone, uneven skin texture, skin that is recognized by dermatologists as requiring management, but still experiences inflammation even with care, skin that severely breaks out even with just a little stress or fatigue

Cosmetics Used: Dr.G sunscreen, Dr.G moisturizer
(Any other products with slightly unfavorable ingredients cause skin irritation and rashes like hives on my extremely sensitive skin)

Pre-Use Skin Condition: After using Aladdin peeling, I bought a new recovery cream but had an allergic reaction, with fluid-filled blisters coming up rather than inflammation, and my balance was so disrupted that I had my period again in 16 days

How I Used It: I've been using it for a bit over a week, 3 days on, 1 day off, 3 days on, applying it like cleansing with a cotton pad

Post-Use Skin Condition: The fluid-filled blisters completely disappeared, my skin texture is even better now than after the peeling - it's really ㅠㅠ My body balance was disrupted so I still have severe acne around my chin, but the rest of my skin has improved remarkably

Oiliness: There is some oiliness, but it's more like a protective film on my skin... I waited for it to absorb and then applied the Dr.G moisturizer. I use it only at night though, as I'm worried it might interfere with my makeup in the morning.

Wow, it's really amazing... The reviews said to use it like a cleansing pad 2-3 times a week until your skin adjusts, and then go back to regular application, and that transformation was just mindblowing for me.

I bought this because they said mandelic acid is a gentler exfoliating ingredient than AHA, but because of that, the exfoliating effect was not very noticeable, so I ended up looking for a stronger exfoliating product. But then, constantly using other exfoliating products, I was hesitant to use this one too, worried it might irritate my skin.

This is both a downside and an upside - it seems too mild. Despite having sensitive skin, there was no irritation at all.

Rather than a shortcoming, I would recommend that those with sensitive skin should not apply the liquid directly to their face. I mixed it with aloe and it worked well, but recently I applied it on its own and my face became red and it was very painful to wash - I've been struggling with it... ㅜㅜ When using it, please gradually increase the amount to suit your skin type... ㅠㅠ I'm wondering how I can restore my skin barrier...
If anyone has tips after using acids and experiencing this, please share them with me.

Adding about 4 drops of aloe to my face has reduced the frequency of my recurring acne, and my skin has become smoother, which I really enjoy!

This is great to use as a mild exfoliator when your skin is sensitive or dry. Even when my skin is irritated, it doesn't sting or irritate at all. It seems genuinely gentle. It also contains hyaluronic acid to provide hydration, so it's an all-around good winter exfoliator to keep skin soft and smooth. If you want stronger exfoliation, you can try the lactic acid or glycolic acid products from The Ordinary - both are AHA options.

And for oily, acne-prone skin, BHAs are generally more effective than AHAs for improving acne. (However, I believe AHAs are better for treating closed comedones and acne scarring.)

It claims to be oil-free, but the texture feels oily to me. As an oily-skinned person, I don't particularly enjoy that type of feel.

This is a very gentle exfoliating product. Among AHAs, mandelic acid has the largest molecular size, so it is the least irritating. However, this also means its exfoliating effect is more mild. My skin is prone to clogged pores and acne, so I need to exfoliate regularly. But in the dry winter, AHAs are better than BHAs, which can be more drying. I normally use the Paula's Choice BHA Liquid, but I use this product when my skin is dry and sensitive as a mild exfoliator. (Generally, oily, acne-prone skin responds better to BHAs than AHAs for acne improvement.)

I do feel there is somewhat of a dilemma when it comes to winter exfoliation. In my case, the cold winds, dryness, and heating make my skin easily irritated and dehydrated, so I'm hesitant to use exfoliating products that could further aggravate my skin. But if I don't exfoliate, a layer of dead skin builds up, and even moisturizers can't properly penetrate. This product is barely irritating, so it seems perfect for breaking this vicious cycle.

I used the method of spraying the liquid directly onto a cotton pad and then applying it, instead of applying it directly. Since I have sensitive skin, I plan to let my skin get used to the mandelic acid first, and then try applying it directly later on. The cotton pad method was already effective enough for me.

There aren't any cons yet. It reduces bumps and unevenness when applied to the body. There are no downsides, wow.

♥️ This is really good, really too good ♥️

✅ One-line review

You don't have to read the review even after buying it, so just buy it and see for yourself.

✅ Pros

📌 Gentle exfoliation even for sensitive skin

📌 Good for clogged pores and acne coming up
📌 Works great on blackheads on the nose
📌 Overall skin texture improvement

✅ Cons

Haven't found any yet

✅ How I use it

1️⃣
Don't use toners with exfoliating or whitening effects ❌
Instead, use a gentle, lightweight toner ⭕️ and soak a cotton pad with it.
Then, add 3-5 drops of mandelic acid on top.

2️⃣
Gently wipe your face with the mandelic acid-soaked cotton pad.
You can also gently pat it in with your hands.

3️⃣
After 2-30 minutes, proceed with your usual skincare routine.

I'm currently using the Isol Propolis Ampoule (also great!) and two types of creams.


✅ Photo explanation
You can see the effects the very next day! That's what happened to me.

📍 Before use, January 2nd 📍 After use, January 21st
(The 'after' photo was just taken to write this review. Of course, it was even better before, but I stopped using it for a few days, so some acne came back.)

The photos are not edited at all, just taken with a regular camera. When your skin is bad, it can look yellowish and dark...(don't we all agree?)

Especially during the winter, I like to follow up with this product by first using a toner, then allowing ample time (at least 15 minutes) for it to work, before applying a soothing gel, a ceramide cream, and sunscreen. I tend to do this routine a few times a week.

However, I do find that I need to leave it on for around 15 minutes or so, as the blackheads and excess oil don't seem to disappear instantly.

Although I am not an expert, I can say that this product has been quite effective in addressing my problematic skin concerns. 
After switching up my entire skincare routine, this was one of the two standout choices that really made a difference.
It has helped to visibly improve the appearance of my uneven texture, acne scars, enlarged pores, and oily/blemish-prone complexion.
The pesky pimples around my ears and along my hairline have also been cleared up, and those stubborn bumps near my eyes have disappeared as well.

Please consider the positive aspects I mentioned.

You should know that this is more for skincare than for makeup application. As it is an exfoliating ampoule, it may cause pilling if used under makeup.

I applied a thin layer after cleansing, and then added a few drops of the ampoule to a cotton pad and gently wiped away the dead skin. This left my skin smooth and supple.

When using during the day, be sure to apply sunscreen.
Use this product before bedtime.

I do not have any complaints about this product. Even though I have sensitive skin, I did not find it to be irritating. I have been using it daily without any issues.

The whiteheads have diminished significantly after just a day or two of use.
I purchased this product to address my concerns about whiteheads, and I am very satisfied to see the quick and noticeable effects.

If you're using it for the first time or plan to use it daily, it's better to mix it into your regular skincare and apply it that way.

It's a shame that while there are offline stores in Seoul, there aren't any in the provinces, so I couldn't test it.

Mandelic acid is said to be less irritating than AHA or BHA because its larger molecular size means it is absorbed more slowly. 
So at first, I didn't feel any stinging or irritation when I just used it.
Definitely, using mandelic acid has reduced my flaky skin and whiteheads.

TheOrdinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Reviews

2 Reviews