Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum: a Guru Score of 80%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Yay

"You can get a mandelic one from Good Molecules. Again, they have such great key active products at really affordable prices."

All 2 takes from The Budget Dermatologist

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"It's $10 and has 10% mandelic acid in it. It also has some polyhydroxy acids in it that can boost the mandelic acid's effect. [Allantoin] can soothe the skin in this formulation as well. So really a great swap here."

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"You can get a mandelic one from Good Molecules. Again, they have such great key active products at really affordable prices."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"Mandelic acid's great, it was nice using this. For sensitive skin this will work well, for acne prone skin there's no ingredients of note so it's great for acne prone skin as well. Oily, dry, or sensitive, it's great for all of those, no issues at all with any of that. This is a full size 30 milliliters, 1 ounce, and it retails for 10 bucks so you can't beat that. I do know Good Molecules was talking about reformulating a lot of their products at the end of this year so if you're interested in it might be a good time to pick it up now or wait and see if they change it. It's a really decent serum at a great price point."

All 2 takes from No BS Beauty

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"Mandelic acid's great, it was nice using this. For sensitive skin this will work well, for acne prone skin there's no ingredients of note so it's great for acne prone skin as well. Oily, dry, or sensitive, it's great for all of those, no issues at all with any of that. This is a full size 30 milliliters, 1 ounce, and it retails for 10 bucks so you can't beat that. I do know Good Molecules was talking about reformulating a lot of their products at the end of this year so if you're interested in it might be a good time to pick it up now or wait and see if they change it. It's a really decent serum at a great price point."

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"The Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum, this one is really nice. [...] I've been testing it out now, the pH is good. Mandelic acid's a really great exfoliant, it's more gentle than glycolic acid. It's an exfoliant made from bitter almonds or maybe sweet almonds, I can't remember one of the two. [...] So if you're into exfoliants, 10 bucks you can't beat that, you just really can't. So worth checking out."

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

✓Yay

"Mandelic acid overall is a gentle AHA, this is probably fine to use, though not alongside a retinoid, I'd alternate nights. Why does nobody talk about this brand anymore, they're such a good brand, nothing to hide on the ingredients list, are you kidding me, I love it so much. It has ten percent mandelic acid, one percent gluconolactone so some PHA in there, and point five percent allantoin, and they say to use it up to four times weekly."

All 2 takes from AliceintheRabbitHole

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"Mandelic acid overall is a gentle AHA, this is probably fine to use, though not alongside a retinoid, I'd alternate nights. Why does nobody talk about this brand anymore, they're such a good brand, nothing to hide on the ingredients list, are you kidding me, I love it so much. It has ten percent mandelic acid, one percent gluconolactone so some PHA in there, and point five percent allantoin, and they say to use it up to four times weekly."

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"Good Molecules has a Mandelic Acid Serum now, mandelic acid is a more gentle AHA, so that's pretty tempting. I think we're going to add that to the cart as well."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum?

A lightweight exfoliating serum containing 10% mandelic acid, a gentler alternative to glycolic acid, designed to chemically exfoliate and brighten skin.

Is Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum worth it?

Yes. All 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.

What is Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum's Guru Score?

Good Molecules Mandelic Acid Serum holds a Guru Score of 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.