The INKEY List Mandelic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid: Guru Score 89%

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

"The less irritating of all of those is mandelic acid and that's for really sensitive skin. I'll oftentimes use this if I'm going to peel my chest and my neck because the skin on your neck is different than the skin on your face. The skin on your neck does not secrete oil, skin on your face secretes oil, the way you treat your neck has to be very different than the way you treat the rest of your body. It loses collagen fast too because we're turning our necks all the time so it thins the skin as we age and we have to be very careful not to break that skin barrier or you will not be happy. A mandelic acid if you've got really sensitive skin is great and it's still an alpha hydroxy."

Dr. Somji Skin

359k subs

✓Yay

"Mandelic acid is fantastic for even skin of color for reducing pigmentation, it will also reduce redness as well. We use it in the clinic all the time at high strength, so like 40%. This one from the INKEY List, you can see it's a mandelic acid treatment. You can put it on targeted for pigmentation in the evening and it really helps just reduce that pigmentation. You can use these treatments at home alongside a combination of other ingredients and you can really get a tailored routine in terms of pigmentation."

Hyram

4.34M subs

✓Yay

"I do love that one"

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

✓Yay

"The mandelic acid treatment which is so good and inexpensive and beginner friendly if you want something that actually helps to hydrate the skin and if you have dry skin and acne this mandelic acid's treatment is so phenomenal for dry skin. This actually has glycerin in it as well so it's a more hydrating formula and because it's an AHA it actually doesn't dry out the skin. So if you do have big honking whiteheads that are really inflamed or even little blackheads this is so good and so gentle and if you do have dark spots that's really who this is for. If you are someone that gets the pimple and it leaves the mark behind you are going to love this."

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All 5 takes from Cassandra Bankson

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"If you don't want to spend this much on mandelic acid, the INKEY List has a mandelic acid spot treatment that you could actually use kind of as a makeup primer or a base if you wanted to use it all over, so that's another good mandelic acid if you wanted to."

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"The mandelic acid treatment which is so good and inexpensive and beginner friendly if you want something that actually helps to hydrate the skin and if you have dry skin and acne this mandelic acid's treatment is so phenomenal for dry skin. This actually has glycerin in it as well so it's a more hydrating formula and because it's an AHA it actually doesn't dry out the skin. So if you do have big honking whiteheads that are really inflamed or even little blackheads this is so good and so gentle and if you do have dark spots that's really who this is for. If you are someone that gets the pimple and it leaves the mark behind you are going to love this."

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"I love this so much that I used all the product. This is the mandelic acid treatment from The Inky List. This is basically a spot treatment, but I use this as a serum on my skin. This is hydrating, it is effective, it is anti-pigmentary, it is anti-acne, and it's eleven dollars. It says that it's formulated for all skin, and I do feel like I can use it on my oily skin, or I can recommend it to people that are dry. This is the snack jar of skincare. This is the one I'm always looking for. I love this from The Inky List for the price, for what you get, for how tiny the little bottle is, but how it goes such a long way. This really cannot be beat, especially for the price and how it works. This is the top mandelic acid product that I've used on my skin or recommended to others, and I cannot rave about this enough. What's also fantastic about this formula is that it has jojoba oil, which mimics our skin's oils naturally. I love jojoba. My skin loves it. A lot of other people do too, because it really helps to strengthen a skin barrier. On top of that, this has rice bran, which is a beta glucan option that really helps to hydrate the skin. Although this isn't the same as Skincare by Hiram, it's a little bit thicker. I feel like this works so much better. You can use this day or night, although they recommend it at night."

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"The Inkey List also has a mandelic acid spot treatment, which is really good."

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"This is the mandelic acid treatment, it's meant for acne and actually for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. What's different about this is that not only does it have this aha, this bitter almond derived hydrating exfoliant, but it's also got glycerin and retinol in it. This retinol is gold standard in dermatology, part of that vitamin A family, amazing for acne prone skin, but it's also got glycerin so this is hydrating. If you're someone who just cannot handle exfoliation in any capacity, spot treating is a great way to go. You're not going to prevent new breakouts from happening, you're only going to be treating the existing ones, but this is one of the best ways to do it."

Dr. Jenny Liu

322k subs

✓Yay

"This is another really lightweight non-sticky treatment serum so it's again really suitable for all skin types but in particular individuals who are more struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation or say if your skin is more on the sensitive side and you're looking for an exfoliant that is not going to be as irritating as glycolic acid I would give this one a try."

What the evidence says.

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

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

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

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List Mandelic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid?

A mandelic acid treatment serum designed to exfoliate and address pigmentation and blemishes on all skin types.

Is The INKEY List Mandelic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid worth it?

Yes. All 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 89%.

What is The INKEY List Mandelic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid's Guru Score?

The INKEY List Mandelic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid holds a Guru Score of 89%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.