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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA versus Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 21, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin and reducing pores

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Canadian Brand Canada
Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Mandelic Acid 10% + HA

Starts at $7.50
Shop

Buy Mandelic Topical Acid 12%

Starts at $20.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Reduces Large Pores
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating (2)
Rosacea
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA contains this as ingredient number 1.

Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% contains this as ingredient number 3.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA contains this as ingredient number 2.

Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
What it does: Antimicrobial
Community Rating: Liked

Mandelic Acid helps exfoliate skin. It also contains antioxidant properties.

As an AHA, Mandelic Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Mandelic Acid may be an alternative to Glycolic Acid for those with sensitive skin.

Mandelic Acid may help reduce wrinkles, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Mandelic Acid

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA contains this as ingredient number 3.

Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA contains this as ingredient number 13.

Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% contains this as ingredient number 7.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

54% are loved or liked
31% have mixed ratings
15% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
53% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
37% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA 13 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 4 ratings
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352's avatar

JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352

23 days ago · Oily Skin
Review

Gentle and didn't break me out. I love it

Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12% 19 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Heavy (1) Strong Scent (1)
MichelleR's avatar

MichelleR

4 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

It smells SO bad. And not like a subtle, go away after a few minutes, smell. It's a lingering, potent, i need to write a review about it, smell....

It smells SO bad. And not like a subtle, go away after a few minutes, smell. It's a lingering, potent, i need to write a review about it, smell. Two stars because, so far it doesn't break me out and is a gentle enough exfoliator to use on days after my retinoid. The jury is still out on whether or not I can get past the smell enough to use it consistently enough to see results. More to follow.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Naturium Mandelic Topical Acid 12%.

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