Mandelic 5% AHA Liquid Exfoliating Serum

• WaterSolvent
• SD Alcohol 40Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Cosmetic Astringent
• Propylene GlycolSolvent, Skin Conditioning, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin-Conditioning agent - Miscellaneous
• Mandelic AcidAntimicrobial, Chemical Exfoliant
• HydroxyethylCelluloseViscosity Controlling, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Binding Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Film Forming
• Sodium PCASkin Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
• GlycerinSolvent, Perfuming, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Denaturant

  Ingredient Notes

  In a lab study, Malassezia was unable to grow on glycerin without the presence of fatty acids in the agar, indicating that it is not a fungal acne trigger.

  EWG2

  CIRS

  References

  • https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glycerol
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18510666
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11301638
  • https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/6/3/45
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29737895
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4128616
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC118058/
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15498574
  • http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZHYY201307007.htm
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25134312/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5137500/
• Hyaluronic AcidSkin Conditioning, Humectant, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Moisturising
• NiacinamideSkin Conditioning, Hair Conditioning, Smoothing

  Ingredient Notes

  Niacinamide is a B vitamin, but not one of the B vitamins linked to Malassezia. Growth work names thiamine (B1) and pyridoxine (B6) as increasing growth alongside a lipid, without being required for it. Thiamine is not food for the yeast: it speeds the step that turns an amino acid into the carbon skeleton it uses, and supplying that skeleton directly removes the need for thiamine entirely. B3 is not named in any of that work. We rate niacinamide safe on that evidence rather than treating the whole B group as one risk, and nothing we hold shows it treats fungal acne either.

  EWG1

  CIRS

  References

  • https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03616-3_4
  • https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-58-14895
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030050304
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605215/
  • https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dth.12481
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25399625/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3724370/
• Sodium BenzoateMasking, Fragrance, Preservative, Anti-corrosive
• Lactic AcidSkin Conditioning, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Skin-Conditioning, Humectant
• Citric AcidMasking, Fragrance, Chelating Agent, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent
• HydroxypropylCellulose(Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Emulsifying, Binding Agent, Binding, Film Forming, Viscosityincreasing Agent - Nonaqueous
• PanthenolSkin Conditioning, Anti-static Agent, Hair Conditioning
• Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root ExtractSkin Conditioning
• Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower ExtractSkin Conditioning, Masking, Perfuming
• Caprylyl GlycolSkin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant, Hair Conditioning
• EthylhexylglycerinSkin Conditioning, Deodorant

Packaging and formulations can change. Always verify the live box, bottle, or retailer ingredient list before use.