Can you use The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA with The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane?
Yes, with timing
Use them at different times of day or on different nights.
The Ordinary's own mandelic acid 10% + HA page lists retinoids among the products not to use with it, which matches our advice to use them on different nights.
Based on 4 active-ingredient pairings, listed below.
How to use them
- Night A: Retinol. Night B: Mandelic acid. Or use mandelic acid in the morning and retinol at night if your skin tolerates it.
- Start slowly (2-3 nights a week each) and moisturize.
- Daily sunscreen is essential with both.
Every active pairing checked
| Actives | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mandelic Acid + retinol | Yes, with timing | Yes, with timing. Use retinol and mandelic acid on alternating nights rather than together. |
| Mandelic Acid + squalane | Yes | Yes. Squalane is a good partner for mandelic acid. |
| Hyaluronic Acid + retinol | Yes | Yes. Hyaluronic acid is an easy, gentle partner for retinol. |
| Hyaluronic Acid + squalane | Yes | Yes. Hyaluronic acid and squalane can be used together. |
What's in each product
Key actives
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Actives read from each brand's published ingredient list (as transcribed on INCIDecoder and INCIDecoder). Formulas change; check your bottle.
Sources
- The Ordinary. Mandelic Acid 10% + HA: product page.
- Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(5):606-612.
- Mukherjee S, et al. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clin Interv Aging. 2006;1(4):327-348.
- Dayal S, Kalra KD, Sahu P. Comparative study of efficacy and safety of 45% mandelic acid versus 30% salicylic acid peels in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(2):393-399.
- Garg VK, Sinha S, Sarkar R. Glycolic acid peels versus salicylic-mandelic acid peels in active acne vulgaris and post-acne scarring and hyperpigmentation: a comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35(1):59-65.
- Malviya A, Shrivastava S, Pancholi S, et al. A Prospective Study Comparing Clinical Efficacy of 30% Mandelic Acid Peel Versus 30% Lactic Acid Peel in Periorbital Melanosis. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2025;16(6):916-920.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Cosmetic ingredients. Content current as of 11/22/2022.
- Fiume M, et al. Squalane and squalene. Int J Toxicol. 2023;42(3 Suppl):107S-109S.
- Huang ZR, Lin YK, Fang JY. Biological and pharmacological activities of squalene and related compounds: potential uses in cosmetic dermatology. Molecules. 2009;14(1):540-554.
- Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):253-258.
- Pavicic T, et al. Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(9):990-1000.
- Zanchetta C, Scandolera A, Reynaud R. Hyaluronic Acid in Topical Applications: The Various Forms and Biological Effects of a Hero Molecule in the Cosmetics Industry. Biomolecules. 2025;15(12):1656.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers). Content current as of 07/06/2023.
- INCIDecoder. The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA: ingredient list.
- INCIDecoder. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: ingredient list.