Mandelic Acid is a gentle giant that belongs to a group of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). It provides many benefits for your skin and is the powerhouse behind Lume’s success as a Whole Body Deodorant.

Mandlic Acid is derived from bitter almonds or produced synthetically. Lume uses synthetically produced Mandelic Acid, which is equally effective but does not pose any risks to those with nut allergies.

How Mandelic Acid Works

Mandelic acid chemically exfoliates dead skin cells, improving the look and feel of skin. Exfoliating helps promote collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Mandelic Acid also has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Exfoliating also helps products work better because by removing the top layer of dead skin, the beneficial ingredients in deodorant and body care products are able to better penetrate skin.

Why Mandelic Acid For Deodorant?

We know that Mandelic Acid is a great exfoliant, but what’s the science behind using it in deodorant?

It’s probably most helpful to first understand how odor forms. Bacteria living on our skin consume bodily fluids (sweat, blood, urine, and semen) and create odor. The odor reaction is the same regardless of whether it takes place in our armpits, privates, or feet.

Odor causing bacteria thrive in a high pH environment. So let’s say our skin has a natural pH of around 4.7 - 5.75, which is slightly acidic. When you introduce a product or bodily fluid with a pH higher than that of skin, odor reactions accelerate.

Average pH Ranges of Bodily Fluids

Sweat 5.7 - 7.3

Blood 7.35 - 7.45

Urine 4.6 - 8.0

Semen 7.2 - 8

Ever had any of these bodily fluids on your skin?

You can see why the bodily fluids many of us come in contact with regularly can create odor: They raise skin’s pH—and again, odor causing bacteria LOVE a high pH environment. If you are interested in learning a bit more about pH and odor control, check out this blog.

Low pH = Odor Control + Happy Skin

What better way to control body odor than keeping the pH of odor prone areas as low as possible?

Enter Mandelic Acid with a low enough pH that it brings Lume Deodorant into the Outrageously Effective range. Because it is so gentle, it also makes Lume Deodorant ideal for using in areas where pH really matters, like private parts. And that’s how Lume Deodorant brought odor control into the 21st century.

Learn more about alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).

Learn more about the skin loving benefits about the skin loving benefits of Mandelic Acid in Lume Deodorant and Body Care.

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