Almond Clear Level 2 Mandelic Acid Serum Review

Where Level 1 is the everyday all-rounder, the Almond Clear Level 2 Serum is the heavy-duty option for the body. It steps the mandelic acid up to 15%, which is deliberately matched to the thicker, more resilient skin below the neck - the areas where breakouts tend to be more stubborn and slower to shift.

First Impressions

Like its sibling, it is a thin, clear, fragrance-free gel that absorbs within a minute or two and dries down clean. The difference is in the strength, not the feel - there is no heavy or medicated texture to it.

What it targets

This is the one to reach for when body breakouts have not budged. The higher concentration digs into congested pores and follicles to clear the debris and bacteria behind bacne, chest and shoulder breakouts, and folliculitis. Because mandelic acid also resurfaces the skin evenly, it works on the dark marks and scarring those breakouts leave behind, gradually replacing pigmented, uneven skin with clearer new cells.

How it performs

Used twice daily and given a minute to soak in before you dress, it is genuinely effective on areas that facial actives often can't reach or aren't strong enough for. The clearing feel comes first, with tone and scarring evening out over several weeks of consistent use. Even at 15%, the larger mandelic molecule keeps it more tolerable than you would expect from an acid this strong - though it is still firmly a body product.

Worth knowing

Keep this one below the neck. The brand specifically formulates Level 2 for the body and discourages facial use, since 15% is a lot for thinner, more sensitive facial skin - Level 1 is the face version. Patch test a small area first, build up frequency as tolerated, and protect any exposed skin with SPF during the day.