Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here knows of any UK-based websites that sell mandelic acid?

Thanks.

Ooooh you beat me to it!! I found a product range called Ishtar skincare (not 100% on address so just google it) and it's apparently the only UK supplier. It works out cheaper than getting it shipped from the US anyway.

I've been reading loads about this recently due to coming across LionQueen's posts and recommendations. It sounds fab so now I want some. It sounds ideal for me as I have loadsa blackheads/blocked pores, especially on my nose, and nothing seems to work regardless of the claims.
She also recommends green cream, but that's American too so might go for Avene's Diacneal, as I want a retinoid. Such a shame we can't get the same stuff easily over here.

Thank-you soooooooooo much! That's me now ordered some of the 10% mandelic acid- here's hoping it works on my many stubborn blackheads! I don't know how I didn't come across that website before- I had been searching the internet like mad! I'm so happy now . I'm also looking into that Diacneal stuff you mentioned as I've heard loads of positive things about green cream, too.

Yeah it is really annoying that not everything is available over here... I hate reading about some wonder product and getting all excited about it, only to discover it's only available in the US. International shipping charges HURT.

Well let me know how you get on as I haven't got around to ordering anything yet. Typically Boots appear to sell everything in the Avene range bar the Diacneal. Will have to do a more thorough search I think. Def want a retinoid aswell and LQ (and others) also recommend BHAs, of which Paula's Coice is a supplier. There's a European one which might be kinder on the shipping charges but I can't believe there's no-one in the UK that does it.
All the best in your search and I'll post if I turn up anything at my end.

Well I've been using the mandelic acid serum and glycolic acid cleanser I ordered from that Ishtar Skinlights website (thanks, kazza!) and it's simply fantastic!

Most of my skin problems are blackheads- I have loads that have just refused to go away and stay away forever. My skin is also really oily and I have huge gaping pores on my cheeks (lovely, I know). After I managed to get rid of my inflamed acne I sort of resigned to the fact that the blackheads/ large pores were here to stay (sheesh- I'm starting to sound like an infomercial!)... But no, the mandelic acid serum is working a treat! My blackheads are totally disappearing. I've still got quite a few but I can actually count them whereas before, my nose just looked bruised as it was just a big mass of blackheads! I can actually see a couple of cute wee freckles on my nose that I haven't seen in years as the blackheads hid them! I'm not noticing a huge difference in pore size just yet- the pores on my left cheek do look slightly smaller but my right cheek hasn't really improved (maybe that's because I sleep on my right side and rub the product off? Hmmm, I don't know). But I'm sooooo pleased with the results so far!

The Ishtar Skinlights people are also a really nice company to deal with. The cleanser was sent separately from the serum because there was a delay in it arriving to them or something and they sent me a hand-written note to apologise. 'Twas a nice touch!

Anyway, just thought I'd update you with my results. I was so disheartened reading about the different mandelic-acid containing products and how fantastically they worked as I thought if I wanted to try it out, I'd have to pay huge international shipping charges but no, I'm so happy to have found a UK-based supplier and that the mandelic acid is doing everything that LionQueen promised it would! Yay!

I'm eternally grateful, kazza!

Hey Glitterball,

Did you buy the glytone and ultralase 10?

Sounds like i'm similar to you in that blackheads was my major problem. I live in uk and bought some mandelic from gow in the us and it is amazing stuff, i don't have hardly any now! But it does cost quite a bit so just wondered exactly which products you bought.

Ishtar are a fantastic company who will send samples, But unfortunately for me i used a sample as well as their face wash and the face wash feels very stick and lacks cleansing ability, and their mandelic acid serum was drying, of course.

However i was beginning a minor breakout when i trialed the products, but they certainly seemed to actually make things worse unfortunately. i know this isn't the case with most people, and as with any product, you have to stick it through for a while to see results.

I, however, am trying to avoid allowing my skin to become dependent on a particular acid or peroxide to remain clear as i made that mistake with Benzoyl Peroxide aka CRACK FOR MY SKIN.

I would recommend using any clearing product less frequently than directed so your skin does not develop a dependency on the product for clarity.