I've only used one Mandelic Acid product, Skin Beautiful's 15% Mandelic-Lactic Acid Exfoliator (this has since been renamed to Refining Micro-Peel Pads - same solution but in easier to use pads), but I absolutely love it. Catch the review HERE. In short it helps keep congestion down, blackheads away, my skin smooth and deals with pigmentation issues (especially post acne marks!!). The only thing I don't like about this product is that I can't use it every night, and I also have to wait at least 5 minutes before applying anything else to my skin. 

Since I see such great results from Mandelic Acid, I went on the hunt for a product I could use more than 2-3 times a week. Ideally I  wanted a product I could use daily if I felt so inclined. 

I went onto Skincarerx.com  and simply did a search for 'Mandelic Acid'. Up popped several Mandelic Acid products from Vivant!!! After reading the ingredient lists and descriptions, I promptly placed an order for the following:

Vivant 3% Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner, $44/4oz & I recently purchased a 16oz bottle for $79 off Amazon

Vivant Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Wash, $33/8oz

These are also available at dermstore.com, vivantskincare.com and amazon.com (sold by Vivant Skincare).  

Vivant 3% Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner

I'm on my second bottle of this toner, and just ordered my third - a huge 16oz'er!!!! If that doesn't say love, I don't know what does! Hands down, this is the best toner I've ever used...better than the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion and better than the ARCONA Raspberry Clarifying Pads (review HERE). 

Backing up a minute...when I speak about toner I'm not looking for something to necessarily take off residual makeup - good cleansing should do that. What I'm looking for is a skincare treatment, without having to slather on another serum, lotion or cream. I want results without the added bulk!

This Vivant Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner delivers on all fronts. It does everything the Skin Beautiful Mandelic-Lactic Acid did, but performs even better!! Since I can use the Vivant Toner twice/day, I feel my skin sees much greater benefits with the consistency. I hardly have any congestion now, and it has especially helped clear the teeny clogs that hovered around my chin and mouth area. I have seen an even greater improvement with pigmentation and general evening of skin tone, and in a much shorter amount of time than with the Skin Beautiful. 

With the exception of a small cyst I'm currently dealing with, I have not had a single new active spot show up since I started using this toner!! Did I mention that most of my old acne marks are almost all gone, and I've even been confident enough to go SANS makeup...in PUBLIC??!!! Seriously...that is a huge, huge deal for me. And I'm talking no makeup whatsoever, not even concealer - I haven't done that in almost 2 years!!!

Blackheads are almost nonexistent, my skin is soft and this toner helps keep my skin smooth. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the effectiveness of this Vivant Toner and I am so excited I took a chance to try it out. When i placed the order, i thought I was merely getting a Mandelic Acid toner. When the product arrived, however I was pleased to discover it also contains Lactic Acid and Niacinamide...for some reason the full ingredient list is not shown on any of the above listed sites. This 3% is listed for dry, sensitive skin and there is a 9% version that is listed for oily, acne prone skins.

From the Vivant site regarding the 3% Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner: 

An exceptional multi-purpose clarifying toner. It refines the surface of the skin and penetrates deep into pores to remove dirt, oil, makeup and pore-clogging dead skin cells. It suppresses acne bacteria, lifts off hyperpigmentation and stimulates new collagen growth.

Ingredients: 

Water, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Mandelic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid

Vivant Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

Didn't think I would say it this soon, but I've found something I like better than Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate!!! ExfoliKate (review HERE) has been on many an Empties post, and I really thought I'd be hard pressed to find something as effective, not to mention even more effective. Since I started using this exfoliator, I've been forcing - yes forcing!! - myself to sporadically use what I have left of ExfoliKate (a couple of full and a couple of partially used tubes). 

Sometimes ExfoliKate would sting, but this Vivant Mandelic Acid exfoliator never stings...nor does it feel in the least bit harsh. Like ExfoliKate, Vivant is super effective at loosening the glue holding dead cells and flakes together, but it does so more quickly! Yay! Vivant also cuts through every last bit of oil and grime, leaving my skin soft, smooth and clean to the touch. Since I started using this, I also have dramatically decreased how often I use baby washcloths to exfoliate. Best of all, Vivant is so much less expensive than ExfoliKate. At it's most economical ($175/5oz), ExfoliKate is $35 per oz. I can get 8 oz of Vivant for only $33 :-)  I will most definitely be repurchasing this!!! 

Oh, and it smells really good...somewhat grapefruit-y. The texture is a liquid gel, with exfoliating beads. This can be used as a cleanser, but I use it mainly as an exfoliator. If I use it too often it can dry my skin a bit...and by too often I mean twice a day - I actually use this from every other day to daily depending on how my skin feels and how much exfoliating I need.  If you have oily skin though, I think you would be fine using this twice a day.  

From the Vivant site regarding the Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser: 

Combines exfoliating beads with Mandelic Acid to restore healthy skin on the face and body. Great daily cleanser for adult acne with oily skin.

Ingredients:

Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyethylene, Mandelic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Butylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera (White Grape) Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinesis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Camellia Sinesis (Japanese Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance