Are They Dupes? The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA VS Stratia Soft Touch AHA

Last Updated on November 19, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Have you heard of mandelic acid? It’s the newest exfoliating acid on the skincare block. It shot to fame in Asia thanks to its gentle touch. Word on the street has it, even sensitive skin can use it without risking irritation. You’ll find it in both Stratia Soft Touch AHA and The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA. At first sight, the two are so similar, you could call them dupes. But when you dig deeper, one definitely has the edge. So, which one is better?

What Ingredients Do The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA And Stratia Soft Touch AHA Have In Common?

MANDELIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN

Mandelic acid belongs to the same family as glycolic acid, AHAs. But it’s twice its size. Literally. Mandelic is 152.1 daltons while glycolic 76. Size matters: because mandelic acid is so big, it penetrates skin more slowly and not as deeply as glycolic acid. That means it can dissolve the “glue” that holds skin cells together without irritation.

Once those dead cells are off your face, your skin is smoother, softer and brighter. It’s just that mandelic takes a little longer than glycolic to work so don’t be surprised if you don’t see results immediately. Mandelic acid isn’t good just for sensitive skin. This acid also has antibacterial properties that help you get rid of P. Acnes, the bacteria that’s making you life so miserable.

I personally prefer glycolic and salicylic to mandelic acid. They’re smaller molecules so they work that little bit better. But if your skin’s so sensitive, it can’t tolerate them, mandelic acid makes for a fine alternative.

P.S. Both Stratia Soft Touch AHA and The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA use 10% mandelic acid.

Related: AHAs VS BHA: Which One Should You Use?

HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN

Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet. Literally. Its job is to draw water from the air into the skin and bind it there. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!

But what if there’s not enough moisture in the skin? Then, hyaluronic acid takes moisture from the deeper layers of your skin all the way up to the superficial layers.

It’s not as drying as you think. Your skin is made up of 64% water. Hyaluronic acid just redistributes it. Once the superficial layers have this extra moisture, it plumps up so fine lines looks smaller and takes on a dewy glow.

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type

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What Else Do The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA And Stratia Soft Touch AHA Have In Common?

STRATIA SOFT TOUCH AHA INGREDIENTS

• Water (Aqua): This is plain old water, like the boring but gotta-have-it juice that keeps everything wet and mixable. No water, no product.
• Propylene Glycol: This is the slick sidekick that keeps your skin from drying out and makes sure the good stuff actually sinks in without wasting away.
• Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6: Sounds like some sci-fi stuff, but it’s just the thickener that makes the product feel slick but not runny. Keeps it all together so you don’t waste a drop.
• Panthenol: Vitamin B5’s chill cousin that calms and soaks your face in moisture so it doesn’t feel like sandpaper.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: Straight up aloe juice, the OG skin smoothie to calm and hydrate when your face screams “Give me a break!”
• Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract: Chamomile, but for your skin. It’s the “calm your shit down” potion for redness and irritation.
• Glycerin: The MVP that grabs water and holds onto it like it’s got trust issues, so your skin stays juicy and not dried out.
• Allantoin: The nurse that patches you up when your skin’s mad or itchy. Soothes and helps heal like a boss.
• Sodium Hydroxide: This one’s the pH bouncer-keeps everything chill and balanced so your skin doesn’t get all weird and freak out.
• Diazolidinyl Urea: The bodyguard preservative making sure your product doesn’t grow nasty stuff like bacteria or mold while you ignore it in your bathroom.
• Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: Another tough preservative that’s basically the product’s security guard. Keeps it safe and fresh so you don’t catch a funky break out.

THE ORDINARY MANDELIC ACID 10% + HA INGREDIENTS

• Glycerin: Think of glycerin as your skin’s best friend-it pulls moisture from the air and keeps it locked in, so you stay soft and dewy instead of cracking.
• Dimethyl Isosorbide: A sneaky helper that makes sure all the active ingredients penetrate deep rather than just sitting on top. Basically, it’s the delivery guy for your skincare goods.
• Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract: Also called Tasmanian pepperberry, but really? It’s just the calming dude that stops redness and irritation dead in its tracks.
• Pentylene Glycol: Another moisture magnet that also fights off bacteria. Keeps your stuff fresh, your skin soft.
• Polysorbate 20: This one’s like the mixer in a cocktail-makes sure all the ingredients stay friends and don’t separate into weird layers.
• Sodium Hydroxide: The pH balancer. It’s like the referee, making sure everything stays in the right zone so your skin doesn’t freak out.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: A softener that also works as a preservative. It keeps things fresh and your skin feeling nice.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: The behind-the-scenes guy that kills bacteria lurking around and helps keep your product from going bad.
• Caprylyl Glycol: Final piece of the puzzle-moisturizer that keeps your skin soft and a little germ killer to make sure your product stays clean.

WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?

Both The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA and Stratia Soft Touch AHA have anti-inflammatory ingredients that soothe redness and irritation. The Ordinary uses Tasmanian pepperberry while Stratia opted for plain old chamomile.

The choice of preservatives is also different. The Ordinary opted for Caprylyl Glycol, a preservative that’s way gentler for sensitive skin. Its antimicrobial activity isn’t as strong, but it’ll still help to keep your exfoliant safer for longer.

Lesson learned: when the main actives are the same, it’s those little ingredients no one pays much attention to that can make the difference.

Related: Parabens Alternatives: Which Ones Are Safe And Effective?

What’s The Texture Like?

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA kinda feels like a light oil that’s surprisingly not heavy. Imagine a serum that almost glides on like water but with a tiny slickness that keeps it from feeling thirsty on your skin. It’s not greasy or sticky – more like a whisper of oil, just enough to make your skin feel like it got a little treat but still totally breathable. You won’t catch yourself waiting forever for it to dry because it settles down pretty quick, leaving your face soft but not slick.

Now, Stratia Soft Touch AHA is a totally different beast. This one’s got that cloudy, milky vibe going on, and it’s thicker, not like water at all. It’s creamy but not heavy – kind of like when you think “liquid silk.” It spreads effortlessly, almost like your skin drinks it up while you’re applying, and there’s no drama with it running everywhere or leaving you feeling sticky afterwards. It’s more of a “comfort hug” for your skin than just a treatment.

What’s The Packaging Like?

If you’ve ever had anything from The Ordinary, you know what’s up: plain, no-frills amber bottle with a dropper. It’s all business, very “science lab meets skincare.” The dropper is chill for precise dosing, but if you’re in a rush, it can get a bit clumsy. Dropper tips sometimes drip or get product on the bottle neck. The vibe is humble and minimal, but you get the job done.

On the flip side, Stratia’s packaging is cooler in a more everyday, user-friendly way. It’s this white bottle with a pop of red and a pump that’s super easy to handle. No second-guessing how much you’re squeezing out and no messy spills on your vanity. Plus, it feels light and sturdy, kinda perfect for tossing in your bag or travel kit. Pump bottles just feel like your little life hack when you’re lazy (or not) at night.

How To Use Them

Both of these guys play best a couple of nights a week, maybe two or three depending on what your skin can take. You want to be fresh-faced first, like freshly cleansed dry skin, then spread on either one after the wash. Definitely don’t buddy them with retinoids on the same night unless your skin is ridiculously chill and can handle the combo without throwing a tantrum. Think of these as your gentle exfoliating heroes – slowing down dead skin buildup, smoothing things out, and prepping your skin to soak up all the good stuff that comes after. Nighttime only, because that’s when they work best without getting irritated.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

Both Stratia Soft Touch AHA and The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA are good mandelic acid exfoliants. You can expect the same results from both. But if your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% is a gentler option. It’s cheaper, too.

Related: The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Full Review

Price & Availability

Stratia Soft Touch AHA ($18.00): available at Stratia

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA ($7.80): available at Asos, Cult Beauty, Escentual, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, UIta and Yes Style

Is The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA A Dupe For Stratia Soft Touch AHA?

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA and Stratia Soft Touch AHA aren’t exact dupes, but they do the same thing: they gently exfoliate sensitive skin, leaving it softer, smoother and brighter. But The Ordinary is a little gentler.