Where our claims come from

Wilson, J. "TikTokers Are Using This Common Acne Treatment As Deodorant. Does It Work?" HuffPost, June 27, 2023.

Cited for: Direct quotes from Dr. Zakia Rahman (Stanford), Dr. Christopher Bunick (Yale) and Dr. Brandon Cohen (Cedars-Sinai) on acids, bacteria and underarm odor.

Lawler, M. "Should You Try Mandelic Acid Deodorant?" Everyday Health, April 2026.

Cited for: Statements, as reported, from Dr. Michele Green and Dr. Maya Thosani on mandelic acid's gentleness and skin properties.

Higuera, V. "Mandelic Acid: Benefits, Uses, Vs. Glycolic Acid, and Precautions." Healthline, November 7, 2019. Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M.D.

Cited for: Exfoliation, pore-clearing and skin-tone benefits of mandelic acid.

Dębowska, R. M., Kaszuba, A., Michalak, I., et al. "Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of mandelic acid-containing cosmetic formulations for acne skin care." Dermatology Review (Przegląd Dermatologiczny) 102(4), 316–321, 2015.

Cited for: An open study of 60 participants using 5–10% mandelic acid cosmetics for two months.

"Mandelic acid," PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Cited for: Molecular weight of mandelic acid (152.15 g/mol).

"Glycolic acid," PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Cited for: Molecular weight of glycolic acid (76.05 g/mol), used for the "twice the size" comparison.

Kwaszewska, A., Sobiś-Glinkowska, M., Szewczyk, E. M. "Cohabitation—relationships of corynebacteria and staphylococci on human skin." Folia Microbiologica 59(6), 495–502, 2014.

Cited for: Skin corynebacteria, one of the main odor-causing groups, were inhibited at acidic pH (all 105 strains at pH 5.0).

Ågren, M. S., et al. "Zinc Oxide Inhibits Axillary Colonization by Members of the Genus Corynebacterium and Attenuates Self-perceived Malodour." Acta Dermato-Venereologica 100, adv00145, 2020.

Cited for: Underarm Corynebacterium strains survived less at pH 5.0 than at pH 6.0 in laboratory testing.

Lambers, H., Piessens, S., Bloem, A., Pronk, H., Finkel, P. "Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora." International Journal of Cosmetic Science 28(5), 359–370, 2006.

Cited for: Healthy skin is naturally acidic, and more acidic skin is associated with better barrier and skin-flora balance.

Body Thesis Lab. Formula 003 efficacy and consumer study (in progress).

Cited for: Results will be published here in full, with methodology, once testing is complete. Until then, no figures from our own testing appear on this site.