DL-Mandelic acid is an aromatic hydrocarbon metabolite of styrene. Mandelic acid is used as an ingredient in cosmetics and drug products applied topically.
Mandelic acid is a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid in which two of the methyl hydrogens are substituted by phenyl and hydroxyl groups. It has a role as an antibacterial agent and a human xenobiotic metabolite.