Sunday Riley A+ vs. Luna vs. Good Genes: Differences and Reviews 2025

• About Sunday Riley

Sunday Riley is a female-owned company from Houston, Texas. Its CEO, Sunday Riley, started the business in 2009. But their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and this once niche brand is now a major force to be reckoned with. The Sunday Riley motto is "Powered by science, backed by botanicals."

Each Sunday Riley product is a powerful, targeted treatment designed to visibly improve the quality of your skin, including the signs of aging, dryness, oiliness, acne, dehydration and the appearance of pores and spots (dark spots, age spots, old discolorations). Created with high-tech "now and later" benefits, each carefully crafted formula has instant results with long term payoff, for truly game-changing skin care.

WHERE TO BUY: 

Sephora (up to 4% cashback from Extrabux)

Sunday Riley (up to 12% cashback from Extrabux)

Dermstore (up to 7% cashback from Extrabux)

Macy's (up to 5% cashback from Extrabux)

SkinStore (up to 8% cashback from Extrabux)

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• The Difference & Reviews

| Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum

($85/30ml, up to 12% cashback at Sunday Riley)

What Does It Do? 

Elevate your skin care routine with A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum from Sunday Riley. This advanced-strength retinoid serum delivers a 6.5% solution of stabilized retinoid blends and botanical, retinol-alternative extracts into the skin. Combining 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol blend and .5% blue-green algae with natural, retinoid-alternative activity, this serum fights the signs of aging and improves the look of congested and UV damaged skin. Encapsulated CoQ10 helps to improve the appearance of aging or damaged skin, while rare, Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, cactus extract and ginger balance and soothe the skin for the appearance of calmer, even-toned complexion.

Key Ingredients:

- Retinoid Complex 6.5% (Retinol, Retinoid Ester, and Botanical Alt-Retinol): Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines and encourages signs of clearer skin.

- CoQ10: Improves the appearance of aging or UV-exposed skin, for a healthier-looking, balanced complexion.

- Hawaiian White Honey: A hydrating, calming, and soothing humectant rich in phytonutrients.

Best for: Those who want serious results without the unwanted side effects of traditional retinol formulations.

Texture: You can definitely get away with using just one or one and a half pumps to cover your entire face and neck. It comes out in a pale yellow fluid that's easy to spread and more reminiscent of a light lotion than a tacky serum. It absorbs quickly, doesn't feel greasy or heavy, and leaves no tingling sensation behind.

Fragrance: While the brand claims there is no added fragrance, you can detect a chemical-ish scent that lingered for a few minutes after you spread it over the face.Those who have a sensitive nose may want to consider getting a sample size to see if it's tolerable for them. 

Review: Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum is a fantastic middle ground between a low dose retinol/retinoid and the over the top prescription. This "high dose" serum gets high praise from the seasoned tretinoin users. This can be used on all skin types except those that are super sensitive. It does feel gentle on skin, and does not dry the skin out nor cause it to feel irritated and sensitized. The combination of hydration and exfoliation makes it a very capable retinoid, but even more so for those with oily, acne-prone skin. 

| Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

($105/35ml, up to 4% cashback at Sephora)

What Does It Do? 

Upgrade your nightly skin care routine with this powerful oil-based formula from Sunday Riley. LUNA Sleeping Night Oil is a next-generation retinol oil that boosts the look and feel of skin plumpness, while improving the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and pores for visibly younger-looking skin. 

Key Ingredients: 

- TRANS-RETINOL: Belongs to a class of chemical compounds termed retinoids, it's the potent ester of all-trans retinoic acid. Helps fight the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, promote skin elasticity, and stimulate exfoliation for clearer, smoother skin. Not appropriate for use during pregnancy.

- BLUE TANSY, GERMAN CHAMOMILE, AND CAPE CHAMOMILE ESSENTIAL OILS: Deep blue-green oils, rich in potent azulene. Wonderful for soothing the look of surface redness.

- AVOCADO SEED OIL: Great for plumping fine lines. Rich in anti-aging vitamins B,C,D,E, and A.

- CHIA SEED OIL: Richest botanical source of Omega 3. Powerful source of ALA, which helps minimize the appearance of lines.

Good for: Mature, dry, normal, combination, oily and acneic but NOT sensitive skin.

Texture: Marketed as a oil-based retinol, it feels like your regular face oil when applied. It isn't the most lightweight, but sinks in pretty quickly. It's designed for night time use only so this is not a problem even for those with oily skin. And yes, you can definitely use this even if you have oily skin! It leaves a hint of blue on the face, but that disappears and doesn't stain the pillow case either.

Fragrance: The smell of the oil is quite strong and herbal - there is no added fragrance, so what you get is the natural smell of the oil blend. It isn't pleasant, but not overwhelming and doesn't linger. 

Review: This oil is perfect for the nighttime routine as it works while you sleep. This gives the oil a better chance to help your skin, instead of throughout the day under possible layers of makeup. You wake up and notice the improvements over time in using this product. The texture is quite oily (not a dry oil texture) but it absorbs easily for skin. It's a gorgeous night treatment for anyone who's hoping to prevent development of creases or 'undo' existing damage. If you are looking for an effective retinol that is also gentle and also contain other wonderful anti aging ingredients, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

| Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

($85/30ml, up to 7% cashback at Dermstore)

What Does It Do? 

This multi-tasking, targeted lactic acid treatment rapidly exfoliates and boosts naturally youthful radiance, while visibly reducing the look of lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. High potency, purified grade lactic acid exfoliates dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells, to instantly clarify and reveal smoother, clearer skin. Together with skin brightening licorice, this super-concentrated treatment visually reduces the look of dark spots and discoloration caused by exposure to the sun, for naturally brighter, even-toned skin.

Key Ingredients:

- Purified Lactic Acid: Hydrates and exfoliates the surface layers of skin, smoothing its texture, improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and visibly clarifying blemishes.

- Licorice and Lemongrass: Brighten the appearance of dark spots and skin discoloration.

- Prickly Pear Extract: Soothes the appearance of surface redness and sensitive skin.

- Arnica: Soothes the skin, reducing the feeling of skin discomfort.

- Aloe: Soothes and moisturizes, without greasiness.

Good for: All skin types, except very sensitive skin.

Texture: Good Genes dispenses as a white creamy serum, but it quickly melts into the skin once applied. It's light yet hydrating and leaves the skin feeling smooth, plump, and dewy without much of a residue.

Fragrance: Sunday Riley doesn't use any artificial flavors in its products, but the natural botanicals in the Good Genes' ormulation give this product some citrus-floral flavor.

Review: Although the exact percentage of lactic acid is not disclosed, the formulation feels pretty concentrated. This treatment falls in perfectly where the results are quick and noticeable, as well as semi-long lasting. This product is also hydrating and moisturizing enough for you to use it without the need to follow up with additional hydration - unless you have very dry skin. Even though lactic acid is a gentler acid, it's still an AHA, which means it may increase your sensitivity to the sun and leave you more susceptible to sunburn.

One Sephora customer wrote, "I love this but wish it's not so expensive. I noticed some changes to my skin after using it for 4 months. I put it on twice a week at night. My skin appears to be healthy and glowly. I had some breakout at the beginning but my skin gotten use to it by now. I took out one star is because it's too pricy."

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