There’s perhaps no other beauty company that better epitomizes the term “fan-favorite” than Sunday Riley. The Texas-based brand has been around for a decade, initially amassing devoted followers quietly and flying somewhat under the radar. But their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and this once niche brand is now a major force to be reckoned with. Credit their curated and relatively limited collection of products—currently less than 20—all of which use tried-and-true ingredients to make a noticeable difference in how your skin looks and feels. (Not to mention that the formulas are also free of parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances, too.)
The brand also recently announced a partnership with United Airlines, providing their first- and business-class amenities, and are now available at Ulta. The bottom line: If you haven’t yet heard of the brand, mark our words, you will soon.
Jump aboard the bandwagon with any—or all—of the best Sunday Riley products we think are true stand-outs.
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Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment
Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
If we absolutely, positively had to recommend just one Sunday Riley product, it would likely be this often buzzed about treatment. The Byrdie team is fully obsessed; it’s the winner of the best chemical exfoliator award in the 2019 Byrdie Skincare Awards.
The star of the show is, no surprise, purified lactic acid. It gently yet effectively exfoliates to even out and smooth your complexion and is coupled with other plant-based ingredients. New York City dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman says that combo of lactic acid, along with the brightening and soothing ingredients, make it a great product for combating fine lines and wrinkles, diminishing the look of dark spots, plumping the skin, and even getting rid of redness. (FYI, that lactic acid does give this a, let’s call it distinct, sour milk scent, but it’s a small price to pay for how well it works.) If your skin is sensitive, use it as a mask and rinse off after three minutes—it works that fast. Otherwise, leave it on overnight and prepare to be amazed when you look in the mirror come morning.
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Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment
Look carefully, because the packaging and the name of this and the above product are nearly identical. The brand first launched this variant back in 2018; it too is an overnight exfoliant, though slightly more potent, both with a higher concentration of acid and a stronger acid at that. It includes glycolic acid, and it promises to decongest skin, reverse sun damage, and boost your overall complexion. (Though yes, this can come with an increased likelihood of side effects, so this formula is best for those with oily or non-easily irritated skin.)
Type: Chemical | Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, potassium lactate | Size: 1 fl. oz. or 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
03
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Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser
This strikes the best face wash balance, cleansing without ever over-drying your skin. Its formula includes plant-based, ultra-gentle soaps, French clay, and rice oil esters, so the mask acts like a magnet to pull out dirt, oil, and other unwanted gunk while maintaining moisture, leaving your complexion balanced. While they call it a foaming cleanser, we find it veers more toward the creamy side of the spectrum, though never leaves behind a residue. Also nice: A little bit goes a long way, so one tube lasts quite a while.
Active Ingredients: Green clay, bentonite, white kaolin, rice esters, olive esters | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Cleanses, unclogs pores, hydrates | Size: 5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
04
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Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream for Dark Circles
No matter whether you’re trying to combat the effects of a late-night, an early morning, or the dreaded combo of both, reach for their Auto Correct Eye Cream. It includes caffeine and ginseng root, and it promises to take down puffiness almost instantly—try our trick and keep it in the fridge to further up the ante—while antioxidants and hydrating ingredients moisturize and smooth out the look of crow’s feet over time.
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, Brazillian ginseng root extract, acmella oleracea extract, watermelon rind extract, lutein | Benefits: Reduces puffiness, lifts, boosts radiance, reduces dark circles, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, hydrates | Dosage: 1 to 2 pumps | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley A+High-Dose Retinoid Serum
06
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Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Breaking news: Not all forms of Vitamin C are created equal. This rich serum uses a powerful form known as THD ascorbate; it’s stable and oil-soluble, quickly soaking into the skin so that it can reap the benefits, namely boosting radiance (Dr. Jaliman says it works well to combat both discolorations from sun damage and leftover acne marks), line-smoothing, and antioxidant protection.1 Consider it the best base layer to apply under sunscreen daily. The intense orangey scent is also a nice pick-me-up on sleepy mornings.
Benefits: Boosts radiance, fades dark spots, firms, plumps | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 pumps | Size: 1 fl. oz. or 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
Infused with blue tansy essential oils, this retinol oil does, in fact, go on blue, though blends in clear when rubbed in. It combines a retinoid complex, blue tansy, and German chamomile essential oil and promises to knock out fine lines and plump skin while combat sensitivity and redness. “It’s very hydrating, so I’d recommend this for someone with mature skin or for those with normal to dry skin,” says Dr. Jaliman, who is a fan. You may notice some positive changes the next day, though for best results give it a good four weeks.
Active Ingredients: Trans-retinol, blue tansy oil, german chamomile oil, cape chamomile oil, avocado seed oil, chia seed oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: Apply as needed | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. or 1.18 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream
Sunday Riley’s Ice Ceramide Moisturizer Revived My Dry Skin
Sure, this does the job of a good moisturizer, using two types of hyaluronic acid to attract water to the skin2 (and the oil-free, bouncy gel texture that’s innately cooling and refreshing is nice, too). But it doesn’t stop there. It’s infused with both papaya extracts and alpha-arbutin, so it also goes to town targeting unwanted spots and hyperpigmentation. And how pretty is the pastel turquoise hue?
Active Ingredients: Highly Purified Alpha-arbutin, papain (papaya enzymes), 2 forms of hyaluronic acid, tamarind extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. or 1.7 fl. oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil
We know, we know, oil and acne treatment sound like an oxymoronic pairing, but trust us, it’s not. This treatment is formulated with salicylic acid, milk thistle, cucumber seed oil, tea tree oil, and licorice, and it promises to decongest pores, hydrate skin, and fade any leftover acne marks.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, black cumin seed oil, licorice root, hexylresorcinol | Skin Type: All | Dosage: Apply as needed | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. or 1.18 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
Like a big ol’ glass of water for thirsty skin, this is a choice hydrator for anyone whose complexion skews on the dry side. It works two ways, first pulling in moisture, then locking it in, thanks to ceramides that keep your skin barrier strong and healthy.3 The results? Plumped skin that’s as soft as a baby’s booty. Rich and creamy, it’s a great pick to use in the dead of winter or pre-bedtime.
Active Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin F, coconut, beet root extract, red algae extract, pomegranate sterols | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination | Size: 1.7 oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream
If you love the C.E.O serum, you’ll appreciate that this heavy-hitting hydrator has that same potent version of vitamin C. But here it comes in a lower concentration, making it a good pick if your skin is slightly more sensitive. Unless your complexion is very dry, save this for bedtime use; it’s definitely heavy and can be a bit too much under makeup.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C THD ascorbate, exopolysaccharides, lime pearl, bisabolol | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, mature, oily, sensitive | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. or 1.7 fl. oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Blue Moon Clean Rinse Cleansing Balm
For those whose skin is ultra-dry, or for those who wear a lot of makeup and are too lazy to use a separate makeup remover (insert hand-raising emoji here), this is a great choice. Thick and luscious, the base is made of cocoa and moringa butter and uses sugar-based cleansers to help cleanse the skin. The vanilla and orange scent coupled with the luxe texture will make you feel like you’re in a spa, transforming run-of-the-mill face washing into the ultimate self-care moment.
Active Ingredients: Moringa butter, cocoa butter, sugar-based cleansers, blue tansy oil, german chamomile, tangerine essential oil, sweet orange essential oil | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, sensitive | Size: 3.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask
Dealing with a galaxy-sized pimple? Dab on this mask, packed with 10% sulfur to dry up blemishes,4 plus anti-inflammatory niacinamide to reduce redness5 and anti-bacterial tea tree oil,6 among other ingredients. (Plus, the green hue makes for great Insta’ masking content.) It contains sulfur, so fair warning, it is going to be smelly, but the benefits are worth it.
Benefits: Clears acne, prevents future breakouts, boosts radiance, unclogs pores, calms redness | Active Ingredients: Sulfur, niacinamide, zinc PCA, tea tree oil, manuka oil, bentonite | Skin Type: Acne-prone, combination, dry, balanced, oily | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence
While many of the products in the line are focused on the texture of the skin, this serum focuses on elasticity instead. Its formula includes peptides, probiotics, and a green tea-derived antioxidant—one of the most potent ones out there.
Active Ingredients: Firming peptides, ceramides, fermented honey, chlorella, kelp, sea water, pink yeast filtrate, EGCG | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Benefits: Resurfaces, balances, firms, hydrates | Size: 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum
Let’s not forget that your scalp is skin, too, and as such deserves equal time and attention. Enter this treatment, unlike any we’ve ever seen. An AHA/BHA combo (glycolic and salicylic acids, to be exact) deeply exfoliates the scalp, removing excess oil, product build-up, and other grime. Leave it on for anywhere from three to 30 minutes before washing hair as usual, up to a few times per week.
Benefits: Exfoliates, dissolves buildup, promotes healthy hair growth, rebalances, hydrates | Hair Type: All | Dosage: Create small sections and apply as needed | Size: 4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Sunday Riley Charcoal Smoothie Body Scrub
The brand’s only product meant for your body, this scrub combines both mechanical and chemical exfoliants, namely exfoliating powders plus salicylic acid and lactic acid. It’s also formulated with charcoal, coconut water, and avocado oil, and it promises to be effective without over-drying the skin. It is especially ideal for combatting KP, or so-called chicken skin, on the backs of your arms.
Type: Physical and chemical hybrid | Active Ingredients: Activated charcoal, salicylic acid, biodegradable wax, niacinamide, zinc PCA, coconut water, manuka branch and leaf oil, jojoba seed oil | Size: 7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What to Look For in Sunday Riley Products
Active Ingredients
When choosing Sunday Riley products, look for active ingredients known to provide results. Popular high-performing ingredients include AHAs, retinol, hyaluronic acid, clays, plant oils and extracts, vitamins, enzymes, and algae. Check the labels and do some research to find out what these active ingredients can do for your skin.
Skin Type
Your skin type determines which types of Sunday Riley products you should choose. Look for products designated for your skin type, whether that be acne-prone, dry, balanced, sensitive, or combination. If you have aging skin, you may wish to choose products that combat signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, etc. It’s best to avoid more harsh ingredients or ones that may clog your pores if you have sensitive skin or if certain ingredients cause breakouts.
Benefits
When choosing a Sunday Riley product, you likely want your purchase to go the distance. Look for products that provide the best benefits for your needs. All-in-one formulas, like Good Genes, are packed with many highly effective ingredients and can be a time and money-saving choice.
FAQ
Why is Sunday Riley so good?
Sunday Riley uses clinical testing and evidence-backed ingredients in its products and appropriately high concentrations of active ingredients, so you can actually see results. They are also carefully crafted for specific skin types and skincare needs.
Is Sunday Riley good for acne?
Sunday Riley is good for acne since they craft products specifically addressing acne-prone skin. Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil works wonders to unclog pores and treat active breakouts. Sunday Riley Good Genes contains lactic acid, an excellent ingredient for those with acne-prone skin. It provides gentle exfoliation to unclog pores and turn over skin cells for radiant, clearer skin.
Does Sunday Riley Good Genes really work?
Sunday Riley Good Genes really works for many people. The brand has become so popular because its products live up to claims. Good Genes is one of Sunday Riley’s most popular products because consumers love it and buy it consistently.