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I remember the first time I heard about Sunday Riley. There was big talk about their Good Genes serum and how it was life changing. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t in the position to purchase expensive skincare products. Years went by and then I moved on to other things. During that time, I tried many skincare products, but I never circled back to Sunday Riley until last year. What brought Sunday Riley back on my radar? A subscription box of all things. After testing the samples, I realized I had to do a deep dive into the brand.
For this review, I ordered a bunch of products during the Black Friday sale in November. Now after months of testing and taking notes, here are my honest thoughts on all things Sunday Riley.
Ceramic Slip French Green Clay Cleanser
Ceramic Slip is a daily gel cleanser that removes dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities from your skin. Made with plant-based soaps that naturally purify skin and remove makeup, Ceramic Slip is formulated to clean and balance even the most sensitive skin.
I found that this cleanser did a great job of degreasing my face without stripping the skin. It struggles to remove very light makeup, so I recommend using a cleansing balm or oil before washing with Ceramic Slip.
Verdict: I will be buying this cleanser again. I see this being my go-to face wash during the warmer months when my skin is oiler.
Shop Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip at Sephora
Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream
Auto Correct is a brightening, firming eye cream with caffeine, watermelon, and light-reflecting particles formulated to improve the look of under-eye dark circles and bags.
I am and will forever be team eye cream. And this one is really nice. I like that it is hydrating but it doesn’t feel heavy.
Verdict: The jury is still out on whether I will buy this eye cream again. I have a backlog of eye creams to test out, so it will be a while before I need to purchase another.
Shop Sunday Riley Auto Correct at Sephora
CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
This Vitamin C serum is formulated with plant saccharides and 15 percent vitamin C (THD ascorbate) to visibly minimize pores, brighten dark spots, and target signs of aging.
My skin gets angered easily and there are a few ingredients that are usually to blame, one of which is Vitamin C. Another is glycolic acid. This product has both of them. However, the form of Vitamin C used in this serum is highly stable and less likely to cause irritation. Also, the glycolic acid is near the bottom of the ingredient list. So for the sake of science and a good review, I tried this serum anyway. And I have to say I didn’t hate it. I used it a couple of times a week in the morning and I had no irritation.
Verdict: While I didn’t experience any irritation while testing, I won’t be adding this serum to my routine. I just prefer to use a serum that addresses redness or adds hydration.
Shop Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C Brightening Serum at Sephora
ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
The Sunday Riley ICE Moisturizer is a pro-ceramide moisturizer that strengthens the natural moisture barrier against environmental stressors.
If you love a cream that is really going to seal in your skincare, this is the moisturizer for you. If you have oily skin or like a moisturizer that feels lighter on the skin, I would skip the ICE Moisturizing cream.
Verdict: Unfortunately, this moisturizer is too heavy for me to use every day and I will not be repurchasing it.
Shop Sunday Riley ICE Moisturizing Cream
Retinoid+Niacinamide Eye Serum
The 5 Stars Retinol + Niacinamide Eye Serum is a retinol eye serum with niacinamide to target the look of fine lines and wrinkles and soothe, smooth, and rehydrate for overnight restoration.
I love love love this stuff. I started seeing results almost immediately. My eyes just look more awake, less tired, and less dark. I know it can be scary to put retinol under your eyes but I promise I did not have any reaction. I don’t use it daily, but I do use it about every other night when I use the A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum.
Verdict: I will 100% buy this again.
Shop Sunday Riley Retinoid Eye Serum
A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
This product is an advanced retinoid serum powered by a blend of retinoid ester and retinol to improve the look of lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, while honey and CoQ10 offer anti-aging support.
I was apprehensive to try this retinol serum. My last retinol serum had a .33 percent of retinol, so when the description of this product says it has a 6.5% solution of stabilized retinoids I was a bit worried I might burn off my face. However, that wasn’t a problem because this uses retinoid esters and encapsulated retinol, both of which are a bit gentler on the skin.
To be on the safe side, I am not sure I would recommend this to someone that has never used retinol before. I would suggest trying a lower concentration and then moving up to this one.
Verdict: I really like this serum, but I am going to hold off on repurchasing it. I have some other retinol serums that I was sent and need to try first.
Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
Good Genes is a lactic-acid, AHA serum that targets the look of pores, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots and is clinically shown to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
This was the product that started it all. Back in the day, Good Genes was an exciting launch, but now AHA products are everywhere. I have at least three serums just like this and Good Genes is not the one I reach for the most.
Verdict: While I do like this serum, I won’t be repurchasing Good Genes because there are other lactic acid treatments that I prefer more.
Shop Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment at Sephora
Sunday Riley Facial Oils
Sunday Riley offers a variety of oils. I’ve tried the CEO, UFO, Luna oils. I’m just going to admit that I don’t prefer them. I would much rather use their serum counterparts.
Sunday Riley’s Prices
Let’s start by talking about the cost of these Sunday Riley products. All of their prices are a bit high when compared to bargain beauty brands, but comparing Sunday Riley to The Inkey List is a lot like comparing Kia to BMW. They might sell the same product but the experience isn’t the same.
When compared to similar brands like Drunk Elephant and Youth To The People, they are often more expensive, but not by much.
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if Sunday Riley is worth the investment for you. If you can afford to try the brand, they do have some nice options.
Final Thoughts On Sunday Riley
I really enjoyed testing out the Sunday Riley products. For the most part, the products worked well and were enjoyable to use. I also found that the price was reasonable given the product quality and the user experience.
I do think they are missing a few products in their lineup. I’d love to see a mask, a plain mid-weight moisturizer, and a toner added to the line.
Shop Sunday Riley at Sephora
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