Best Sunday Riley Products: What To Buy (& What To Avoid) [2023]

I’ve already shared the best Sunday Riley products. But every now and then, someone will ask… “Gio, you’ve left out this oil or that serum. Is there a reason why? Is it worth the money?” Sometimes. Just because something doesn’t make it into the “Best Of” list, it doesn’t mean it sucks. If I were to include anything that’s good, it’d hardly be a best of list, would it?

Other times, I do leave a product out because it doesn’t live up to my standards or is downright bad for skin. It’s time to tell you about them too, so you won’t waste your money on stuff that doesn’t deliver. So, here it is: the complete guide to Sunday Riley skincare products. Find out what’s really worth the splurge and what’s best to avoid:

NOTE: This article contains review of ALL Sunday Riley skincare products for the face, not the scalp or body.

Table Of Contents

About The Brand: Sunday Riley

In 2009, Sunday Riley pitched Good Genes (the brand’s most popular product) and a few other prototypes of her new brand to Barneys. They not only liked the idea, but suggested to the founder that she name the brand after herself. Fast forward a few years, Sunday Riley has achieved cult status thanks to its skincare products, “Powered by science, backed by botanicals.”

The brand states it uses “advanced, clinically proven ingredients blended with balancing botanicals, for non-irritating, fast-acting formulas.” I’m not sure I’d agreed with that. The brand uses a lot of derivatives of proven-to-work powerhouses like Vitamin C and retinol – derivative that haven’t been proven to work as well yet. And a lot of the botanicals are irritating. Still, there are enough in this brand to make it worth the splurge – you just need to know what to get.

What Are The Best Sunday Riley Products Worth Your Money?

Best Facial Oil For Dry & Dull Skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C And Turmeric Face Oil ($40.00)

You can tell Sunday Riley isn’t lying about turmeric. It’s what gives C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C And Turmeric Face Oil its bright orange colour. It’s a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals. Just like Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (TA), the form of Vitamin C used here. TA is a derivative of L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of Vitamin C) that penetrates skin deeper than all other forms of Vitamin C to better boost collagen production.

The moisturising base of this product is made up of nourishing oils like cranberry, jojoba, and pomegranate. They create a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss, keeping it hydrated for longer. Sure, the texture is a bit greasy (it’s an oil, after all), but it still sinks in fairly quickly on dry skin. The catch? It uses a few drops of citrus oils, which can be irritating for sensitive skin.

Available at: Dermstore, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Turmeric and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C).
Benefits: Brightens skin and prevents wrinkles.
Cons: Contains a few drops of essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: Dry and dull skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t contain any artificial fragrant, but it has fragrant citrus oils that makes it smell good (but may irritate sensitive skin).

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Best Spot Treatment: Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask ($55.00)

Warning: Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask isn’t a mask. It’s a spot treatment. Here’s why: it contains sulfur, a powerful active fighter. It honestly gets rid of pimples faster than anything else I’ve ever tried. The catch? Sulfur is super drying. It’s ok to leave it a few hours on a small pimple, but NOT to apply it all over your skin. Plus, this treatment has a sprinkle of other acne-fighters: Zinc PCA absorbs excess oil, Niacinamide reduces redness, and allantoin soothes inflammation. Just use it carefully!

Available at: Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges

Active Ingredients: Sulfur, zinc PCA, and niacinamide.
Benefits: Absorbs excess oils and gets rid of pimples.
Cons: Can be drying.
Skin type: Acne-prone skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.

Best For Exfoliating Sensitive Skin: Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment ($85.00)

How do you exfoliate sensitive skin? Your best bet is lactic acid. It belongs to the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) family (the same family as Glycolic Acid), but it’s gentler on the skin. It gets rid of dead skin cells, making skin brighter and smoother – without the irritation (unless you use it too often). Plus, it hydrates skin to boot.

Talking about hydration, Sunday Riley All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment has squalane. It’s one of the few oils everyone can use (even people with fungal acne). It’s super moisturising. Non-irritating. And non-comedogenic. My only concern is the small drop of lemongrass oil. Like all fragrant oils, it can irritate sensitive skin. But if your skin is fine with that, there’s no reason not to use it.

Available at: Dermstore, Sephora, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Lactic Acid.
Benefits: Exfoliates and brightens skin.
Cons: Contains a small drop of irritating lemongrass.
Skin type: Sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t contain any artificial fragrant, but there’s a fragrant essential oil that makes it smell good (but may irritate sensitive skin).

Best For Sun-Damaged Skin: Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment ($85.00)

Sunday Riley reformulated its iconic Lactic Acid Treatment for the European market. Instead of Lactic Acid, it uses Glycolic Acid, another exfoliating acid that removes dead cells, brightens skin, and fades away dark spots. It’s more powerful and gives you results faster than Lactic Acid, but it’s potentially more irritating so not suitable for sensitive skin. It has a drop of lemongrass oil that can be irritating, but if your skin is good with that, this is a wonderful exfoliant for dry skin and sun-damaged skin. For best results, use it every other night, alternating it with retinol.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, and SpaceNK.

Active Ingredients: Glycolic Acid.
Benefits: Exfoliates and brightens skin.
Cons: Contains a small drop of irritating lemongrass.
Skin type: Dry skin and hyperpigmentation.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t contain any artificial fragrant, but there’s a fragrant essential oil that makes it smell good (but may irritate sensitive skin).

Best Facial Oil For Dry & Sensitive Skin: Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil ($36.00)

Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Facial Oil is my fave face oil from the brand. While the other offerings contain a mix of nourishing and irritating oils, the oil mixture here is only moisturising and soothing. Blueberry, grape seed, and the other oils deeply moisturise skin, soothe irritation and eczema, and even help you fight premature wrinkles. The only drawback? The greasy texture (hey, it’s still an oil). Use it at night. P.S. This is for dry skin only. These nourishing oils do wonders for dry skin, but may cause breakouts in oily and acne-prone skin.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Revolve, SpaceNK, Ulta

Active Ingredients: Blueberry oil and grape seed oil.
Benefits: Very moisturising.
Cons: It’s an oil, so it has a greasy texture.
Skin type: Dry skin, sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.

Best For Antiaging: Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum ($85.00)

First things first: Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum doesn’t really contain a high dose of retinoids. Officially, you get 5% Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR, or what The Ordinary calls Granactive Retinoid) and 1% retinol. In practice, HPR suppliers use a 90/10 mix of the solvent dimethyl isosorbide + HPR while retinol itself is a “liposomal-encapsulated retinol blend”.

In plain English, you’re getting smaller doses of both. But that’s ok. Retinoids work even at incredibly low concentrations – and they’re unlikely to irritate skin. They fight off free radicals, boost collagen production, and speed up your skin’s cellular turnover. Translation: brighter, smoother, more even toned skin. Even though this serum is gentle, it’s still a good idea to start slow and using it only a couple of nights a week to give your skin the chance to get used to it.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Revolve, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and retinol.
Benefits: Fights premature aging.
Cons: Retinol can irritate and dry out skin.
Skin type: All skin types.
Fragrance-free: Yes,

Best Cleanser For Dry Skin: Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser ($35.00)

I know this is a controversial. After its reformulation, Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser received an onslaught of bad reviews. Why? It has completely changed its skin. It went from being a heavy-duty cleanser for oily skin to a gentle, moisturising cleanser for dry skin. Of course oily-skinned people don’t like it anymore! But if you’ve got dry skin, you’re now in for a treat. Its milky texture quickly removes all traces of dirt, grime and non-waterproof makeup without drying out your skin. But if you’re wearing more makeup than a Kardashian, you’ll need a separate makeup remover.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (gentle cleansing agents).
Benefits: Cleanses skin without irritating it.
Cons: Too moisturising for oily skin.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: It has no artificial fragrance, but a drop of citrus oil that makes it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).

Best For The Eye Area: Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum ($65.00)

You don’t need an eye cream. They can’t reduce dark circles or puffy eyes. They contain ingredients your facial serums and moisturisers do. So, I simply apply my retinol and Niacinamide serums all over my face, eye area included (I just apply LESS retinol there). But if you want to use a separate eye cream, this is a good option to consider.

Retinol treats crow’s feet and prevents new wrinkles from forming while Niacinamide counteracts some of the irritating and drying effects. While it’s at it, it also hydrates and brightens skin. Plus, it has a bunch of soothing extracts to help your skin better tolerate retinol. Still, use it only 2/3 times a week. The skin there is delicate. Too much retinol will just irritate it.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges, and SpaceNK.

Active Ingredients: Retinol and niacinamide.
Benefits: Fights crow’s feet and brightens skin.
Cons: Retinol can irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: All skin types, as long as your skin can tolerate retinol.
Fragrance-free: Yes.

Best For Sun Protection: Sunday Riley Light Hearted Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen ($35.00)

This lightweight sunscreen uses a combination of mineral and chemical UV filters to provide broad-spectrum protection against UV rays, thus preventing premature aging. Plus, it has a few antioxidants to boost sun protection and prevent new wrinkles from forming. The texture is smooth and easy to pile up without turning your face into a greasy mess. But it can leave a white cast on darker skin tones.

Available at: Dermstore, Free People, Revolve, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 3.5%, and Zinc Oxide 16.32%.
Benefits: Provides broad spectrum protection.
Cons: May leave a white cast on darker skin.
Skin type: All skin types.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t contain an artificial fragrance, but it has an essential oil that makes it smell good (and may irritate skin).

What Are The Average Sunday Riley Products That Work Ok, But Not Great?

Best For Large Pores: Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum ($65.00)

Niacinamide is the jolly of the skincare world. It fights wrinkles, hydrates skin, fades away dark spots, treats acne, and even soothes irritations. It’s particularly good at shrinking pores. Every time I use it, the large pores around my nose area are pretty much invisible! If you’re thinking, “is this too good to be true?” – for once it’s NOT. Niacinamide has been scientifically proven to do all these things.

Plus the serum is loaded with antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that fight both free radicals and inflammation – two of the main causes of premature aging. The only thing I don’t like is the addition of citrus oils to make the serum smell good. They can irritate sensitive skin.

Available at: Sunday Riley

Active Ingredients: Niacinamide.
Benefits: Moisturises skin, fights premature aging, and shrinks large pores.
Cons: Contains irritating citrus extracts.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t contain an artificial fragrance, but it has irritating citrus oils that make it smell good.

Best For Hydration: Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence ($48.00)

There’s nothing here that can firm skin – once it has sagged, it has sagged. Hence why it’s in this category. But it’s still a lovely formula that features ceramides to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and moisturise skin; probiotics to soothe irritations; and antioxidants to fight premature wrinkles. It’s a lightweight mist, so apply it as the first step of your skincare routine after cleansing. The other thing I don’t like much? It has citrus oils that may irritate sensitive skin.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges, and SpaceNK.

Active Ingredients: Ceramides and antioxidants.
Benefits: Moisturises and soothes skin.
Cons: Can’t firm skin and contains irritating essential oils.
Skin type: Best suitable for dry skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t have an artificial fragrance, but it contains citrusy essential oils that make it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).

Best Moisturiser For Dry Skin: Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream ($65.00)

Ceramides are the building block of your skin. They’re part of the protective barrier that keeps skin healthy and naturally moisturised. When this barrier breaks down, skin starts to get drier, flaky, and red. Adding ceramides back into your skin is one of the fastest ways to nurse it back to health – and keep it that way.

But there’s more than ceramides in Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream. It’s also loaded with fatty acids that deeply moisturise skin and antioxidants-rich plant extracts to help you slow down premature aging. The only reason why it made it into the average list instead of the best of list is the jar packaging. Antioxidants go bad when exposed to light and air – close that lid fast!

Available at: Dermstore, Free People, Revolve, SpaceNK, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Ceramides, fatty acids, antioxidants.
Benefits: Deeply moisturises skin and helps prevent premature aging.
Cons: Jar packaging.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream ($65.00)

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream promises to give you a “brighter, lifted look”. Does it deliver? Mmmm… You guessed it, it can’t lift anything. Once skin has sagged, you need to go under the knife to unsag it. But it can brighten the eye area thanks to mica and titanium dioxide, two pigments that reflect light. FYI, you can get the same effect from a concealer. At least, it’s moisturising but your facial cream can do that… It sort of works but… do you really need this after all?

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Caffeine.
Benefits: Moisturises and brightens the eye area.
Cons: Can’t lift skin and the brightening effect is only temporary.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t have an artificial fragrant, but there’s a flower extract that makes it smell good (and may cause irritations in sensitive skin).

Best Anti-Aging Moisturiser: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream ($65.00)

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream uses Tetrahxyldecyl Ascorbate, a stable form of Vitamin C (the jar packaging won’t make it go bad). It penetrates deep into the skin to fight free radicals, boost collagen production, and brighten the complexion. Squalane makes up the moisturizing base: very similar to human sebum, it creates a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss and keeps skin hydrated for hours. So what’s bad about it? It has a couple of citrus extracts that can be irritating, especially for sensitive skin.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Revolve, Sephora, and Ulta

Active Ingredients: Tetrahxyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C).
Benefits: Brightens skin and prevents wrinkles.
Cons: Tetrahxyldecyl Ascorbate is less powerful than the pure form of Vitamin C.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t have an artificial fragrant, but it has citrus oils that makes it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).

Best Moisturiser For Oily Skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream ($65.00)

Once again, Sunday Riley uses Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a derivative of Vitamin C that penetrates deep into your skin to fight free radicals and brighten your complexion. It’s not the most effective form of Vitamin C, but it works well for sensitive skin. Plus, it has hyaluronic acid and other humectants to hydrate skin without adding more oil to it, so it works well for combination, oily, and acne-prone skin too. The lightweight gel cream texture is lovely and sinks quickly into your skin.

So why is it in the average category? First of all, the best Vitamin C combination is 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, 1% Vitamin E, and 0.5% Ferulic Acid. This only has a derivative of Vitamin C. Plus, it’s housed in a jar that exposes the few antioxidants in here to light and air that makes them go bad faster. Still, a lovely (if overpriced for what it does!) moisturiser for oily skin.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Free People, Nordstrom, SpaceNK, and UIta.

Active Ingredients: Tetrahxyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C).
Benefits: Moisturises and brightens skin.
Cons: Tetrahxyldecyl Ascorbate is less powerful than the pure form of Vitamin C.
Skin type: Oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.
Fragrance-free: It doesn’t have an artificial fragrant, but it has citrus oils that makes it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).

What Are The Worst Sunday Riley Products To Avoid?

Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water Gel Toner ($25.00)

You know my thoughts on toner. You don’t need one. And you certainly don’t need Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water Gel Toner. It claims to use clays to soak up excess oil and mattify skin, but there’s only a sprinkle of them here. Instead, it relies on drying alcohol to do the job. Ouch! Just to confuse things a bit more, Sunday Riley has added a bunch of oils that could make oily skin a little greasier… Leave this one on the shelf.

Related: Why You Don’t Need A Toner

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($55.00)

Wait, what?! Isn’t this the best Sunday Riley product loved by influencers and magazine editors alike? Truth bomb: just because something has achieved cult status, it doesn’t mean it’s any good. Sure, the base of Luna features a few moisturising oils – like avocado and grape – that make dry skin softer and smoother. But it has also its fair share of fragrant oils – like neroli and vetiver – that can easily irritate skin. Even the next generation retinoid complex isn’t anything special. It’s simply Hydroxypincolone retinoate (what The Ordinary calls Granactive Retinoid) and there’s no proof it works as well as retinol (just a lot of hype).

Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil ($40.00)

There’s a lot to like about Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil. For starters, it contains 1.5% Salicylic Acid. It’s the only exfoliant that can get deep into your pores and remove all the clogs that cause breakouts. Plus, it has a moisturising oil base that deeply nourishes skin, leaving it softer and brighter. It could be a good alternative for dry, acne-prone, if it weren’t for a major flaw. The fragrance: it’s super strong. Add to that a few citrus oils and you could very well end up with an irritation.

Sunday Riley Blue Moon Clean Rinse Cleansing Balm ($50.00)

Sunday Riley Blue Moon Clean Rinse Cleansing Balm has got what it takes to remove even the most stubborn of waterproof makeup. I have no complaints about that. So what’s the problem? Too many citrus oils. When will brands stop adding them to skincare products?! I know they smell amazing, but they’re so irritating!

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Serum ($85.00)

Usually, when you see “15% Vitamin C”, that means L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of Vitamin C). It’s a powerful antioxidant, but can irritate sensitive skin. Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Serum opted for 15% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a derivative of L-Ascorbic Acid that can fight wrinkles and brighten skin, too. But it’s way gentler on the skin. Too bad that when I put it to the test, I didn’t see any results at all… To add insult to injury, it contains too many irritating citrus oils for my taste.

FAQ ABOUT SUNDAY RILEY

Is Sunday Riley Cruelty-Free?

Yes, Sunday Riley is cruelty-free. They don’t test their products on animals and don’t outsource the process to a third party.

What Are The Pros Of Sunday Riley Skincare?

Sunday Riley uses active ingredients, like retinol and exfoliating acids, that are scientifically proven to fight wrinkles, acne, and dark spots. Plus, the packaging is gorgeous too.

What Are The Cons Of Sunday Riley Skincare?

Almost all Sunday Riley products contain fragranced essential oils or extracts with the potential to irritate sensitive skin. Plus, their moisturisers tend to come in jars that don’t protect the antioxidants inside from the light and air that make them go bad.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.

I was just about to purchase the Sunday Luna Oil – but I figured I should read your advice first.
I’m so glad I decided to check out what you had to say about this oil – you just saved me some serious cash. However, I do enjoy using the Juno oil – it’s helped heal some definitely dry skin thanks to DE’s retinol and tlc products!
Thanks, Gio!!

Beautiful With Brains

The Complete Guide To Sunday Riley Skincare Products: What To Buy & What To Avoid