Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment

 (sample)

 Sunday Riley Good Genes had a huge moment a few years ago but did you know that the Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment is now the brand’s global number one best seller? Back in the day, Good Genes was hailed as a first-of-its-kind of formula that exfoliated and brightened the skin, giving us that coveted healthy looking and glowing complexion, with fast results. At the time, the Good Genes we had here in the UK was formulated with Lactic Acid but it’s since been reformulated with Glycolic Acid.

Why was Sunday Riley Good Genes reformulated and is it as good? 

Basically, EU regulations (which differ from the U.S) were changed in recent years to state that Lactic Acid products with a concentration of 10% or more could no longer be sold. This was a real blow to lovers of Good Genes in the UK so Sunday Riley set about creating a new treatment for the U.K market which incorporates exfoliating Glycolic Acid with Lactic Acid salt and so Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment was born. I had only previously tried (and loved) the old formula, so this is my first foray into the Glycolic Acid version.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment is designed to:

• Exfoliate the skin
• Improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Target sun damage, dullness and congestion.

Does it work? In short, yes. Below is my experience of using the treatment.

When I first pumped out a dollop of the treatment I was met with that familiar Good Genes scent – a refreshing whiff of lemongrass. Lemongrass is part of the formula to act as an astringent that tones the complexion and I love that you can actually smell it. Prickly Pear is also in the mix to soothe and calm the skin while the Glycolic Acid is, of course, there to exfoliate and improve the appearance of congestion and sun damage.

I’m determined to stick to a retinol regime this year, so Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment will be my morning serum and I’ll use it at night on the in-between retinol days. I’ve only been using it daily since Boxing Day (so around two weeks) and I can already see results in terms of my skin looking brighter and clearer. I can usually feel a little bit of congestion on my chin but now there’s just smooth, even skin. The same goes for around my nose – I sometimes feel and look a little congested around my nostril folds but Good Genes seems to be taking very good care of that too. It instantly adds glow too, almost in the same way that a tinted moisturiser might. I love it. Truly. It’s worth mentioning that if you are someone who finds Glycolic Acid irritating (I do in some products), this does not personally irritate my skin because the acid is buffered with the soothing Prickly Pear. Sunday Riley do recommend you start off using it every other day and then using daily once skin is used to it.

Overall, I’m SO pleased to be using Good Genes again and I’m actually delighted that my skin does not seem to be reacting to the Glycolic. I need to be strict with the SPF now because not only do I have retinol going on at night, the Glycolic Acid is also going to be increasing sensitivity to the sun. Now to find a lightweight, no-fuss SPF I can mindlessly apply every morning so I don’t undo all of the work my skincare is doing!

You can find Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment at lots of retailers but I’ll probably be buying mine from Space NK (it retails for £85 for 30ml and £128 for 50ml).