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a dupe for Sunday Riley Good Genes

Move over, Sunday Riley Good Genes (US version. The EU version has Glycolic Acid).

There’s a new lactic acid exfoliant in town. It’s called The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% and is wayyyy cheaper than you. Cos you shouldn’t need to sell a kidney for good skin, know what I mean?

But… if the dupe’s so cheap, can you trust it to work as well? Only one way to find out…

What Ingredients Do These Lactic Acid Exfoliants Have In Common?

LACTIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN

Both Sunday Riley Good Genes and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% use lactic acid, the gentlest member of the AHAs family.

Yep, the same family as glycolic acid. Both lactic and glycolic do the same things:

The difference? Glycolic acid’s bigger than lactic acid. And here size matters. A lot.

The small size of glycolic acid allows it to penetrate skin more easily. That makes it more effective, BUT also more irritating.

That’s why lactic acid is so perfect for sensitive skin. Out of all the AHAs, it’s the one less likely to irritate your skin.

Just one thing: Lactic acid is the second ingredient in The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% and the 6th in Sunday Riley Good Genes. 

You guessed it, there’s a lot more lactic acid in The Ordinary product than in the Sunday Riley one. That makes Sunday Riley the gentlest option. But also the least effective (when it comes to exfoliation, at least).

Related: Glycolic Acid VS Lactic Acid: Which One Is Right For You?

If you’re feeling completely intimidated and overwhelmed by The Ordinary skincare I recommend taking Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary. A The Ordinary speed training created by my scientist friend Cheryl Woodman. Cheryl’s helped hundreds of ladies see real-life results, first hand. Click here to find out more about the course and see their reviews.

Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary-ipad

What Else Is In These Lactic Acid Exfoliants?

I wouldn’t call Sunday Riley Good Genes and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% dupes. Lactic acid is the only thing they have in common!

Sunday Riley also has its fair share of antioxidants and soothing ingredients to fight wrinkles and help calm down redness and irritation.

The Ordinary only has tasmania pepperberry to reduce irritations. Plus hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin. It’s the most basic of the two options.

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type

Looking for more affordable dupes of high-end skincare products? Download your FREE “Dupes Cheatsheet” below:

What’s The Texture Like?

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% has watery gel texture that absorbs easily. It’s runny, so it makes application a little tricky.

Sunday Riley Good Genes has more of a lightweight lotion texture that glides on smoothly on the skin.

What’s The Packaging Like?

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% comes in a see-through white bottle with a dropper applicator. Be careful when you apply it cos the serum will run down all over your face.

Sunday Riley Good Genes comes in a white, see-through bottle with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical.

How To Use Them

One or two nights a week, after cleansing.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

That’s up to you. If money isn’t an issue, your skin doesn’t need much exfoliation, and you want the full package (antioxidants and all that jazz), investing in Sunday Riley Good Genes makes sense.

If you’re on a budget, want results faster or simply don’t want to sell a kidney to buy an exfoliant, The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% will do the trick just fine.

But I do recommend you start with the gentlest version, The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% and upgrade to its bigger siblings after a few months.

Remember the rule of exfoliation: start with the smallest concentration you can find and build up dose overtime.

Related: My Full Review Of The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

the ordinary lactic acid 10 + ha 2 02

Price & Availability

Sunday Riley Good Genes: £105.00/$85.00 at Sephora

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%: £6.00 at Asos, Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, and Feel Unique

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%: £5.50 at Asos, Beauty Bay and Cult Beauty

Is The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% A Dupe For Sunday Riley Good Genes?

I wouldn’t call The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% a dupe for Sunday Riley Good Genes. It’s a much more basic version. But if gentle exfoliation is all you’re after, it’ll do the job just as well.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Ingredients:

Agave Tequilana (Blue Agave) Leaf, Cypripedium Pebescens (Orchid), Opuntial Tuna (Prickly Pear) Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract & Saccaromyces Cerevisiae (Yeast), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Butylene Glycol, Squalene, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Stearic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) extract , PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Meadowsol, Lemongrass Extract, Arnica Extract, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, DMDM Hydantoin.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + Ha 2% Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Potassium Citrate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Ethyl 2,2-Dimethylhydrocinnamal, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

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.