Why is everyone obsessed with Good Genes lactic acid treatment?
Sunday Riley created and launched her skincare brand back in 2009. Since then it has become a cult beauty brand loved by millions all over the world creating must-have products for skin-care junkies. One of her first products and the only product that was part of her original line is Good Genes which entered Sephora back in 2014.
Before I was going to Europe in the summer for a month, I stopped in Sephora to stock up on items for my trip. A lovely woman at Sephora gave me 12 sample packets of Good Genes. It was the perfect amount of packets for my trip. I wish they sold a box of Good Genes in packets. On my trip, I used up three packets for each week, and I did not get one blemish or blackhead. My skin was perfect for a whole month!
Good Genes always felt hydrating and didn’t impact any makeup I wore. I didn’t have any skin purging going on, so I loved it. Now, it could be that my skin does better in the European air. So, I thought Good Genes was a lifesaver for my skin for the trip.
When I got back from Europe, I bought a small bottle over and have been using that small bottle for almost a year now. It takes me forever to finish skincare items. But, in over a year it has lead to my face being clearer, and healthy.
What is Sunday Riley Good Genes All- In- One Lactic Acid Treatment?
It is an all-in-one AHA( alpha hydroxy acid) treatment, powered by lactic acid, that clarifies, smooths, and retexturizes the appearance of skin. A 1 oz/ 30 mL bottle cost $105. It may seem like a high price, but the benefits and high-quality ingredients justify the price for this magic in a bottle.
Why use a lactic acid?
Good Genes uses pharmaceutical grade lactic acid that one would find at a dermatologists office. Lactic acid is apart of the AHA family( alpha hydroxy acids) like glycolic acids. It is beneficial for sensitive skin types due to the fact it can help boost skin’s moisture levels. Other benefits include:
- exfoliates
- reduces acne breakouts
- improves skin textures and hyperpigmentation
- stimulates collagen production and helps with anti-aging
- diminishes the appearance of wrinkles
Ingredients in Sunday Riley Good Genes
According to their website Good Genes contains the following:
What do I think of the ingredients?
Now it may seem like a long list of ingredients, but all of them are great for your skincare. Personally, I don’t like when there is no kind alcohol in my skincare item since alcohol can be drying on the skin. But, my face never feels dry when I use Good Genes, and it is at the end of the ingredient list meaning that there is not a high percentage of it in the product.
The only ingredient I am not happy about is Phenoxyethanol. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative in skin products and is listed towards the bottom of their ingredient list meaning the product uses a small percentage of it. There are various articles I’ve researched that say it is a nervous system suppressant, and other articles I’ve read saying it isn’t that harmful. So, I am not sure how bad it is though I wish the product didn’t use it at all.
I would also like to point out that it is free from the following; Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, and contains less than one percent of synthetic fragrances.
What does each main ingredient do for your skin?
- Purified Lactic Acid: Hydrates and exfoliates the surface layers of the skin, revealing a more clarified, fresher, smoother, younger-looking complexion.
- Licorice and Lemongrass: Brighten the appearance of dark spots and discolorations.
- Prickly Pear Extract: Soothes the appearance of surface redness, while supporting a calmer, more even-toned complexion.
How do you use Sunday Riley Good Genes?
I use a .025% tretinoin every other night. On alternating nights I use Good Genes. After I clean and dry my face, I put one put a full pump of it over my face and neck. Sometimes, I follow up with a moisturizer for extra moisture. It is recommended to use it as an “instant facial” to plump your face up before you put on makeup. But, I only care to use it before I go to bed.
Important Things To Remember When Using Any Lactic Acid
- Wear SPF: When you use a lactic acid your skin is more susceptible to sunburn and damage. You don’t want to hurt the barrier of your skin.
- Only use it a few times a week when you start out: Some people may have a purge when using this product. So, you may see all the pimples below your skin’s surface come up and get freaked out. But, don’t stop using Good Genes. Good Genes helps people get rid of their acne, and a purging effect is common with these types of lactic acids.
What do I think of Sunday Riley Good Genes?
I am almost done with my first bottle, and it is something I consider a staple in my skincare routine. Although I get a stubborn blemish every month that takes forever to go away I was never a person who had real heavy acne.
So, even while using this I still get one blemish a month. But, I do think it does a fantastic job at keeping my face mostly clear and blackhead free. It unclogs my pores and helps fade any scars I have from old blemishes. My face does look luminous when I wake up, and in general, it feels healthy.
For me, I don’t notice any overnight results when it comes to a new hyperpigmentation scar or a newly noticed blackhead. In terms of wrinkles, as I don’t have any, I can’t tell its effectiveness in getting rid of them. For some people this is a product that needs to be used for at least a month to start noticing results of any kind. While using Good Genes I never get any irritation or redness. It is very moisturizing on my face and didn’t dry it out.
When I use my tretinoin and Good Genes on alternating days, it sometimes leads to my forehead being severely dried out. The problem then is not Good Genes, but due to the fact I am using two products that are over exfoliating my skin. So, sometimes I only use my Good Genes twice a week and my tretinoin three times a week.
Do I recommend Good Genes?
Yes! It is a good investment for your skin that has the potential to give you real results. It gave me great results, but as with all skincare everyone’s face reacts differently. So, I would say go out and buy a bottle of this magic treatment.
