7 Affordable Sunday Riley Good Genes Alternatives

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You don’t have to shell out big bucks to get radiant and glowing skin.

With the best Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives, you can achieve similar results as the cult-favorite serum but at a fraction of the cost!

Happy beautiful asian girl applying eye serum in front of mirror at home

The Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment has good reviews for a reason.

It’s a potent serum that deeply exfoliates dull and textured skin. Packed with high-quality ingredients, it’ll give you a brighter, clearer, and more radiant complexion.

However, not everyone can splurge $85 for a small bottle — no matter how good the product is.

You don’t have to miss out, though, because we’ve rounded up the most affordable alternatives for Sunday Riley Good Genes. 

The best part? They’re just as impressive as the luxury serum!

Keep on reading to discover these fantastic alternatives.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA
Editor's Choice
  • Gives you brighter and softer skin
  • Soothing and hydrating
  • Very affordable
Minimalist AHA BHA 10%
Budget Pick
  • Soft and glowing skin
  • With added BHA to unclog pores
  • Gentle enough for beginners
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid
Premium Pick
  • Makes skin smooth and luminous
  • Boosts cell turnover
  • Delivers overnight results

What Makes the Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment So Special?

You might be asking, is Sunday Riley Good Genes worth it? In order to find the best alternatives, it’s important to learn more about this cult-fave serum and what makes it special.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Does Sunday Riley Good Genes Do?

Sunday Riley Good Genes is a multi-tasking serum that targets dullness, dark spots, discoloration, uneven texture, and signs of aging.

These skin concerns are usually caused by a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and excess sebum. Sun exposure and acne breakouts can also cause damage to your skin.

The Sunday Riley Good Genes serum works by deeply exfoliating the surface of your skin — thereby removing all the buildup clogging your pores.

This encourages new skin cells to surface, which leads to smoother, brighter, and even skin.

The serum also has an instant plumping effect that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

You can achieve glowing and younger-looking skin in just mere minutes.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Ingredients

What makes the Sunday Riley Good Genes special is that despite having a potent formulation, it’s still gentle on the skin.

How? The answer lies in its key ingredients.

The Sunday Riley Good Genes has a good balance of exfoliating and soothing ingredients. This prevents over-exfoliation and makes it suitable even for those with sensitive skin types.

 The ingredients are also high quality to deliver the best results.

  • 5% Purified Lactic Acid is the star ingredient of the Good Genes serum. This alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) removes dead skin cells, lightens dark spots, and speeds up cell turnover to give you brighter and smoother skin.
  • Licorice helps reduce skin inflammation, irritation, and redness. It also has soothing and brightening properties.
  • Lemongrass has astringent properties that help fight acne-causing bacteria. It also detoxifies and purifies the skin.
  • Arnica is a soothing ingredient that helps reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles.
  • Prickly Pear Extract soothes the skin and protects the skin from acne, sun damage, and premature signs of aging.
  • Aloe soothes and moisturizes the skin. It also promotes skin healing and boosts skin elasticity.  

Ingredient Callouts

Sunday Riley Good Genes does not contain sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil, and phthalates.

It is also gluten-free, cruelty-free, soy-free, and vegan. 

Skin Types

Sunday Riley Good Genes is suitable for all skin types. It can be used as part of your day or night skincare routine.

7 Affordable Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives

Now that you know all about the Sunday Riley Good Genes serum, it’s time to see how these affordable alternatives stack up. 

1
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA

This super affordable serum is one of the best dupes for Sunday Riley’s Good Genes.

Key benefits: mild exfoliant; delivers brighter, smoother, and softer skin

Features:

  • 5% Lactic acid – Improves the appearance and texture of your skin
  • Hyaluronic acid – To hydrate the skin and stimulate collagen production
  • Tasmanian pepperberry – Soothes skin, reduces inflammation, and protects against over-exfoliation

The Sunday Riley Good Genes vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA battle is a good one. Get to know why the latter is a formidable opponent!

When it comes to the best Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives, The Ordinary 5% Lactic Acid + HA is at the top of the list.

It features a gentle but effective formula, similar to the Sunday Riley Good Genes serum. It has the same amount of lactic acid bundled with hydrating ingredients to help soothe the skin.

As such, it is suitable for dry and sensitive skin.

It effectively exfoliates the surface of your skin for a smoother and more even texture. It is not as brightening as the Sunday Riley Good Genes.

The results are also not as immediate. However, considering the price tag, the results are still comparable to Good Genes. 

You can try The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA if you want something more potent. As the name implies, it features a 10% lactic acid concentration to deliver faster results.

You can read our full comparison of the two here.
2
The Inkey List Lactic Acid

Another affordable dupe that brightens and hydrates your skin at the same time.

Key benefits: targets dullness, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles; gentle AHA formulation

Features

  • 10% Lactic acid – A gentle AHA that exfoliates and brightens the skin
  • Hyaluronic acid – Provides extra hydration for softer, smoother skin
  • Glycerin – Increases skin moisture to prevent dry skin and flakiness 

This serum offers a gentle but potent formula at a fraction of the cost!

The Inkey List Lactic Acid is a good alternative for Good Genes because it has a balance of exfoliating and hydrating ingredients.

Despite having a higher lactic acid concentration, this serum is still gentle on the skin.

It can effectively exfoliate the skin while keeping it hydrated. As the serum works to remove dead skin cells, you’ll get a brighter and smoother complexion.

The Inkey List Lactic Acid serum gives you the same results at a fraction of the cost.

The only tradeoff is with the packaging. It can be hard to dispense the product using the plastic squeeze bottle.

Nonetheless, the product itself is very effective and affordable! 

3
Minimalist AHA BHA 10% Face Exfoliator

This serum gives you soft and glowing skin without breaking the bank.

Key benefits: 10% blend of AHAs & BHA for multi-level exfoliation; brightens and evens out skin

Features

  • Lactic acid + glycolic acid – Gently exfoliates for a brighter and more refined complexion
  • Salicylic acid – This BHA unclogs pores and removes excess sebum
  • Hyaluronic acid – To help keep skin hydrated after exfoliation 

This is one of the most affordable Sunday Riley Good Genes dupes in the market.

The Minimalist AHA BHA 10% face exfoliator is a great skincare product for beginners.

It features a gentle formula, but the 10% blend of AHAs and BHA is effective enough to target acne scars, sun spots, and uneven skin tone.

The serum penetrates the skin as deeply as possible, bringing about softer and glowing skin. With hyaluronic acid and aloe extract to calm the skin after exfoliation, you won’t have to worry about irritation.

It is suitable for all skin types.

The formula is very gentle so even sensitive skin types can enjoy this alternative for the Good Genes treatment.

4
Artnaturals Lactic Acid + AHA Serum

Get firmer and younger-looking skin with this affordable lactic acid treatment.

Key benefits: brightens, hydrates, and evens out skin tone; anti-aging benefits; 100% vegan

Features

  • Lactic acid – Resurfaces skin texture, reduces the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles
  • Glycolic acid - Penetrates the skin deeper for a more balanced complexion
  • Hyaluronic acid - Keeps skin smooth and hydrated 

You can easily check out this drugstore dupe for Sunday Riley Good Genes serum

The Artnaturals Lactic Acid + AHA serum will give you the brightening boost you need without spending much money.

It has a combination of lactic acid and glycolic acid to deliver double the skin benefits. They will exfoliate away dead skin cells, excess sebum, and other buildups.

As such, your skin looks firmer and smoother. You can achieve even skin complexion as it targets hyperpigmentation and discoloration.

When it comes to Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives, this serum is a definite must-try!

5
Mad Hippie AHA Exfoliating Peel

Packed with actives, peptides, and antioxidants, this serum works hard to give you brighter, smoother skin.

Key benefits: 16 active ingredients; brightens, reduces dark spots and discoloration

Features

  • Lactic acid + glycolic acid – You get two AHAs for more effective exfoliation
  • Apple stem cells – Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Gigawhite – Brightens and evens out skin 

An affordable alternative to Sunday Riley’s Good Genes.

In terms of Sunday Riley Good Genes ingredients, this serum is not an exact alternative. However, it will still give the same results.

Key ingredients include two types of AHAs to transform dull skin into brighter, younger-looking skin.

You also have plant-based extracts, including white tea and goji berry, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

In addition, you have ceramides and hyaluronic acid that will keep your skin moist and hydrated.  

With a more potent formulation, this serum is best applied at night and about 1 to 2 times per week.

6
Paula's Choice Resist Advance Smoothing Treatment

This super-concentrated serum can quickly combat dullness and uneven texture.

Key benefits: AHA + BHA formula; targets sun spots and other signs of aging; smoother and more radiant skin

Features

  • AHAs include 10% lactic acid, malic acid, glycolic acid, and tartaric acid
  • Rich in antioxidants thanks to chamomile, grape seed, and green tea extracts
  • Soothing ingredients include oat extract, licorice, and allantoin 

Your skin will drink up this cocktail of exfoliants, peptides, and ceramides!

This skincare product is one of the best mid-range alternatives for Sunday Riley Good Genes.

It has a good balance of exfoliating and soothing ingredients to deliver dramatic results even after just one use.

It contains 4 AHAs and has beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to effectively target hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and signs of aging. The serum helps resurface the skin to reveal a smoother and more radiant complexion.

This is an excellent lactic acid product you can use once a week.

However, it’s gentle enough and won’t cause irritation if you want to use it daily. Just make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun!

7
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

This powerful serum will give you bright and luminous skin.

Key benefits: gentle but effective formulation; smoothens and softens skin

Features

  • 10% vegan lactic acid – Gently exfoliates for a brighter, rejuvenated complexion
  • Squalane – Provides intense moisture while feeling weightless on the skin
  • Clover – Increases cell turnover for faster results 

This powerful lactic acid treatment is worth the splurge.

The Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum is not the most affordable alternative for Sunday Riley Good Genes.

But hear us out!

Like Good Genes, it can deliver results overnight. You’ll see an instant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, as well as the appearance of your pores.

The 10% lactic acid provides gentle exfoliation but effectively dissolves dead skin cell buildup. The end result is dramatically brighter and smoother skin.

With powerful results, it’s no surprise that the Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid serum has a cult following of its own!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can Lactic Acid Be Used Every Day?

Lactic acid serums serve as a mild exfoliant for your skin. However, it can still cause over-exfoliation if not used properly. Make sure to choose a lactic acid treatment that is suitable for your skin type.

Read the instructions carefully to see if the product can be used daily. It’s also best to do a patch test when trying new products! 

Does Lactic Acid Serum Lighten Skin?

Lactic acid will not whiten your skin tone. However, our skin tends to look duller due to dead skin cells, excess sebum, and other contaminants that build up on the skin.

Lactic acid helps resurface the skin to brighten your overall complexion.  

Should I Moisturize After Lactic Acid?

The good thing about the Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives is that they contain hydrating ingredients.

However, moisturizing after applying serum is still a crucial component of your skincare routine — especially if you’re using acids or exfoliants.  

How Quickly Does Lactic Acid Work?

It depends on the lactic acid treatment you are using. For example, a higher concentration of lactic acid can produce faster results.

However, many AHA-based skincare products claim to deliver instant or overnight results.

Get Amazing Results with Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives

Is Sunday Riley Good Genes worth it?

If you have the budget for it, go for it. But for those of us who want more budget-friendly options, there are a lot of more affordable alternatives to choose from.

We highlighted the best Sunday Riley Good Genes alternatives that will deliver the same amazing results — but for a fraction of the cost.

You won’t be missing out because these affordable alternatives are effective in exfoliating away your dead skin cells, fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The end result is brighter, smoother, and younger-looking skin!

So what are you waiting for? Check out these affordable alternatives for Sunday Riley Good Genes!

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Author

  • Ashley Pena

    Ashley Pena brings over 13 years of seasoned writing and editing expertise, fortified by her Bachelor of Science in Management. Esteemed in the beauty domain, her content captivates readers with its depth and authenticity. While she navigates a broad spectrum of beauty trends, Ashley shines particularly as our resident K-beauty guru. Her articles are a harmonious blend of passion and profound knowledge, inspiring readers on their unique beauty journeys.

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