Are They Dupes?: Sunday Riley Good Genes VS The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

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? The only one way to find out is The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% is really the dupe for Sunday Riley Good Genes we’ve all been waiting for is to put it to the test. Here’s everything you need to know about these two exfoliants and which one is best for YOU:

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:

• Exfoliate: They dissolve the “glue” that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the newer, softer and brighter skin underneath.
• Hydrate: They draw moisture from the air into the skin, deeply hydrating it.

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%. For Sunday Riley Good Genes, it’s tiny a little further down the list. You guessed it, there’s 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?

What Else Is In These Lactic Acid Exfoliants?

SUNDAY RILEY GOOD GENES

• Water/Eau/Aqua: Literally just water, the base that dissolves everything and makes it spreadable instead of a pile of powder and oil.
• Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract: Prickly pear cactus fruit. Has antioxidants and vitamin C, meant to soothe and hydrate while you exfoliate. Real talk though, the research on this in skincare is pretty thin, mostly marketing based on the plant’s general properties.
• Cypripedium Pubescens Extract: Lady’s slipper orchid extract. Supposed to be calming and anti-inflammatory so your skin doesn’t freak out during exfoliation. Honestly though, scientific evidence for orchid extracts in cosmetics is limited, it’s more about sounding fancy.
• Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract: Prickly pear cactus paddles. Claims to hydrate and protect your skin barrier with polysaccharides. Again, specific research in cosmetic formulations is sparse.
• Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract: From the tequila plant! Said to hydrate and has natural enzymes for gentle exfoliation. Not a ton of solid research on agave in skincare specifically though.
• Arnica Montana Flower Extract: The bruise healer. Here to calm redness and inflammation from exfoliating. There IS decent evidence for arnica’s anti-inflammatory effects, but most studies are on oral supplements or concentrated applications for bruises, not diluted in face products. Some people can be sensitive to it if they have ragweed allergies.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract: Good old aloe vera, the universal skin soother. Hydrates and calms your freshly exfoliated skin.
• Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract: Fancy yeast extract with B vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that help strengthen skin and boost cell turnover. Also has beta-glucans that are soothing.
• Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: Natural preservative made from fermented radishes. Keeps your product from growing bacteria and mold instead of using harsher preservatives.
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Derived from coconut oil, lightweight moisturizer that helps the product glide smoothly and prevents your skin from drying out during exfoliation.
• Squalane: Lightweight oil that mimics your skin’s natural oils. Deeply moisturizing without being greasy, helps repair your skin barrier while you’re exfoliating so you’re not stripping everything away.
• PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer: Silicone-based polymer that makes the product feel silky and smooth so you’re not tugging at your skin. Creates a breathable film that locks in moisture.
• Propanediol: Humectant derived from corn that pulls moisture into your skin. Keeps you hydrated and helps the product spread evenly. Less sticky than glycerin.
• Butylene Glycol: Another humectant and texture enhancer. Makes the formula lightweight and fast-absorbing. Also helps preserve the product with mild antimicrobial properties.
• Stearic Acid: Fatty acid that’s an emulsifier and thickener. Blends the water and oil ingredients together so they don’t separate, gives that creamy texture.
• Dimethicone: Silicone that creates a smooth, protective barrier. Helps the product glide on and locks in moisture after exfoliating. Some acne-prone people find silicones can clog pores, though dimethicone is generally safer than others.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Don’t panic at “alcohol,” this is a fatty alcohol that’s actually moisturizing. Makes the product creamy and helps stabilize the formula.
• Phenyl Trimethicone: Lightweight silicone that gives a silky, powdery finish. Water-resistant so it creates a protective barrier that gives other ingredients time to work.
• Disiloxane: Volatile silicone that evaporates quickly after you put it on. Makes the product feel lighter and less greasy, helps it absorb faster.
• Ceteareth-20: Emulsifier that keeps the oil and water parts mixed together. Also helps the product spread easily and can help other ingredients penetrate your skin better.
• Glyceryl Stearate: Another emulsifier made from glycerin and stearic acid. Keeps everything blended and adds to that creamy texture. Also forms a protective barrier on skin.
• PEG-100 Stearate: Yet another emulsifier and thickener. Helps stabilize the formula and gives it body. Makes the product feel richer.
• Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate: Derivative of licorice root that’s anti-inflammatory and soothing. In an exfoliant, it helps calm irritation from the active exfoliating ingredients.
• Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract: Licorice root extract. Known for brightening dark spots and being anti-inflammatory. I just doubt there’s enough of it here to do much.
• Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil: Lemongrass essential oil. Mostly here for fragrance, but it does have some antimicrobial and astringent properties. Can be irritating for sensitive skin though, especially when combined with exfoliating acids.
• Potassium Hydroxide: This is a pH adjuster.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that keeps bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing in your product.
• Xanthan Gum: A thickener and stabilizer made from fermented sugar. Gives the product that gel-like consistency and keeps everything from separating. Also helps it spread smoothly.
• Caprylyl Glycol: A humectant and preservative booster. Helps keep the product hydrated and fresh while also making it feel nice on your skin.
• Chlorphenesin: Another preservative that works with the phenoxyethanol to keep your product from growing nasty stuff.
• Sodium Phytate: A chelating agent derived from plants that binds to metal ions in the formula. This keeps the product stable and prevents it from breaking down or discoloring over time.

THE ORDINARY LACTIC ACID 10% + HA 2%

• Aqua (Water): Just water, the base of the whole thing. Dissolves everything and makes it actually usable on your face instead of a weird pile of ingredients.
• Glycerin: Super common humectant that pulls water into your skin. Keeps you hydrated while the lactic acid does its thing so you’re not left feeling stripped and tight.
• Pentylene Glycol: Another humectant and also works as a preservative booster. Keeps the formula from growing nasty stuff and helps it feel smooth and hydrated on your skin.
• Propanediol: Humectant made from corn that draws moisture in. Similar vibe to glycerin but less sticky feeling. Helps the product spread nicely and keeps your skin from getting dried out.
• Sodium Hydroxide: pH adjuster that neutralizes the lactic acid so it’s not gonna literally burn your face off. Balances the formula to a pH that’s effective but still safe to use.
• Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer: This is a fancy form of hyaluronic acid that’s been modified to last longer on your skin. It’s a mega hydrator that holds like 1000x its weight in water. In an exfoliant, it’s there to plump up and hydrate your freshly exfoliated skin so you don’t feel tight or dry.
• Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract: Tasmanian pepper extract. Supposed to be soothing and anti-inflammatory, helps calm down any redness from the exfoliating acid.
• Acacia Senegal Gum: Natural thickener from acacia trees that gives the product a gel-like texture. Also forms a film on your skin that can help lock in moisture and smooth things out.
• Xanthan Gum: Thickener made from fermented sugar. Keeps the product from being watery and helps it spread smoothly without separating.
• Isoceteth-20: Emulsifier that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients together. Also helps the product feel lighter and absorb better into your skin.
• Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: Chelating agent that binds to metal ions in the formula. Keeps the product stable over time and prevents it from breaking down or going funky. Also boosts the preservatives.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative booster and skin conditioning agent. Helps keep the product fresh and also makes it feel nicer on your skin.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: Solvent and preservative booster. Helps dissolve other ingredients and keeps bacteria from growing. Also acts as a humectant to keep your skin hydrated.
• Caprylyl Glycol: Humectant and preservative helper. Keeps the formula hydrated and fresh while making it feel smooth on your skin.

WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?

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 one is basically water with a tiny bit of gel mixed in. The second you put it on your face, it’s just running down everywhere. Once you finally get it to stay put it absorbs pretty quick, but then you get this sticky glycerin-y feeling that hangs around for a bit. Not terrible but you’ll definitely feel it.

Sunday Riley is so much nicer to actually use. It’s like a thin lotion that just spreads itself, you know? Goes on smooth, sinks in fast, doesn’t leave you feeling sticky or weird.

What’s The Fragrance Like?

The Ordinary says it’s fragrance-free but babe, it still smells. They reformulated it back in 2017 because people were complaining it smelled like death (sour milk, vinegar, all that fun stuff). The new version is better but it’s still got this weird chemical smell that’s kinda sweet and fruity but also sharp? Some people say fennel, I just say “not great.” But whatever, it goes away pretty fast so you can deal with it for like 30 seconds.

Now Sunday Riley… girl. This one is FAMOUS for smelling absolutely terrible. it’s got this really strong lemongrass thing going on mixed with like a sour yeasty smell and it’s just… a lot. The smell does fade once it’s on your face, but that first hit when you pump it out? Rough. Sunday Riley deliberately doesn’t cover it up with fake fragrance (it’d just irritate skin) so you’re getting the full assault of what lactic acid and all those ingredients actually smell like.

What’s The Packaging Like?

The Ordinary comes in this frosted glass bottle with a dropper, and I’m warning you right now – that serum is gonna run everywhere if you’re not careful. It’s so liquidy that it just drips all over the place. Plus the dropper doesn’t even reach the bottom of the bottle which is so annoying when you’re trying to get the last bit out.

Sunday Riley has a pump and thank god for that because you actually have control over what’s happening. No product running down your hands, no weird tilting the bottle around. Just pump and go.

How To Use Them

Just use them at night after you wash your face, maybe once or twice a week to start. Put them on before your moisturizer and oils but after like toners or whatever watery stuff you use. And this is really important – you HAVE to wear sunscreen the next day because lactic acid makes you way more sensitive to sun damage. If you’ve never used acids before, seriously start slow, like once a week and see if your face can handle it. You can even mix it with another serum or your moisturizer to baby your way into it if you’re nervous about irritation.

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 golden 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%

Price & Availability

Sunday Riley Good Genes: $85.00 at Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%: $9.20 at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta

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.