Sunday Riley Good Genes Vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid: Is It Really A Dupe?

Last Updated on September 26, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Sunday Riley Good Genes vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%: are they dupes? FYI, I’m talking about the US version. The EU one had to be reformulated with glycolic acid. Now, that’s out of the way, 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 Treatments 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 dead 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, particularly to fade dark spots, 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?

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. FYI, while both of them can improve skin texture, neither helps with pores. You need salicylic acid for that.

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. What you’re really paying extra for with Good Genes is the whole experience: the creamier texture, the extra soothing and antioxidant ingredients, and a formula that feels more luxurious on the skin. The Ordinary skips all that and goes straight for the lactic acid. So no, they’re not dupes. They just happen to solve the same problem at wildly different price points.

FAQs

Is Sunday Riley Good Genes Stronger Than The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%?

Nope. The Ordinary tells you exactly what you’re getting: 10% lactic acid. Sunday Riley keeps the percentage in Good Genes under wraps. (although I suspect that if it included 10%, they’d be screaming it from the rooftops, as it is a massive selling point). If serious exfoliating power is your priority, The Ordinary isn’t the “cheap and weak” option here.

Which Is Better For Sensitive Skin: Good Genes Or The Ordinary Lactic Acid?

I’d go with Good Genes. The Ordinary actually says not to use its 10% Lactic Acid on sensitive skin, while Sunday Riley suggests sensitive skin types use Good Genes as a 15-minute mask instead of leaving it on. 

Can You Use Sunday Riley Good Genes Or The Ordinary Lactic Acid Every Day?

I wouldn’t. And yes, the brands may tell you that you can. Funny how the people selling the bottle are also perfectly happy for you to finish it faster. With lactic acid, more is not better. Start with 1–2 nights a week and only increase if your skin is handling it beautifully. If your face starts stinging, peeling, feeling tight or suddenly hating products it normally loves, back off. It doesn’t matter if you have sensitive skin, dry skin, or whoever other skin type, you should NEVER exfoliate daily

Can You Use Them With Retinol?

Yes, but I wouldn’t slap them on in the same routine. Lactic acid exfoliates your skin. Retinol speeds up cell turnover. Put both together and your skin may decide it’s had quite enough of your ambition and reward you with dryness, peeling and irritation. The easiest option? Alternate nights. Lactic acid one night, retinol another. You still get the benefits of both without treating your skin barrier like an obstacle course.

Related: What Ingredients Shouldn’t You Mix And Match?

Is Sunday Riley Good Genes Worth The Money?

It depends what you’re paying for. If you want lactic acid exfoliation, I’d save the cash and get The Ordinary. If you care about the creamier texture, more sophisticated formula and extra soothing and antioxidant ingredients, Good Genes gives you more. Is it roughly nine times more skincare magic because it costs roughly nine times as much? Yeah… no.