Last Updated on December 8, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Everyone’s raving about Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. But did you know it’s not the only oil Sunday Riley makes – nor the best? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s a waste of money. Mature skin new to retinoids will dig the gentle antiaging goodness of Luna. But if you’re trying to combat dryness or get your glow back, Sunday Riley has better alternatives for you. Problem is, how do you know which one to pick? This quick guide to Sunday Riley facial oils will help you find the right match for your skin so you can finally see the results you want:
Best For Dry Skin: Sunday Riley Juno Oil ($36.00-$72.00)
What it is:Â A blend of non-fragrant moisturising oils, including blueberry, blackberry and grape seed oil, plus cranberry seed, black cumin seed, rosehip, and passionfruit oils. Rosehip is my fave, so I’m glad it’s included in here.
What it does:Â All the oils in here have moisturizing and antioxidant properties to fight off dryness and wrinkles at the same time. They strengthen the skin’s protective barrier by filling in the gaps between skin cells and preventing moisture loss. This makes skin softer and suppler, and helps prevent wrinkles from forming. The fatty acids in these seed oils also help repair damaged skin barriers, which is why this works well for people with dry, flaky, or irritated skin. Cumin oil also helps improve eczema by calming inflammation and reducing itching and redness.
What you need to know: Use 2-4 drops on damp skin after cleansing – applying it to damp skin helps it spread easier and locks in that extra moisture. You can use it morning and night, though many people prefer it at night because of the absorption time. If you want faster results in the morning, mix one drop into your regular moisturizer. The oil has a natural, slightly earthy scent from the seed oils since there’s no added fragrance. This formula is stable and won’t go rancid quickly, but store it away from direct sunlight to keep it fresh longer.
Drawbacks: It’s an oil, so it takes a while to sink in – usually 5-10 minutes before your skin stops feeling greasy. This can be annoying if you’re trying to apply makeup or get ready quickly. The price is also quite high compared to single-ingredient oils that deliver similar benefits.
Best for: Dry skin, sensitive skin, and eczema-prone skin. Also good for anyone dealing with a damaged moisture barrier from over-exfoliation or harsh treatments.
Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Best For Oily Skin: Sunday Riley U.F.O. Oil ($40.00-$80.00)
What it is: A blend of nourishing natural oils including black cumin seed, milk thistle, and cucumber seed oil, plus 1.5% salicylic acid to exfoliate pores and fight acne. It also contains tea tree oil and licorice extract.
What it does:Â Cumin, cucumber, and cranberry oils moisturise skin without feeling heavy, leaving it soft and supple. These lighter oils absorb faster than thick ones like coconut oil, which is why Sunday Riley markets this for oily skin. Salicylic acid exfoliates the surface of your skin by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells, unclogs pores by breaking down the gunk trapped inside them, and reduces inflammation – all things that help you treat and prevent breakouts. The tea tree oil adds extra antibacterial properties, though it can be irritating for some people.
What you need to know: Apply this after cleansing but before heavier products. Use 2-3 drops and give it time to absorb – even though it’s marketed for oily skin, it’s still an oil and will sit on your face for a few minutes. Start using it every other night to see how your skin reacts, then work up to nightly if your skin tolerates it well. Some people find the tea tree scent strong and medicinal, while others don’t mind it. If you’re already using other salicylic acid products or retinoids, be careful about layering this on top – you could end up over-exfoliating and irritating your skin.
Drawbacks:Â Treating acne with oils is tricky. The wrong oils clog your pores and give you more acne – this is especially true if you’re prone to fungal acne, which feeds on certain oils.
Best for:Â Very mild, non-fungal acne. If you have moderate to severe acne or fungal acne, skip this and use a proper acne treatment instead. Here are some good picks.
Available at: Anthropologie, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Sephora and Ulta
Related: The Right Way To Fight Acne With Oils (And Which Oils You Should Use)
Best For Anti-Aging: Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil ($55.00-$105.00)
What it is: A blend of nourishing natural oils including avocado, grape seed, blackberry seed, and chia seed oils, plus hydroxypinacolone retinoate (what The Ordinary calls Granactive Retinoid), a form of vitamin A that fights premature aging. It also contains blue tansy oil, which gives it a distinctive blue color and herbal scent.
What it does:Â Avocado, grape seed, blackberry and chia oils do a wonderful job at strengthening your skin barrier by delivering fatty acids that repair damage and prevent moisture loss. They also moisturize skin, making it feel softer and look plumper. Hydroxypinacolone retinoate is an alternative to retinol that’s supposed to work similarly – speeding up cell turnover, smoothing fine lines, and improving skin texture. Brands claim it’s better at fighting wrinkles, destroying free radicals and boosting collagen production than regular retinol, but I couldn’t find any independent studies supporting these claims. The only thing we know for sure is that it does help that acne. The main advantage is that it’s gentler on the skin – it doesn’t cause the same irritation, dryness, and peeling that retinol often does when you first start using it. If you can’t tolerate retinol because your skin gets too red, dry, or sensitive, this is a valid alternative that might give you some anti-aging benefits without the side effects.
What you need to know: Use this only at night – vitamin A derivatives break down in sunlight, which is why it’s called a sleeping oil. Apply 2-4 drops after cleansing and any water-based serums, but before heavier creams if you’re using them. You can use it every night since it’s gentler than retinol, but if you’re new to vitamin A products, start with 2-3 times a week and work up from there. The blue tansy gives it a strong herbal smell that’s quite polarizing – some people love it, others find it overwhelming. The oil takes several minutes to fully absorb, so give yourself time before bed or you’ll end up with it on your pillowcase.
Drawbacks: Hydroxypinacolone retinoate may not be as powerful as claimed. The lack of independent research means we’re relying on manufacturer data, which isn’t ideal. If you can tolerate retinol, stick with that – it has decades of solid research behind it and we know it works. Also, the fragrance from blue tansy oil can irritate sensitive skin, which is ironic since this product is marketed as the gentle option. The price is steep for an oil blend with an unproven active ingredient.
Best for: Mature, sensitive skin that can’t tolerate retinol. Also good for people who want to ease into vitamin A products without the typical adjustment period of redness and flaking.
Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta
Related: What Form Of Vitamin A Is Right For You?
Best For Dull Skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Oil ($40.00-$80.00)
What it is: A blend of natural oils including golden jojoba, rosehip, cranberry seed, and sea buckthorn oils, plus Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a stable oil-soluble form of vitamin C. It also contains turmeric extract, which gives it a golden-orange color.
What it does:Â Raspberry, jojoba, cranberry oils and other seed oils deeply moisturize skin by creating a protective layer that prevents water loss, leaving it softer and plumper. The oils also contain natural antioxidants like vitamin E. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a derivative of vitamin C, brightens the complexion by inhibiting melanin production (the pigment that causes dark spots) and fights free radicals that damage your skin and speed up aging. Unlike pure vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), this form doesn’t oxidize easily, so the product stays stable and won’t turn brown in the bottle. It also doesn’t sting or irritate skin the way pure vitamin C can. We just don’t know if it’s as effective as L-Ascorbic Acid or less, which is a bit of a bummer. I personally prefer to stick to L-Ascorbic Acid serums, just in case.
What you need to know: Use this in the morning or evening after cleansing. If you’re using it in the morning, apply 2-3 drops to damp skin, let it absorb, then follow with sunscreen – vitamin C works best when paired with sun protection since they work together to fight UV damage. The oil gives your skin an immediate glow, partly from the moisturizing effect and partly from the golden tint of the oil itself. It takes about 5 minutes to fully absorb. You can mix it with your moisturizer if you want faster absorption or layer it under for extra hydration. The turmeric gives it an earthy smell that some people find medicinal. Be careful if you have very pale skin – the golden-orange tint can temporarily make you look slightly yellow until it fully absorbs.
Drawbacks: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate penetrates skin more deeply than L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form), but we don’t know if it’s just as effective yet. There’s research showing it works, but it’s not as extensive as the research on pure vitamin C. If you want the most proven form of vitamin C, go for L-Ascorbic Acid serums instead. The fragrance from turmeric and other botanical oils can irritate sensitive skin, too. The price is high for what’s essentially a vitamin C oil – you can find similar formulas for much less.
Best for: Dry and dull skin. Also good for anyone who can’t tolerate the strong, acidic formulas of pure vitamin C serums.
Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, SpaceNK and Ulta
Related: Is Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate The Best Vitamin C Derivative?
The Bottom Line
Sunday Riley oils are moisturising. Duh! But you’re paying $40-100 for what’s essentially fancy seed oils. A $15 bottle of rosehip or jojoba oil does pretty much the same thing. The only reason to spend this much is if you want the specific blend they’ve created or you prefer their gentler actives (like the retinoid alternative or oil-soluble vitamin C). Otherwise, save your money. And if you’ve got real skin issues – bad acne, deep wrinkles – oils aren’t going to fix them anyway. You need actual treatment products, not expensive moisturizers in pretty bottles.