In Appreciation of: Sunday Riley’s Good Genes
It’s the serum that made exfoliating acids a daily staple. Liberty pays tribute to an iconic addition to its Beauty Hall of Fame
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In Appreciation of: Sunday Riley’s Good Genes
It’s the serum that made exfoliating acids a daily staple. Liberty pays tribute to an iconic addition to its Beauty Hall of Fame
By: Laura KennedyThe Synopsis
Enter Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment, £85. She’s a supermodel among skincare products. Like Naomi, Christy or Cindy, you don’t have to say her full name for people to know exactly who you’re talking about. Among its huge fan following, ‘Good Genes’ is still the original and one of the best glycolic acid treatments – the one that set the scene for all to follow. This globally beloved skin resurfacing treatment has been centre stage in so many skincare routines for so long that this skincare veteran’s place in Liberty’s Beauty Hall of Fame just feels fated.
The Rise to Fame
The brainchild of US-based CEO and product formulator Sunday Riley, whose eponymous brand hit the market in 2009 and took its place at the forefront of a changing ingredients-first skincare culture, Good Genes is probably still the brand’s best-known product. After all, Riley should know – Good Genes is just one of sixty-five products she has personally formulated for the brand. It revolutionised exfoliating acids by translating them into a gentle once-a-day treatment for consistently glowing skin, without irritation.
The Credentials
Traditional physical exfoliants work to slough away dull, dead surface skin cells to expose the fresher, more glowing skin beneath. The drawback is potential irritation and broken capillaries from rubbing gritty textures into delicate skin. This chemical exfoliant smooths and resurfaces without friction or rubbing, while increasing cell turnover to help improve congestion, breakouts, and pigmentation. While it works hard to reveal radiant new skin, it also soothes with fermented prickly pear extract, so that even more sensitive skin types can enjoy its benefits.
The Star Quality
This hero serum has amassed countless fans for its quick and consistent results, sophisticated formulation, and comforting texture. Good Genes has risen to beauty royalty for its unrivalled status as a single-step skin treatment that works on several common skin complaints at once. Dark marks from old breakouts? Yes. Pigmentation from sun damage? Of course. Dryness? Yep. Dullness? Absolutely. Congestion? Well, you get the gist. She’s an icon.
