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When a beauty product attains cult status, it transforms from a run-of-the-mill item on the shelf to one that gives skin-care aficionados heart eyes, emitting an otherworldly aura that puts it on the wish lists of thousands of shoppers. This is why it comes as no surprise that one of the best-selling products of the current Dermstore Anniversary Sale is the renowned Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment ($122).
Experts in This Article
board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mudgil Dermatology
If you’re not familiar, this serum from beauty brand Sunday Riley has been beloved by editors and skin-care lovers alike for almost a decade. It was launched in 2009, way before exfoliating acid serums riddled beauty shelves and was its own cult-favorite skin-care category, which goes to show the product’s incredible staying power. The proof is in the pudding, with the pudding in this case being the dewy, glowy, smooth complexions of all who use it. And it’s on sale for 20 percent off via Dermstore, so you can snag it for yourself for $98 (you have until August 17!).
Shop now: Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment, $98
Within the treatment is a special concoction of active ingredients, each of which puts in skin-boosting work. The star ingredient, of course, is lactic acid, which is known for being one of the most skin-friendly exfoliants out there. “This is a gentle exfoliant which helps remove dead skin cells and clear clogged pores,” says Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mudgil Dermatology. So that alone keeps your pores debris free and your skin as soft as a baby.
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In addition to lactic acid, Sunday Riley Good Genes treatment contains licorice extract, which is an under-the-radar way to deal with uneven skin. Dr. Mudgil notes that licorice is great for preventing hyperpigmentation and sun spots, so if you’re looking to even out your complexion, this stuff is for you. Lemongrass also makes the Good Genes treatment beneficial since it’s an antioxidant, so it protects your complexion from free radical damage (from pollution and visible light, for example). And then there’s the aloe vera extract, which Dr. Mudgil praises as being a multi-beneficial ingredient that moisturizes, stimulates collagen, and combats inflammation all at once.
If you’re still unsure about this product’s impressive status, a quick internet search will show that Good Genes has a five-star review on Dermstore, more than 190,000 hearts on Sephora, and many, many more five-star reviews on Amazon. A lot of users praise it for working well on sensitive skin without any irritation at all. “It deeply exfoliates and always gives me smoother, clearer skin,” one reviewer writes. “I’ll always want to have this in my cabinet. This is magic in a bottle, and you’ll have instant radiance.” Welp, thank you Sally—personally, I’m off to add this to my cart, HBU?
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