Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum for oily skin
Retinoid Blend
Ubiquinone
Honey Extract
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate retinoid benefits for your oily skin, with hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol promoting cell turnover to address fine lines and wrinkles.
- While it provides general hydration and soothing from ingredients like honey extract and bisabolol, it lacks sufficient seboregulating components to optimally manage oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing agents like bisabolol and honey extract to minimize irritation risk.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this serum for its ability to deliver retinoid benefits like smoothed texture and reduced fine lines with minimal irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin or retinoid beginners. The formula includes soothing botanicals that help mitigate dryness and redness, improving overall skin clarity and radiance.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Users report zero irritation, no peeling, and tolerance even on sensitive skin.”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “Reviews cite "baby soft" skin, reduced roughness, and immediate smoothing effects.”
Expensive product Often Mentioned
- “Many find the product expensive and difficult to repurchase without a sale.”
Anti-aging results Sometimes Noted
- “Users notice plumped skin, diminished fine lines, and a "healthy glow" after consistent use.”
Moisturizing formula Sometimes Noted
- “The creamy, hydrating consistency is praised for not drying out the skin like other retinols.”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Users describe a "funny," "earthy," or "yellow" smell that takes getting used to.”
Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
- “A minority of users experienced initial breakouts or a "purge" phase before seeing results.”
Strength claims Rarely Noted
- “Some skincare enthusiasts feel the "6.5%" label is marketing jargon and doesn't reflect the actual pure retinol strength.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, spacenk.com, lovelyskin.com, cultbeauty.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum work for oily skin?
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum works moderately well for oily skin by offering cell-renewing retinoids, though other products fit this skin type better. It lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine, so an oily skin product needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control sebum and keep pores clear.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum fits oily skin by using hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol to speed up cell renewal, alongside honey extract and bisabolol to help keep the skin calm. However, an oily skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or ferulic acid to properly control excess oil and shine.
What does Retinoid do for oily skin?
Retinoid helps manage oily skin by reducing oil production and keeping pores clear. This type of ingredient works best when paired with oil-controlling and pore-clearing ingredients to keep skin balanced and smooth.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2013The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017
What does Coenzyme Q10 do for oily skin?
Coenzyme Q10 helps energize cells and fights free radicals in stressed skin. It is unlikely to cause greasiness, but oily skin also needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients to stay clear and smooth.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. It works for oily skin by offering moderate retinoid benefits, but an oily skin routine also needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in your morning routine and this treatment at night, as it lacks sufficient oil-controlling ingredients for oily skin.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, and you can start using it once a week to see how your skin responds. While it is safe and provides gentle hydration, this type of skin needs a product with ingredients that actively help control excess oil.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts for your oily skin, though you may experience a low chance of initial purging as the retinoids speed up cell turnover. An oily skin type needs lightweight formulas with oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinyl propionate at a 5:9 weight ratio synergistically enhanced antiaging gene expressions in vitro and improved skin wrinkles, smoothness, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity in 42 Chinese urban women over an 8-week period without adverse reactions compared to retinol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023A topical serum containing hydroxypinacolone retinoate and peptides used twice daily for 16 weeks achieved parity or statistically significantly better improvement in facial aging parameters compared to a single fractional CO2 laser treatment in women with moderate global photodamage.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical retinoids improve global assessment scores and reduce lesion counts compared to vehicle in patients with acne vulgaris, with adapalene demonstrating a superior tolerability profile and benzoyl peroxide combination optimizing results.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Trifarotene cream 0.005% resulted in a significantly greater reduction in total atrophic acne scar count compared with vehicle at Week 24 (55.2% vs 29.9%) in patients with atrophic acne scarring.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2025Topical application of CoQ10 improves mitochondrial function in aging skin in vivo, combating cellular signs of aging caused by an age-dependent shift to a functionally anaerobic energy metabolism.
BioFactors, 2008Encapsulating coenzyme Q10 in lipid nanoparticles for topical use improves skin compatibility, protects against degradation, increases skin penetration, and provides controlled release to counteract aging effects.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2023Review of topical administration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 loaded in lipid nanoparticles highlights their improved bioavailability, chemical stability, skin absorption, and photoprotective effects.
Antioxidants, 2021Honey-based dressings reduced mean healing duration, length of hospital stay, and VAS pain scores compared with povidone iodine-based dressings in 1236 participants.
Journal of Wound Care, 2021Topical honey application improved the mean duration of attacks and pain, occurrence of crusting, and healing time compared to acyclovir cream in 16 adult patients with recurrent labial and genital herpes lesions.
Medical Science Monitor, 2004Combined probiotic supplementation and topical azelaic acid with hydroxypinacolone retinoate reduced non-inflammatory lesions from 11.5 to 7.3 and decreased microscopic acne features measured by reflectance confocal microscopy and dynamic optical coherence tomography in 20 patients over 12 weeks.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023A new topical gel formulation reduced total acne lesions by 80% and GAGS scores by 78% after 8 weeks in 22 female patients with mild facial acne without impairing skin barrier function or causing side effects.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water Eau Agua, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Triheptanoin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Disiloxane, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Ppg-24-Glycereth-24, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Algae Extract, Zingiber Officinale Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Yeast Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Polysilicone-11, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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