Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment for acne-prone skin
Lactic Acid
Licorice Root
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 exfoliation for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, as lactic acid promotes cell turnover and unclogs pores, while squalane provides emollient action suitable for your combination skin.
- The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract and Arnica Montana Flower Extract further soothes the skin, enhancing the overall comfort and efficacy for your skin type.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 6.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lactic acid treatment is highly praised for its ability to quickly exfoliate and retexturize skin, resulting in a noticeable glow and smoother skin texture. Users with dullness, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines report significant improvements in skin clarity and plumpness. Many find it gentle enough for sensitive or acne-prone skin, though the high price point is a frequent concern.
Highlights
Instant radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “woke up glowing”
- “instant radiance”
- “skin looks brighter overnight”
- “got that fresh look back”
Smoothes texture Mostly Mentioned
- “baby soft skin”
- “texture is gone”
- “smoothest my face has felt”
- “got rid of bumps”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “very expensive”
- “hurts my wallet”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury splurge”
Plumps fine lines Often Mentioned
- “lines look filled in”
- “plumps my skin”
- “wrinkles less visible”
- “youthful bounce”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “didn't dry me out”
- “gentle but powerful”
Distinctive scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like furniture polish”
- “strong lemongrass scent”
- “smell is off-putting”
- “sour milk odor”
Mild tingling Rarely Noted
- “tingles a bit”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “spicy on active acne”
- “stings for a minute”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sunday Riley Good Genes a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Sunday Riley Good Genes is a great fit because its lactic acid clears clogged pores and helps with breakouts, while squalane keeps your skin soft. It also includes aloe and arnica to calm your skin and make the treatment feel very comfortable.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment is a great fit for acne-prone skin because lactic acid clears clogged pores and promotes cell turnover, while squalane and licorice root help soothe blemishes and reduce irritation.
What does Lactic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Lactic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions with regular topical use. It works well to smooth and calm the skin while managing breakouts safely over time.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2002
What does Licorice Root Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Licorice Root Extract helps calm red, irritated skin and soothe breakouts. It also works to fade the dark marks that pimples often leave behind.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in the evening routine, starting at once a week so your skin can adjust. Lactic acid clears pores and encourages cell turnover while soothing ingredients help keep breakouts calm.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
This exfoliant treatment is a great fit for your acne-prone skin, but using it in the same routine as retinol is likely to cause irritation, so it is best to use them on alternate nights or separate them into your morning and evening routines.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps clear clogged pores and smooth your skin while keeping irritation very unlikely.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit because lactic acid unclogs pores and promotes cell turnover, while soothing ingredients calm the skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation, and it helps keep acne and breakouts under control.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.
Molecules, 2023Opuntia ficus-indica extract and its isorhamnetin-glucosyl-rhamnoside suppressed nitric oxide, COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production in vitro and inhibited croton oil-induced ear edema in vivo.
BioMed Research International, 2015Opuntia ficus-indica extract activated AHR-NRF2 signaling, inhibited reactive oxygen species generation, and upregulated filaggrin and loricrin expression in human keratinocytes.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2015Pre-treating normal human keratinocytes with an Opuntia ficus-indica cladode water extract protected against UVA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by inhibiting free radicals, lipid peroxidation, and GSH depletion.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2017Gels containing 1% Arnica montana L. flower extract successfully enhanced the volume of the lips and face with a reduction of wrinkles in humans.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2023Topical application of Arnica montana ointment reduced the inflammatory response and oxidative damage in mice exposed to UVB radiation compared to untreated UVB-exposed skin.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2020The protocol combining microcurrent with topical Arnica montana reduces inflammation, increases myofibroblast proliferation, and decreases macrophage presence in rats with skin lesions compared to controls.
International Journal of Experimental Pathology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Cypripedium Pubescens Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Ppg-12 Smdi Copolymer, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil Lemongrass Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Phytate
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.