Skincare · reviewed

Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA

The buying question

How do the listed key actives, disclosed percentages and fragrance listing differ?

Insufficient information

Both are lactic acid exfoliants without listed fragrance, but Sunday Riley doesn't disclose its lactic acid strength, so it can't be compared with The Ordinary's 10%. Sunday Riley also contains lemongrass oil.

Equivalent performance is not established.

How we reached this verdict ↗

Original

Photo unavailable

Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment — 30 mL

$85.00

$283.33 / 100 mL

Checked Oct 26, 2026, 2:16 AM EDT

Alternative

Photo unavailable

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA — 30 mL

$9.20

$30.67 / 100 mL

Checked Oct 26, 2026, 2:15 AM EDT

Same, different, unknown.

“Same” means a recorded feature matches, not equivalent performance.

Listed key actives and disclosed percentages

Unknown

Original: Lactic acid: percentage undisclosed; Licorice (root extract and stearyl glycyrrhetinate): percentage undisclosed; Brand-stated
Alternative: Lactic acid: 10%; Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer (hyaluronic acid): 2%; Brand-stated

Both list lactic acid as the main exfoliating acid. The Ordinary discloses 10%; Sunday Riley does not disclose its strength, so the two can't be compared. Sunday Riley also features licorice, which The Ordinary does not list; The Ordinary features a hyaluronic acid derivative.

Sources

Original: Sunday Riley US product page (formula breakdown); Checked Oct 26, 2026; No lactic acid percentage appears on the Sunday Riley, Ulta or Dermstore pages.
Alternative: The Ordinary US product page; Checked Oct 26, 2026; 10% lactic acid is in the brand's product name. The 2% hyaluronic acid figure appears in the brand page's image text and in Ulta's product name, not in the brand's visible description. The brand states a pH of about 3.8.

Fragrance listed

Same

Original: No; Seller-stated
Alternative: No; Brand-stated

Neither ingredient list includes fragrance or parfum. Sunday Riley's list does include lemongrass oil, an essential oil that gives a scent, even though the brand calls the product fragrance-free. The Ordinary's list has no essential oils.

Sources

Original: Ulta ingredient list; Checked Oct 26, 2026
Alternative: The Ordinary ingredient list; Checked Oct 26, 2026

What we couldn’t check

Listed key actives and disclosed percentages. Sunday Riley does not disclose its lactic acid percentage.
Comparative performance. pH (The Ordinary states about 3.8; Sunday Riley states none), texture and skin outcomes have not been compared.