I'm Testing Sunday Riley's Newest Retinol Drop So You Don't Have To

How does that old saying go—new year, new skin? Okay, maybe not, but I’m here to make it a thing.The über-glowy skin care brand dropped an Early Access kit, which includes the cult-classic Good Genes treatment and two yet-to-be released products, C.E.O. Glow face oil and A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum. Lucky for me (and you), I was able to snag the retinoid serum back in November so I could thoroughly test it out and share the results with you. Also, because winter skin is the WORST and I will fight it with every tool in my kit.

According to Sunday Riley, this is an a advanced-strength retinoid serum that “fights the signs of aging and improves the look of congested and UV damaged skin.” So we all know retinol helps improve the appearance of aging skin, but this product also includes Hawaiian white honey, cactus extract and ginger to “balance and soothe the skin for the appearance of a calmer, even-toned complexion.” Sign. Me. UP!

Week 1

I’m not seeing much result so far, but it’s only been a few days so that’s not surprising. (Just so everyone knows, you should give a product at least a month to see if you’re getting real payoff.) However, I will say, a little goes a long way, which, when you’re talking Sunday Riley products, aka expensive, that is a very good thing. I do two pumps every night, but I think I could definitely get away with one.

Week 2

Ok, I didn’t adjust to one pump, BUT my face is feeling plumper already. Seriously. I feel like I can pat my cheeks and they just bounce right back! Ok, ok, calming down. This could be a placebo effect and I could just be having a good week so…we continue.

Week 3

Confession time. I skipped Week 3 because I didn’t want to bring this across the country with me. God forbid it broke while some airport employees flung my bag off the plane (Have y’all seen how they treat luggage?? I don't know, maybe it’s just me, but it’s definitely a pet peeve.). I also didn’t want to continue while in a totally different climate (Cali vs. New Jersey/New York) in case the results were skewed, so I figured it was best to just leave it at home during this time.

Week 4

I’m back in the grind. My soul may feel worn down and exhausted, but, thankfully, my complexion doesn’t seem to have gotten too lackluster over the holidays (though my mom’s excitement over finally having someone to try fun cocktails with her, and my willingness to participate, probably didn’t help). In fact, my coworker actually commented how good my skin looks, which shocked me because I’m still super jet-lagged and feel my skin is really showing how sapped I feel on the inside. it’s seriously rough coming back from the break, y’all.

Week 5

I have to admit, I’m still using two pumps because my face started feeling really dry and I’ve been desperately trying to hydrate it and slough off any rough outer layers. Every time I touch my face, it feels scaly and I am NOT happy. I’ve heard of this happening with products like P50, kind of a purging to unveil that radiant, smooth skin hiding underneath those dry, dull layers. So fingers crossed that’s what’s going on right now.

One Month Verdict (Technically)

Ok, so my skin feels like you could bounce a quarter off my cheek. Seriously. I mean, I’m not going to actually try that, but it feels tight and bouncy. I’ve gotten so many compliments from multiple coworkers, and this is serious because they really pay attention to looks. It’s a media thing. I’ve been told I’m really glowy, which is good enough on its own. However, the other day, I realized I had completely forgotten to put concealer on that morning. No harm, no foul because my skin looked great, no concealer necessary (ok, maybe on the undereyes because those babies are VIOLET). I’m a picker so I have some scars from pimples I just couldn’t leave alone, but I, honest to God, do not see them anymore. However, retinol takes about three months, on average, to show results, so I’ll check back in at the end of March and let y’all know what shape my face is in! I’m expecting good things.

If you’re interested, they’ve now dropped A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum at Sephora.

Three Months Later…

Alright, everyone. I promised a check in and totally failed, but I’m back! So. I ran out of this product fairly soon after posting this, which surprised me because I was expecting it to last longer. Honestly? I didn’t purchase it again and I feel like my skin hasn’t suffered too much because of this. I think A+ is a good product so it gave my skin something to work with, even when I’m not using it regularly, but it’s definitely on the pricier side. Therefore, I’m still trying to find my favorite retinol product, preferably by testing some cheaper ones. In the end, I do recommend this product; however, if you’re going to start using it, always remember to introduce it by itself, start with three times a week (especially if you have sensitive skin) and BE PATIENT. This is not a quick fix—all skin products take at least three weeks to show improvement (except peels, those may be more instantaneous) so you can’t give up after week two. If you want me to test other products or want to recommend any retinol products, let me know in the comments!

Note: I know $85 can be a lot to spend on one face product so I did some research on an appropriate drugstore alternative. Dermatologists recommend Differin’s Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment, which is not just for acne, despite the name. This product used to only be over the counter, but now you can buy it at your local drugstore or on Amazon for only $11.