Acids Skincare

Review: Sunday Riley Good Genes vs Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

by Patsy

I’ve been using Sunday Riley Good Genes All in One Lactic Acid Treatment for a good few years (way before my skin turned sensitive which happened about 2 years ago, so I was mainly dealing with oily acne prone when I first started out) and it’s always been my HG. I didn’t look into Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos until more recent months when I purchased the Littles kit to try out. So, which one do I like better? Which one is more effective? What should you buy?

Sunday Riley Good Genes

At a glance

  • “Deeply exfoliates the dull surface of the skin for clarity, radiance, and younger-looking skin. Visibly brightens the appearance of age spots and discolorations. Instantly plumps the look of fine lines and wrinkles in 3 minutes”
  • About 5% AHA with Lactic acid only
  • pH value: 2.6
  • Product texture: white light serum lotion
  • Scent: Lemongrass + Yeast smell
  • Cruelty-Free, Sulfate-Free, Paraben-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Phthalate-Free, Fragrance-Free, Vegan.

Available: £78/30ml

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Drunk Elephant – T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum

At a glance

  • “An AHA/BHA night serum that refines and resurfaces skin to reveal a smoother and more radiant complexion. T.L.C. Framboos™ enhances the performance of other products by clearing the way for maximum absorption.”
  • 12% AHA/BHA blend including glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric acid and salicylic acids.
  • pH value: 3.8
  • Product texture: Lightweight colourless gel
  • Scent: None
  • Formulated without: Animal Fats/Oils/Musks, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzophenone, Bisphenol A (BPA), Butoxyethanol, BHA, BHT, Chemical Sunscreens, Coal Tar Dyes, -Cones, Detergent, Essential Oils, Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA), Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone, Liquid Petrolatum, Methyl Cellosolve, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mercury, Mercury Compounds, Mineral Oil, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Paraffin Oil, Phthalates, Polyethylene Glycol (PEGs), Resorcinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Siloxanes, Sulfates, Thimerosal, Toluene, Triclosan, Triclocarban
  • Cruelty-Free, Fragrance-Free

Available: £76/30ml

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My thoughts:

Now my skin is more sensitive, my tolerance to GG has changed, it feels more tingling than before whereas I don’t feel much tingles from TLC. I used to do GG almost 5 times a week but in the last couple of years with the introduction of stronger retinol, I’ve to reduce to maybe 2 times a week. With only 2 times a week compared with 5 times a week, the difference was noticeable. But that’s where I am at now with leave-on AHA. 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

Good Genes’ is meant to be more suitable for dry and sensitive skin with its lactic acids being bigger molecule size and more gentle and slower at getting rid of dead skin cells on the surface level.

TLC Framboos has a focus on Glycolic acid mixing with others including lactic and salicylic.

 

Technically, Glycolic being smaller molecule size which penetrates quicker and deeper into the skin and salicylic helps with pores clogging, this is supposed to be suitable for oilier skin type and probably not that suitable for sensitive skin, however this has been working well (if not better) for me these days.

 

I would have thought my now sensitive skin can’t take glycolic though but it’s not caused any irritations at all. (I did introduce it very slowly and that’s what anyone should do with new products especially acids).

 

Both give a smoother, softer glowing skin overnight, but if I have a pimple or two, GG won’t get rid of that (not unless I go back to 5 times a week), whereas I can see TLC calms any pimples overnight. .

Obviously comparing Good Genes and TLC Framboos is a bit unfair as it all depends on your skin type, what other products you are using and the results you want to achieve. While Lactic acid is great for sensitive skin, the lower pH means it can cause irritations more. Glycolic is meant to be a bit more aggressive but this blend is so gentle that makes it sensitive skin friendly. What I’m trying to say is you have to test the products out before you know it works for you.
I’m using both once a week, 3 days apart. This seems to work well for me.

 

Do you use either of those? What do you prefer? What’s your experience so far? 💕

 

Sunday Riley Good Genes Ingredients:

Botanical Blend [ Aqua, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Cypripedium Pubescens Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (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 (Lemongrass) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Phytate

T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum Ingredients:

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Galactoarabinan, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Nitrate, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate