As many of you will know, one of my Holy Grail of serums is Sunday Riley’s Good Genes. I’ve sung praises of that serum ever since I discovered it a year ago and would highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a very good chemical exfoliating serum. It gave me almost immediate results that I absolutely love, which is smooth skin and an even skin tone.
A year and 2 bottles later, it was time for me to replenish that serum as I’d used up every drop in the bottle. But much to my dismay, when I wanted to buy it at Mecca Cosmetica, the price had increased to AU$158 for 30ml (it was actually AU$163 or AU$165 a month ago when I last checked). When I bought this mid last year, it was just AU$125 (thank goodness I wrote a review about the serum and I noted the price back then). Not that there’s anything “just” about it; it’s definitely not a cheap serum to begin with. The price increase really irked me, especially when I knew I paid less for it just a year ago. Upon principle, I decided that I would not get this even though I really, REALLY liked this serum. 😛
After a lot of whinging to LeGeeque about this, she recommended that I give Cosmetic Skin Solutions’ Resurfacing Serum a go. She’s tried both the Good Genes serum and the Resurfacing Serum and found that they do pretty much the same job. The CSS serum is certainly far cheaper and since I’ve had good experiences with CSS serums so far, I decided to get a bottle to try.
The Resurfacing Serum comes in typical CSS packaging, which is a clear glass bottle with an eye dropper. Instead of a light gel like Good Genes’, the serum feels and looks like water. I drop half a pump of the eye dropper of product on my palm, gently press both my palms together and apply the serum all over my face, neck and decolletage. It absorbs onto the skin very quickly. This serum smells quite similar to Good Genes, which also means it doesn’t smell good at all. I used to think Good Genes smelled like toilet cleaner but I got used to the scent. Hence the similar scent from the Resurfacing Serum doesn’t bother me.
Cosmetic Skin Solutions doesn’t mention the percentage of AHAs in this serum. Good Genes contains 40% of lactic acid in the serum. According to Cosmetic Skin Soltuions, the Resurfacing Serum contains a combination of naturally occuring AHAs, lactic and glycolic acids to help promote even cell-to-cell differentiation promoting exfoliation by cellular turnover through a process of desquamation and apoptosis. On a physical level, the serum didn’t sting my skin when I first used it. However, there were times when my skin was particularly sensitive (usually during that time of the month) that it tingled a little when I applied this serum. There was no discomfort and it didn’t cause any adverse reactions to my skin.
So how did this fare against the Good Genes? It didn’t give me almost immediate results like Good Genes but the process was quick enough that I noticed visibly smoother skin after just a few days. Like Good Genes, I use this serum every other day, alternating with my Dr Brandt Glow Overnight Resurfacing retinol serum. Together, these 2 serums form a pretty might combo.
Thanks to the price increase in Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, I’ll be happier sticking to CSS’ Resurfacing Serum from now on. It will save me a lot of money too for the Resurfacing Serum is far cheaper. Cosmetic Skin Solutions offer a bulk size along with its regular 30ml. A 30ml bottle is US$29.85 and a 60ml bottle is US$54.85. I can buy a lot more of the Resurfacing Serum for the price of one Good Genes even when I include the cost of shipping from the US.
Well, sucks to be you Sunday Riley for I’ve found a good substitute and I’m not coming back to you! 😛
Cosmetic Skin Solutions offer a good selection of “active” serums that are effective and very affordable for what those serums can do. Mind you, I’m not affiliated with the brand but after trying out many of their products, I must take my hat off to them for their amazing skincare range that is similar to many big “cosmeceutical” brands out there but don’t break the bank. They ship worldwide.
What I like about it: It works almost as well as Sunday Riley’s Good Genes serum, gives my skin quick results of visibly smoother and more boing boing skin. A hell lot more reasonably priced too!
What I do not like about it: It doesn’t smell pleasant. It’s also not physically available in Australia.
Thank you! The price of Good Genes irks me, too. I’ve been using an AHA/BHA serum called Serious Serum. (Www.seriousserum.com) I wonder if you could do a comparison? No one is talking about this one but I think it’s amazing, like my holy grail exfoliant. But I wonder what I’m missing out on! Thanks! (Not affiliated with the serious serum company in any way.)
Thanks for the recommendation Kendra. I’ve not heard of Serious Serum before. I checked out the website; oh dear it’s going to cost US$35 to deliver a US$25 item, which is really expensive. But if I manage to find it here or cheaper elsewhere, I’ll give it a go! 🙂
I have been wanting to give its hylauronic acid serum a go. Thinking of ordering it from Amazon but sometimes I have heard they send duplicate products, some of the sellers. All of CSS products look pretty tempting.
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Try ordering it directly from the CSS website. I’ve not had any issues with them there. 🙂
Thanks Tine!!! I’m almost out of my Good Genes & here in NZ it’s gone up to $185, now I’m not stingy when it comes to skin care but I hate knowing it was considerably less a wee while ago. I’ve been looking at Drunk Elephant’s glycolic night serum, but I haven’t read any reviews written by someone I trust. Your post is so timely, thanks again 😊
Right? I so know what you mean! I’m happy to splurge on a good skincare product but not when I knew I paid a lot less for it before. That irks me. 😛
nice~ can you only buy cosmetic skin solutions on their website tho?
the reason the price has changed is that when you last bought it the US dollar was a lot lower in value so now that the US dollar is higher and the Aussie is at ~70+ cents, despite sunday riley not doing anything different, the price changed. Also because Mecca promised to change their prices every 3-6 months to stay on par with US prices (+ GST), which is great when the aussie is worth more than the US, not so great when the US is climbing back to it’s former position of power.
Thats why all Mecca products have been increasing slightly in price over the last 6-ish months.
Although Brexit led to some serious wobbling on financial markets before and after and somehow the Aussie jumped 2 US cents after dropping severely at news of the results. I’m no financial expert but it should go back to the way it was before as the US continues to improve (unless Trump actually gets elected in which case we’re all fucked).
Unfortunately you’ll only be able to buy CSS from the CSS website and Amazon, all US-based. Oh yeah… that makes sense, why Mecca increased the price based on their 3-6 months price change policy. Thanks for the reminder!
Because of Brexit, people are going left, right and centre on UK beauty sites because of the drop of the pound.
PS: As for Trump, I. Can’t. Even. That touped f**ktrumpet.