sunday riley go to bed with me: a+ high dose retinoid serum

as i've said in my other post, i decided to buy a sunday riley set. i was ecstatic to find it since i've been dying to try their products. i was especially excited because this set contains their best-sellers, like the good genes and the luna oil. those two are the reason why i decided to buy the set. anyway, there are two sets, one for in the morning that has the vitamin c serum and one for the night which has the high dose retinoid serum. the rest is the same. i was so excited that i decided to crack this open when i finished my previous retinoid serum. actually i never heard of this one, so let's see how it goes.

this is the description from their website: an advanced-strength retinoid serum delivers a 6,5% solution of stabilized retinoid blends and botanical, retinol-alternative extracts into the skin. combining 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol blend, and 0,5% blue-green algae with natural, retinoid-alternative activity, this serum fights the signs of aging and improves the look of congested and UV damaged skin. encapsulated coQ10 helps to improve the appearance of aging or damaged skin, while rare, hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, cactus extract, and ginger balance and soothe the skin for the appearance of a calmer, even-toned complexion. 

key ingredients:

- retinoid ester blend 5% + liposome-encapsulated retinol blend 1% + 0.5% blue-green algae: helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines and encourages signs of clearer skin.

- coq10: improves the appearance of aging or uv-exposed skin, for a healthier-looking, balanced complexion.

balanced by hawaiian white honey: pro skin humectant, rich in phytonutrients.

the packaging: like i've said before, since i bought this in a set, it comes in a white hard box with magnetic clasp. the box is covered by a light blue cardboard sleeve with the picture of all products in the set. at the back there's description of everything inside. the products are placed on a plastic tray so everything is secure inside. the serum itself comes in a dark blue glass bottle with pump head that's covered with white plastic cap. there's description on the back of the bottle as well. the size is 15 ml which is half the full size one. quite decent for a mini, isn't it? anyway, there are 3 sizes of this serum, 15 ml, 30 ml and 50 ml. 

the scent: this one definitely has a foul scent, which is typical for a retinol serum. if i remember correctly, the drunk elephant retinol also has similar scent. however, it's still bearable so i managed to finish it.

the product: the serum is a yellowish lotion-like serum that's quite runny so i can spread it around easily. it doesn't take long to be absorbed. once absorbed, it gives slightly glow to my skin. it layers well over and under other skincare products that i use and doesn't pill.

the result: when i read the percentage, i was afraid that i might be jumping to this one too soon. after all, lately i've only been using 1% retinoid. but then, as i read more carefully, it's 6.5% of retinol alternative extract, so it's not the real retinoid/its derivative, but just a blend of extract that has similar component or effect as retinol. that being said, it might not be as strong as the real retinoid. i didn't take progress pictures because when i used this serum, i used it on and off so it might not reflect the real result. honestly, i'm quite excited trying this one. however, somehow i didn't notice any difference at all. somehow it doesn't seem to be working. my skin conditions were not getting better nor worse. it feels like i don't use any retinol at all.

so yeah, you can guess that i won't repurchase this one. i don't know whether i should recommend this or not. for the price, i think you'd better try the sample if you can. so if you don't have the budget, i don't think you'll miss anything if you skip this.