Quick verdict

Use with caution

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream acne and safety scorecard

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream scores 68/100 overall and 62/100 for skin compatibility. Flagged ingredients are summarized before the full analysis.

Comedogenic risk

4/5

High acne-prone skin risk based on flagged ingredients.

Fungal acne concern

Review

1 high-concern ingredient signal needs review.

Pregnancy concern

Review

Check flagged ingredients with a clinician.

Flagged ingredients

1 high concern, 4 medium concern.

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Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream

Paraben FreeSulfate FreeSilicone FreeMineral Oil FreeNormal SkinDry SkinCombination SkinMature SkinAnti-AgingHyperpigmentationDrynessBrighteningFirming

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream

Skincare · Moisturizer · Luxury

We put Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream through our full ingredient analysis.

Chapter I · The Score

The numbers don't lie.

After analyzing 13 ingredients across four dimensions, our algorithm returned a verdict that surprised us.

0/100

Overall

Conditionally Approved

0/100

Skin Compatibility

0/100

Environmental

0/100

Naturalness

Chapter II · The Ingredients

Inside the formula.

We scored every ingredient individually. Some impressed us. Others raised serious questions.

Squalane

A high-quality, nourishing lipid that strengthens the skin barrier and effectively retains moisture.

Low Concern

92/100

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

A very stable and oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that penetrates deep into the skin and acts as an antioxidant.

Low Concern

95/100

PEG-8 Beeswax

PEGs act as emulsifiers, but they can make the skin barrier more permeable to potential harmful substances.

Moderate

45/100

Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil

This essential oil provides fragrance but can cause irritation or photosensitization in sensitive skin.

Moderate

55/100

Bisabolol

A soothing active ingredient from chamomile that inhibits inflammation and supports skin regeneration.

Low Concern

84/100

Sodium Hyaluronate

The salt form of hyaluronic acid intensely binds moisture in the skin and provides a plumping effect.

Low Concern

92/100

Nylon-12

A synthetic filler that pollutes the environment as non-biodegradable microplastic.

High Concern

30/100

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

A synthetic polymer that provides an improved texture but is ecologically questionable.

Moderate

40/100

Limonene

A declarable fragrance with allergenic potential that can cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Moderate

52/100

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit (Kakadu Plum) Extract

This extract is an extremely rich natural source of Vitamin C and offers strong protection against free radicals.

Low Concern

100/100

Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract

Turmeric extract has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and promotes a radiant complexion.

Low Concern

100/100

Tocopherol

Pure Vitamin E, which protects the skin from oxidative stress and simultaneously increases product stability.

Low Concern

88/100

Phenoxyethanol

A standard preservative that can rarely cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Low Concern

70/100

Full ingredient list

Water/Eau/Aqua, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, C10-18 Triglycerides, PEG-8 Beeswax, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Tapioca Starch, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Citric Acid, PPG-12 Smdi Copolymer, Glycerin, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bisabolol, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Nylon-12, Rosa Centifolia Flower Wax, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Sodium Phytate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Chlorphenesin, Microcitrus Australasica (Lime Pearl) Fruit Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit (Kakadu Plum) Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos (Yuzu) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Lippia Citriodora (Lemon Verbena) Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) Fruit Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Dehydroacetic Acid, Water/Eau/Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Chapter III · The Deep Dive

Our expert's complete verdict.

The Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream is a rich face cream that primarily focuses on brightening the complexion and protecting against free radicals with Vitamin C. It combines moisturizing lipids with various plant extracts for intensive care.

🟡 Overall Rating: Moderately concerning

The formulation contains high-quality antioxidants and lipids, but is devalued by the use of potentially irritating fragrances (essential oils), PEGs, and synthetic polymers. It is effective for non-sensitive skin, but only partially recommended for very sensitive skin types or for those focusing on pure natural cosmetics.

Individual Review of Key Ingredients

Ingredient	Rating	Function & Effect
Squalane	🟢	Nourishing lipid that strengthens the skin barrier and preserves moisture.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate	🟢	Very stable, oil-soluble vitamin C derivative with excellent penetration ability.
PEG-8 Beeswax	🟡	Emulsifier based on beeswax; PEGs can make the skin more permeable to pollutants.
Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil	🟡	Essential oil for fragrance; can cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Bisabolol	🟢	Soothing active ingredient derived from chamomile.
Tocopherol	🟢	Vitamin E; acts as an antioxidant and protects ingredients from oxidation.
Nylon-12	🟡	Synthetic filler for texture; environmentally difficult to degrade.
Alcohol Denat.	🟡	Solvent; can be drying in higher concentrations.
Sodium Hyaluronate	🟢	Hyaluronic acid; effectively binds moisture in the skin.
Curcuma Longa Root Extract	🟢	Turmeric extract; acts as a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract	🟢	Kakadu plum; natural source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Limonene / Linalool	🟡	Declarable fragrances; potentially allergenic.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane	🟡	Synthetic polymer for texture improvement (soft-focus effect).
Phenoxyethanol	🟡	Classic preservative; potentially irritating in high doses.

Environmental Compatibility

The ecological balance of the product is mixed, as it contains both natural and difficult-to-degrade synthetic components.

◈Biodegradability: The plant oils and extracts contained are well biodegradable, while polymers (Nylon-12) are problematic for the environment.
◈Microplastics: The product contains synthetic polymers such as Nylon-12 and Polymethylsilsesquioxane, which are partly classified as difficult-to-degrade plastics.
◈Silicones/Mineral Oils: No classic silicones or mineral oils are included in the list.
◈Palm Oil Issue: Ingredients such as Glycerin or Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride can be palm oil-based; information on sustainable sourcing (RSPO) is missing.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion: The cream impresses with the use of a very stable and effective form of Vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) as well as high-quality plant extracts. Deductions are made for the use of potential allergens (fragrances/essential oils) and synthetic polymers, which cloud both skin compatibility and environmental balance.

Recommendation:

◈Who is it suitable for? Ideal for dry, dull skin seeking a "glow effect" and intensive protection.
◈Special Notes: Due to the essential oils (Tangerine) and fragrances (Limonene, Linalool), a patch test should be performed beforehand for rosacea or fragrance allergies.
◈Purchase Recommendation: Yes, for users who value performance ingredients (Vitamin C) and have no issues with perfumed products. Users of certified natural cosmetics should choose an alternative.

⚠

High Concern - Flagged Ingredient

Nylon-12

A synthetic filler that pollutes the environment as non-biodegradable microplastic.

Chapter IV · The Verdict

◈

Conditionally Approved

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream earns a 68/100 from our algorithm. A good score with some areas worth reviewing before purchase.

68Overall

62Skin Compatibility

45Environmental

55Naturalness

⊕Analyse your own product ← Back to all analyses

Key ingredients in Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream

Every ingredient in Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream has its own safety and comedogenic breakdown. Open any one to see what it does and whether it tends to clog pores.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream acne-safe or comedogenic?

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream has an estimated acne and comedogenic risk of 4/5 based on 13 analyzed ingredients. A higher number suggests more caution for oily or acne-prone skin. This is informational, not medical advice.

How does Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream score for sensitive skin?

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream scored 62/100 for skin compatibility and 68/100 overall - higher numbers mean lower overall concern. GlowLens flagged 1 higher-concern and 4 moderate-concern ingredient signals, so sensitive skin users are wise to patch-test first. This is informational, not medical advice.

Which ingredients in Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream are flagged?

GlowLens flagged 5 ingredients in this formula: 1 higher concern and 4 moderate concern. Review the ingredient scorecard on this page for the exact ingredient names and notes. This is informational, not medical advice.

What should I consider for Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream during pregnancy?

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream contains higher-concern ingredient signals, so pregnancy or nursing use is best reviewed with a clinician. This is informational, not medical advice.

Quick verdict

Use with caution