It’s only natural if the idea of a night oil that gently erases fine lines overnight sounds like a dream come true to you. But what if your wallet is magically lighter overnight too? That can feel like the case with products from this cult favorite brand. And even if the results are great, the price point is high enough that at some point many people start looking for Sunday Riley Luna dupes.

So we hunted them down. We have nothing against Sunday Riley. Their products are great and tend to deliver quality results. The problem is that other brands also deliver results—at a fraction of the price. (That’s exactly why we previously hunted down Sunday Riley Good Genes dupes, despite how much we love the original product.) But before we dive into Luna dupes that are beloved, you’ll need to decide whether you’re in it for the retinoids or not. What are those and what do they do? Here’s a refresher.

Retinol vs retinoid: what are they and what’s the difference?

First and foremost, retinoid is an umbrella term that describes many skincare products. Retinoids are a class of medication used to treat a whole host of skin concerns, from aging to dullness, dark spots to acne. When we talk about “retinoids,” we’re using a term that generally refers to both retinols and prescription retinoids. You’ll need to see a medical professional if you want to start using a prescription retinoid, such as Retin-A.

That’s because retinoids are irritating. A healthcare professional can help advise you on whether you need or your skin can handle a true retinoid. The one exception is Differin, which was the first OTC retinoid.

The big difference between prescription retinoids and retinols is their strength. It takes more steps for your body to convert retinols than retinoids into retinoic acid, the active ingredient in these products. But that also means they generally come with fewer potential side effects, or at least much less irritation. It’s generally suggested that you start with the lightest product and work up to the heaviest as you age and your skin gets accustomed to retinoids.

Sunday Riley Luna dupes with a retinoid

• The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
• Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum 

Sunday Riley Luna dupes without a retinoid

• Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil
• Herbivore Lapis Face Oil
• Pacifica Super Flower Rapid Response Oil

Sunday Riley Luna dupes without a retinoid

It’s easy to think of Luna as a retinoid product. It is, to some degree, but it’s also so much more. These products are Sunday Riley Luna dupes for the other aspects this cult favorite offers your skin. One of the main benefits of Luna, and these dupes, is deep hydration that also balances the oil on your face. They’ll leave you with skin that’s nourished, but not greasy. If your skin is especially sensitive to retinoids and needs some balancing, these are good places to start.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil

Overall verdict: Many people initially bought this Sunday Riley Luna dupe simply because of the price. They felt that for $9 there was no reason to not try it—and now they’re hooked. You won’t get any retinol in this formula, but fans who have used the formula for years swear by its ability to diminish and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Main features:

• Lightweight but hydrating
• Rapidly absorbs into skin
• No residue or stickiness

Herbivore Lapis Facial Oil

Overall verdict: It’s easy to mistake this face oil for the closest Sunday Riley Luna dupe because of its striking azure hue. It does get its color from an ingredient shared between the two products, blue tansy, but Herbivore’s doesn’t include retinol—which means it’s likely not the best one-to-one for people looking for something almost identical. If you’re sensitive to retinol products and need extra soothing from natural ingredients, though, this one’s for you.

Main features:

• Blue tansy to soothe skin
• Lightweight and moisturizing
• Lasts a long time

Pacifica Super Flower Rapid Response Oil

Overall verdict: Most people love this lightweight formula that combats even the toughest dry patches while taming redness. Some people with oily skin say this Sunday Riley Luna dupe leaves them feeling greasy, but they don’t say how much they’re using. So be warned: a little goes a long way with this oil—which means it should last. Most people who rave about this face oil use just 2-3 drops of it per application.

Main features:

• Lightweight and moisturizing
• Diminishes redness
• Vegan and cruelty-free
  

Sunday Riley Luna dupes with a retinoid

Some background information on Luna: Sunday Riley uses Trans-Retinol Ester in this night oil, which they claim to be superior to regular retinoids. That big claim comes down to the promise of Luna: that it has retinoids, but also calms your skin. Trans-Retinol Ester, they claim, has the strength of other retinoids but doesn’t irritate to the same degree. And that’s exactly why you’re going to get some technical language around these products, too. Any wannabe Sunday Riley Luna dupe has to provide the same thing: a powerful retinoid that minimizes irritation.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Overall verdict: The Ordinary’s chosen active ingredient is granactive retinoid. The idea is that this ingredient strikes a good balance for your skin: it’s stronger than other non-prescription retinoids, but you don’t need to go to a healthcare professional to get it because it’s not as irritating.

Main features:

• Granactive retinoid formula
• Doesn’t leave residue
• Lightweight formula

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum

Overall verdict: If you’re hunting down Sunday Riley Luna dupes, you probably know you need to build your retinol slowly. Peter Thomas Roth’s PM Serum is a good product for retinol beginners at just 1.5%, and the microencapsulation encourages a slower release of the skincare product throughout the night instead of all at once to minimize irritation. Fans swear by this serum’s ability to boost skin quality all around, from diminishing fine lines to evening skin tone.

Main features:

• Microencapsulated retinol at 1.5%
• Squalane oil to prevent breakouts
• Lightweight formula and runny texture