Sunday Riley Luna: Why This Retinol Oil Is Still the Best (Over 10 Years Later)

Last Updated on March 28, 2026 by omgbart

The Sunday Riley Luna sleeping oil has been in my routine for nearly a decade. I first wrote about it in 2015. At the time I called it one of the best treatments in the history of ever. I stand by that.

Luna combines retinol with a base of blue tansy and German chamomile. That pairing is the whole point. Retinol is one of the most clinically proven anti-aging ingredients in skincare. It increases cell turnover, addresses hyperpigmentation, softens expression lines, and improves texture with consistent use.

The problem most people have with retinol is the adjustment period. Dryness, flaking, redness, sensitivity. Luna solves that directly.

Blue tansy and German chamomile are both rich in azulene, which has strong anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Avocado seed oil adds vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. Chia seed oil brings omega-3 fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid. The result is a retinol formula that works without the downtime.

I had used easily dozens of retinoid products before Luna. It was the first one that showed visible results after a single use. Smoother texture, more even tone, skin that looked rested rather than stressed. For anyone over thirty exploring retinol for the first time, this is where I would start.

Luna is strictly a PM product. Apply two to three drops to clean skin after cleansing. It absorbs fast and leaves no blue tint on skin or pillowcase. The herbal, chamomile-leaning scent fades within minutes.

Layer a moisturiser over the top if your skin runs dry. If you are also using the Sunday Riley CEO vitamin C serum in the morning, the two pair well. Vitamin C in the AM, retinol at night is a solid routine. Do not use Luna on the same night as a strong AHA or BHA. That combination overloads the skin fast.

Where things stand now

Luna has been updated since the original formula. The core concept is unchanged — retinol in a blue tansy base — but the delivery and stability have been refined. Sunday Riley has also released a serum version for those who prefer a lighter texture.

It is also no longer a Sephora exclusive.

Worth it?

Yes. The blue tansy base is not decorative. It genuinely makes the retinol more tolerable, which means you use it consistently, which is how retinol actually works. That is the whole argument for Luna in one sentence.

Where to get yours

$105 (30ml) or $55 (15ml) at sundayriley.com, dermstore.com (try my code OMGBART for 15-20% off), sephora.com, ulta.com, selfridges.com or spacenk.com.

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