Few beauty brands are as revered by skincare obsessives and novices alike as Drunk Elephant. With its colour-pop packaging, cryptic product names and smart approach to layering, it was always destined to become social media clickbait.
All the superstar ingredients you would want to include in your routine are here, from retinol and vitamin C to hyaluronic and glycolic acid. What’s more, the entire lineup is cruelty-free (though not 100% vegan). According to brand founder Tiffany Masterson, Drunk Elephant is ‘clinically clean’ which, as our beauty editor Jackie recently explored, is a term that should always be taken with a pinch of salt. However, when broken down, Drunk Elephant’s focus on simple ingredients which work is very attractive.
The products are designed to mix with one another, be used in any order and are supposedly suited to every skin type. In the most basic terms, this means Drunk Elephant is for everyone — that is, if you are willing to spend some money. From £16 for a lip balm (the most affordable product in the lineup) to £113 for a night serum (the most expensive), Drunk Elephant doesn’t come cheap. An entire skincare routine would cost a staggering £779, which is the self-indulgent reason why I signed up to review the whole shebang. I said goodbye to my existing favourites and lined up my new collection of 16 Drunk Elephant products on my dresser (much like a small, colourful army ready for a beauty battle) to embark on a skincare journey over several weeks.
Is Drunk Elephant worth it? Or is it all just social media hype? Read on for my honest thoughts.
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Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, £30
Of all the odd names in the Drunk Elephant universe, Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser takes the biscuit. Sure, it has a jelly-ish consistency (it’s a clear gel cleanser that has a light foaming effect when massaged into damp skin) but ‘Beste’? Your guess is as good as mine.
Usually, I’m not a gel cleanser fan as they sometimes dry out my already dehydrated skin but this one is incredibly gentle and soothing thanks to its extra moisturising ingredients. You’ll spot glycerin, cantaloupe fruit extract and aloe, which help to retain the skin’s natural oils, while coconut-based surfactants (responsible for lather) dissolve makeup and the day’s grime. Beste No. 9 is also packed with Drunk Elephant’s star player, virgin marula oil, which is high in antioxidants to shield skin against things like pollution, as well as moisturising omegas 6 and 9. It foams up nicely and has a light, non-intrusive woody scent, and my skin isn’t left feeling stiff or stripped of moisture afterwards. Since using it, my skin is noticeably clearer, especially the small, stubborn spots crowding my jaw and chin.
Truthfully though, while a small amount of this stuff goes a long way, it’s not enough to tackle a full face of makeup — especially kohl eyeliner and mascara. So I’ve adopted this as part of a double cleanse alongside my tried-and-tested Pai Skincare Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil, £33.
Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser 150ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum, £74
I was recommended Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum, which is designed to improve skin tone, texture and firmness while targeting fine lines, sun damage and enlarged pores. Everything my dry, dull skin could want is here: 10% lactic acid (an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid), an impressive mix of 11 peptides (essentially proteins, which repair skin), antioxidant-rich plant oils (marula, green tea seed oil and squalane) and moisture-boosting ingredients (like sodium hyaluronate). It’s basically a powerful, ultra-concentrated serum version of the brand’s bestselling Protini Moisturiser, £59.
It’s quite a watery serum but the best thing about Drunk Elephant’s packaging is that you can control exactly how much product comes out, especially when compared to the usual pipette-dropper situation. This wet consistency means that the serum absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving it with a light sheen. It’s not exactly odourless but I barely notice the slight chemical smell as it dries. Used in combination with C-Firma Day Serum, £67, each morning, my skin feels firmer and smoother and is noticeably glowing. It’s a great base for makeup and one of my Drunk Elephant favourites. I’ll consider repurchasing if I can afford it.
Drunk Elephant Protini™ Powerpeptide Resurf Serum 30ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, £70
As part of my Drunk Elephant morning serum ritual, C-Firma is taking me a while to get used to. It delivers an intense dose of pure vitamin C (15% L-ascorbic acid, to be exact) and is packaged to keep the formula as fresh as possible (the powder is kept separate from the liquid serum until you mix it yourself). But I can’t get over the smell, which is a bit like burnt toast. I’ll be sticking to my favourite Wild Science Lab Root + Fruit Juice Boost Brightening Serum, £38, which has a lovely, light orange scent.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Serum, £43
Though I was disappointed with C-Firma, I was pleasantly surprised by B-Hydra, the second Drunk Elephant product recommended to me. This one is odourless and slightly thicker than the others but it feels cool and refreshing to apply, which is so nice on my usually tired, puffy morning face. Drying down, it leaves a thin, slightly tacky layer but it isn’t sticky.
The ingredient list reads like an actual smoothie recipe. Pineapple ceramide and lentil, apple and watermelon extracts combine to create an antioxidant-rich formula that brightens the skin. It also features hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for extra moisturising and soothing properties. After using this my skin definitely looks more glowing and feels plumper. Another win for Drunk Elephant.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Serum 50ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial, £60
This is my favourite Drunk Elephant product. When I’m at my laziest (which is too often to count, I’m afraid), there’s no way I want to go through a complicated, multi-product routine. So this powerful concoction of azelaic and salicylic acid is a lifesaver. Recently, I’ve just been cleansing, moisturising and applying two drops of this before bed and waking up to brighter, clearer skin. It’s too soon to say whether it really does minimise fine lines but my face is feeling tighter and my pores aren’t as visible, which is something. Plus, there are none of the pesky whiteheads I often get around my nose.
Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial™, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, £61
I have clear requisites for my daily moisturiser. I need something intensely hydrating but light as I don’t want to end up looking greasy. Protini Moisturiser strikes the perfect balance. It’s not too heavy, absorbs into my skin right away and leaves my face feeling plump and ultra-soft (no tightness over here). In fact, I have to be careful about how much I touch my now baby-soft cheeks (hi, breakouts). I also love that Drunk Elephant’s clever packaging dispenses the perfect amount of product without having to stick my fingers in the jar.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Eye Cream, £56
This is the product I was most excited about trying, having heard so many rave reviews from friends and Refinery29 editors. It did not disappoint — my usually pretty dark under-eye circles and puffy eyes have looked distinctly brighter and tighter, which is in turn making my concealer look better (more hydrated under-eyes = less dry skin and fine lines for makeup to cling to). I’ve also noticed my normally sparse eyelashes look longer and a little thicker, which I can only credit to my messy eye cream application and the rich blend of repairing peptides, moisturising ceramides, nourishing plant oils and protective antioxidants in C-Tango.
Drunk Elephant C-Tango™ Eye Cream 15ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, £17
This is some good stuff. It combines antioxidant-rich green tea leaf, avocado, cranberry seed and mongongo nut oil as well as vitamin C to create a gentle, fragrance-free treatment for dry lips. I also like that it’s extra large compared to other balms, meaning you can swipe both lips in one. But I hear you: £16 for a lip balm? In this economy? Splurge if you really struggle with dry lips, especially come autumn. As a cheaper alternative, I love Eucerin Dry Skin Intensive Lip Balm, £4.50.
Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30, £30
As a mineral rather than chemical sunscreen, Umbra Sheer Physical is great for sensitive skin. It’s non-irritating and is totally free of fragrance, essential oils and silicones, absorbing quickly without feeling greasy. However, because it’s a mineral sunscreen (using zinc oxide to create a protective barrier on the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays), it also leaves a white cast (so much for being sheer). While this isn’t too noticeable on my pale skin, I would recommend SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense SPF 50, £41, to those with darker complexions (it was a winner in our beauty writer’s review).
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 90ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops, £33
Perfect for summer, a few drops of this stuff added to moisturiser give skin a really natural, bronzed glow (I was warned never to use it alone). You only need a little bit — one or two drops too many and you slide over into Ross Geller territory.
Drunk Elephant Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Drops 30ml, $, available at Boots
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol, £52
I haven’t got the best track record with retinol (with a few of my worst experiences leaving my skin red, dry and flaky). But I’ve been really impressed with A-Passioni, which is also packed with nourishing, hydrating oils (marula, passion fruit, apricot and jojoba), repairing peptides, skin-smoothing fatty acids and protecting antioxidants like kale leaf extract. I started slowly, mixing a little in with B-Hydra Serum so my skin could grow accustomed to it. Now I can use it on its own but only occasionally during the week. At 1% retinol, it’s gentle enough not to irritate my skin but is still powerful. After just one week I noticed my skin looking tighter and smoother.
Drunk Elephant A -Passioni™ Retinol, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, £76
This is an AHA/BHA gel that lifts away dead skin cells, improving skin tone and texture, all thanks to its mix of glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids. According to the brand’s description, the added mix of hyaluronic acid and virgin marula oil makes it gentle on the skin. I mostly experienced only a slight tingle but when applied to broken skin it really does sting — though that was my own fault for not reading the instructions (and having a spot-picking habit). In other words, don’t do this!
Slowly, Framboos has helped to exfoliate and smooth the stubborn texture on my neck and chin but it hasn’t blown me away. Exfoliating helps to improve the absorption of the rest of your skincare products (and it is nicely followed by a dose of Virgin Marula Facial Oil) but I would be happy sticking to another (much cheaper) acid exfoliant like The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, £11.50.
Drunk Elephant TLC Glycolic Night Serum 30ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Moisturiser, £56
My skin has never felt so bouncy or plump. Just consider the ingredient list, which is packed with goodness: marula, baobab, Kalahari melon, mongongo, Ximena oil and passion fruit oil, which are rich in fatty acids and vitamin C. It’s heavier and richer than the daytime Protini Moisturiser but absorbs quickly and without the horrible greasy feeling that night creams tend to leave behind.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Moisturiser 50ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial, £47
This really isn’t a necessity but it sure is a very nice luxury. Halfway between a cream and a gel, F-Balm is an ultra-moisturising night mask perfect for extra dry skin or the colder winter months. Apply on top of Lala Retro Moisturiser for velvety smooth, flake-free skin in the morning.
Drunk Elephant F-Balm™ Electrolyte Waterfacial 50ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial Mask, £72
Designed to be used once a week like an at-home facial, this is strong stuff (a 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acids). It’s made to slough away dead skin cells and resurface skin texture. Considering others’ warnings and with painful reviews ringing in my ears, I started slow, using a tiny amount and leaving for just 10 minutes (as opposed to the typical 20). A slight tingling sensation ensued but nothing I couldn’t handle. I followed up with a layer of Virgin Marula Oil and Lala Retro. The next day, my face definitely glowed. A few weeks later, having adopted this into my Sunday night routine and with the full 20 minutes under my belt, I have noticed my pores look smaller and my acne scars have faded.
Drunk Elephant TLC Babyfacial Mask 50ml, $, available at Space NK
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, £63
This is nice. It’s luxurious, neither sticky nor messy, and sinks into the skin in a way that cheaper marula oils do not. But because marula oil is in nearly every single Drunk Elephant product (it is the centrepiece of the line and the inspiration behind its name), it feels inessential.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil 30ml, $, available at Space NK
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