Drunk elephant: is it worth it? Part 1: from cleanser to serums

With its Instagram-able packaging and clean vegan ingredients, Drunk Elephant has become one of the most popular skincare brands on the market in Australia.

Drunk Elephant came into my life when my skin really hated me, so I can truly say that I love this brand. At the time I switched to this skincare brand, I was dealing with perioral dermatitis. The exact cause of is unknown, but it creates a rash around the mouth and nose. As I’m sure you guys have experienced at some point, having bad skin really takes a toll on your confidence. But no matter what I did I couldn’t get rid of it.

So, after trying and nothing working, my mother suggested that I try Drunk Elephant. She had gifted my older sister this brand for Christmas and her skin was looking amazing. I was apprehensive at first, as my sister had naturally oily skin (the exact opposite of mine) and the price was a turn off too. However, my skin is something that will be with me my entire life so I may as well put money into it. Drunk Elephant has this cute little trial pack to for around $125, so I thought why not try.

This is the first time I started looking into ingredients on a deeper level too. I had never really thought much of using fragrance, silicone, essential oils, drying alcohols, and SLS on my face until I researched that it may be a trigger for my dermatitis. I became acutely aware of what was in my products and makeup and couldn’t believe the amount of harsh chemicals were in each one! So, when I read that Drunk Elephant is formulated cleanly, I was all in. In this blog post, I want to give an honest review of all the Drunk Elephant products I have tried myself for the last year so you guys will know which products are worth the price.

Slaai Oil cleanser + Bamboo Booster Exfoliant physique

The DE’s cleansing balm was created to remove makeup, sunscreen and dirt from the skin before using the gel cleanser. It’s a gentle cleanser that can be used on any skin type. It doesn’t have a smell and has a buttery texture. The cleanser also contains antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and oils help soothe and hydrate the skin. The included Bamboo Booster is made up of tiny, ultra-fine bamboo spheres that exfoliate the skin. DE suggests mixing the two together for a creamy exfoliator.

Key ingredients:

- Fruit salad blend: a mix of non-fragrant soothing fruit extracts and replenishing fruit oils that help comfort and moisturise skin.

- Marula seed oil: a moisturising oil, high in antioxidants and omegas six and nine, that preserves and nourishes your skin while restoring its youthful glow.

- Baobob seed oil: a super-penetrating oil that intensely softens and helps dissolve makeup.

How to use;

PM: On dry skin, massage a small amount of the cleanser over the entire face. Add water to emulsify it, then rinse well with lukewarm water.

AM: I find I don’t need to double cleanse in the morning as I don’t have makeup or sunscreen on.

DE suggestion: 1-2 x per week, mix in the Bamboo Booster physical exfoliation.

My review

To be honest, this was probably the product from DE that I like the least. I feel there are better oil cleansers out there, specifically in K-beauty. Then I met you living cleansing balm, for example has won multiple awards and also puts vitamin E as well as antioxidants and fatty acids all for $20 cheaper. While $50 isn’t too bad, I just think there are better and more effective oil cleansers out there. And don’t get me started on the little bamboo beads. Bead exfoliants can create tears in the skin, easily allowing dirt to get in and create acne. So, it’s a big NO for me.

Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser

DE’s gel cleanser gently removes all traces of makeup, excess sebum, and impurities to leave skin clean and soft. Formulated at an ideal pH level of 5.5, this cleanser is non-irritating so all skin types can use it. It has no smell and is a clear gel consistency.

Key ingredients:

- Virgin marula oil: rich in antioxidants and omega 6 and 9

- Glycerin: a humectant that replenishes the hydration.

- Cantaloupe fruit extract: soothes and hydrates skin.

My review

This cleanser is a great non-irritating cleanser. It also doesn’t give me that dry skin feeling after use, which is pretty amazing for a dry skin person. Since I am normally too lazy to use an oil cleanser, I would say this cleanser removes probably like 85% of my daily impurities. I would say it has a similar feel to the Acwell pH Balancing Bubble Free Cleansing Gel. A great dupe cleanser that contains liquorice to soothe and brighten, elderflower extract as an anti-inflammatory, and eight types of hyaluronic acid deeply hydrate. All for $20, rather than $49 like drunk elephant. Once again, good product but I think you can find a dupe which is cheaper and does just as well.

E-Rase™ Milki Micellar Water

This ceramide-rich micellar water has been formulated to remove makeup, dirt, pollution and bacteria by using a gentle milk formula. Because it is formulated with a pH of 5.0, your skin can reset to its happy point. The best part? It's a no-rinse solution and leaves skin soft and plump. According to cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta, micellar water is composed of purified water, hydrating ingredients (like glycerin), and small doses of very mild surfactants."Surfactants naturally group together to form micelles, which act like magnets for dirt and oil," so when you use a cotton pad soaked with micellar water, the micelles pull the gathered daily impurities off the skin.

Key ingredients:

- Micellar cleansing blend: a mix of ultra-gentle dirt and pollution capturing surfactants and emollients.

- 3-ceramide blend: ceramide AP, NP, EOP, which are derived from plant sources, to help soothe and maintain the moisture balance of skin while protecting against water loss.

- Wild melon seed oil: cold pressed and rich in omega 6 & 9 fatty acids as well as antioxidant polyphenols it offers soothing, moisturising and barrier-supportive benefits.

How to use it

As I mentioned above, you can use it in place of your cleanser, before you cleanse, after you cleanse, or just whenever you feel like your skin needs a quick reset. As for application tips, the brand recommends gently shaking the bottle before each use, applying it to a cotton pad, and then gently wiping all over your skin.

My review:

Funnily enough I don’t actually use it as a micellar water. I used it as a rebound toner since I didn’t have time to buy another one at the time. I just wanted something simple and hydrating to put on my skin before serums. And this product did just that. I feel like the fatty acids and omegas really do smooth and plump the skin. I would definitely repurchase again I believe if there weren’t so many other products to try. I would recommend this for dry and sensitive skin people. Additionally, experts say micellar water can be an especially great option for anyone with sensitive skin as an exfoliant. There is no real smell to it and the texture is very milky. I think for a toner around $40 isn’t too bad. Many, even Korean, toners have nasties in them so finding a simple toner is hard and worth the price.

However, as a micellar water, I feel like you would need to use a lot of it to actually cleanse my face. It really quite thick for a micellar so it doesn’t go very far so you would have to actually use quite a lot to remove makeup. And for $43 there is just not enough of it to be used so liberally. However, leaves your complexion soft, glowy, and superbly clean feeling with zero tightness or stripping

C-Firma™ Day Serum

This vitamin C serum is an anti-ageing day serum. The actual Vitamin C is pumpkin ferment extract and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, C-Firma™. Also contains potent antioxidants and fruit enzymes. The result is a noticeably diminished appearance of sun damage and ageing, replaced by a brighter and more radiant complexion. It has an oily texture and no smell.

Key ingredients:

- Antioxidant complex (15% L-Ascorbic Acid plus Ferulic Acid and 1% Vitamin E): firms and brightens skin whilst minimising the signs of ageing from environmental stressors.

- Pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract: work together to enzymatically dissolve dead skin cells and minimising the look of pores.

- Indian gooseberry: slows the signs of stress-related ageing and promotes firmness.

- Chronocyclin: mimics the antioxidant benefits of vitamin D for more youthful-looking skin.

How to use

In the morning, apply evenly to a clean, dry face, neck, chest, and backs of hands. Immediately follow with SPF.

My Review

Another ride or die product from Drunk Elephant. Vitamin C for my skin is vital since dry skin can be quite dull. So, the VC helps to brighten the skin. This serum is much like an oil which I love for my dry skin. I can literally see it hydrating my skin. I found this product particularly interesting as using VC during the day is usually a big NO as it increases sensitivity to the sun. But I’ve used it for a year now and can easily say it has never broken me out or irritated my skin. I also recommend wearing an SPF with this product too. I honestly recommend everyone (may not sensitive skin without patch testing) as VC prevents and corrects damage for young skin as it is for mature skin. While there are some cheaper vitamin C products, you have to be careful once again since it is an active ingredient. Also check how much VC is actually in it, this product has 15%. A good dupe for sensitive skin would be KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop, as it only has 5%, making it an easier step into active ingredients. Some other K-beauty dupes for the rest of us are: ISNTREE C-Niacin Toning Ampoule (70% sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C and free radical-fighting antioxidants – couldn’t find how much actually VC), NEOGEN Real Vita C Powder Lemon (17% VC), GOOD (SKIN) DAYS™ C’s the Day Serum (10%VC). I think I will try out one of these ones before I go back to Drunk Elephant. But overall amazing product!

B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum

This ultra-hydrating serum aims to hydrate, plump fine lines, and brighten the skin. It contains several different ingredients all focusing on hydrating the skin.

Key ingredients:

- Pineapple Ceramide: Helps brighten and improve skin texture and tone.

- Pro-vitamin B5: A humectant which attracts hydration to the skin.

- Sodium Hyaluronate: With a smaller molecular weight than hyaluronic acid, it is able to absorb and give the intense hydration.

- Watermelon Rind/Apple/Lentil Complex: A natural antioxidant complex that provides 24-hour skin hydration, increases retention of moisture

- Squalene: Also helps the skin retain moisture.

- Barberry Extract: soothing and a natural anti-bacterial.

How to use

Apply 1-2 pumps to face, neck, chest and hands. I normally just mix it with the Vitamin C to save time.

My Review

Sad to say, the B-Hydra serum is another so/so product from Drunk Elephant. I feel like it sort of hydrates my skin, but not enough. Especially in winter, it just doesn’t scratch that itch if you know what I mean. It may be great for oily skin though, as it is so light that it would just help rehydrate (oily skin can still be dehydrated). For dry skin it is just not enough I think and definitely not for the price. There are several hydrating serums which could replace this one: THE PLANT BASE Waterfall Moist Balanced Hyaluronic Acid 100 (4.4/5), ENATURE Birch Juice Hydro Serum (4.5/5), and NEOGEN Probiotics Double Action Serum (4.2/5). All made cleanly for around $20-$30 instead of $70.

Stay tuned for next weeks – Part 2: From Active Products to Moisturiser.