Drunk Elephant skincare
Drunk Elephant is an American skincare brand founded in 2012 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited since 2019.
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Skincare enthusiasts adore Drunk Elephant for its thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, eye products, makeup removers, and more, all anchored by hydrating glycerin. Its products suit all skin types best, offering balanced care through gentle yet effective ingredients. For targeted concerns, the standout choices include the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial for acne-prone skin, the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum for skin with dark spots, and the Protini Polypeptide Cream for mature skin. Working in harmony with these formulas, its key ingredients deliver proven benefits, as glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and reduced water loss.
- Cruelty-free · PETA
- Cruelty-free · Leaping Bunny
Marula oil
Ceramide
Glycerin
This page covers some of the most popular Drunk Elephant products; for the whole Drunk Elephant range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 44.4k+ reviewsReviewers most often praise Drunk Elephant for lightweight textures, deep hydration, and effective brightening. The most common complaints are high price points and skin irritation.
Highlights
Visible hydration and results in moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “skin felt hydrated and soft — Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil”
- “Drinks it up like water — Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream”
- “healed dry patches overnight — Bora Barrier Repair Cream”
Smoother skin texture and fading dark spots in serums Mostly Mentioned
- “baby soft — A-Passioni Retinol Cream”
- “My face felt smoother and clearer overnight — T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial”
- “stubborn dark spots have noticeably started to fade — C-Luma™ Hydrabright Serum”
Lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “Gel-cream hybrid, absorbs instantly, non-greasy finish. — Protini Polypeptide Cream”
- “absorbs quickly into my skin — B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum”
- “sinks in within a few minutes — Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil”
Hygienic and smart packaging Mostly Mentioned
- “Airless pump jar, precise dosing, keeps ingredients stable. — Protini Polypeptide Cream”
- “Love the push pump — Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream”
- “love the push pump — Bora Barrier Repair Cream”
Eye products with hydration and brightening Mostly Mentioned
- “keeps undereyes hydrated all day — C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream”
- “perfect for winter dryness — Ceramighty™ AF Eye Balm”
- “love the twist top — C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream”
Skincare benefits and potent serums Often Mentioned
- “powerhouse — A-Passioni Retinol Cream”
- “Love that it has anti-pollution and antioxidant ingredients. — D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops”
- “15% L-ascorbic acid — C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “Expensive, "not worth it," "robbery" for the amount. — Protini Polypeptide Cream”
- “not worth the price tag — Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil”
- “Very expensive for the small size. — D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops”
Packaging issues Often Mentioned
- “The pump gets messy and leaks easily. — D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops”
- “metal tube often cracks — A-Passioni Retinol Cream”
- “instructions unreadable — C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “hot dog smell — C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum”
- “Smells like cooking oil — Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream”
- “Smells like "play-dough," "plastic," or "yeast" (natural ingredient scent). — Protini Polypeptide Cream”
Sits on skin or leaves residue Sometimes Noted
- “tad sticky — C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum”
- “Felt like a mask — Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream”
- “sat on top of skin — Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.my, influenster.com, spacenk.com, skinsort.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
Is Drunk Elephant worth it?
Yes, Drunk Elephant is worth it for shoppers seeking visible hydration and smoother skin texture, though reviewers often mention a high price point. Lovi rates the Drunk Elephant-focused routine Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin types.
What are Drunk Elephant's best products?
Drunk Elephant features top-rated options like Protini Polypeptide Cream for moisturizers and T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial for serums, which Lovi rates as Superior across multiple skin types including dry, oily, and acne-prone skin.
Which Drunk Elephant moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Lovi rates Protini Polypeptide Cream as Superior for dry skin, making it the best choice. Other options include B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, which is also rated Superior, and Lala Retro Whipped Cream, which is rated High.
Does Drunk Elephant cause breakouts?
Lovi rates the Drunk Elephant-focused routine Superior for acne-prone skin. The Drunk Elephant products on this page are unlikely to cause breakouts, as reviewers mostly mention visible hydration and smoother skin texture.
Is Drunk Elephant fragrance-free?
Yes, every one of the Drunk Elephant products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
What are the key ingredients in Drunk Elephant products?
The key ingredients found across the Drunk Elephant products on this page are Marula oil, Ceramide, and Glycerin. Lovi notes that ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids help alleviate dry skin and support barrier function.
How do I build a Drunk Elephant skincare routine?
To build a Drunk Elephant skincare routine, start by cleansing with Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, then apply a targeted serum like B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, and finish with a moisturizer such as Protini Polypeptide Cream to lock in soft hydration.
What are good alternatives to Drunk Elephant?
Good alternatives to Drunk Elephant include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, and Dermalogica. These similar skincare brands also have dedicated pages on Lovi for comparison.
Drunk Elephant vs CeraVe: which is better?
Lovi rates the Drunk Elephant-focused routine as Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, while the CeraVe-focused routine is rated High for dry skin and Superior for the others. Reviewers frequently note that Drunk Elephant offers visible hydration and potent serums, though it comes with a high price point.
Who owns Drunk Elephant, and where is it from?
Drunk Elephant is an American brand founded in 2012, owned by Shiseido Company, Limited since 2019.
Is Drunk Elephant cruelty-free?
Yes: Leaping Bunny and PETA list Drunk Elephant as cruelty-free.
Which Drunk Elephant cleanser is best for oily skin?
Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser is the best Drunk Elephant cleanser for oily skin, as Lovi rates it High for this skin type.
Research behind Drunk Elephant's key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
The moisturizing effects of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids, on human skin
Evaluation of anti-acne properties of phloretin in vitro and in vivo
Safety and efficacy of Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst (Marula) oil: A clinical perspective
Novel beads made of alpha-cyclodextrin and oil for topical delivery of a lipophilic drug
Dyspigmentation, skin physiology, and a novel approach to skin lightening
Emulgels powered by coco-glucoside: A stable and effective synbiotics delivery system for skin care
Evolution of lipid composition in skin treated with blackcurrant seed oil
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Behind these ratings
Lovi rates every product from its full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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