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Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate cleansing and hydration for your oily skin, as cocamidopropyl betaine and coco-glucoside effectively remove impurities while glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf extract provide mild soothing and moisturizing effects without being occlusive.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
  • While it addresses general cleansing and hydration for your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts, it does not offer targeted treatment for these issues.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 8.8k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this gel cleanser is widely praised by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its ability to remove dirt and oil without causing irritation or breakouts. Users with dry or dehydrated skin frequently report that the formula feels stripping and leaves their face feeling tight after use, suggesting it may be better suited for balancing oilier complexions.

Highlights

  • Effective daily cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “Removes surface oil, dirt, and daily grime well; leaves skin feeling "squeaky clean" and refreshed.”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin; does not cause redness or breakouts for most users.”
  • Drying for dry skin Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves skin feeling tight, stripped, or flaky; requires immediate moisturizing after use.”
  • Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Appreciated by those sensitive to scents; no strong chemical or artificial smell.”
  • Pleasant gel texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Lathers well into a soft foam; a little product goes a long way.”
  • Struggles with makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “Often fails to remove waterproof mascara or heavy foundation completely; requires a second cleanse.”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Causes stinging or burning if it accidentally gets into the eyes.”
  • Packaging design flaws Rarely Noted
    • “The twist-cap mechanism can leak, get messy, or dispense too much product at once.”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, boots.com, spacenk.com, drunkelephant.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 work for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, providing gentle cleaning and mild soothing without feeling heavy. It lacks targeted ingredients to actively control oil and breakouts, so an oily skin type needs a cleanser with powerful acne-fighting components and oil-control properties.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin, aloe vera, and gentle cleansers make this cleanser a good fit because they remove impurities while keeping your skin calm and soft without feeling heavy. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients that target breakouts and control oil.

What does Cantaloupe Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Cantaloupe extract helps balance oil and refine pores for oily, acne-prone skin. This type of skin needs ingredients that regulate sebum production and calm inflammation to stay clear and smooth.

Phytotherapy Research, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routines as the initial step to remove impurities. Oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that offers moderate cleansing and hydration with gentle ingredients like glycerin and aloe vera, alongside targeted ingredients that actively treat breakouts and blemishes.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser gently washes away impurities and hydrates without heavy oils, though oily acne-prone skin often benefits more from a cleanser that includes targeted ingredients to actively clear breakouts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It effectively removes impurities while providing mild soothing and moisturizing effects, though oily and acne-prone skin needs targeted treatment ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly address breakouts.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it is free of harsh or heavy ingredients that typically cause irritation or blocked pores on oily skin. However, since it only provides general cleansing without targeted breakout treatments, an oily acne-prone routine needs ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to actively clear blemishes.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this cleanser on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation. Because skin is especially thin around the eyes, mild cleansers of this type are well-suited to clean that area without harm.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018

  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010

  • The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polylysine

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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