Introduction
Drunk Elephant has become one of the buzziest skincare brands in recent years. Founded in 2012 by Tiffany Masterson, Drunk Elephant built its reputation by avoiding what Masterson dubbed the “Suspicious 6” – six ingredients like essential oils and fragrances that can sensitize skin.
With its Instagram-friendly packaging and promise of only “clean” ingredients that work, it’s no wonder Drunk Elephant has attracted a devout following of skincare enthusiasts. But in a sea of overpriced serums and creams, is Drunk Elephant really worth it?
In this in-depth Drunk Elephant review, we’ll analyze:
- Drunk Elephant’s top-selling products
- Ingredients and formulas
- What skin concerns Drunk Elephant targets
- Pricing and value compared to competitors
- Customer reviews from multiple sources
- Promotions and sales offered
- Alternatives for different skin types and budgets
Read on for an honest, critical look at one of skincare’s most hyped brands.
Drunk Elephant’s Origin Story
After struggling for years with her own skin — rashes, breakouts, rosacea — stay-at-home mom Tiffany Masterson became determined to get to the root of her issues. Through extensive research, she identified six ingredients that seemed connected to her skin reactions:
- Essential oils
- Drying alcohols
- Silicones
- Chemical sunscreens
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Fragrances/dyes
When Masterson eliminated those suspicious six from her routine, her skin improved practically overnight. Realizing she was onto something, Masterson began formulating her own products free of those ingredients.
In 2013 she launched Drunk Elephant with just six initial products. The brand has since grown exponentially to include serums, moisturizers, cleansers and more.
While “clean” beauty gets a bad rap for being ineffective, Drunk Elephant Smart Products blend both natural extracts and synthetic ingredients for optimal results. The key is selecting synthetic ingredients that work with skin’s physiology, according to Masterson.
Now let’s explore Drunk Elephant’s most popular products.
Top 5 Best-Selling Drunk Elephant Products
With a roster of serums, moisturizers, SPFs and more, navigating the Drunk Elephant lineup can get overwhelming. Here we cover the brand’s top 5 customer favorites based on sales.
1. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
One of Drunk Elephant’s latest launches, this rich peptide moisturizer has quickly become a fan favorite. Packed with signal peptides to firm and strengthen, nourishing pygmy waterlily to hydrate, and antioxidant-rich plant extracts to protect, Protini covers all the bases.
After using Protini for just two weeks, fans report firmer, smoother, more youthful-looking skin. It likely won’t replace your retinol, but makes an excellent moisturizer for normal to dry skin.
Key Ingredients: Signal peptide complex, pygmy waterlily, sodium hyaluronate, plant-derived lipid complex
Skin Concerns: Hydration, firming, anti-aging
Cost: $68 for 50ml jar
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars after 970+ Sephora reviews
2. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Serum
No “clean” skincare brand would be complete without a vitamin C serum, but Drunk Elephant’s formula goes several steps further. With a reservoir of antioxidants like ferulic acid and vitamin E, C-Firma neutralizes pollution and free radicals while brightening.
Potent 15% L-ascorbic ensures maximum vitamin C penetration to fade discoloration. Chronically dry skin may find C-Firma slightly drying, so layer your rich moisturizer underneath.
Key Ingredients: 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid
Skin Concerns: Dullness, uneven tone, anti-aging
Cost: $80 for 30 ml bottle
Reviews: 4.3/5 stars after 1,400 Sephora ratings
3. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
A cult favorite among beauty editors and skincare addicts, this AHA/BHA toner resurfaces skin while you sleep. A dream team of AHAs like glycolic, tartaric and citric acids sweep away dead skin cells. BHAs salicylic and phytic acids tackle blackheads and enlarged pores.
Regular use brightens tone, smooths texture, and fades acne scars for remarkably clear skin. It’s ideal for those with oily/combination skin who can tolerate acids well.
Key Ingredients: Blend of AHA and BHA acids
Skin Concerns: Dullness, clogged pores, acne scars
Cost: $90 for 50 ml bottle
Reviews: 4.2/5 stars after 300 Sephora ratings
4. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
This user-friendly moisturizer whips to a creamy, cloud-like texture that pampers dry skin all day long. A ceramide complex strengthens while a plant-derived lipid complex mimics skin’s natural oils to reinforce moisture barrier function.
Lala Retro is fragrance-free and spiked with antioxidants, making it ideal for sensitive complexions. It spreads easily without heaviness or greasiness.
Key Ingredients: Ceramide complex, plant-derived lipid complex, niacinamide
Skin Concerns: Dryness, dullness, loss of elasticity
Cost: $60 for 50 ml jar
Reviews: 4.6/5 stars after 400 Sephora ratings
5. Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF 30
Finding clean mineral sun protection that wears well under makeup is no easy feat, but Drunk Elephant delivers. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide full-spectrum SPF with no chemical filters. Marula oil, antioxidants and flower extracts guard against environmental damage.
With its universal tint and matte finish, Umbra works for most skin tones without white cast or greasiness. A must for daily use.
Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide, marula oil, antioxidants
Skin Concerns: Sun protection, anti-aging
Cost: $34 for 2 oz tube
Reviews: 4.5/5 stars after 400 Sephora ratings
Target Skin Concerns
Signs of Aging
From vitamin C serums to retinols, Drunk Elephant offers targeted solutions for common aging concerns:
Fine lines and wrinkles: Try the peptide-rich Protini moisturizer or A-Passioni Retinol Cream to stimulate collagen production.
Dull, uneven tone: Vitamin C favorites like C-Firma and Beste Jelly Cleanser brighten while gentle chemical exfoliants Umbra Tinte SPF and TLC Framboos polish away damage.
Loss of elasticity: Marula oils, plant ceramides and Signal Peptides reinforce a supple, youthful bounce.
Sun protection: Mineral sunscreens like Umbra Sheer provide clean, non-greasy SPF for daily anti-aging prevention.
Acne and Breakouts
For clogged pores and acne, Drunk Elephant’s combo of chemical exfoliants, spot treatments and lightweight moisturizers help:
Blackheads/whiteheads: BHAs in T.L.C. Framboos Night Serum penetrate pores for clearer skin overnight.
Inflammation and bacteria: Spot-treat emerging pimples with cooler C-Firma Shot or antibiotic Zit Zapper.
Acne scarring: Gentle acid toners slowly resurface skin, while rich creams with growth factors promote healing.
Moisture barrier support: Oil-free gels like B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum provide lightweight hydration that won’t clog pores.
How Drunk Elephant Compares: Price vs Value
Drunk Elephant sits at the higher end of the skincare price spectrum, with serums and moisturizers ranging from $50 to $100. But how does it compare to competitors?
To analyze true value, we’ll look at two Drunk Elephant bestsellers and compare to similar offerings from other brands.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Serum vs. Alternatives
- Drunk Elephant C-Firma: $80 for 0.9 oz (30ml)
- Timeless Vitamin C Serum: $25 for 1 oz (30ml)
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum: $166 for 1 oz (30ml)
While $80 lands far from budget-friendly, Drunk Elephant still beats the very expensive SkinCeuticals for half the price. More budget-conscious consumers can opt for Timeless Serum for a quarter of the cost.
What warrants Drunk Elephant‘s steeper price? Added ingredients like vitamin E and ferulic acid stabilize the L-ascorbic acid for longer potency and efficacy. Fancy pump packaging also drives up retail margins.
Verdict: While not cheap, Drunk Elephant still offers competitive value, particularly compared to luxury competitors. Those on a budget can find cheaper vitamin C with some product quality trade-offs.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream vs. Alternatives
- Drunk Elephant Protini Cream: $68 for 1.69 oz (50ml)
- The Ordinary Buffet Serum: $14.80 for 1oz (30ml)
- Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream: $25 for 1.7 oz (50ml)
Versus The Ordinary’s budget Buffet Serum, Drunk Elephant commands a 4x premium. But Protini also packs a richer texture, 25% more product, and potentially faster results.
Up against a drugstore alternative like Olay Regenerist, Drunk Elephant again nets a higher price tag but with more advanced anti-aging ingredients.
Verdict: The peptide-rich Protini Cream demands a serious price premium over basic drugstore moisturizers. But its indulgent texture and next-gen ingredients merit the splurge for anti-aging benefits without fragrance or irritation.
Customer Reviews: The Good & The Bad
Drunk Elephant garners overwhelmingly positive reviews across retailers like Sephora and Amazon. Out of over 8,000 collective product ratings, the brand earns a remarkable average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
The ingredient safety, Fragrance Free promise, and smart combinations earn consistent praise. Negative feedback primarily centers on two factors:
Sensitive skin reactions
A minority of reviewers report redness, breakouts, stinging or itchiness when trying Drunk Elephant. This likely comes down to personal sensitivities to acids or oils.
High prices
As an expensive, prestige brand, Drunk Elephant leaves many buyers shocked at sticker prices nearing $100 for a single serum. For budget seekers, the cost proves prohibitive.
Positive testimonials include:
“I absolutely LOVE this brand. It leaves my skin looking bright and vibrant. I can‘t believe the difference it has made in the tone and texture of my skin!”
“This TLC serum is my holy grail acid product! It makes your skin baby soft, smooths texture, gently resurfaces. I use this twice a week and it’s been amazing.”
And negative responses like:
“I was hopeful this brand would work for me but I tried four different products (the framboos night and day serums, marula oil, and c-firma vitamin c) unfortunately all caused angry red patches on my face and made my sensitive skin freak.”
“It‘s just way way overpriced for what it is. You can get 7 times the amount for the same price elsewhere.”
Promotions & Discounts
As a luxury, Sephora-exclusive brand, Drunk Elephant rarely offers site-wide sales on their website or main retailers. But savvy shoppers can spot promotions by:
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Signing up for brand emails – Occasional 15-20% off coupons for email subscribers only
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Shopping holiday sales events – Check Sephora’s Black Friday and Cyber Week for rare markdowns
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Buying value sets/kits – Sets like the Nightbright Duo (valued at $118) retail for $98 with free minis
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Using Sephora Beauty Insider rewards – Redeem points for Drunk Elephant deluxe samples
Beyond that, buying secondhand on resale sites can net lightly-used products for 25-50% off retail pricing.
Drunk Elephant Alternatives: More Affordable Clean Skincare
Is your wallet weeping at Drunk Elephant price tags? Thankfully, the clean skincare market now brims with cheaper alternatives harnessing both natural and synthetic ingredients.
The Inkey List offers a pared-down lineup of affordable serums, moisturizers and cleansers from $10-15. Their Polyglutamic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid serums impress for the cost.
The Ordinary built its brand on no-frills formulas at literal ordinary prices. Their $7 Squalane Cleanser, $6 Niacinamide Serum and $9 Glycolic Acid Toner deliver real results without blowing your budget.
Good Molecules makes quality ingredients like retinol and vitamin C accessible, with serums and treatments between $5-20. The prices beat Drunk Elephant by over 50% in many cases.
For luxe results on a drugstore dime, these brands offer simpler routines minus the sticker shock.
Is Drunk Elephant Worth The Investment?
Drunk Elephant deserves its glowing reputation for clean, sensitized skin-friendly formulas that deliver real results. By nixing the Suspicious 6, they also cater to consumers with intolerances looking for fragrance/irritation-free options.
However, you pay a serious premium for the branding, packaging and ingredient quality. Budget-focused shoppers can find cheaper clean alternatives.
Ultimately, Drunk Elephant makes a smart investment if:
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You want high concentrations of actives – Many formulas feature 10-20% doses for pharmaceutical rather than cosmetic results
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You have sensitivities and need fragrance/dye-free skincare that won’t trigger reactions
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Anti-aging is a priority – From vitamin C to retinol, Drunk Elephant offersCadillac versions backed by science
But you can absolutely achieve great skin for less with savvier clean skincare purchases.
The Final Takeaway
Drunk Elephant deserves much of its acclaim for potent formulas that deliver visibly transformative results. By nixing irritating ingredients, they provide a safe haven for sensitive complexions as well.
But with eyebrow-raising price tags, they remain largely a luxury/splurge brand. Thankfully, consumers have more access than ever to affordable skincare with clean ingredients that work.
Hopefully this comprehensive Drunk Elephant review gave you the insider scoop on their bestselling products, real customer experiences and how pricing truly stacks up against competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should buy Drunk Elephant?
Drunk Elephant makes the most sense for consumers willing to pay premium prices for clean, sensitizing-ingredient free formulas to treat anti-aging concerns or acne. Those on tight budgets can likely find cheaper alternatives.
What results can I expect from Drunk Elephant?
Fans praise Drunk Elephant for delivering visibly brighter, clearer, smoother and more youthful-looking skin over time. But results depend on your specific skin concerns. Be realistic about projected outcomes.
Are Drunk Elephant products really fragrance/irritation free?
Yes, true to their origin story and mission, Drunk Elephant formulate without any added fragrance or common irritating ingredients. But natural oils and extracts can still cause sensitivity reactions for some.
What happens if Drunk Elephant doesn‘t work for my skin?
Sephora offers free returns on used skincare for up to 60 days. Get in touch with customer service via live chat or email to start a return.
