2 Beauty Editors Agree: These Drunk Elephant Products Are Skincare Staples
Name a skincare brand, and I can guarantee that I've tried a few products from their line. It's my job to try all of the latest and greatest skincare, after all. For most brands, I have one or two mainstays that I love and keep around. It's rare that I like more than a few skincare products from any given brand, but there are a few notable exceptions.
Drunk Elephant, the endlessly Instagrammable skincare brand focused on biocompatible ingredients, is one of those brands from which I love nearly every product. The brand makes it a point to not focus on whether an ingredient is synthetic or natural, but rather looks at which ingredients will make the highest impact on your skin. The result is skincare that really works, sans ingredients that may cause irritation like essential oils, alcohols, or added fragrances.
My fellow associate beauty editor Shawna Hudson and I both back Drunk Elephant products. After an extremely animated slack conversation, I knew our thoughts were too good not to share—so keep reading to find out which Drunk Elephant products we get truly excited about and why we love them so much.
Shawna Hudson: C-Firma is one of my favorite vitamin C serums to date tbh. The brightening effect it had on my skin was almost instant—the results are quick. I love that you mix the formula yourself so it doesn't lose as much potency!
Customer review: "I absolutely love this and have definitely noticed it brightening my skin in the last two months and healing some of my old acne spots. I use this every morning on my face, neck, décolletage and hands and it’s definitely worth it. A holy grail Vitamin C for me!"
Katie Berohn: I like that it has a little more heft than other hyaluronic acid serums—it's perfect for summer because I feel like I can just wear it on its own without needing another moisturizer to lock it in.
Customer review: "My dry skin has been so much better since incorporating this serum into my skincare routine! It adds a boost of hydration that really helps keep my face supple. I notice that when I focus on keeping my skin hydrated, it looks less dull and my fine lines are also less noticeable."
SH: I use it during the winter and love it. It's rich without overpowering my skin.
KB: I agree, it leaves my skin feeling so smooth. I love how their moisturizers are so easy to use, too. The single-dose pump is such a game-changer.
Customer review: "I love the consistency of this gel like formula. It's super hydrating and must be working wonders on my skin because I'm getting more compliments than ever before on my face. The compliments started after 2 weeks of using Protini."
KB: It's the perfect lightweight hydration boost.
SH: I honestly didn't know I needed an overnight hydration mask until I got it.
KB: i don't always love overnight masks, but it's so light and easy to put over any other skincare. I feel like I'm doing serious recon when I use it. I wake up glowing.
SH: For an overnight mask I definitely need something light because I'm always worried about it getting all over my pillow.
Customer review: "I can’t say enough good things about this product. If you’re in a cold climate, you need this product this winter! The directions say to use four to five pumps, but you really don’t need that much. Two is plenty and three makes a nice thick layer for sleep. I’ll be using this all winter long."
KB: I like their Marula Oil because it's such a good no-nonsense face oil. It's just a straight-forward formula (100 percent marula oil) that locks in moisture and antioxidants.
Customer review: "In two days my pores have been more refined, blackheads are clear, my texture has evened out, my skin is brighter and just looks so healthy! Let me put it like this, I'm a makeup girl, I can't leave the house without a full face on, And for the last three days I haven't put a drop of makeup on my face. My skin has never looked this amazing!"
KB: It's so good. It literally makes your skin feel like a baby's. I'm like, how is this possible?
SH: I love Babyfacial. I use it once a week and it's one of the best AHA/BHA masks I've used. Yes, it burns a little but the results are worth it. It doesn't leave my skin dry or irritated—it just leaves this instant glow.
Customer review: "I've never written a review on here but this stuff is really magical. I'm on my second bottle and have even begun using on my arms to treat my keratosis pilaris. I've never found anything that this issue would respond to before this stuff. Of course things like moisturizing are very important to treat keratosis pilaris but this stuff is a holy grail step for me."
KB: I love how soft the glycolic body lotion makes my skin feel. I like using it at night before I go to bed. You really feel renewed from head to toe in the morning.
Customer review: "Yes, it stings, but this is an AHA product. It’s going to if you have a little papercut or something. But nothing terrible. Skin is soft, smooth and refined. Very good product and price point is great for a Drunk Elephant product. Will repurchase over and over."
SH: I actually really like the co-wash. I was a tad skeptical to try it because some co-washes are meh and don't really leave your hair feeling that great afterwards, but I really like this one because it's so hydrating, but my hair doesn't feel greasy at all after I use it.
Customer review: "I have very thin, fine, wavy, frizzy hair. In other words, a nightmare. I also have a very sensitive scalp that is prone to itching and even acne. I have to avoid fragrances and now it appears that I have to avoid preservatives as well and maybe the coconut-based lather that is in so many shampoos. Laini does not have any of these and does not irritate my scalp. No itching or other problems. And my hair comes out detangled and shiny, not frizzy which is amazing and much better than other conditioners I have used."
SH: Normally, I'm not huge on facial sprays because I feel like they waste a lot of product but there are a select few I will 100 percent use.
KB: I love the Sweet Biome spray. It's so refreshing—perfect for summer. I keep mine in the fridge and spritz it on throughout the day.
Customer review: "My skin has never felt so soft, never been so hydrated and I’m telling you right now that the wrinkles on my forehead look better. Incorporate some fermented products into your life. You can thank me later!"
Other Drunk Elephant Best-Sellers Worth a Spot On Your Vanity:
If you're concerned about uneven texture and dullness, this serum targets those issues and more. 10 percent lactic acid and 11 signal peptides work together to resurface and brighten.
Customer review: "I am blown away to say that the Protini Resurfacing Serum is now my one true holy grail. Where all others have broken or dried me out, this little beauty adds moisture, clarity and brightness. Feels silky soft on the skin after applying."
This is definitely one of the best jelly cleansers on the market. It removes dirt, makeup, and oil without leaving skin feeling stripped or tight at all. Glycerin ensures skin stays hydrated throughout the cleansing process.
Customer review: "This cleanser is amazing. Leaves my skin feeling clean with no makeup residue left behind. Other cleansers have left my skin too dry, but not this one. I noticed a difference in my skin almost right away."
If you want an AHA/BHA resurfacing serum that you can use every day, reach for this glycolic blend. It's kind of like a daily Babyfacial that packs a major exfoliating punch without irritating skin.
Customer review: "This stuff is the most incredible thing I've ever put on my skin. I have dermatillomania (a compulsive skin picking disorder with a depressingly low remission rate) and this is the only product I've ever used that has given me less stuff on my skin to pick at."
Talk about a multi-tasking product. This innovative serum defends your skin from environmental aggressors and pollution thanks to cocoa extract and peptides. At the same time, it imparts skin with a beautiful bronze sheen.
Customer review: "I mix two pumps with my favorite sunscreen and evenly massage it in to my face and neck, add a little bit of highlighter, concealer, and lip balm, perfect for a bronzed, glowy look!"
For dry skin, this moisturizer is a true workhorse. A blend of six African oils (like marula and mongongo) works in tandem with plant-based ceramides to soften and plump skin.
Customer review: "This Drunk Elephant Cream is so amazing and hydrating for my dry skin. Even though the price is a little much, it is so worth it. This cream is the best one I have ever had."
I'm very particular about cleansing balms, and this is one of my all-time favorites. It removes makeup in one pass, and doesn't irritate your eyes or leave a residue on skin.
Customer review: "I've used so many cleansers in the past but this is by far the best. It cleanses completely (makeup and all) without drying and it leaves my skin soft and supple."
This is a very good retinol, particularly if you find that you're typically sensitive to retinol. It evens skin tone while aiming to reduce sun damage and fine lines.
Customer review: "This stuff is amazing, makes an enormous difference to reduce skin redness and bumps. My skin tolerated it daily right away. It’s expensive but the bottle lasts forever."
Anyone who suffers from extremely dry or inflamed skin can immediately consider this their next hero product. Marula butter, meadowfoam oil, cupuaçu butter, and shea butter nourish and heal skin.
Customer review: "I picked this up to help my skin out. I’ve been using a retinoid at my dermatologist recommendation and it’s been rough on my skin. This helps tremendously to repair my moisture barrier when my skin starts peeling. "
Chapped lips are no match for this super-nourishing lip balm. It heals chapped lips, intensely moisturizes, and in turn, leaves lips looking plumped.
Customer review: "This is the first time I've bought a lip balm that actually works and softens the lips. I've had other balms in the past that moisturize while it's on. But with this one you can feel the softening effects long after it's gone. It's amazing and I never want to be without it. Additionally, it's not too heavy. It's not sticky. It has a very slight scent, hardly detectable; it smells a little sugary."
Vitamin C is a great ingredient to target your eye area with, since it brightens and evens tone. This eye cream also has peptides to nourish the delicate skin around your eyes.
Customer review: "I've been using this for only a week so far and color me impressed. This eye cream does feel different than most. It feels richer, creamier, and you can definitely visibly see brightening and firming."
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
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