Drunk Elephant F-balm Electrolyte Waterfacial (50ml for £44)
What the F! I mean, kudos to DE for the name -- very spot on. This is not the worst product I have tried, but this is still not good. From all of the moisturising overnight masks I have been through, this is definitely the worst (and probably the most expensive). Thankfully, it didn't break me out, but my skin doesn't get any feel-able/seeable hydration from it. I wake up with a relatively dry looking face. .
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni
I know, this post might be found too unpatriotic by some. I don't care. I am sharing my thoughts and experiences here, so please respect that. I personally think that Drunk Elephant's Retinol cream is by far the most controversial product out of their range. If you are new to skincare and IG -- there was a whole big drama about this product (and this brand) happening last year in our corridors. Not going to repeat it per se -- it consumed far too much energy already for all involved. Now, now, it's not my first time using retinol products.
I have been doing it for more than a year with some success in results. It was time, I thought to myself -- time to finally try A-Passioni properly. One can go onto DE's page and read that, and I quote "retinol and supportive peptides restore bounce, resilience and a brighter clarity to skin while helping to even skin tone and texture … without the associated redness and irritation". Sounds great! A 1% retinol without redness and irritation. Knowing how strong 1% can be, I used less than the recommended pea-size amount. I buffered it too, just to be on the safe side. After a day, my face turned dry and flaky. I was expecting that -- after all, 1% retinol and all. I restored my skin back with very good products. Again, applied the retinol. After a few days, peeling, dryness, but this time -- desensitisation of the skin occurred. Again, restored it back. Continued with retinol. Skin didn't experience any bumps, so I was positive and hopeful. I saw more brightness to the skin. I kept going. After doing this cycle for 5 times (almost 3 weeks), and each time my skin becoming more sensitive than the time before -- I gave up. Enough is enough. DE says in their marketing text "without the associated redness and irritation". Yeah, right. Spare me that. The only way I will not have redness and irritation is if I stop using it. It's been 4 days since my last use. I am still peeling, still sensitive. I know I will restore my skin barrier back, I have no doubt. I have great products for that. Once I restore my skin back to its glory, I am off to use Medik8.
DE Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream (60ml for £13)
Gosh, I love the smell (again, almonds). I am not fully happy with the packaging as I find that a lot of product comes out at once even if you turn a little. Is it sweat and odour proof? Depends. If you just sit on your couch -- probably. If you do get up, then no. It also stings after shaving, obviously. Sweet Pity, more like it. Or as Dr Dray calls it: an expensive moisturiser for your armpits.
DE TLC Happi Scalp Scrub (180ml for £30)
The priciest new release and the only one that doesn't smell sweetly of almonds. This one smells vinegary (with a light hint of almonds) and is nicely acidic. I like that it comes with the nozzle and makes the application easy. After washing out, the scalp and the first 5-10cm of hair felt super soft. However, did it make the freshness of my hair/scalp last longer than usual? It did not. .
DE Wild Marula Tangle Spray (120ml for £21)
The brand promises "more body, bounce and manageability". Like I said, a lot of hair grows on my head (yes, my hairdresser charges me extra even), and it does tangle up. This spray does minimal detangling and leaves my hair soft, but I also need to use quit a bit of product to achieve that. I found that after my hair is dry, it breaks up a lot more. I would personally prefer getting the Ouai leave-in conditioner (£22 for 140ml).
DE Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner (240ml for £21)
This type of quality I would rate around the £12-15 mark, anything above that is overkill. The conditioner is of medium thickness and is definitely not the best one I have tried, but not the worst one either. I have a lot of hair, and can only feel minimal softness, detangle-ness and nourishment from it. I am not over the moon. At that price, I have expectations. These were not met.
Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum (15ml for $60)
Yup, expensive. I have now been using my 5ml mini-bottle for way more than a month, twice a day, and I am just finishing it up, so the full size will last you some time. With copper peptides and black tea ferment, this product is supposed to help with fine lines and elasticity. I was sceptical, because I have heard mixed reviews, but this product is actually good. First, it's gentle. It didn't irritate my sensitive under eyes, and yes, that area does appear slightly smoother now. So if my Dermalogica Retinol Eye cream will not work, then I might return to this one.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($60 for 50ml)
I almost feel undetermined about this product. I understand DE's motto that "one size fits all", but I would personally not go near this cream if I had oily skin. I currently have normal skin (dry in winter), and I find it too much now (it was better in winter). It's a nice cream, don't get me wrong, although you do have to massage it in a bit to remove the "white cast". But I am not sold that I need it for $60. .
Drunk Elephant Babyfacial (full size 50ml for $80)
Great product, leaves skin super soft for days, although because I try to be more careful with strong acids, I hold it on my skin for slightly less than recommended. However, @_life_in_pixel_ recently found out that the product inside can crystallise, and hence can seriously cut your skin. So be careful. .
Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 (60ml for $36)
It's summer(ish) season and everyone is looking for the go-to SPF for their face. And of course, this DE goodie might come into your sight and you will wonder "to get or not to get"-- this is the question. And then, you will look at the price and think "oh, for Drunk Elephant, this is surprisingly well-priced", and the product will intrigue you even more. Well, stop right there. Stop. Drunk Elephant claims the following: "Perfect for daily use, this non-sticky formula doesn’t leave behind any unwanted texture or residue with zero white cast due, just a gorgeous sun-kissed tint for a healthy-looking complexion". Yes, no white-cast on my pale skin-- yay. Everything else: does not correspond to reality, unfortunately. The sunscreen sits on top of your skin like a blob of oil, which doesn't go away. It pills badly-- see photo 3. That elephant was clearly drunk when formulating this product. Damn you, elephant, stop drinking! It's an absolute bummer, and for that, I would not even pay $5, let alone $36. I understand that not everyone might have this problem, but better stay on the save side. Go get yourself something else.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Let us address the elephant in the room-- 300 reviews later, this is our first Drunk Elephant review. Why? We were strongly put off this brand by one of our favourite dermatologists. She went product by product explaining how it was flawed from a scientific perspective. Let's say, the picture we had about DE was not pretty. However, on this channel, we believe we still had to give it a fair go and review them. After all, skincare is not just about what the ingredients are, but also about how the product makes you feel. We will be honest, the Protini (which we sometimes mistakenly call Peptini), is a product we have been eyeing for awhile. We have the smaller 15ml tub, which we have received in 3.0 The Littles pack. Retails for $68 for the 50ml tub. It is formulated with "complex of 9 signal peptides, pygmy waterlily stem cell extract, soybean folic acid ferment extract and acetyl glutamine, Drunk Elephant has, with this moisturiser, designed a powerhouse product that revives depleted and tired skin to its former glory". It is an anti-aging cream, which can be used as both say and night cream. Alright, we were pleasantly surprised by this product. The texture is very creamy and feels nourishing on the skin. We prefer this either by itself as a day cream or with an oil as a night cream. If you are new to the Drunk Elephant range, try The Littles first to see if you like it.
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
The full size is 15ml and costs $64. With "antioxidants, replenishing ceramides, plant oils and soothing actives, all utilised to refresh and restore radiance" in the area around your eyes. The ceramides are really the key-- the cream is super rich and creamy. It feels really nice around the eyes, and it is definitely hydrating. Is it worth the price? Hmmm, we think there are cheaper alternatives on the market. But it is a good cream.
Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser
Do you ever not read what the product actually supposed to do (all of its benefits) until you have been using the product for a while, and then you go and read it, and are like "oh wow, this product is supposed even do that? And this?" "Coconut-based surfactants (rich in fatty acids) work together to create a rich foam that effectively dissolves even stubborn make up, sunscreen and oils; virgin marula oil, high in critical antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, boosts the cleansing power; glycerin helps to replenish hydration levels and, finally, antioxidant-rich cantaloupe fruit extract soothes and hydrates. With a non-stripping pH level of 5.9, Drunk Elephant considers this ideal for all skin types (it’s also vegan and gluten-free) so get ready for your skin to feel clean and supremely soft, whatever phase it's going through..." Too many words for just a normal gel cleanser. Get over it, Drunk Elephant. There is really nothing special nor different about this product.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
Let us start with a serious mathematical question. How much does the word "Luxury" cost? Any guesses? Well, we will tell you. In this particular situation, the word "luxury" costs £52.90... ... which is actually the difference between this oil and virtually the same thing from The Ordinary. This is a good oil, but that's because Virgin Marula oil is a good, light, fast-absorbing oil. Buy the one from The Ordinary (first).
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Alright, this will not be a bad review... ...oh, sorry, we lied. In a nutshell, there is nothing in this product that gives us "intensive hydration". Like, why create this name and not live up to it? You could have just written "mediocre hydration serum"-- now, that would have described the product a lot better. I guess, our problem is with the word "intensive". This serum is great for someone with oily skin, who doesn't need as much hydration as normal to dry skins. We have also heard that the addition of pineapple may irritate some skins. Overall, if you want this level of hydration, you don't have to pay $52 to get it. However, if you are truly after intensive hydration, then this is not the right product.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
...our only question is "why is it so expensive?". 30ml of this night serum costs $90. So what's inside? According to DE, it has "glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acids, which work together to penetrate pores to remove impurities while gently exfoliating dead, dulling cells. Blended with raspberry extract (a.k.a. ‘Framboos’), horse chestnut and white tea, the formula soothes as it exfoliates, avoiding harsh side effects like dryness and sensitisation. Fine lines, wrinkles, discolouration along with excess oiliness and pores will appear dramatically diminished". Honestly, when looking at the ingredients, we believe that a similar effect can be achieved for a lot cheaper. We do, nonetheless, like this product. However, if you are not sure, please try the small sizes first. Those should last you for enough to understand whether your skin loves it or not.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ($80 for full size)
Vitamin C, Vitamin C-- always a problematic ingredient. Why? Because it is unstable and can oxidise quickly. And no, you should not use the oxidised product. This serum consists of "15% pure L-ascorbic acid (a potent form of vitamin C), 0.5% ferulic acid and 1% vitamin E, plus other formula-supporting enzymes and antioxidants, all of which help to neutralise damaging pollutants, environmental stressors and free radicals, replenishing lipids and visibly reducing the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. Also starring pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extracts, the serum enzymatically dissolves dead surface skin cells for a smoother-than-smooth texture. Finally, a sodium hyaluronate cross-polymer quickly penetrates skin and provides intense hydration. The result? A noticeably brighter, more radiant complexion, with signs of ageing and photo damage minimised". Our serum was fresh, but we know that a lot of people have received already oxidised ones. So, you are gambling already. I did not see any real effect from it, apart from that slightly tingly feeling upon application. Because of the highly unstable nature of Vitamin C, spending $80 is a crazy risk. So, don't do it. Go with The Ordinary-- they are affordable and you will find something that works for you.
Product review:
Drunk Elephant Slaai Make-up Melting Butter Cleanser + Bamboo Booster (110g + 3g, for £29)
We have already provided you with our first impressions. Here is the full review. This is what Drunk Elephant has to say about it: "Slaai is infused with clean, anti-oxidant rich fruit extracts and oils to help soothe skin while an African oil blend of marula, baobab, Kalahari melon, mongongo and ximenia, intensely moisturises, restores elasticity and a youthful glow, softens and dissolves make up.
Designed to be used on dry skin, Slaai removes excess oil, grime and make up from skin. Adding water activates Slaai into a milk that rinses cleanly, leaving behind a dewy glow. Use the accompanying Bamboo Booster – a physical exfoliant, formed from ultra-fine bamboo and charcoal spheres, once or twice a week to gently slough away build-up and dead skin cells to help reveal a dewy complexion". Like we said before, this is a highly economical product-- you really need a tiny bit. I normally have to take more from Clinique. It removes eye makeup perfectly. Very nice and gentle. That Bamboo Booster is basically tiny grains that you can add to the butter so you can exfoliate the skin. Personally, I prefer to add nothing to the butter because I will be rubbing my eyes, and I don't need to exfoliate them. However, a tip is to put it into the gel cleanser on the next step of cleansing. I am highly critical of many brands, especially, the more expensive they get, and Drunk Elephant is really that type of a brand I generally do not endorse.
However, this product is really good, and I will repurchase it once the time comes. That's what I did with Framboos too. No shame in saying that when the products are worth it.