Drunk Elephant: Brand Review

After being heavily influenced via Instagram, I decided to check out some Drunk Elephant products in recent months. The brand promises to remove all potentially damaging ingredients from its products – the typical ingredients that can cause irritation or acne. Drunk Elephant products are pricey, but based on Sephora and Instagram reviewers, you get what you pay for, and they really do work.

I first tried DE last summer when I got a sample of the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops at Sephora. I had heard beauty bloggers rave about this stuff – saying that, when mixed into moisturizer, it gives your skin a beautiful glow. After testing it for the summer and repurchasing it in the Out of Office set on a recent Sephora trip, I can attest to that statement. Its color seems daunting at first (it’s basically the same color as the cap), but when diluted with moisturizer, it gives your skin a healthy glow. I love it for days when I’m wearing very little face makeup. I especially loved it in the summer when I had a tan – it just brought out the color in my face that much more. It didn’t cause any irritation or clog my pores, which is a huge plus. This retails for $36 at Sephora, and a little goes a long way.

I picked up the Out of Office set mainly so I could get another D-Bronzi, but also to try the Lippe Balm. The set comes with a mini D-Bronzi and marula oil as well as a full size lip balm for only $25, while the lip balm itself costs $18. I give the Lippe Balm four stars – it’s smooth and slippery on the lips, which I do enjoy, but there is no scent and it’s very pricey for the amount of product. It’s nothing all that special, but it is a good lip balm. I keep this in my bathroom drawer to apply while I’m doing my makeup to prep my skin for lipstick. If you have the cash then it’s worth trying, but if you’re trying to save I think you can spend your money elsewhere for a quality lip balm.

I dealt with terribly dry facial skin the last two winters, primarily because I was skiing whenever I was home from college. I picked up the Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer in an attempt to combat this dryness. However, because of my nose fillers, I haven’t been able to wear glasses or goggles, and thus haven’t been hitting the slopes as much as usual. My skin has maintained its normal moisture levels. This cream is very thick and luxurious, and the packaging is very sanitary (and satisfying). I do think it’s a bit too heavy on my combo skin, although this would have been perfect to have when my skin was really dry. I have actually tried their Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, which has the same luxurious feel but is a bit lighter and better suited for my skin type right now. If you have super dry skin, you should give Lala Retro a try! It just isn’t the right product for me at the moment.

​The Out of Office set also came with a mini Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. Similarly to Lala Retro, this stuff is great for super dry, winter skin. But, like I said before, my skin just hasn’t been all that dry this season! People with dry skin rave about this stuff, though, so if you want to test it out definitely get a sample from Sephora or pick up the mini size. It does feel very high-end and leaves my face glowy and soft. It doesn’t sink in very quickly, but I don’t expect most oils to sink in right away.

My most recent Drunk Elephant purchase was the Rise + Glow Duo, which includes the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum. I am pleasantly surprised by this one! I’m a sucker for the baby blue packaging, and the product itself is a lightweight, gel moisturizer that sinks into skin quickly. I love using this in the morning before makeup. This won’t provide enough moisture on its own for super dry skin, but if you just need a little something, it’s perfect to hydrate your skin quickly and effectively. I’ve heard this pairs well with the whipped moisturizer or oil, as well. This retails for $52 at Sephora.

Last but not least in my collection, we have the C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum, which also came in the Rise + Glow Duo. This serum is pricey – it goes for a whopping $80 at Sephora.  It also has a very strange barbecue/burnt barbecue smell to it, which (thankfully) subsides a few seconds after application. I’ve never been consistent enough with vitamin C to see a difference, but I’m hoping this will help even out some pigmentation from past acne spots. This is intended for use in the morning with B-Hydra, which is why I’m bad at using it – I’m almost always running late for work and don’t have the extra couple of seconds to spare to make up the little concoction. However, if you’re on the market for a vitamin C serum and have the cash to spare, give this one a shot. I trust Drunk Elephant’s effectiveness and I’m sure that with daily use this really can make a difference in your skin.

That’s it, folks! Drunk Elephant is really pricey, so I haven’t delved too deep into the line yet. I’ve heard fantastic things about Babyfacial, so that’s next on my list to try – although I plan to start with a sample because I worry about using acids on my skin. Luckily I am still pretty young and I don’t get such bad acne, so I am able to keep my routine pretty basic.

Overall, I do recommend Drunk Elephant products. As I said before, try out the value sets to see what you like first before spending $50 or more on a product. There are multiple sets to choose from and most of them are around $25. Let me know your favorite DE product below!