The 10 Best Drunk Elephant Products Our Editors Are Obsessed With
We’ve spent a decade testing every single product from the buzzy skincare brand. These are our favorites.
Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
One brand sits at the center of the skincare conversation these days: Drunk Elephant. Tweens are obsessed with all things Drunk Elephant—particularly the serums and bronzing drops—which have become viral darlings across TikTok. Bazaar’s beauty editors find this recent obsession funny but not surprising, since we’ve been using and loving Drunk Elephant products since the brand’s inception in 2013 for many reasons: the commitment to clean ingredients, the unparalleled efficacy, and the bright, fun packaging, to name a few. “When I started Drunk Elephant, my goal was to get the consumer to be more aware of what ingredients are in their products so they are armed with the right tools to make decisions on their own,” founder and CEO Tiffany Masterson tells Bazaar.
Shop the Best Drunk Elephant Products
Over the last decade, Drunk Elephant has launched a variety of products that appeal to tweens and Gen X customers alike. “Drunk Elephant offers a wide range of products designed to cater to different needs, from cleansing and hydration to exfoliation and targeted treatments, so it’s easy to get creative with the brand’s products,” says Zion Ko Lamm, board-certified doctor of internal medicine. “Choosing and customizing your skincare products depends on various factors: skin type, concerns and the results you are aiming for, such as acne, pigmentation, texture, fine lines, and wrinkles.” Ahead, our 10 favorite products from the brand to try, whether you’re a Drunk Elephant novice or a number one fan.
Bora Barrier Repair Cream
Pros
- Hydrates for 24 hours
Cons
- May be too heavy for oily skin
The newest moisturizer to join the Drunk Elephant lineup is the perfect antidote to dreary winter skin. It’s packed with lipids to soften skin, ceramides to strengthen, and zinc to reduce redness.
Customer review: “I have tried a lot of different creams (and all drunk elephant products) but this one is a winner for me! Especially for my dry skin in winter: Have been using it for a month straight and will definitely buy again. Would highly recommend if you have very dry skin like me!” —Amd319
| Key ingredients | Glucosyl ceramides, zinc gluconate, lipids, beta-sitosterol |
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Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial Mask
Pros
- Purifies skin
- Brightens
Cons
- May be too strong for sensitive skin
This cult-favorite mask is truly a facial in a bottle, with four types of exfoliating AHAs and BHAs, including lactic acid to speed up cell turnover, salicylic acid to unclog pores, and chickpea flour to brighten skin.
Customer review: “Love this mask have been using for years, I always have such soft skin after using. Beware of starting out slow if you aren’t used to using a lot of actives because this mask is pretty strong.” —GTadd
| Key ingredients | Glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, citric acids, salicylic acid, chickpea flour |
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Bouncy Brightfacial Masque Illuminateur
Pros
- Fades darks spots
- Unclogs pores
Cons
- Reviews say it burns
If bouncy, brighter skin is what you’re after, Ko suggests this leave-on to correct tired-looking, dull skin. “The perfect-combination 10 percent azelaic acid and 1 percent salicylic acid leaves skin with this even tone,” she says.
Customer review: “I give this is solid 4/5. It works very good and has definitely helped my skin! The only thing that is a negative is that it BURNS. Maybe that means the product is working, I don’t know. Other than that it works great!” —gracehatleigh1
| Key ingredients | Barley-derived azelaic acid, salicylic acid, triple-antioxidant brightening complex |
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T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Pros
- Reviews say it may be too strong for sensitive skin
Cons
Ko loves this gel serum for its resurfacing powers—courtesy of glycolic and salicylic acid, and a slew of other AHAs and BHAs—and for the soothing benefits derived from cactus extract and raspberry fruit extract, which leave skin looking radiant. For a gentle yet effective exfoliation, Ko suggests mixing a pump of the serum with the Bora Barrier repair cream a few times a week.
Customer review: “Wow! Best serum EVER! it burns a little on the skin but other than that it pretty much cleared my broken out skin!!! I just LOVE it.” —Beautybedazzle
| Key ingredients | T.L.C. Framboos AHA blend, salicylic acid, raspberry fruit extract, cactus extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice |
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Protini Polypeptide Cream
Pros
- Won’t leave skin looking greasy
- Plumping
Cons
If the Bora Bora cream is a bit too heavy for your skin, Ko suggests trying the gel-based Protini moisturizer. “This lightweight moisturizer provides hydration without adding excess oil,” she says. Plus, the plump from nine peptides leaves the skin looking bouncier and firmer.
Customer review: “Have been using this consistently for years. I have extremely sensitive skin on my face, and this is one of the only lotions I’ve found that doesn't cause redness or break-outs. Everything upsets my skin except this, and I’ll be distraught if they ever discontinue it. Great product, and truly gentle.” —Wren00
| Key ingredients | Signal peptide complex, pygmy waterlily stem-cell extract, soybean folic acid ferment extract |
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Pros
- Has a golden tint
- Protects and soothes skin with antioxidants
Cons
This makeup-meets-skincare product went viral on TikTok, and for good reason. The lightweight gel serum gives your skin a golden hue to fake a day in the sun, while also infusing it with antioxidants and peptides to plump and boost the skin barrier.
Customer review: “I truly thought these would be overhyped when I bought them, but I really like it. It makes your face look so glowy and sun kissed and I think this will be a new part of my makeup routine. The packaging is nice too.” —janagg01
| Key ingredients | Cocoa extract, white tea extract, Matrixyl 3000 peptide blend, Chronocyclin |
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C-Firma Fresh Day Serum
Pros
- Stable formula
- Helps fade dark spots
- Slightly exfoliates
Cons
Vitamin C isn’t the most stable ingredient, but Drunk Elephant has a (literal) two-part solution for that. Upon opening, mix the liquid serum into the powder (which boasts 15 percent L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid) for a super-potent formula.
Customer review: “I bought the full-size bottle after trying a sample size. I’m extremely picky when it comes to skincare and have high expectations. This serum is worth every penny. Makes your skin radiant with no make-up and I’m 44.” —Jane 004
| Key ingredients | 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, pumpkin ferment, pomegranate extract |
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Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Pros
- Repairs skin barrier
- Gentle
- Works on all skin types
Cons
If you’ve overdone it with the acids and need to give your skin some TLC, swap your harsh cleanser for this gel. The light suds contain gentle surfactants to cleanse the skin, while marula oil, fatty acids, and glycerin hydrate and repair the skin barrier.
Customer review: “So, I personally love this product and would recommend to everyone! It is a light face wash that makes me feel soft and clean. After a long night of work this helps me to feel nice and fresh in my skin!”
| Key ingredients | Surfactants, fatty acids, marula oil, cantaloupe fruit extract, glycerin |
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A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum
Pros
- Smooths and plumps
Cons
- Can be drying
Retinol products around the eye can be tricky, but Drunk Elephant’s A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum uses a gentle vegan retinol to reduce fine lines and crow’s feet. The addition of caffeine helps de-puff and reduce dark circles, while peptides help keep skin supple.
Customer review: “I’m a big fan of Drunk Elephant products and this is no exception to that. I’ve noticed an improvement after just a couple of uses. My under eyes don’t look as tired and I’m loving it!” —Rebeccab574
| Key ingredients | Vegan retinol, caffeine, copper tripeptide-1, edelweiss, black tea ferment, niacinamide |
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Pros
- Repairs the skin barrier
- Helps to fade dark spots and KP bumps
- Good for acne-prone skin
Cons
If you suffer from KP bumps, this glycolic lotion—a body cream version of the brand’s powerful Framboos night serum—reduces texture and uneven skin tone. No need to layer on extra hydration, since this formula boasts marula and shea butters, dosing the skin with fatty acids, lipids, and nourishing antioxidants.
Customer review: “I used to get horrible breakouts on my arms and this lotion helped so much. I would apply it at night, and I would make sure to apply it at least 3 times a week. It really helped diminish the oil and dirt build up on my arms and shoulders.” —Onax
| Key ingredients | T.L.C. Framboos™ AHA blend, marula butter, shea butter |
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Meet the Experts
- Tiffany Masterson is founding partner and chief creative officer of Drunk Elephant.
- Zion Ko Lamm is a board-certified internal medicine specialist based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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