Byrdie
TL;DR
The Byrdie team loves Drunk Elephant—many of us have plenty of the brand's products in our daily rotation. If you’re looking for a deeply hydrating moisturizer, we highly recommend the Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream and the Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Moisturizer to soothe dry, chapped skin. We also love the T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum for gentle exfoliation that makes the skin look rejuvenated.
From the colorful packaging to the inventive product names, Drunk Elephant is hard to miss when shopping for skincare. But underneath the whimsy, you’ll find hard-hitting formulas well-loved by dermatologists and beauty editors alike. “Drunk Elephant prioritizes effective active ingredients and the elimination of what the brand refers to as the ‘suspicious six’ (essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS),” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. “Their formulas often include key science-backed ingredients such as powerful antioxidants, skin-replenishing ceramides, and peptides in combination with plant-based ingredients to support the skin barrier, boost hydration, and improve texture.”
To choose the best Drunk Elephant products, we surveyed the Byrdie team to see which options they use in their daily routines. After referring to their tested insights and consulting a dermatologist, we landed on these top options.
Best Day Serum
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin C Day Serum
Provides protection from environmental free radicals and UV damage
Potent formula that’s still gentle on the complexion
Noticeable results with consistent use
Feels greasy upon application
Key Ingredients: L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, vitamin E, licorice root | Size: 0.94 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Keeping your skin protected during the day shouldn’t only be your sunscreen’s job. Using an antioxidant-rich serum like this one can provide extra defense against free radicals and pollution in the environment. It’s formulated with 15% L-ascorbic acid, a potent form of vitamin C, as well as ferulic acid to further protect the skin during the daytime. Associate Content Editor Derek Deng uses it every morning, and he loves that it’s effective without causing irritation or stinging—like some vitamin C formulas tend to. It has a light texture that makes the skin instantly look glowy, adding subtle hydration for an overall nourished complexion. Within a couple of weeks of using, he noticed that his acne scars and hyperpigmentation had noticeably improved, and his complexion looked brighter overall. While the consistency can feel slightly greasy at first, it absorbs pretty quickly—transforming into a sheer glow.
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Derek Deng, associate content editor with combination skin: “This, to me, is the quintessential morning serum. It doesn't pill, it leaves my skin feeling luminous, and there are real, tangible results.”
Best Tinted Sunscreen
Drunk Elephant Umbra 100% Mineral Cream SPF 30/PA+++
Provides 100% mineral protection without the white cast
Adds subtle, glowy coverage
Lightweight
Might be too shiny for oily skin types
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin C, squalane, jojoba oil | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Mineral sunscreens can be chalky and hard to blend, but this tinted formula is easy to apply and leaves a beautiful finish on the skin. It’s a favorite of editor Eden Stuart's, who mixes it with a standard mineral SPF for added protection and easier blendability. It comes in three sheer, flexible shades, providing a subtle tint that works well as a base layer of coverage—similar to a tinted moisturizer. She loves that it’s lightweight on the skin and never leaves a white cast, so it won’t clog pores or trigger breakouts.
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Eden Stuart, editor with combination skin: “This SPF has an elegant formulation that doesn't feel like you're wearing a mask—and, thanks to the tint, you won't look like you're wearing one, either.”
Best Bronzing Drops
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
Adds a subtle, sun-kissed glow
Antioxidant-rich formula
Hydrates and treats signs of aging
Unpleasant smell
Key Ingredients: Cocoa extract, Matrixyl 3000 peptide blend, chronocyclin | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Winter has felt longer than ever this year—but you don’t need the sun to come out to get your summer glow back. These serum drops will make you look sun-kissed, and Associate Editorial Director Ally Hirschlag likes to use them in the colder months to warm up her complexion. She uses it one of two ways: either adding a few drops to her moisturizer for an allover bronzed effect, or applying it directly to the skin over makeup for an extra glow. It’s filled with ingredients to keep the skin smooth and youthful, such as a peptide blend, cocoa extract, and glycerin—also adding some much-needed hydration. It provides a subtle flush that looks more natural than a standard self-tanner, but it’s still long-lasting and plays well with any other makeup applied under or over it.
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Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director with combination, sensitive skin: “It immediately makes my skin look stunning, and it improves the feel of my skin over time. It's unlike any other product I've tried, yet it works well with pretty much every other product I use.”
Best Barrier Cream
Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream with 6-Butterlipid Complex
Heals a compromised skin barrier
Soothes inflamed skin and redness
Comes in a hygienic container
May be too thick for acne-prone skin types
Key Ingredients: Lipid complex, alpha glucan, ceramides | Size: 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Dealing with itchy, dull, and inflamed skin? These could be signs that your skin barrier is damaged. The best way to heal it is by using a reparative, ceramide-rich moisturizer, and we love Drunk Elephant’s Bora Barrier Repair Cream for just that. This cream is thick and rich without feeling heavy and immediately brings comfort to irritated skin. Editor Adi Giesey loves using it daily in the winter, and she finds that it keeps her skin feeling soft while sealing in hydration. It’s fragrance-free—so it doesn’t trigger her sensitive, eczema-prone skin, and the formula contains multiple types of lipids and ceramides to keep your complexion protected.
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Adi Giesey, editor with sensitive skin: “This is the one product my roommate and I fight over until the very last drop. I love how it soothes redness, gives off a subtle glow, and leaves the skin feeling smooth and supple.”
Exfoliates for a super soft, smooth complexion
Powerful, effective formula
Boosts radiance
Too intense for sensitive skin types
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
One of the brand’s signature products, the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is basically a professional chemical peel that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Made with five different exfoliating acids (glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric, and salicylic), this mask is potent—but extremely effective. Associate Editor Alyssa Kaplan has been using it weekly for four years, and she says that it makes her skin feel renewed—no harsh scrubbing needed. It stings slightly at first (but it’s not unmanageable), and it has a creamy consistency that’s easy to spread around the skin. Apply a thin layer and rinse off after 20 minutes—or 10 minutes if you’re a beginner—for a smooth, glowy complexion. Since it’s so strong, we don’t recommend it for those who have super sensitive skin.
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Alyssa Kaplan, associate editor with combination skin: “This is truly an exfoliating facial in a bottle. It's intense and definitely not for everyday use, but it's awesome for times when you need a skin reset.”
Best Retinol Treatment
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Treats wrinkles and fine lines without causing irritation
Provides noticeable results after one use
Absorbs quickly
Unpleasant smell
Key Ingredients: 1% retinol, peptides, vitamin F | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Retinol is the holy grail of all anti-aging ingredients, and it’s a must in your routine if you’re looking to treat wrinkles and fine lines. This treatment has a 1% concentration of the ingredient, which is the perfect amount to see results without being too intense. After three weeks of use, Copy Editor Cher Checchio noticed that her fine lines were reduced and her complexion looked more firm overall. She has sensitive skin, and this is the first formula that hasn’t caused her irritation while using. It also contains vitamin F to add moisture and soften the skin, as well as a peptide blend for further anti-aging benefits.
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Cher Checchio, copy editor with dry, sensitive skin: “This makes my skin look a million times better. I apply it at night and I wake up to skin that looks refreshed and radiant.”
Best Night Serum
Drunk Elephant Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Gently exfoliates for a glowy complexion upon waking
Nonirritating
Absorbs quickly
Not suitable for super sensitive skin
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salcylic acid, aloe | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Using acids before bed is the easiest way to wake up with incredibly radiant, smooth skin. Byrdie Editorial Director Holly Rhue has used this glycolic acid serum from the brand for years, saying that it makes her skin look “freshly polished” overnight. It has a 10% concentration of the ingredient, as well as salicylic acid, to exfoliate and unclog pores for a smooth complexion. The formula also includes aloe vera and a variety of natural plant extracts to keep the skin soothed. Rhue says it’s never caused irritation, and it’s gentle enough to use nightly. The light texture absorbs quickly, making it an easy option to layer into your nighttime routine.
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Holly Rhue, editorial director with combination skin (not shown): “My skin is definitely more radiant, light-reflective, and soft to the touch when I use this serum in my routine regularly.”
Best Anti-Aging Cream
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Firms and smooths the skin with peptides
Rich and hydrating without feeling heavy
Soothes chapped skin
May irritate acne-prone skin
Key Ingredients: Peptide complex, pygmy waterlily stem cell extract, soybean ferment extract | Size: 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This gel-cream moisturizer is full of ingredients to bring life to sallow, dull skin, including an anti-aging peptide complex and pygmy waterlily stem cell extract (an antioxidant-rich ingredient that soothes and plumps the skin). It’s intensely moisturizing and rich without leaving a greasy residue on the skin, and it instantly brings life to dehydrated, chapped skin. With continued use, editor Olivia Hancock found that her dry skin was more radiant and plump overall. The formula also includes vitamins B and E and sodium hyaluronate for a healthy, hydrated complexion.
Olivia Hancock, editor with dry skin: “This cream is a dream to use because of its deeply nourishing yet lightweight gel-cream formula. One layer banishes dryness and leaves my parched skin feeling super soft, smooth, and plump.”
Best Hybrid
Drunk Elephant O-Bloos Rosi Glow Drops
Effective as a skincare and makeup products
Provides a long-lasting, rosy flush
Made with hydrating ingredients
Not suitable for all skin tones
Key Ingredients: Vitamin F, caesalpinia sappan bark extract, marula oil, cocoa extract | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We love a hybrid product, and this blush-serum combo is a longtime favorite of Associate Style Editor Ali Webb’s. Formulated with omega fatty acids and hydrating oils, this product nourishes and smooths the skin while adding a glowy, rosy flush. This is thanks to its hero ingredient, caesalpinia sappan bark extract, a natural tree pigment that has a pink hue. It has a fluid texture, so it applies smoothly and blends easily—whether you’re using your fingers or a makeup brush. You can use it as a moisturizing blush, or apply it in your moisturizer for even more color. We love that a little bit goes a long way, and the pigment is long-lasting.
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Ali Webb, associate style editor with combination skin: “This applies just like a blush and leaves me with a dewy, rosy glow that lasts for hours. I've had it in regular rotation for years, and the skin-friendly formula and effortless results keep me coming back to it again and again whenever I want a reliably fresh makeup look.”
What to Look for in Drunk Elephant Products
- Naturally Hydrating Ingredients: Hydration is key for healthy skin, and Drunk Elephant incorporates natural hydrators in the majority of their products to add moisture in every step of your routine. You’ll find ingredients such as jojoba and marula oils, aloe vera, and fruit extracts like raspberry and cacao to keep the skin nourished and balanced.
- Exfoliating Acids: Alpha and beta hydroxy acids are well-loved for their ability to refine the complexion and remove dead skin, and Drunk Elephant often pairs them with the soothing, hydrating ingredients mentioned above to minimize irritation while using. Look for glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid while shopping their product selection if you’re wanting smooth, polished skin. If you’re new to these exfoliating acids, we recommend using two to three times a week at first to see how your skin reacts.
- Vitamins: Vitamins C and E are popular in Drunk Elephant’s formulations, and their antioxidant properties yield a wealth of benefits for the skin—providing free radical protection and preventing oxidative stress that can lead to wrinkles and loss of elasticity. We recommend them for anti-aging, and they’re also able to hydrate and boost radiance in the complexion. Vitamin F also makes an appearance in a few of their products, and it’s a lesser-known but just as effective fatty acid that keeps the skin moisturized and supports barrier function.
How We Tested Drunk Elephant Products
Drunk Elephant has a ton of products that we love, so we surveyed Byrdie editors on their favorites that they reach for on the daily.
- Number of Testers: Nine
- Testing Period: Three weeks to five years
- Frequency of Use: Once a day to once a month
Meet Our Experts
We consulted with the following experts to learn more about Drunk Elephant:
- Dr. Marisa Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell. She is based in New York.
- Tiffany Masterson is the founder and chief creative officer of Drunk Elephant.
Why Trust Byrdie
Shannon Stubbs is a writer at Byrdie, where she has covered all things beauty for Byrdie since 2022. For this story, she surveyed and collected insights from nine Byrdie editors on their favorite Drunk Elephant products to compile this list of the very best.
