Hey guys! I’m back with another review, and this time it’s a little pricier. Drunk Elephant has really been having its moment this year and ever since I saw Gothmista review this on her channel, I’ve been intrigued. I was so excited to see Sephora offer this as one of their birthday options and I made sure to get it during my birthday month. (May Baby!) I think this was a brilliant way to introduce a ton of people to DE for free and get them hooked.A great marketing strategy I must say. In this gift set, Sephora gives you both the Mini Protini™ Polypeptide Cream and the Mini Beste™ No.9 Jelly Cleanser.
Claims: On the Sephora website they say, “Now you can have your Beste™ and Protini™ too. Reset skin to a healthy state with a pH-balanced, unscented cleanser and a firming dose of the original megamino protein cream…all you need to take a clean break and reclaim the glow in time for your party.” Frankly, this set was one of the things I most looked forward to in May (and I had a very exciting May).
Ingredients:
Jelly Cleanser
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polylysine
Other than some surfactants which do the cleaning, the Jelly Cleanser also has virgin marula oil (called Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil in the ingredient list), which is high in critical antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, boosting the cleansing and makeup-removal power and cucumis melo cantalupensis (cantaloupe) fruit extract which is rich in antioxidants and helps soothe and hydrate.
Moisturizer
Water/Aqua/Eau, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Bacillus/Soybean/ Folic Acid Ferment Extract, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-2, sh-Polypeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-9, sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Acetyl Glutamine, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Isomalt, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenylpropanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
One of the main things DE advertises for this moisturizer are the 9 signal peptides which bind moisture to skin to boost skin cell renewal. Another key ingredient is the pygmy waterlily stem cell extract, an excellent source of antioxidants and nutrients to replenish the skin all while soothing and calming the skin. The next two ingredients are also really interesting as they are incredible in helping the skin mature slower, especially with exposure to the sun. For example, soybean folic acid ferment extract is a b vitamin that plays a central role in maintaining elastic skin, especially as skin is often deprived of vitamin b after being exposed to the sun. Another ingredient you’ll notice is cetyl glutamine. This chemical is described as an amino acid that is similar to chemicals created naturally from our skin, reparing and reversing past damage with an inhibitory effect on melanin production.
Overall, this ingredient list is incredible. The inclusion of water as the first ingredient is slightly disappointing, but the variety in incredible ingredient engineering completely makes up for it.
Price:
Jelly Cleanser (150 mL) : $32
Protini™ Polypeptide Cream (50 mL): $68
Definitely a STEEP price tag, not something everyone can afford. It’s not the highest it can get, but in my books, this would be considered a luxury brand. However, if you can buy it, the price tag is arguably justifiable.
The Run-Down:
I’ll start with the Jelly Cleanser. To keep it short, I love it. The first time I used it I was actually shocked. My skin was drastically different: softer, plumper, and bouncier. My pores were so small, my pore corset serum was quaking. I was a little disappointed it didn’t have any cantaloupe scent, but I figured that was for the best, for a myriad of reasons. The scent is ever so slightly off putting, just a little rubbery for my taste but the effects are so good, I don’t even think about the smell anymore. It goes away quickly as well. This is currently the best cleanser I have ever used, right up there with Tatcha’s, which I also would die for. It’s one of the only cleansers that radically changed my skin and made me realize the power of a ingredients and cleansing. Another interesting aspect of this cleanser is the dispense mechanism. You twist the top and it sort of allows this hole to open up. Very cool, but I am a little bit concerned about leakage, although I have had no problems thus far. I will definitely purchase this if it ever goes on sale, if not I will think about it a long time and probably end up purchasing when I need some therapeutic shopping.
Next, the Protini™ Polypeptide Cream. First thing I have to say is that this stuff is thick. It’s so creamy and also absorbs really well into the skin. It doesn’t have a greasy afterfeel but it leaves a light sheen. The smell is sort of similar to the cleanser, which makes me believe that it’s a natural scent contrary to what everyday consumers would consider “natural smells.” Since we are often used to fragrances in our products, the smell of one without any essential oils, fragrant extracts, or artificial fragrants is a little off putting. It’s like a shot of wheatgrass. A little off putting, but weirdly addicitive and has a cult following. I don’t think I would purchase this cream, since my skin is pretty oily and this cream is just a tad bit too much for me. However, it does enhance the effects of the cleanser, and may be perfect during the winter months. For now, the $68 price tag is really what’s putting me off, not the scent.
Pros and Cons:
PROS
- Super effective
- Incredible, unique ingredients
- No fragrance
- Both cleanser and moisturizer contain anti-aging ingredients
- Very natural
CONS
- Price
Who Should Use:
I strongly believe everyone would benefit from the Jelly Cleanser, but these two products are really just MADE for people with dry skin. Anyone with dry skin should definitely try and get their hands on the Free Sephora Birthday Gift to try out these two products.
Rating:
Jelly Cleanser: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4/5 Stars
Would love to purchase, but maybe not now. If you have someone you really want to spoil, man or woman, gift them this cleanser. They’ll love it regardless of their skin type.
Protini™ Polypeptide Cream: ⭐⭐⭐
3/5 Stars
I don’t think I would purchase this, mostly because of the steep price tag for effects that are wonderful and amazing, but I believe to be achievable on a lower budget. I would gift this to a mom with dry skin, especially with all the anti aging properties.
Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed it, please like and leave a comment about what you want to see me do next! Join the email list on your right to be notified every time I post. The next post will be about my 2019 Favorite Sunscreen! ❤
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