Good evening and hope you are having a fantastic start to the week! I am so thrilled to be asked to review many products from Drunk Elephant’s line. Just as an FYI, there might be affiliate links below. I was sent these products referenced for free for testing purposes. This isn’t a sponsored post. These are my opinions only. I am not a doctor, nor a dermatologist. You should always consult a professional as to which products and/or ingredients are safe for you and your loved ones.
If you haven’t read yesterday’s post about my spotlight on the brand, CLICK HERE!
Here is a link to the cleanser on Sephora.com: Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser
$32.00USD for 5oz is a little expensive for a gentle cleanser for me. But, let’s learn more prior to casting judgement.
Contains cantaloupe fruit extract? Yaasss all you lovely people! I would love to see this used more widely in the skincare industry as an antioxidant. I’ve read that it is awesome in supporting sun damaged skin and regulating collagen production. What boater out there doesn’t see too much sun? #lakelife
Now let’s not get too excited. Spoiler alert- here comes the full ingredient list explanation:
Water- I know I have said this before, but I wish that we could have clean beauty that we could pay a little more for just the ingredients and not water based. Can we move it to third place?
Glycerin– by product during soap making process that serves as a humectant. However, in 2009, Canada added it to their restricted list, as so many times it has been found to be contaminated with toxic ingredients. I do like to see glycerin in cleansers, as it helps to keep the skin’s surface supple.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine, – We need to have a serious chat about this ingredient. I want you to research this one for yourself and determine if this is right for you. This is a known eye and skin irritant that may cause cancer. Many companies will tout this ingredient as “safe” and “derived from coconuts.” Over the years, other skincare companies have shed light again this chemical. Please research this all the way to court cases. Can you tell I’m trying to not get myself cornered?
Coco-Glucoside– ultra-mild safe cleansing agent
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate– Might sound like SLS, but it isn’t. Another safe cleaning agent.
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine– safe on adults and not necessarily on babies. Companies use this to increase foam and viscosity.
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate– safe and not suspected to harm our organs.
Propanediol– safe alternative to propylene glycol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract– if you have acne scarring, you will love the benefits of aloe
Glycolipids– type of lipid composed of sugar & fat that is used as a thickener/emulsifier
Linoleic Acid– polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid that is normally obtained through our diets
Linolenic Acid– another fatty acid. So what is the difference between this and linoleic acid? There is a lot of similarities and both can help in preventing many diseases, being nut-derived. Being a vegan company, I am sure that this ingredients are not animal derived (like some other brands).
Lauryl Glucoside– surfactant derived from glucose and lauryl alcohol. IF you have sensitive skin, you might want to stay away from this ingredient. Or, if you have a corn allergy, steer clear from this one. Also, look to other products, such as toothpaste, that might be concealing this ingredient
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract– cantaloupe is rich in Vitamin A & C. The only time I worry about fruit extracts, is how is this fruit grown? Is it on a spray free farm? Or, are they using pesticides? Unfortunately, we will never know as Drunk Elephant doesn’t disclose this information to its consumers.
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil– Marula oil is rich and easily absorbed into skin. This is the brand’s most well known ingredient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate– Botanical ingredient, dervied from the licorice plant. I was able to locate some clinical testing on this. Appears to be a fairly effective topical treatment for atopic dermatitis. Has anti-inflammatory, as well as skin soothing properties.
Tocopherol– think Vitamin E
Citric Acid– this is what causes the “tartness” in lemons and limes. Many products will have this to extend their shelf life.
Phenoxyethanol– preservative and stabilizer that infants should not be exposed to, as it can acutely affect their little nervous systems. This is an ingredient that I tend to shy away from, as I remember seeing lab rats in college have severe, life threatening reactions.
Sodium Hydroxide– better known as lye or caustic soda. My preference is a lye free soap.
Sodium Benzoate– when combined with Vitamin C, heat and time, an unusual chemical reaction can occur and change this into a carcinogen.
Sodium Chloride– basic name for salt and used as a thickener.
Polylysine– preservative and skin/hair conditioner
Phew! That was A LOT of ingredients!
When I hear “jelly cleanser,” I think the consistency of jam that I put on my toast. This is more gel-like. Not hating on the consistency- just oddly named.
Now, if you do not like fragrance in your skincare- go for this. For those that would like a natural DIY dupe, just put some castille soap with a couple drops of glycerin into a re-purposed bottle as a base, add some essential oils, raw honey and you have a great anti-aging cleanser. Overall, if we could find out more about how they procure their glycerin and got rid of a few of these ingredients, this could be a great cleanser.
Here’s some thoughts/results from the routine I tried 3x’s per day for one week:
#1: I used this after a long day of not wearing makeup. I wanted to give it a shot without too many impurities on my skin. Completely rinses clean and only a pea-sized amount is needed. There isn’t a ton of lather- or at least not in comparison to Checks and Balances by Origins. That is a super frothy/foamy face wash. Next, I followed up with more from the Drunk Elephant line that I will be reviewing for you soon.
#2: Next morning I used this in the shower with the Clarisonic. Seemed no different than if I used a cleanser like C’est Moi’s Gentle Foaming Cleanser.
#3: I get really oily during the day and used this at lunch time. The shine was not that I just had a facial greatness, but more like my pores were oozing some genetics. Because this cleanser is so non-stripping, my oiliness comes throughout the day.
#4: Around 3pm of the 3rd day, I noticed some under the surface bumps starting to form. Could just be due to the first time changing to a store bought cleanser and not a natural DIY. At 8pm, I cleansed one last time for the day and could see a couple red spots. I have a feeling that there are some pores trying to purge some old debris and this is the result. By no means do I think that it is an allergic reaction.
#5: Went to lunch with some team members and friends in a FULL face of makeup, including waterproof mascara. Cleanser touched none of it. Had leftover liquid lipstick on and did not remove. Shimmer from blush was still present. Used my normal cleansing routine to take off leftovers, including eyeliner.
Final thoughts- I’m going to stick with my current cleansing routine and wait for the brand to eliminate some of the ingredients from above. However, if you are looking for a super gentle cleanser try this one. Or, go with my natural DIY suggestion for a more budget friendly alternative. I was excited to see cantaloupe as one of the ingredients, but nothing is showing me that his could be labeled as “anti-aging.”
Let me know in the comments below what you think! Have you tried this cleanser before? Is this a part of your skin care lineup?
xoxooxJessica
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