Drunk Elephant In The UK

Drunk Elephant

Well, we’ve certainly given Drunk Elephant a warm welcome here in the UK. They’ve had a little pop up shop at SpaceNK on Regent Street and it’s been absolutely rammed with skin care lovers snapping it up. I discovered their Juju Bar in 2014 and was intrigued by their name more than anything. It’s so named because the brand uses Marula oil and elephants are very fond of the Marula fruit. Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it – the fruit ferments in their stomachs and makes them tipsy. It’s not clear whether the elephants like it or not but they don’t seem deterred by it and nor have they been found trying to sing Danny Boy while weaving their way home, so perhaps it’s not so bad. Estee Lauder Companies was rumoured to be looking at investing in Drunk Elephant, which in the end took their investment from private equity firms in order to expand globally.

Drunk Elephant

So, where to start? The product I have most experience of is the basic Marula Oil – it’s a beautifully textures, omega laden, skin compatible oil that, if you love an oil, won’t be any regret at all and it’s an easy recommend. I’ve heard rave reviews about the C Firma Day Serum (you might not like the smell of this – absence of fragrance means there is no hiding from a ‘raw’ smell) but personally, I didn’t love it. It created little squirls on my skin if I rubbed it and felt filmy. It’s £80. B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a joy – light and fresh but also instantly skin softening and contains pineapple Ceramides and Pro-Vitamin B5. It’s £52. The smaller Marula oil is £40 which feels a bit more friendly on the purse, but I’m actually thinking, if you’re seriously considering changing up your routine, that you might be better to bite the bullet and buy the Littlies Kit for £90 that contains a bit of everything: 30ml Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, 8ml C-Firma™ Day Serum, 8ml B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum, 8ml T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum, 8ml Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, 15ml Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream, 15ml Umbra Sheer™ Physical Daily Defense SPF 30, and 5ml Shaba Complex™ Eye Serum.

Drunk Elephant

Think of Drunk Elephant in terms of grown up ‘cleaner’ beauty – I use the word clean cautiously because there are so many interpretations but the brand doesn’t use the six common skin issue culprits (Essential Oils, Drying Alcohols, Silicones, Chemical Screens, Fragrance/Dyes and SLS) so if you’re reactive to any of these, you should be safe with DE. The brand calls itself ‘clean compatible’ using ingredients that skin is better able to utilize effectively but it’s not completely synthetic free.

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant is a very cool, of the moment brand that in four short years has grown exponentially – brands that don’t resonate with what beauty consumers want don’t flourish in this way so it’s certainly speaking strongly to people who want to be more considered about what they’re putting on their skin.  Let me know if you jump on the Drunk wagon – I’d be intrigued to know your thoughts. I want to try the Night Serum, I think. You can find everything HERE. 

Non Aff HERE

 


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15 responses to “Drunk Elephant In The UK”

  1. Rachel

    I think the products look great and I’ve not really heard a bad word about them, but they’re so expensive! I’ve no idea how much they are in the US (damn you Sephora for blocking us!) but I just can’t justify spending that much on skincare 🙁

    1. Justine

      Littles kit is $90. Marula is $40/$72. C-Firma serum is $80 and B-Firma is $52. I didn’t try the brand for the longest time because the hype put me off and I don’t subscribe to the clean hysteria. Products are nice, packaging is excellent. I gave the brand another chance when Caroline Hirons recommended the c-tango eye cream ($64) and I’d repurchase that. Personally, I don’t think anything is a must have at UK prices.

  2. Kit

    They used to list retinol on their “skin baddies” list, but that’s been dropped for some reason. I wonder if they’re bringing out a retinoid/retinol at some point in the future?

    1. Jane

      That’s interesting.. I mean it started as a really sweet, indi brand but it’s gone very quickly into a full on box ticker.

  3. I’d love to try this brand but have to get over the price tag first. The Lala Retro Whipped cream would be my pick to try out first.

    Angela at Blush & Pearls

  4. SuziY

    Now I’m retired I’ve had to become more frugal when purchasing skincare. I really cannot understand how these companies justify such ridiculous prices. Having said that my son has just purchased some Drunk Elephant so I might be able to sample/ siphon some when I visit him in Singapore in a couple of weeks time.

    1. Jane

      I know, it’s rather scary that things are getting so expensive. You can easily source Marula oil for example elsewhere though – I think you have to be clever with beauty products and not necessarily jump to the hype but spend a little time researching to see what similar products are out there, because there will always be something that does the same job.

  5. Nicky

    Just to say that the SPF won’t be in the Littles kit in the U.K. as it hasn’t passed EU regs yet. It should be available early next year, I think.

    I’ve tried the Littles kit and think the Marula and B Hydra are definitely the standouts. The glycolic serum is a decent gentle exfoliation, but if you’re used to using things like Dr Dennis Gross or P50, I think you might find it lacking – would be good for those new to acid exfoliation. I fancy trying Protini and the C tango eye cream next.

  6. I’ve tried the Marula Oil and loved it – obviously wish it was a little cheaper but might bite the bullet again.

    One thing, Jane: are you sure that the Little wonders has the Umbra SPF in it? I didn’t think that the sunscreens had come over to the UK yet, and it isn’t in the image of the teeny bottles. Great if it is, though!

    http://www.cashmeremouse.com

    1. Jane

      Nicky below has answered this for us 🙂

  7. Donna

    As I have sensitive skin the only two products suitable for me are the oil and the SPF.

    Loads of complaints on the forums about the cost in the UK compared to the US.

    1. Lizzie

      I love their products, but all they’ve done is switch $ to £ for the UK market, resulting in a HUGE mark-up. C Firma retails for $80 in the US, which should convert to £61 at the moment, not £80. I’m not impressed. (Even if you were to add VAT at 20% that would be £73, so that’s not an excuse either.)

  8. Marion

    Space NK have sent out an email saying that Drunk Elephant’s prices are going to be reduced for the UK market, as of 23/10/18, and anyone who purchased items before then for the original price will get a refund of the difference.

    1. Jane

      I heard this.. its good news x

      1. Marion

        Yes, cos I bought the eye cream! I do like it though.

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