Dearly beloved and highly coveted, Drunk Elephant has been leading the pack of the skincare game ever since its buzz-worthy launch back in 2012. And while many brands have historically had a hard time retaining beauty consumers' loyalty and attention span, Drunk Elephant hasn't appeared to fall victim to any such stumbles.
Each new launch seems to be more exciting and well-received than the last, while OG cult favorites like T.L.C. Sukari Baby Facial ($80) and Virgin Marula Antioxidant Face Oil ($72) have retained worship-worthy clout. The majority of products incite as many glowing reviews as they do glowing complexions, and not one sparkling, bottle-studded shelfie goes by during our IG scroll without at least one (or five) DE elixirs sprinkled throughout.
Given that the brand has already accomplished a cult-level status of sorts, you can imagine the murmur of anticipation when rumor mills began to swirl about a hair and bodycare extension. Once said rumors proved to be true, it was also announced Jennifer Aniston's longtime hairstylist, Chris McMillan, was involved (he helped test and develop the formulas), which served as the cherry on top of the already exciting launch.
So let's dive into the details, shall we? In total, the new expansion of the DE clan features four core hair products—the Cocomino Glossing Shampoo ($25), the Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner ($25), the Wild Marula Tangle Spray ($25), and the T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub ($36). And for body, there's a happy trio consisting of the Kamili Cream Body Cleanser ($20), Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream ($16), and Sili Body Lotion ($20). As with the rest of the DE family, the products are conscientiously formulated to be clean and incredibly skin-healthy.
"Drunk Elephant is clean, but in our opinion, 'clean' is not nearly enough when it comes to caring for skin and hair," states a press release from the brand. "We are committed to using only ingredients that either directly benefit the health of the skin or support the integrity of our formulations. We never take into account whether something is synthetic or natural, instead choosing ingredients based on biocompatibility. That’s why we focus on healthy pH levels, formulations the skin recognizes, small molecular structure that’s easily absorbed, and effective active ingredients that also support and maintain the skin’s acid mantle." Additionally, you'll never find any of the "Suspicious 6" within a DE blend—a brand-dubbed moniker which includes essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances/dyes.
Curious as to the diversity and efficacy of the new formulas, I recruited my beauty PIC Courtney Higgs and WWW Editor in Chief Kat Collings to try and critically review each of the seven launches. Keep scrolling for our honest thoughts and feelings!
Kat Collings, Editor in Chief
Hair type: slight wave, in between fine and medium thickness
Main hair concerns: frizziness and flatness
Product priorities: volumizing, clean formula
Courtney Higgs, Associate Beauty Editor
Hair type: coily (4b/4c), dry
Main hair concerns: hydration, hydration, hydration!
Product priorities: conditioning, repair, heat protection
Erin Jahns, Beauty Editor
Hair type: fine, very long, dry, prone to damage from regular bleaching
Main hair concerns: lack of volume, dryness, and breakage
Product priorities: moisturizing, weightless finish, effective at clarifying and cleaning dirty hair
The T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub
Kat's take: 5/5 stars"I've never messed with a scalp scrub before. Sure it sounds luxurious, but if there's not a scalp issue to address, the product category always felt extra to me, a little like makeup primer or makeup setting spray. Also, I have doubts that something granular could really wash out well. Do you put body exfoliator on your hair? Heck no! Well, it turns out I've added a new must-have to my hair routine because I'm officially a full-blown convert. The precise application nozzle was a happy surprise after I popped off the lid, and I found the experience to be very meditative. Hello, head massage! It also washed out perfectly, without residue. I discovered that in addition to helping with dry or flaky scalps, the scrub can also promote volume (one of my main hair concerns) and help with product buildup. For any ladies who are hitting the dry shampoo on the regular, this scrub can be like a reset button for your hair. With this product discovery, I kind of feel like I've gone from a pedestrian haircare routine to a much more expert level. Win!"
Courtney's take: 5/5 stars
"Of all the new additions to the DE family, I had the highest hope for this product. I’ve been suffering from really bad dandruff lately. I’m not sure if it’s the amount of time I’m spending in my air-conditioned apartment or the utter lack of attention I’ve been giving the tender skin from whence my hair sprouts (more likely the latter), but my scalp has been flakier and itchier than ever over the last month or so. The first thing that struck me about this scalp scrub was the packaging. The gentle exfoliating paste is dispensed through a skinny nozzle, so you can really concentrate the product directly onto the scalp without most of it ending up in your hair like it would if you were left using your fingers alone. As a coily girl with super-thick hair, I really appreciated this. I applied the glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric acid solution liberally and let it sit for longer than the suggested 10 minutes (as I said, I really wanted it to work), and upon rinsing, my scalp felt squeaky clean. It never tingled or felt uncomfortable, like I’d anticipated. I’m into it!"
Erin's take: 5/5 stars
"I am happy to report that this is THE only scalp scrub that I've ever loved or felt remotely keen to keep using. Historically, I've just had really horrible luck with the category and still feel scarred from icky residues and overall, very underwhelming results. This product has me eating my words! Not only is this formula way less messy (and much more enjoyable) to apply than other scrubs, but I love that it truly feels like an extension of Drunk Elephant's popular skincare staples. Our scalp health is just as important as the health of our complexion, after all! Thanks to the strategic blend of oils and acids, it's the perfect antidote for buildup and irritation, plus it really paves the way for an amazing hair cleansing ritual. As an added bonus, you can even use it on your body, and there's nothing I appreciate more than a multitasking beauty find. If you're already a fan of Drunk Elephant's skin staples, you're going to love this. And if you're new to the DE family, this is a standout!"
The Cocomino Glossing Shampoo
Kat's take: 4/5 stars"For my fine to medium hair, I definitely felt like there was a glossing effect. In my picture, you can tell at my roots how glossy and hydrated my hair looks. I'm blaming my dryer ends on the fact that I haven't had a haircut in over a year. I didn't think it had been that long, but my Google Calendar doesn't lie! I usually use a clean shampoo, so I'm used to a lack of strong sudsing agents and was loving the lather on this shampoo, as it was an increase from my norm. The only reason I'm knocking it down a star is I'm not a huge fan of the sweet almond smell of the range. The other girls loved it, though, so it truly is a matter of preference!"
Courtney's take: 3.5/5 stars
"Okay, so, I have thoughts. As a natural-haired queen, I should probably be more on board with a low-to-no-poo shampoo product, but I was a little turned off at how little this shampoo foamed up. It did lather up eventually, but I found I had to work it in quite a bit before that happened. I will say that after rinsing, my hair felt soft and not at all stripped like some shampoos can leave the hair feeling. Having used the Happi Scalp Scrub as a precursor to this shampoo, my hair did emerge clean and free from flakes and product buildup, but at the end of the day, I’m not sure this shampoo is a sturdy enough detergent to achieve that on its own. It seems like it would be better suited for someone with a very low-product hair regimen."
Erin's take: 3/5 stars
"The first time I used this shampoo, it absolutely did not thoroughly clean my hair. Granted, my hair is very long at the moment (ahem, down my back!), and it was pretty dirty, but even after giving this shampoo two go-rounds (and the packaging says to only use one), my hair still didn't feel clean. I've tried quite a few clean shampoos and conditioners at this point, and I have never had quite as much difficulty as I did with this one in terms of working up even a little bit of lather. Not surprisingly, I still had greasy patches at the back of my head after my hair had dried post-shower. I wasn't thrilled, but after talking to Kat and Courtney, I realized that it's pretty imperative to use the scrub in conjunction with and before the shampoo to get a really thorough cleanse. The second time I tried washing, I used the scrub first and had much better results. My hair felt very clean, very soft, and super shiny. However, I'm already pretty lazy when it comes to my hair routine, and since sudsing a few times a week already feels like a chore, I'm not wild about the idea of having to add an extra step to my routine in order for my hair to get as clean as I want it to."
The Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner
Kat's take: 4/5 stars"The conditioner did everything I wanted it to: slightly detangle, smooth, and moisturize. Sure, I had a few bits of frizz, but with my finer hair, I have to dance a line between products that are too heavy and end up looking greasy and too light, which leave frizz. I feel like this one hit pretty squarely right in the center for my hair type. Additionally, it's a small note, but having the pop of color in my shower that's signature to Drunk Elephant's packaging brought me a little joy. It's about the small things these days!"
Courtney's take: 3/5 stars
"This conditioner (and this entire product line) smells so lovely, like a fresh almond croissant. Truly lovely. But as far as conditioners go, this one simply is not hydrating enough for my coily hair. It spread nicely through my mane and made detangling easy enough, but after leaving it on for 10 minutes while I carried out the rest of my shower ritual, my hair didn’t feel nearly as soft or moisturized as it does when I use other conditioners formulated specifically for my hair type. As much as I wanted to keep things objective, I just had to add a tiny bit of pure jojoba oil to my hair after rinsing this conditioner out. I could just tell I was headed toward dry, brittle hair."
Erin's take: 4/5 stars
"Overall, I was really happy with this conditioner. Like Kat, I often seem to find myself divided between products that are either too light or too heavy for my strands. Even though my texture is fine, I have a lot of hair which makes finding the right formula trickier than you'd think! Honestly, this conditioner struck the right balance. It was so nourishing that in hindsight, I would probably skip the tangle spray (which we'll get to in a second) but not so heavy that my fine hair felt weighed down. Just make sure you pay heed to the instructions and are extremely thorough when you're rinsing! I have a hunch it might leave some residue if you're not painstakingly thorough."
The Wild Marula Tangle Spray
Kat's take: 3.5/5 stars"Tangle spray is another product category I'm skeptical about. I honestly hadn't considered it as an adult and figured it was for kids with sensitive heads. My Sheila Stotts brush is pretty pro at getting out tangles, anyway. Nevertheless, I checked my preconceptions at the sink and approached with an open mind. After reading up on the product, I realized it's not just for making your hair easier to comb through post-shower; it's also a wonderful opportunity to give your hair some extra nourishment, which I'm all here for. If you have fine hair, though, I'd be cautious about spraying the right amount on so you don't accidentally go overboard and end up with product overload negating the hair wash you just did. Overall, while I liked this product, I think there are other standouts in the bunch more worth your dollar."
Courtney's take: 2/5 stars
"I wanted to love this tangle spray because it contains such beautiful oils, marula and sacha inchi seed, that I thought my hair would really love. Ultimately, though, this mist was just too light and watery. As someone who heat-styles her hair and seeks to have every step of her haircare routine contribute to deeply nourishing and priming my strands to stand up against the blow-dryer and flat iron, this spritz just didn’t cut it. If you have coily hair like me, this won’t suffice as a leave-in conditioner."
Erin's take: 3.5/5 stars
"After each and every wash, I always have to conclude my routine with a detangler or leave-in. My hair is far too long and bleached to skip this important step! I'm honestly a little bit torn about this spray. On one hand, my wide-tooth comb slipped through my knots and breakage-prone strands with zero difficulties, so as far as the main selling point of tangle prevention, it gets a perfect score. I also felt like it gave my hair a bit of extra texture and body. That said, it felt a little heavy, and my hair definitely got greasier a bit more quickly than it normally does."
The Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream
Kat's take: 3/5 stars"I loved almost everything about this deodorant. It kept me smelling fresh, was easy to apply, and lacks the irritating baking soda commonly found in many cleaner deodorants. The only downside, and it's a big one for me, is that it has an ingredient in it called phenoxyethanol. The common preservative is actually present in all the products we tested for this story, but for me personally, deodorant is a product category where I prioritize a higher level of clean than others."
Courtney's take: 4.5/5 stars
"I’ve tried literally dozens of natural, aluminum-free deodorants, and this one holds its own against the few I've found that actually work for me. I like that this formula is a soft cream as opposed to a stick or a thick paste. It feels weightless on the skin and dries to a soft, powdery layer pretty fast. It also doesn’t burn my underarms like a lot of clean deodorants tend to, due to their baking soda content. And most importantly, it keeps me smelling clean all day! I’ve yet to wear it during a workout or any situation where I’m sweating heavily, so I’ll withhold half a star for now until I can speak to its performance under pressure."
Erin's take: 5/5 stars stars
"So in the most epic plot twist of our entire testing saga, this has become my new hero product. A couple of years ago, I spent an entire year trying to convert to natural and clean deodorants to no avail. Nothing seemed to work long-term for me. I hated the irritation, residue, and messy application process, and I collected a graveyard of smelly tops I eventually had to throw out. Eventually, I threw in the towel and went back to my tried-and-true deodorant from Secret, simply accepting the idea that clean and natural deodorants would never work for me. Well, I stand corrected! I've been using Drunk Elephant's new formula for a week now, and I can't get over how phenomenal it is. The formula itself smells faintly of marzipan (which I love), it soaks into my skin quickly, it doesn't leave residue on my clothes (even a black T-shirt I wore), and it truly keeps my BO at bay with zero irritation. It's stood up through sweaty workouts, a few deadline-induced stress sweats, and even my AC being out. (I live in L.A. and on the third floor no less!) If you really struggle to find a cleaner deodorant alternative that's free of essential oils, aluminum-derived ingredients, and baking soda, I highly recommend this."
The Kamili Cream Body Cleanser
Kat's take: 4.5/5 stars"This body cleanser was a delight. It checks the main two boxes for any body cleanser: lathers well and my skin seemed to like it. If you're looking to complete your Drunk Elephant shower experience, I would absolutely recommend throwing the body cleanser into your cart too alongside the shampoo and conditioner."
Courtney's take: 4/5 stars
"Did I mention that I love the way this entire range smells? It's lightly sweet and just so pleasant. I was so surprised to see other reviewers saying they didn't care for the smell (it's SO faint), but I guess it's just a matter of taste. I find this body wash to be calming and nourishing on my skin. It lathers well and rinses thoroughly. I've never noticed any lingering soap residue. I recognize that $20 is expensive for body wash, but I'm a bath product snob who's down to pay top dollar to elevate my shower experience, so I can't say I'm too bothered by that."
Erin's take: 4/5 stars
"I don't know if I've ever experienced a truly awful or truly amazing body wash. They always feel about the same to me. This one gets the job done and works into a nice, but not overwhelming, lather that seems to keep my skin soft and nourished. I haven't noticed any type of residue, and a little goes a really long way, which I appreciate thanks to the $20 price point!"
The Sili Body Lotion
Kat's take: 4.5/5 stars"I find a lot of body lotions are too heavy and leave me wondering if I really should just stand and air-dry for the next 10 minutes. Invariably, I never have the time or patience for that and end up jumping in bed or putting on my clothes immediately and experiencing just a tiny bit of cognitive dissonance that I'm probably rubbing lotion all over my sheets or outfit. This lotion sidesteps all of that with quick absorption, which makes all the difference to me. My skin seemed to like it, and it effectively tackled any dry spots. Another clear winner of the bunch."
Courtney's take: 4/5 stars
"I slather lotion all over my entire body after every bath or shower, so I consider myself a body lotion expert. There are three main characteristics I look for in an ideal lotion: perfect, in-between consistency; a non-greasy feel; and supple-skin results. This lotion almost ticks all those boxes. It’s lightweight and spreadable and not at all greasy, so I’m not worried about climbing into bed with a body covered in the stuff. It’s moisturizing enough to keep my skin soft through the night, but I’m not confident it’ll be enough to keep my legs supple and hydrated for when the day comes that I’ll be wearing skirts and shorts in public again. For now, though, I like it!"
Erin's take: 5/5 stars
"I'm so picky with body lotions and creams that I usually just forgo the step altogether. I know it's bad beauty-editor etiquette, but I just can't stand the cloying feel of greasy or tacky residue lingering on my skin or sticking to my sheets or clothes. The reason I know this body lotion is a winner is that I'm actually motivated, and I even look forward, to applying it post-shower. It sinks in almost instantly, and the only lingering sensation afterward is a silky, velvety-soft finish. I also appreciate the light nutty scent, which smells lovely but doesn't clash with whatever else I'm wearing."
Up next: 25 Items I Bought from Sephora,Replica Store, and Amazon to Replace My Beauty Services
