Ever since I was a little kid, I loved saving the best for last: the crispy skin from my KFC meal, the marshmallows in my bowl of Lucky Charms, the red Skittles from the package (I’d eat the purple ones first to get them out of the way)…as you can see, I didn’t have such a healthy diet back then. So it’s no surprise that I saved the Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer included in my Sephora birthday pack and only recently started using it. (My birthday was in December.) Today I’m finally going to write about this popular moisturizer.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients that go into this “protini” for your skin. Upon a quick scan of the label, it looks like it contains quite a few peptides, as well as moisturizing ingredients like linoleic acid, linolenic acid, sodium hyaluronate,

Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer ingredients

Like other Drunk Elephant products, this moisturizer contains sclerocarya birrea seed oil, also known as marula seed oil. Notably this moisturizer seems to include quite a few peptides, which have been shown to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

This moisturizer also contains another noteworthy ingredient: bacillus/soybean/folic acid ferment extract, or fermented soybean extract. According to this study, this ingredient works as an effective antioxidant and helps fight hyperpigmentation by blocking melanin production.

Note that this product contains coconut alkanes, which may cause breakouts in some people with acne-prone skin, according to some anecdotal posts on SkincareAddiction. This ingredient is also in The Ordinary Serum Foundation and The Ordinary Vitamin C suspension 23% + HA serum, so I don’t think I’m negatively affected by coconut alkanes.

My Dad the Chemist’s review of Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer

I responded that yes, it was a pretty pricey product and asked him if he thought they were making a lot of money. Here was his response:

My dad brings up a good point. Beauty brands can get away with charging a lot for their products as long as they continue to do at least one of two things:

• attract new first-time customers
• keep repeat customers happy enough to justify the price

If, like me, you’re skeptical about the price (just how much of a profit margin does this product have?), just take a look at all the positive reviews online. From all the happy reviews, it seems like this moisturizer delivers on its marketing claims for customers, rather than simply sustaining its success by using hype to attract new customers.

I would normally never buy such an expensive product, so I’m grateful to Sephora for deciding to include Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer in my birthday pack. Now I get to try out this product and see if it’s worth the price, without actually having to risk any money first.

Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer review

I absolutely loved the creamy consistency of this Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer. It felt luxurious without being overbearing at all. Although the directions said to use it in the morning and at night, I prefer to use it only at night, since I’ve been using the Origins GinZing Gel Moisturizer in the mornings.

I think if I had to compare this to any other moisturizer I’ve used, it feels most similar to a silkier, lighter version of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. It moisturizes your skin without leaving an oily residue, but it doesn’t dry completely matte, either. I think a little goes a long way, but it’s still pretty pricey on a per-ounce basis. Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer is a good option for anyone who’s interested in adding a non-irritating, anti-aging moisturizer into their routine. You’d be hard-pressed to find any other moisturizer with this many peptides in the ingredient list. Plus, it’s fragrance-free, which is a nice plus for those of us who prefer to avoid unnecessary fragrances in skincare products.

Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturizer doesn’t have any noticeable scent. It just smells plain, if that makes any sense. The consistency is almost like Greek yogurt with some Vaseline mixed into it. Perhaps an oily Greek yogurt?

I’m on the fence about repurchasing this after I finish this tub of moisturizer. I might look into other anti-aging products first, but it’s definitely a contender for introducing into my routine if I ever feel like treating myself to a luxury item. Plus, a little goes a long way—less than a dime-size amount will provide pretty good coverage.

Related reading

• Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser review
• Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Sunscreen Review
• Save or Splurge? CeraVe moisturizing cream vs. CVS moisturizing cream