The experts have quietly cooled on Drunk Elephant
Drunk Elephant has built a loyal following, but the experts' takes tell a quieter story. Across 23 products the gurus have reviewed, the brand averages a Guru Score of 69%, with only 4 products breaking into the 80s.
- Across 23 Drunk Elephant products with three or more reviewers each, the average Guru Score is just 69%.
- Only 4 of them clear 80%. Among the lowest-rated are A-Passioni Retinol Cream (55%), Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser (59%) and O-Bloos Rosy Drops (59%).
- The dissent is mostly about value and sensitivity, not safety: well-made products that a vocal share of experts feel do not justify the hype or price.
Allie Glines · 4 reviewers, 59% said yes
Dr. Somji Skin · 7 reviewers, 55% said yes Dr. Somji Skin · 8 reviewers, 59% said yes
Allie Glines · 9 reviewers, 58% said yesHow do the experts actually rate Drunk Elephant?
The spread is wide. On the lower end, A-Passioni Retinol Cream landed a Guru Score of 55%, Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser came in at 59%, and O-Bloos Rosy Drops scored 59%. Those aren't isolated stumbles; they sit near the bottom of what the experts have evaluated from the brand. Meanwhile, a handful of Drunk Elephant products do earn the experts' approval, clearing 80%. That gap between the highs and the lows matters more than any single number.
Is Drunk Elephant a bad brand, then?
No, and that's worth saying plainly. A lower average doesn't mean the brand itself is flawed. What the experts tend to flag is a mismatch between price and what you actually get, and a tendency for certain formulas to irritate sensitive skin. Those are real critiques, but they're not a verdict on every jar and bottle under the Drunk Elephant name.
Some individual products still hold up well by the experts' standards. The issue isn't that nothing works; it's that you need to look closer before you buy.
What should you do before buying Drunk Elephant?
Start by checking the specific product's Guru Score rather than trusting the brand name alone. If you're drawn to Drunk Elephant, look for the active ingredient you're actually trying to address (whether that's retinol, niacinamide, or something else) and see what the experts say about how well that formula delivers it.
Patch test first, especially if your skin runs sensitive or reactive. The gurus' cautions around irritation are worth taking seriously before you commit to a full-size product.