Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum.

Serums

About this product

A lactic acid and peptide serum from Drunk Elephant, designed to gently exfoliate and help skin look smoother, brighter and more even.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Tocotrienols, SH-Oligopeptide-1, SH-Oligopeptide-2, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-9, SH-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tripeptide-1, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, Pca, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine

Guru Score

75%

Yay

5 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

Sensitive and dry skin is where this serum earns its praise, since its 10% lactic acid is described as gentle and its texture as nourishing rather than heavy. However, one dissenting take says that much lactic acid makes daily use hard, which could leave the peptides short on steady use. Some have mentioned using it a few times a week in place of a retinoid.

Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take September 2025

What they liked

Watery, nourishing texture without stickiness
Gentle exfoliation for dullness and texture
Lightweight enough to layer or alternate with retinoids

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

Type

SerumsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Hyaluronic acidAHAPeptides Squalane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Fine lines and wrinkles2 experts

“but also those peptides are going to help address signs of aging, fine lines, and to help firm the skin.”

Sincerely Miss Ash, watch at 8:38

Skin barrier support1 expert

“It contains 10% lactic acid and a blend of peptides that can work together in supporting the skin barrier over time, help with dullness, and improve the appearance of fine lines.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 13:56

Dull skin1 expert

“It contains 10% lactic acid and a blend of peptides that can work together in supporting the skin barrier over time, help with dullness, and improve the appearance of fine lines.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 13:56

Rough or uneven texture1 expert

“They have their Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum that contains lactic acid and a blend of different peptides that gently exfoliates, helps to keep your skin smooth, reduce dullness, and over time help to improve skin texture and skin tone.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 20:19

Loss of firmness1 expert

“but also those peptides are going to help address signs of aging, fine lines, and to help firm the skin.”

Sincerely Miss Ash, watch at 8:38

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"The Drunk Elephant Protini Resurface Serum is a unique product with great antioxidants and peptides, and I like the fact that it works well for all skin types. [...] My only issue is it's on the more expensive side."

All 3 takes from No BS Beauty

Beginners Guide to pH - Why pH Matters in Your Skincare & How it Impacts Your Skin

"That's well within the means so it's going to be a little bit more gentle than something that's a little bit lower"

Minimalist Skincare Multi-Peptides 10% Facial Anti-Aging Serum Review, How to Use, and Dupes

"The drunk elephant protini resurf serum"

PEACH & LILY 🆕🍑 New! MiniProtein Exosome Bioactive Ampoule Full Review and How to Use

Mad About Skin

733k subs

✓Nay

"Also has in here lactic acid, and it's got some other peptides, too. This is just trying to do too much. For growth factors, you need to be consistent. Twice a day, every day. Long-term, you will get those results. Because they've decided to put 10% lactic acid in here, you can't use it twice a day. Heck, you can't even use it every day. And so, you're not really going to be getting the benefit of those growth factors. When it comes to growth factors, keep it simple."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

✓Yay

"I have been using this since like two three years obviously I have repurchased the product"

Translated from the guru's original language.

All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur

How to exfoliate your skin correctly | How to use AHA serum | How to layer lactic acid serum

"I have been using this since like two three years obviously I have repurchased the product"

Translated from the guru's original language.

Top 5 Glass Skin Products | Best Products From Drunk Elephant | Best skincare of 2023 | Nipun Kapur

"The Protein Peptide Lactic Acid Serum by Drunk Elephant is fabulous"

Translated from the guru's original language.

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

✓Yay

"The Drunk Elephant peptide surfacing serum contains 10% lactic acid with a blend of peptides in a watery oily serum that's very nourishing but not sticky or heavy. I personally love to use it in my routine during the winter a few times a week, replacing my retinoid."

All 5 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu

Sephora Savings Event 2023 Dermatologist Top Picks | Dr Jenny Liu

"If you are looking for a more gentle chemical exfoliating treatment and have more dry and sensitive skin, I highly recommend checking this one out. I really love that residue because it's very nourishing. It's almost like to me like putting on a creamier moisturizer at night, which I love."

Anti-Aging & Prevention Dermatologist Guide | Skincare In Your 30s

"One that I recommend is from Drunk Elephant, the Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum. It's more of like an oily watery serum, but it's nourishing and great for dry skin. It contains 10% lactic acid and a blend of peptides that can work together in supporting the skin barrier over time, help with dullness, and improve the appearance of fine lines."

Ultimate Dermatologist- Approved Holiday Gift Guide | Dr. Jenny Liu

"They have their Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum that contains lactic acid and a blend of different peptides that gently exfoliates, helps to keep your skin smooth, reduce dullness, and over time help to improve skin texture and skin tone."

Dermatologist's Complete Skincare Routine P.M. | Dr. Jenny Liu

"I recommend the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum, which contains a blend of very different peptides and lactic acid that can work synergistically to target fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone."

Ultimate Sensitive skincare guide for winter from Dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

✓Yay

"This is another serum that contains 10% lactic acid but also this contains 11 types of peptides. I like this serum because we're getting the best of both worlds here. We're getting that lactic to exfoliate to give that brighter appearance to the skin, but also those peptides are going to help address signs of aging, fine lines, and to help firm the skin. I feel like this is a very gentle formulation as well. I do feel like this would be nice for someone who has more of that sensitive skin type."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Peptides

Peptides are short protein fragments meant to signal repair. The evidence for them is thinner than for retinoids or vitamin C, and it varies a lot by the specific peptide, so the category is more promising than proven.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum?

A lactic acid and peptide serum from Drunk Elephant, designed to gently exfoliate and help skin look smoother, brighter and more even.

Is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum worth it?

Mostly yes. 4 of the 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 75%.

What is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum's Guru Score?

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum holds a Guru Score of 75%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.

What is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum is good for fine lines and wrinkles (2 experts), skin barrier support (1 expert), dull skin (1 expert), rough or uneven texture (1 expert) and loss of firmness (1 expert).

Is Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum good for fine lines and wrinkles?

2 experts who reviewed Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Resurface Serum say it is. Sincerely Miss Ash put it this way: “but also those peptides are going to help address signs of aging, fine lines, and to help firm the skin.”