Describe the brand in five words.
Oh you know DE already. 🙂
What type of cleanser is it?
Emulsifying Balm.
Who is it for?
All skins.
What’s in it?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin
What’s not in it?
Animal Fats/Oils/Musks, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzophenone, Bisphenol A (BPA), Butoxyethanol, BHA, BHT, Chemical Sunscreens, Coal Tar Dyes, 1,4-Dioxane, -Cones, Detergent, Essential Oils, EDTA, Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA), Formaldehyde, Fragrance, Hydroquinone, Liquid Paraffin, Liquid Petrolatum, Methyl Cellosolve, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mercury, Mercury Compounds, Mineral Oil, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Paraffin Oil, Phthalates, Polyethylene Glycol (PEGs), Resorcinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Siloxanes, Sulfates, Thimerosal, Toluene, Triclosan, Triclocarban
Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
It’s a proper balm so if you have trouble with those historically, try and test this first.
Suitable for pregnancy?
Yes.
Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Natural.
Tested on animals in home country/EU/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No – Drunk Elephant are cruelty-free.
How does it smell?
It is fragrance free but has a very definite ‘stuffy’ odour that is common in fragrance free balms – this is potentially their least appealing scent, not simply because in line with their Suspicious 6 stance, it has nothing added, but because it smells strongly of ‘nothing’. I fully recognise this will make no sense until you smell it, but if you enjoy cleansing as part of your ritual, and appreciate a good whiff, you may want to smell check this before you buy. It shouldn’t matter, we don’t need fragrance. But we all know this. It continues to be added because the majority of people want ‘something’. Let me know what you think.
How do you use it?
As always, apply to dry skin, massage through and remove with a tepid flannel. If you want to emulsify it, add a little water and it dissolves into a milk which you can then rinse away.
First cleanse/second cleanse or AM cleanse?
Either. You can use occasionally in the morning with the Bamboo Booster.
Best for winter or summer?
Either.
Does it remove waterproof eye makeup?
Yes.
How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?
£29/$34 for 100ml. Depending on usage, should last 6-8 weeks.
What’s good about it?
Ok special shout out (before you even open it) to the packaging. The bright green lid is appealing and the added bonus of magnetising the spatula to the lid – yes really – means some of you may actually use it. I won’t, but I’m old and set in my ways. I think the world is separated by spatula users and finger-scrapers. I am the latter.
The juice itself is very much as you would expect. Thick, luxurious, massages very well and emulsifies, should that be the result that you want, equally well. Leaves no sticky residue and is not drying. Removes all makeup without too much effort.
I appreciate the added bit of advice on their website about not using the Bamboo Booster if you are using their retinol. I would agree. The Drunk Elephant Retinol (yes the review is coming and it’s in the next video) is not to be trifled with.
What’s not so good about it?
Not much. It’s not the best smelling cleanser but if you don’t like added fragrance you’ll be thrilled.
Would I purchase/repurchase?
Yes.
Do you need it?
Yes, probably.
Similar products?
Pixi Double Cleanse – pixibeauty.co.uk/double-cleanse
Estee Lauder ANR Micro Cleansing Balm – http://bit.ly/2FP0Wn8
Beauty Pie Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm – http://bit.ly/2SWvzuB
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm – http://bit.ly/2QAmv1T
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup – http://bit.ly/2HSS5TM
