Drunk Elephant Products...Worth the Price??

Lemon

I'm interested to get feedback on a couple of items from Drunk Elephant.

Here is quote from the Drunk Elephant website: 

D.E.’s mission is to deliver clinically-effective, clean skincare formulated with both cutting-edge synthetic and natural ingredients; and without the ubiquitous toxins, sensitizers and irritants, such as the disruptive essential oils, that block the pathway to healthy skin. We pay close attention to pH and toxicity levels, as well as formulating with efficacious percentages of active ingredients. Our goal is to teach the consumer that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean good and that every ingredient should directly and only benefit the health of our skin or the safety of the formulation. We shift the focus off of the consumer’s “sensitive” skin and on to the insensitive marketing ingredients that are responsible for the majority of our skin problems The company website claims that their products are non toxic and packaged in order to maintain integrity of active ingredients and ideal pH levels. 

Listed below are ingredients for C-Firma™ Day Serum and T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum. Both items have received high ratings from Beautypedia. Do the ingredients and packaging warrant spending over $80 per product?

Thanks for any comments,

Lemon

 C-Firma™ Day Serum

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycine, Sucrose, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60

T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum

Ingredients: Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Galactoarabinan, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Nitrate, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate

RandyS

These two products use ingredients that are proven to be effective (ascorbic acid and glycolic acid) but there are a lot of products using the same actives at a lower price. The fact that they "pay close attention to pH and toxicity levels" sounds more like marketing speak than a true technical differentiation. 

Lemon

Thanks Randy for being the Voice of Reason. I will look for less expensive alternatives. Would welcome any suggestions from the Beauty Brains community.

preciousia

@Lemon - I agree with Randy. Where are you located? Will recommend something locally available to you.

DE had a claim that there Vitamin C can last on the skin 48 hours... so you only need to use once every 2 days. have yet to check that out.

you could look at this post for more pointers on Vitamin C

hope this helps.

Lemon

Preciousia, I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Appreciate any suggestions for Vitamin C products. Thanks

preciousia

@Lemon

Sorry i have not forgotten... i got distracted lol sorry... It's easy if you are in USA! Plenty of options available to you. Hope you had a great weekend.

Some budget alternatives (not in any particular order):

- Skin Actives Vitamin C USD15.5, you can choose 15% or 20%. I have not tried this. My sister has it.

- Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum USD27 (i'm using this now, not LAA but SAP)

- Timeless Vitamin C  USD24.95

- OST Vitamin C USD16.99 (free delivery)

- Melano CC Vitamin C Essence (easily found on Amazon, bought this and queueing to use it)

- MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Perfect C Serum USD44

- The Ordinary Vitamin C (they have 4 kinds to choose from)!  from USD6 (I have all 4)

- Paula's Choice Resist Vitamin C 15 USD49

- Moogoo Super Vitamin C Serum AUD34.90 or USD26

- Manyo Factory White Vita C Liquid Liquid Serum USD23

Compared to Drunk Elephant Vitamin C USD80.

Keep your money and buy one of TBB's books with left overs to spare.

Lemon

OH MY!

Lots of Vitamin C choices at much better prices:0)

I have bought the Timeless Vit C but was concerned that Vit C potency might be compromised by dropper bottle and air exposure.

Thanks so much for your HELP, it's most appreciated. Can't wait to investigate all the options.

Have a Wonderful Week

Lemon

PS I have already purchased TBB books!!

preciousia

@Lemon lol Yes me too! i've got their books.

Since the price is so good. Toss it after 2 months. I think Timeless do guarantee their product is good for x time right? I am not too sure, they do not deliver to us in Australia.

To extend the life, storing in the refrigerator helps.

Love to hear how you go with the Vitamin C serum