[Review] of the Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

Beauty Tips For Body Care
Claims: "An innovative jelly cleanser that removes all traces of makeup, excess oil, pollution and any other grime from the day. Free of SLS, fragrance and essential oils, Beste™ No. 9 is totally non-irritating, non-sensitizing and appropriate for every skin type" (Excerpt taken from the brand's product page: https://www.drunkelephant.com/products/beste-no-9-jelly-cleanser).Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polylysine.pH-level: Using the Preciva digital pH meter (model PH320001), the pH settled at 5.60 after stabilizing at that value for one minute. On the Drunk Elephant product page, it was claimed to have a pH value of 5.50.Packaging: I received the 30 ml / 1 oz mini size of this product, as part of the 2019 Sephora birthday gift that also included the mini version of the Protini™ Polypeptide Cream. The mini size is packaged in an upright tube with a brilliantly-designed twist cap dispenser, eliminating the risk of breaking the cap hinge, and not being able to seal the product again. The same cannot be said of the full-sized version, whose dispenser has the regular pop-off cap with a hinge. Why the brand does not include the twist cap dispenser on the full-size version, is beyond me. The twist cap dispenser is the best thing about this product.Texture and application: I love jelly cleansers, so I am biased here but I loved the texture of this cleanser. It was easy to spread out and gave a nice lather once I added water to it. I needed to use about half a teaspoon for my entire face.Cleaning ability: This product is best suited as a morning or second cleanser. While it does remove makeup, it requires a little more rubbing than, say an oil-based cleanser, and you may find this irritating to your skin. For me, it removed the KVD Tattoo Eyeliner, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick, and Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick.Skin feel after use: Despite it's appropriate pH-level and gentle surfactants, this cleanser stripped my skin and left me with a tight, squeaky-clean feeling, and severely dehydrated skin. I used the whole bottle because I am stubborn and I wanted to give it a fair shot but I am now regretting it, as it takes weeks for my skin to return to normal. A little disclaimer: I am allergic to Aloe Vera and this product contains it. However, I only ever show an allergic reaction to high concentrations, so I doubt this is what stripped my skin.About my skin: I have combination skin (oily T-zone, normal cheeks, dry eye region).Skincare routine during trial: All of my skincare products stayed the same except for the Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, which replaced my first and second cleanser. In the evening, I used the Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser (lathering and rinsing with lukewarm/cold water and a microfiber facial towel), 0.1% treinoin cream, Rohto Mentholatum Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion, and Aquaphor Healing Ointment. In the morning, I wiped my face with a microfiber facial towel soaked in cold water, and then applied the Rohto Mentholatum Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion, belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb, and the Sunscreen Company CyberDERM Simply Zinc Ultra SPF 50 sunscreen. I usually double-cleanse in the evening but I haven't found any HG cleansers yet (I haven't tried very many). During the trial, I decided to only use one cleanser, as I did not want the first oil-based cleanser that I usually use, to skew the results.Overall thoughts and would I recommend or repurchase? Overall, I really disliked the cleanser and I would not repurchase nor recommend it to anyone. My favourite thing about this cleanser is the twist cap, but the full-sized version does not even come with it, and it is not like I would keep buying the mini-sized version (it is not even available for purchase here in Canada). Looking at the pH level and the ingredient list, I would not have thought it would be stripping. If anyone here has a chemistry background or any insight into why this product could be stripping the skin, please share your wisdom. I have read multiple other reviews echoing my concerns.
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by magnusardottir