9 Best Drunk Elephant Alternatives if You Don't Want to Spend Over $50
It’s no secret why so many are obsessed with Drunk Elephant products. From TikToks of the adolescent aftermath in Sephora aisles to #GRWM videos touting the skin care line, there’s no doubt that Drunk Elephant is the ‘it’ brand right now. Even Penelope Disick filmed a now-removed video using the popular products.
While anyone can use skin care products at any age, board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, says younger kids and teens should stick to a simple beauty and skin care routine, like a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. “It's best to avoid harsh scrubs or exfoliating products that can strip the skin of its natural oils and irritate the skin barrier,” Dr. Garshick tells Teen Vogue. She notes that skin care doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective. “There are many great products available at the drugstore.”
Esthetician Shani Darden echoes Dr. Garshick’s sentiment. “It’s great to get started with a skin care routine early on, but remember, less is more. I recommend keeping it simple. Using too many products on younger skin types can compromise the barrier and cause irritation,” she tells Teen Vogue. Dr. Garshick emphasizes that tweens and teens should avoid products intended for anti-aging, including those containing ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C, as they can be too harsh and irritating.
With prices ranging from $16 to $134 for Drunk Elephant products, it might also be better for your budget to invest in affordable Drunk Elephant dupes, which may work just as well (we've got some great bronzing drop dupes, too).
Ahead, find TikTok viral picks, expert favorites, and top-rated alternatives that reviewers swear by.
The Best Drunk Elephant Alternatives
Serum Alternative
This Pixi Glow Tonic Serum is a surprisingly affordable T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum alternative. Formulated with glycolic acid at its core, this Pixi serum offers many of the same skincare benefits as Drunk Elephant for half the price.
- Pros: Helps balance and nourish skin without being too harsh
- Cons: Made with fragrance which can irritate skin
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, aloe vera, ginseng
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.01 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Ulta Beauty promo codes and Revolve promo codes.
Best Bronzing Drops Alternative
Beloved by TikTok and Teen Vogue editors alike, these lightweight highlighter drops in the shade “sunglow” are a great dupe for Drunk Elephant bronzing drops. They were created as an illuminator to help create a dewy finish beneath your makeup and can easily be built up to your desired intensity. I personally like to mix bronzing drops into my moisturizer for an all-over glow.
- Pros: Made without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, talc, mineral oil, GMOs, synthetic fragrance, or BHA and is cruelty-free
- Cons: Made with phenethyl alcohol, which can irritate sensitive skin
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, squalane, rosehip seed oil
- Number of Shades: 2
- Size: 0.5 fl oz, 1 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Sephora promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
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Best Marula Oil Alternative
The Ordinary Marula Oil is an exact dupe for Drunk Elephant’s beloved product of the same name. They’re both made with 100% unrefined marula oil and can be used as a second step in your skincare routine to help treat dehydration and help repair broken skin barriers.
- Pros: Absorbs quickly and can be used on hair and skin
- Cons: May be too thick for oily skin
- Key Ingredients: 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.0 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Ulta Beauty promo codes.
Best on Amazon: F Balm from Alternative
This moisturizer from Paula’s Choice is a great dupe for Drunk Elephant’s F-Blam Waterfacial, one of my personal favorite Drunk Elephant products. At $38, this product is slightly less expensive than DE’s option and has many of the same super-hydrating ingredients.
- Pros: Made without fragrance and parabens
- Cons: Some reviewers say this product can cause breakouts
- Key Ingredients: Electrolytes, ceramides, squalane, glycerin, peptides
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Dermstore promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
Best Moisturizer: Protini Alternative
The ultimate Drunk Elephant Protini dupe is this Acure Night Cream. The superfood cream is made with multi-peptides, vitamin C, and more clean ingredients to help hydrate your skin. It was also formulated to help improve the texture and tone of skin through repeated use.
- Pros: Moisturizes while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Cons: Super thick and might not absorb well on certain skin types
- Key Ingredients: Multi-peptides, glacial glycoproteins
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Ulta Beauty promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
DE B-Hydra Alternative
According to Reddit users, this serum is a good dupe for DE’s B-Hydra. “The two are similar in terms of texture and purpose, but the ingredients are different,” explains one commenter. Formulated to provide 24 hours of hydration, this FAB serum is nonsticky and lightweight.
- Pros: Helps make skin appear plump and dewy all day long
- Cons: Some reviewers say the new formula isn’t as hydrating and may cause irritation
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, colloidal oatmeal
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Sephora promo codes and Nordstrom promo codes.
Baby Facial Alternative
Baby Facial is one of the most beloved Drunk Elephant products, but at $80 a bottle, it’s not an affordable option for tight budgets. Instead, BlinkBeauty on TikTok says that The Ordinary AHA/BHA Peeling Exfoliant is a great alternative. Not only does it target redness and uneven skin texture, but it can help reverse signs of aging after one use.
- Pros: Made without fragrance, alcohol, oil, silicone, parabens, sulfates, and more
- Cons: It may burn people with highly sensitive skin
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid, Tasmanian pepperberry, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, black Carrot
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 1.0 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Sephora promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
O-Bloos from Alternative
According to Reddit, a great dupe for Drunk Elephant’s O-Bloos is Milk Makeup’s Bionic Blushes. These weightless blushes add an instant pop of color to your cheeks and are super buildable — add as much or as little as you’d like for a dewy flush.
- Pros: Made with hyaluronic acid and mushroom extract for added skincare benefits
- Cons: Reviewers say this might not be the best blush for oily skin
- Key Ingredients: Snow mushroom, reishi mushroom, hyaluronic acid, and plant-based collagen
- Number of Shades: 4
- Size: 0.27 oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Sephora promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
DE Sunscreen Alternative
Courtesy of brandThis might be one of the closest alternatives for Drunk Elephant’s sunscreen. “This mineral sunscreen contains zinc oxide and provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB coverage while also protecting against blue light and pollution,” Dr. Garshick says of the product. It's an SPF 30 that can be worn daily and is made from reef-safe zinc oxide.
- Pros: Designed with vegan collagen and hyaluronic acid for added skincare benefits
- Cons: Has fragrance, which can irritate skin
- Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide
- Number of Shades: n/a
- Size: 2.7 fl oz
Save on the best Drunk Elephant dupes with these Ulta Beauty promo codes and Amazon promo codes.
