To say Drunk Elephant products are popular would be an understatement. In fact, the comically-named beauty brand is so incredibly in-demand, getting your hands on some of its bestselling products (D-Bronzi Drops, I’m looking at you) often feels like an impossible task.
So, not only will affordable alternatives save you money – particularly if you’re penny-pinching before payday – but they also offer an option that you can actually add to your basket while you await that ‘back in stock’ notification on your DE fave.
I’ve scoured the beauty aisles to find the Drunk Elephant dupes that tick both of the above boxes, so you can get your hands on these products while cutting costs at the same time. I love Drunk Elephant as a brand, so rate each of these six formulas and think they’re worth an extra splurge. But if you’re just not in a place where you can afford them, these alternatives are the best of the bunch, tried and tested.
The best Drunk Elephant dupes
A note: Drunk Elephant is famous for its philosophy of avoiding what it calls the ‘suspicious 6’: a list of ingredients including essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances and SLS. But not all of these dupes follow suit, so be sure to check out the ingredients list if avoiding them is a priority of yours.
Dupe for Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser: Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser
The Jelly Cleanser is one of the brand’s bestsellers, whisking away daily dirt, oil and makeup with a gentle residue-free formula. Glycerin works to keep skin hydrated, cantaloupe fruit extract, rich in antioxidants, soothes skin and aloe vera leaf extract helps to defend from the outside environment.
Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser, £30
Byoma’s Jelly Cleanser is one of my favourite bargain beauty finds. The funky-coloured products by the brand perk up any bathroom cabinet, but what’s inside is seriously impressive, especially considering it comes in at under a tenner. Combining Byoma’s tri-ceramide complex with antioxidant-rich liquorice root and green tea, it lifts away impurities while being gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser, £9.99
Dupe for Drunk Elephant O-Bloos Rosi Drops: Milk Makeup Bionic Blush
The Drunk Elephant blush is like no blush I’ve seen before. Instead of swiping it on as you would with makeup, these rosy drops have been designed to mix in with a moisturiser to add a subtly rosy glow packed with a whole host of skincare benefits to boot.
Drunk Elephant O-Bloos Rosi Drops, £31
As the Drunk Elephant O-Bloos Rosi Drops are such a distinctive product, it’s hard to find a dupe. But if you’re after a lightweight creamy blush that effortlessly blends into the skin within seconds, then the Milk Makeup Bionic Blush will be your best bet.
Milk Makeup Bionic Blush, £21
Dupe for Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum: La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum
Vitamin C serums are sure to go down a treat with any beauty buff, and Drunk Elephant’s option packs quite the punch. Holding 15% vitamin C in the form of l-ascorbic acid, it brightens the skin for a fresh-faced complexion while pumpkin ferment extract and sodium hyaluronate gently exfoliate at the same time.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum, £70
La Roche-Posay is a skincare stalwart, and the vitamin C serum is just one example of why. Combining 10 per cent ascorbic acid, salicylic acid and hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, this product works to reduce signs of ageing – tackling fine lines and wrinkles and plumping skin with moisture – within a practical pipette bottle.
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum, £45
Dupe for Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops: Tan-Luxe Super Gloss SPF30 and Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops
These bronzing drops are a fan-favourite for a reason. Working in a similar way to the O-Bloos Rosi Drops, they blend in with moisturiser to add a soft subtle glow, like sunshine in a bottle. Blackcurrant seed oil, cocoa powder and vitamin F flood the skin with a whole host of minerals, combining fake tan with skincare in quite a special way. But due to their popularity, getting your hands on them is easier said than done.
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops, £33
Tan-Luxe Super Gloss SPF30, £36
I’m a Tan-Luxe obsessive and discovered this dupe for the D-Bronzi Drops by pure accident. I’ve actually been using the Super Gloss since it launched a couple of years ago; it’s the perfect bronzing serum you can apply under your makeup or wear alone for a boost of glow and tan.
It’s illuminating but not glittery, helps to plump and smooth skin, and is just an overall gorgeous product to wear all year round. It is a few pounds more expensive than the D-Bronzi Drops, but before you come at me for that, I’d like to point out it is often on sale for under £30 and it’s in stock much more often.
The Pai bronzing drops are another one of my favourites for a faux glow. Included in the formula are hyaluronic acid and sea kelp to help hydrate and nourish the skin, and one drop in your daily moisturiser is enough to add just a subtle shimmer.
Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops, £29
Dupe for Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Moisturiser: Byoma Moisturising Rich Cream
Whipped cream may sound rather delicious, and this Drunk Elephant moisturiser doesn’t fall short of being just as scrumptious. Combining nourishing oils and ceramides, it deeply hydrates skin even when it’s sore and flaky, yet doesn’t feel heavy in the slightest. That’s probably why it’s currently sold out everywhere.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Moisturiser, £52
I’m back again praising Byoma, but as far as bargain beauty brands go, it really does excel. This Rich Cream can be used every day on thirsty skin, boosting the skin barrier and soothing the face within seconds.
Byoma Moisturising Rich Cream, £13.99
Dupe for Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Face Moisturiser With Retinol & Vitamin B3
Everyone and their nan are rather taken with retinol right now, but coming in at £65, this Drunk Elephant option is no penny-pinching product. Sitting at 1%, this product is quite potent, but a cocktail of skin-loving ingredients have been added to lessen any side effects, although if new to retinol, you might be best to try one of these first, as this one is for the retinol aficionados.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream, £67
The Olay Regenerist Retinol cream has racked up a huge number of fans, myself included. Combining retinoid complex and vitamin B3, it works to brighten skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, all while hydrating with a rich and creamy formula.
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