A few months ago Drunk Elephant kindly gifted me their Littles Kit to try! This kit is a collection of all their cult products that you need to start an effective skincare routine from scratch. The brand calls it “a clean break”.
The Littles kit covers all the basic skincare products like cleanser, eye cream, moisturiser and sunscreen alongwith some actives like a chemical exfoliant, Vitamin C serum and Hyaluronic acid.
I feel adding a mini size of their cleansing balm would’ve made it even more complete for people who wear heavy makeup and prefer double-cleansing.
What I appreciate about the brand is that all the products are free from fragrance and essential oils which can be sensitizing in nature. But the price of these products is on a higher side, something that not everyone can afford ( *cries in poor* ) or justify spending on.
The brand is cruelty-free and offers a good amount of vegan products that I’ll mention in the review. I received these products in September 2019 and after using them for a good amount of time, I thought it’s the perfect time to let you know which ones were a HIT for me and which just didn’t work – MISSES!
Disclosure: Contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission for purchases made via them.
Price: US $90, you can buy it on Sephora!
What Do You Get Inside Drunk Elephant The Littles Kit?
- 30ml Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
- 8ml C-Firma Day Serum
- 8ml B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
- 8ml T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
- 8ml Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
- 15ml Protini Polypeptide Cream
- 15ml Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
- 5ml C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
- Bright Aqua Waterproof Travel Bag
Packaging
All the minis come inside a blue waterproof bag which is perfect to use while travelling.
The products come in colourful plastic bottles – some have a pump packaging like Marula Oil, C-Firma, Framboos, B-Hydra, C-Tango, the moisturiser comes in a small jar and the cleanser has a tube with twist-up cap.
From what I’ve read, they use airless pumps for their actives. I have mixed thoughts about the packaging of their cleanser, it sure is easy to use but when you twist it back there’s always a very small amount that comes out which slightly irks me.
All the products have different PAO which is mentioned on the bottles.
DRUNK ELEPHANT: HITS
1. Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Full size price: $32 for 150ml
Vegan, pH 5.5
This cleanses the face well without stripping it. I have used it on nights as the sole cleanse and it took off the sunscreen and a layer of translucent powder that I had on my face.
While it does claim to remove makeup as well, I tried on a full face and it didn’t take everything off. I am a firm believer in doing an oil cleanse for when there’s makeup!
Beste Jelly cleanser creates mild lather and leaves the skin really clean and soft post washing off. I mostly used it while travelling but ever since I started tretinoin, this is what I have been using along with the By Wishtrend Acid-Duo Cleanser. I am the most comfortable with these two!
It’s not a very expensive product as per DE standards but you can still find great non-stripping facial cleansers with the right pH for under $15 if you’re on a budget.
2. C-Firma Day Serum
Full size price: $80 for 30ml
pH 3.3
With a powerful combination of 15% L Ascorbic Acid + Ferulic Acid + Vitamin E, this Vitamin C serum fights free radicals and gives a brighter and firmer skin.
I prefer to wear Vitamin C in the morning as the combination of Vitamin C + Sunscreen gives better protection against free radical damage. But you have to be religious with SPF!
When I bought it the colour was light orange and after some time it turned slightly deeper. I talked to the brand about it and they said it’s quite common and unless it turns deep orange or brown, it’s absolutely safe to use.
This has a very different smell which might put people off but I seem to love that raw chemical-ly smell. ( Strange!! ) The texture is tackier and when I was in Chennai (the most humid city in this galaxy CRY) I didn’t enjoy wearing it much.
But as winters arrived, this became my best friend! The tackiness turned into dewiness and my skin would love the glow. I have seen my face become brighter with regular usage of C-Firma but I do think the texture might not work well for people with oily skin living in coastal areas.
3. T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Full size price: $90 for 30ml
pH 3.8
With a blend of AHAs like glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, and citric acids and BHA (salicylic acid), Framboos exfoliates dead skin cells and unclogs pores. It helps in getting an even-toned brighter looking skin.
I have tried a lot of glycolic acid based toners and peeling masks with lower as well as higher concentrations but Framboos was the most gentle. I didn’t experience any tingling even when I started so I should applaud their formulation.
The brand doesn’t mention the % of glycolic acid in it. As I said, I have used exfoliators in the past so my skin is used to them. This might be the reason why I left like I was applying any other hydrating serum.
If you’re just starting out, you might feel some tingling but I can assure you that it’ll be way milder than what you’d get from The Ordinary’s 7% Glycolic Acid Toner.
4. C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
Full size price: $64 for 15ml
C-Tango is a rich eye cream featuring a brightening combination of eight peptides, five forms of vitamin C and cucumber extracts. It’s by far my most favourite product from The Littles Kit.
The Drunk Elephant C-Tango moisturises my under eyes really well and has made the area softer, smoother, and firmer. I have been using it for 2-3 months at night and my under eyes don’t look as dull as it used to before.
I have seen a slight reduction in dark circles too or should I say it has made the area look brighter. The discolouration near the inner corner of my eyes hasn’t improved at all but right under the eyes, it’s not as intense.
I really wish the brand starts selling the mini of this eye cream individually as that alone lasts for a few months. I think buying a 15ml bottle wouldn’t make sense for me because a) the price point b) I’m afraid it’ll expire before I could finish it.
You need the smallest amount, around half a pump for both eyes and it sits well under makeup too! It didn’t break my concealer or caused extra creasing.
5. B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Full size price: $48 for 50ml
Vegan, pH 5.7
B-hydra is a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum that gets absorbed without leaving any tackiness. I used (yep, emptied!) it twice a day on damp skin and followed up with their moisturizer. My skin drinks it immediately and it keeps me hydrated.
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant that attracts and holds water to the skin and keeps the skin hydrated.
For a standalone hyaluronic acid product, I would personally prefer less expensive brands. But I have no negatives about this product.
6. Protini Polypeptide Cream
Full size price: $64 for 50ml
Vegan, pH 4.0
Another favourite of mine from Drunk Elephant The Littles Kit is their Protini Polypeptide Cream. This has a very light gel to cream texture but is still rich enough to deeply moisturise your skin.
If you go by my HOE chart, I’d say Protini is more of a humectant + emollient-rich moisturiser with great skin building ingredients.
Every skin type would love this product but I believe dry skin types would want to follow up with a facial oil.
Looking at the ingredients, it’s got peptides, growth factors, amino acids that help in strengthening the skin’s barrier and making your skin look healthy.
Right after applying the moisturiser, I could feel how soft it made my skin. It doesn’t feel heavy or greasy and is a perfect moisturiser! I have used it alone and then started mixing it with my prescription retinoid, it has been helpful in making my skin stay moisturised. I recently finished the tiny tub and it lasted me around 2 months of daily usage.
DRUNK ELEPHANT: MISSES
7. Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
Full size price: $36 for 60ml
With active ingredient as zinc oxide (20%), this sunscreen offers an SPF of 30 with broad-spectrum protection. If I had to choose a mineral sunscreen only, the Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte would be a great option because it doesn’t give a white cast and the tint mixes well with my brown skin colour and provides sheer coverage.
But why is it in my ‘Misses’ list? Because it’s thick! Just like most physical sunscreens, this one is thick and feels HEAVY on my oily skin. I find that it also pills.
Since sunscreens are SO important, it’s necessary for us to find the one we can commit to and apply generously. That’s something I don’t get from Umbra Tinte. Even if it wasn’t pricey and was sold in the drugstore for $15, I’d not buy it.
My favourite sunscreen at the moment is from Purito, it is free of fragrance and essential oils. It’s moisturising without being too heavy and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin! If that’s something you’re interested in, check out the review here of Purito Centella Unscented Sunscreen here!
8. Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
Full size price: $40 for 15ml
Vegan
The OG Marula Oil which everyone swears by is loaded with anti-oxidants! And this was the first facial oil I tried while I was travelling to the Himalayas during winters.
My skin got some dry patches due to the cold weather and using the marula oil on top of serums and moisturiser really helped!
It works great under makeup too and gives a dewy base! If everything’s so good about it then why do I have an issue with this product?
The problem is I just travelled to the Himalayas, I don’t live there and my skin doesn’t need facial oil on regular days. Since I have it, I’d use it mostly under makeup but it’s not something I need to have! I have tried a few lighter oils from the drugstore and the conclusion is I just don’t like oils in general.
Most of the times oily skin types can get enough moisturisation with water-based products. This product is not for my skin and just adds an extra step.
If I had to talk about the oil’s texture, it’s quite lightweight and gets absorbed really soon. I have heard that its known dupe from The Ordinary is a lot tackier and takes some time to absorb which is why most people who can afford Drunk Elephant’s prefer to continue with it.
Oils don’t always make oily skin types break out and if you fear that, let me tell you I didn’t get any acne after using the marula oil. In fact, this oil is in the ingredients list of almost all of their products.
Did you know you can use it as a leave-in hair serum? I have tried it 1-2 times and it left my hair completely frizz-free! Well, I would probably not use such an expensive oil for my hair but just so you know, it works!
I’ve tried some other oils like rosehip, hemp seed, etc that work equally well as a hair serum!
Both the products that I just didn’t like would cater well to people with combination to dry skin types. And I’d suggest oily skin types to skip without thinking unless you really want to try these products.
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HOW TO USE DRUNK ELEPHANT SKINCARE?
If you decide to get this kit, you can use the guide below to know how to start a routine with these products:
Morning:
Beste Jelly Cleanser
B-Hydra
C-Firma
C-Tango
Umbra Tinte
Night:
Beste Jelly Cleanser
TLC Framboos (3x a week)
B-Hydra
C-Tango
Protini
Marula Oil
You can do B-Hydra and then TLC Framboos especially when you’re starting out to reduce any possible irritation. Another tip would be to apply actives like Framboos once your skin has dried and apply hydrators and moisturisers when it’s damp.
If you wear a full face of makeup, double cleanse with a cleansing balm or oil first and then go with the jelly cleanser.
How Long Will The Products Last?
The products in Drunk Elephant Littles Kit have enough quantity to last you around 1-2 months. It’s not necessary to use all the products but trying this kit would give you a fair idea of the products that you should invest in!
CONCLUSION
If you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford the brand, give it a try. None of the products sucks and I didn’t experience any irritation. They work beautifully and are well formulated.
I love that they’re cruelty-free and don’t have any fragrance or essential oils – the three boxes that I prefer to be checked.
If I had to name the products that stood out for me and I might purchase them in future then they are C-Tango Eye cream, Protini Polypeptide Moisturiser and C-Firma Serum. With the rest of the products, I think I can find equally good if not better products at a lesser price.
The entire review was my perspective (oily, sensitive, acne-prone) on all the products that come in Drunk Elephant The Littles Kit. But if your skin type differs from mine, you should check out Shelley’s Review of The Littles. She has dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin!
If you’re someone who can’t afford Drunk Elephant skincare you don’t need to worry. You can check out Korean skincare, brands like The Ordinary & Inkey List. A slightly mid-ranged brand that offers great skincare is Paula’s Choice!
Why You Should Try Drunk Elephant The Littles Kit?
- Travel-friendly
- Curated skincare routine from scratch
- Cruelty-free products
- Free of Fragrance & Essential Oils
- Suitable for all skin types
- Test the minis before investing in full size
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