Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Describe the brand in three words.
Trendy. ‘Clean’. ‘Non-toxic’.

Who is it for?
All skins, in particular oily/acne. Good for travel or temporary dehydration.

What’s in it?
Water/Aqua/Eau, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cyclodextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

What’s not in it?
Animal Fats/Oils/Musks, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzophenone, Bisphenol A (BPA), Butoxyethanol, BHA, BHT, Chemical Sunscreens, Coal Tar Dyes, 1,4-Dioxane, -Cones, Detergent, Essential Oils, EDTA, Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA), Formaldehyde, Fragrance, Hydroquinone, Liquid Paraffin, Liquid Petrolatum, Methyl Cellosolve, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mercury, Mercury Compounds, Mineral Oil, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Paraffin Oil, Phthalates, Polyethylene Glycol (PEGs), Resorcinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Siloxanes, Sulfates, Thimerosal, Toluene, Triclosan, Triclocarban

*As an aside, anyone know why DE would shout about not containing Retinols?

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Nothing major, although it’s obviously possible to be allergic to anything.

Suitable for pregnancy?
Yes

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Natural/vegan

Tested on animals in home country/EU/sold in territories that require testing?
No/No/No

How does it smell?
Fragrance free

How do you use it?
As with any hyaluronic acid product, it can work on its own, but is better when exposed to other ‘water’ based moisturisers or products. I personally would apply under moisturiser rather than oil, although the DE website suggests using across serums/oils and moisturisers.

Can it be taken around the eyes?
Yes

Best for winter or summer?
Either

How long did I test it for?
On and off for about 6 months

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?
$52.00 for 50ml. How long it lasts depends entirely on how dehydrated you are and how regularly you use it. If you’re using it twice a day, you should be good for about a month.

What’s the website like?
Good. Full ingredients, the back story, easy to use.

How many clicks to buy?
3

How’s the distribution? Available freely or limited?
Online in the USA and Sephora.

What’s good about it?
Easy to use, great packaging (possibly my favourite packaging in the industry along with Kate Somerville), this truly water-based formula can be used as a moisturiser for acneic or combo skins or a serum under a slightly heavier cream for really dry or dehydrated skins (see next section).
It’s silicone-free, unlike a lot of hyaluronic products, so if you want to avoid them, this is an option.

What’s not so good about it?
It’s not cheap. If you have a truly dry/dehydrated skin you will need more than this, in which case you may find the price not worth it. Although it says it can be used on it’s own, I personally would only recommend using this on its own for the truly oily skinned. I don’t see any evidence of the ‘illuminating’ side. That tends to come when you put something else on top, especially, no surprises – a heavier cream or oil.

Would I purchase/repurchase?
Probably not. There are so many hyaluronic acids on the market that it’s one area where you can buy slightly more affordable and not really lose too much efficacy. This is a lovely product, but it’s not superior to NIOD’s MMHC2 for example, which has 15 forms of hyaluronic compounds.

Do you need it?
Your skin may need hyaluronic acid, but not necessarily in this form. However, if you love the brand, have dehydrated skin, hate silicones and can afford it, you’ll probably love it.