Why do we love the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Recharge, Rehydrate, And Re-Plump With PolypeptidesI came across this product while browsing on a local skincare and makeup seller on Instagram. I trust the brand as Drunk Elephant has been raved by a lot of beauty and skincare influencers on social media, and I’ve watched tons of YouTube review videos saying that this brand’s skincare line has changed their skin.

I’ve always wanted to have something in my routine to have peptides and EGF in them. Peptides are small molecules of proteins, and if you’re a skincare addict like me, you’d know that our skin needs protein to maintain its elasticity and firmness. Elastic skin surface means our skin will be able to maintain its youthful glow. It assists our body in producing collagen and is very useful in fighting against aging.

I have a dry combination skin type that goes more on the dry side. Even if I live in a tropical environment, my skin needs proper hydration and care. Moisturizer is something I cannot not have in my routine. I’ve tried a number of variants- some worked, some didn’t. This cream, thankfully, works for my skin. It is lightweight in texture hence it’s ideal for the weather especially in summer. It’s rich in EGF (epidermal growth factor) so it really helps in regenerating new skin cells. I think that’s what is responsible for the smooth texture of my skin after using this for just a couple of times. I exfoliate chemically every day, and this helps me in keeping my skin hydrated.

Protini polypeptide cream from Drunk elephant

This is a protein moisturizer that contains amino acids and peptides to help improve the skin’s overall appearance.

Protini isn’t as thick as the lala retro, it’s more like a gel consistency and feels a lot more lightweight and refreshing on the skin. This absorbs really nicely and left my skin looking fresh, it had a plumping effect when applied that visibly reduced fine lines and improve the surface quality of my skin.As with all drunk elephant products, this is free from the “suspicious 6” and mixes really well with all the other products from the Drunk Elephant range.

Overall this is a really nice moisturizer, especially great for someone with oily skin.

Key ingredients:

• 9 signal peptides (made up of amino acids that form proteins in the skin) are cell-communicating and serve to bind moisture to the skin, plump, firm and restore bounce to the skin’s appearance, helping to boost skin’s self-renewal.
• Pygmy Waterlily stem cell extract, an excellent source of antioxidants and nutrients to replenish the skin; extremely moisturizing, soothing, and calming; effective in supporting healthy, youthful-looking skin.
• Soybean folic acid ferment extract – a B vitamin that plays a central role in maintaining youthful, elastic skin; skin becomes actively thirsty for folic acid, especially after exposure to the sun.

I’ve been using this moisturizer for 3 months now. Here are my thoughts:-OVERALL OPINION: The moisturizer is probably at the top of my list of favorites [my favorite of all time being Clinique’s Moisture Surge Replenishing Hydrator]. While it has a thick texture, it absorbs instantly into my skin. Immediate results include baby-soft texture of the skin, slight increase in visible brightness of the skin, and an overall glow.

-PACKAGING: I love the function of the packaging [pump allows for as little contamination as possible as opposed to other moisturizers that require you to dip your fingers into the whole pot to access the product]. I also like that it helps with portion size, as this is not cheap and only requires a small bit to deliver results.

-USE: I use it in the morning as a sort of primer in the morning before applying foundation & at night before bed. It gives me a good base for foundation throughout the day & gives my skin a beautiful glow when I wake up the next morning.

-SCIENCE: Polypeptides are simply a chain of amino acid residues that form part of [or an entire] protein molecule. This means that this moisturizer is a combo of amino acids & signal peptides [which function to prompt, or “signal” a cell to transport a protein to the cellular membrane]. These elements combine to mimic human peptides, meaning the ingredients work to help encourage your skin’s cell turnover without overworking your body’s natural system of production. All this to say, this moisturizer encourages collagen production which makes me happy because that means constant brightness & plumpness in my skin. I always believe what you put on the outside of your body should mirror what you put on the inside of your body. This moisturizer checks that box perfectly.

-VALUE: $68 at Sephora. Definitely a splurge. I might purchase again in the future, but I think there are so many other products with lower price points that do a good job at delivering [although this moisturizer has specific ingredient combinations that are hard to mimic & find in alternatives & might not perform as well as this one does in problems it was intended to address].

It’s a protein moisturizer that is made of signal peptides, growth factors, supportive amino acids and pygmy waterlily for visible and immediate improvement of the skin’s tone, texture and firmness.

It claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and signs of sun-damage while leaving skin moisturized and strengthened.

Drunk Elephant is “clean compatible” and free of the “suspicious 6” which include includes silicones, essential oils, chemical screens, SLS, drying alcohols, and fragrance/dye making it good for ALL skin types including sensitive skin.

Protini is very lightweight and has a gel-like texture that sinks into your skin upon application.

I have used protini about the same time i have used CFirma which is around 10 months. I love this moisturizer because it’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I felt no stinging when i apply it on my skin unlike the moisturizers i have used before. It’s light enough to wear day and night and it does not clog my pores. No breakouts from using it as well which is really important to me. It has no scent in my opinion. My skin definitely looks hydrated, bouncy and firmer after using this for some time. I also love the airtight container that pumps put a dime sized amount of product that is enough to use alone or mix as a smoothie with other DE products and make a smoothie.

I have recommended and will continue to recommend this product for anyone that is looking for a lightweight yet effective moisturizer. It can be expensive being $68 for 50ml but it is worth it if you ask me. If you are like someone like me that has tried a bunch if drugstore brands, i do not mind paying a little bit more for something i know will not irritate or break me out and for that, this is a 5/5 for me.

Drunk Elephant’s 🐘 Protini is a protein moisturizer that is supposed to improve skin’s tone, texture, and firmness through its proprietary blend of polypeptides. It is a white, thin, lightweight gel that readily absorbs into the skin.I had received a sample of this product previously, which was my first introduction to peptides in skincare. Unfortunately, after trying this product a second time, I’m still not crazy about it. I found it is not hydrating enough (even in the am) for my dry skin, so I always mix in a pump of oil prior to applying. Aside from that, I’ve also experienced some stinging/irritation in the more sensitive parts of my face. Additionally, while this product does contain copper peptides (which have enough evidence to support skin repair/firmness), the other peptides had studies done “in vitro” (NOT on real skin  as opposed to “in vivo” (on real skin).

One of my other main issues with this product is the price. For $68 I expect to get “revived, younger-looking skin, almost from the first application”? (quote from Drunk Elephant). However, all I got was irritated, non-hydrated skin. I don’t think the polypeptides have had any anti-aging effects on my skin either, especially compared to my regular tretinoin use.

Personally, I don’t think it is worth the price, especially when you can get the Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream as a replacement, or even get  The Ordinary “Buffet” + Copper Peptides 1% at a much cheaper price. I really wanted to love this product, especially since the LaLa Retro worked wonders for me.

If you have dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin, or are looking to get immediate skin firming/anti-aging effects I would not recommend this product for you. However, if you have oily skin, and don’t mind spending the $$$ for a nice, lightweight moisturizer and want to try out peptides, I would get a sample first before committing. I give this product 2/5 stars.⭐️⭐️