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Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser.

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
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Cleansers
About this product

A gel-based jelly cleanser with exfoliating acids and plant-derived ingredients, designed to cleanse and remove makeup without stripping the skin.

Full ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polylysine

More from Drunk Elephant 32 products · Guru Score 67% →

Guru Score

59%

Mixed

8 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This cleanser divides reviewers sharply: some praise how it purifies and dissolves makeup while leaving skin soft and the barrier intact, thanks to its blend of gentle coconut-based surfactants and exfoliating acids like salicylic and lactic acid. However, others found it overly stripping, especially for oily skin, and one expert flagged a potential preservative issue, certain batches contain an unlisted ingredient that may irritate sensitive skin. The price point of $34 is steep for what amounts to a solid but not exceptional cleanser, so you may want to sample it first before committing to a full size.
Synthesized from 8 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024

What they liked

  • Gentle enough for daily use without stripping
  • Small size lasts many trips
  • Safe for children according to brand

What they flagged

  • May not remove all eye makeup despite claims
  • Low concentration of active ingredients

Type

Key actives

Vitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"Their number nine jelly cleanser is a gel foaming cleanser that really cleanses as well but doesn't strip your skin barrier. It's got oin and then cantaloupe fruit extract and it's got this really fun orange color."
All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
Dermatologist Travel Skincare | Dr. Jenny Liu
"For the morning I'll just bring [...] another smaller gentle cleanser and I currently have this one in my bag and it is from Drunk Elephant, their Jelly Cleanser No. 9"
Holiday Gift Set Ideas | Dr Jenny Liu
"Their number nine jelly cleanser is a gel foaming cleanser that really cleanses as well but doesn't strip your skin barrier. It's got oin and then cantaloupe fruit extract and it's got this really fun orange color."
~Nay
"The jelly cleanser, certain batches contain a preservative not listed on the product ingredient list. And whilst this preservative is found commonly in skincare products, especially those clean beauty ones, this preservative, like many paraben alternatives, can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals, especially at higher levels."
~Mixed
"This is a nice [...] jelly cleanser, it's not harsh at all, there's some foaming but not a lot, and it's a product where you can actually use a lot of it without drying out your skin. [...] I like it, but I won't buy the full size because there are so many other jelly cleansers I love just as much."
~Yay
"I do love this jelly based cleanser from Drunk Elephant because it's got that nice kind of gel based cleanser but it also kind of purifies and melts things, so it incorporates a gel based cleanser and a more almost like a balm type effect as well. It's got salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid within it, [...] all botanically derived. It's got a nice blend of surfactants and makeup dissolving emollients and it leaves the skin feeling very soft but without damaging the skin barrier."
All 3 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
Drunk Elephant Complete Skincare Product Guide | Dr. Somji Reviews
"Yes, it probably does what it says on the tin. You be careful about use around the eyes because I think they've overestimated that claim that it removes all makeup, but no I think it's good for all skin types and actually yeah I think this is something that probably would make my travel bag."
Doctor's Advice: Selecting the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type!
"I do love this jelly based cleanser from Drunk Elephant because it's got that nice kind of gel based cleanser but it also kind of purifies and melts things, so it incorporates a gel based cleanser and a more almost like a balm type effect as well. It's got salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid within it, [...] all botanically derived. It's got a nice blend of surfactants and makeup dissolving emollients and it leaves the skin feeling very soft but without damaging the skin barrier."
Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser Review | Nourishing Cleansing Magic | Dr. Somji Reviews
"When I used this I actually really liked it. I thought it didn't dry out my skin, it was nice and conditioning. I felt my skin barrier was still maintained but my skin felt quite nice and clean. I like that it's got that coconut-based surfactant with cocoa coco monoide betaine as well as cocoa glucoside, [...] both coconut-based surfactants which are fantastic."
~Yay
"Drunk elephants bestie number9 jelly cleanser"
~Nay
"I never really liked this product but to each their own. It [...] is a cleanser with like a very deep cleansing experience to the point that even for my oily skin I found that this one kind of like overly stripped my skin. But I can see why it's very popular especially amongst younger people who are like just starting a skincare routine because it's one of the basics right, a cleanser. But it does not have a basic price point at all. This cleanser is $34 which is very high up there honestly."
~Nay
"Another fail in the cleanser category was by Drunk Elephant. This is their Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. Once again, very similar to the Neoc Cleanse, it just was slightly stripping. If you have normal to oily skin, you'll probably love this cleanser."
~Nay
"It's a decent jelly cleanser, it's it is what it is. It's nothing compared to my love for the PHA, they just don't even, not even in the same category."
All 2 takes from No BS Beauty
Amazing August Skincare & Beauty Product Empties - What I've Finished This Month!
"It's a decent jelly cleanser, it's it is what it is. It's nothing compared to my love for the PHA, they just don't even, not even in the same category."
July Skincare and Beauty Product Empties - What I've Finished This Month!
"I finished a little tiny sample of the Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser which was just a perfect size for the cabin. It lasted me four or five or six cabin trips. It's really wonderful."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser?

A gel-based jelly cleanser with exfoliating acids and plant-derived ingredients, designed to cleanse and remove makeup without stripping the skin.

Is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser worth it?

The gurus are split. 3 of the 8 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 4 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 59%.

What is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser's Guru Score?

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 59%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 8 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser best for?

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser is generally suited to oily skin and combination skin.

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