Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream had been on my wishlist list ever since it was released late last year. Being a true skincare devotee, I had to try this super-hyped product from Drunk Elephant! But I was mid-way through testing a few other skincare products so it took a while to get done with those and then get my hands on this one.
I finally bought the Drunk Elephant retinol cream about 3 months ago and have been using it in my night-time skincare routine. Is it really rave-worthy though? Read on to find out!
Product Description
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream is a clean, cutting-edge formula that combines 1% vegan retinol with nourishing, superfood-rich ingredients to diminish the appearance of fine lines, deep wrinkles and sun damage…without the associated redness and irritation.
Highlighted Ingredients:
– Retinol 1%: A pure form of vegan retinol, it helps dramatically improve the look and feel of uneven skin tone and texture, and ward off the damage done from daily exposure to UV rays, pollution, or other free radicals.
– Triple Peptide Blend: A potent trio of peptides that helps firm and strengthen, boosting the age-fighting benefits of retinol.
– Vitamin F: Soothing fatty acids (linolenic and linoleic) that work to improve skin’s texture, suppleness and help calm signs of sensitivity.
– Passionfruit, apricot, marula and jojoba oils: a curated blend of comforting rich oils with moisturizing and skin-soothing benefits.
– Kale leaf extract: this superfood is loaded with essential vitamins A and E, supplying skin with powerful antioxidants—think quercetin and beta carotene—along with replenishing plant sterols.
100% Free of essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones and fragrance. Vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free.
Retinol products are not recommended for use by pregnant or nursing mothers.
Here’s the full ingredient list:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chrysin, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Xanthophylls, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Jojoba Esters, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Oryza Sativa (Rice Bran) Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorium (Safflower) Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Trehalose, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Glucosamine HCL, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Tocopherol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-23, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Drunk Elephant retinol cream comes packaged in an opaque tube with a twist-off cap to protect the stability and potency of its light and air-sensitive ingredients. The fragrance-free cream has a lightweight, non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly without any tackiness or sticky feeling.
It’s no secret that although retinol is an anti-aging superhero, it can sometimes have annoying side-effects like dryness, redness, flaking or peeling – especially if your skin isn’t used to it.
Because 1% retinol is a potent amount, Drunk Elephant suggests to start with using only once or twice a week, gradually increasing frequency to every other night and then eventually every night as tolerated. This is true (and very important to remember!) for all high-strength retinol products, not just this one!
The brand also says that this retinol cream can be used morning or night but I prefer to use it ONLY at night. That’s because sun doesn’t play nice with retinol! And of course, don’t forget to slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) during the day because retinol can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.
When it comes to retinol, less is more! So, a pea-sized amount is all you need for your face and that’s what Drunk Elephant recommends.
Image credit: Drunk Elephant
What’s really awesome about Drunk Elephant retinol cream is that it contains an impressive mix of nourishing anti-retinol-side-effect ingredients like Ceramides, Niacinamide, Vitamin F (essential fatty acids), plus soothing plant oils (marula, avocado, apricot and jojoba) to help reduce any possible irritation that comes from retinol.
Drunk Elephant recommends mixing it with their B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum for an extra shot of hydration. In fact, a sample-sized tube of the serum is included in the box. I prefer to use a richer, more hydrating moisturizer though after the retinol cream.
Drunk Elephant Retinol Cream Review
I have been using the Drunk Elephant retinol cream for past two months now. I started by using it twice a week for the first two weeks, and then went up to 3 times a week. No irritation or side effects so far! As a rule, I always moisturize after applying a retinol serum or cream to avoid my dry skin becoming even drier or flaky.
So, after 5 weeks, I ramped up the frequency to every other night but I guess my skin wasn’t ready for that! I started to get flakiness and some peeling after a few days…this is strong stuff! So I gave my skin a break from retinol for a week or so, before giving it another go.
I started again with twice a week usage and currently I’m using it three times weekly, and haven’t experienced any irritation, redness or dryness again. I think I’m just going to stick with this thrice a week routine as it seems to be working well for my dry skin. Why take chances!!
From what I’ve read, it takes about 12 weeks to see visible results from consistent retinol use. However, I have already started noticing an improvement in my skin’s texture – it looks smoother, brighter and more even toned. My pores also look a bit more refined. Also, I haven’t had any breakouts since I started using product. Overall, I am happy with the Drunk Elephant retinol cream and looking forward to see the long-terms results!
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a high-potency yet gentle retinol formula that will give you great results without any irritation or side effects, you can’t go wrong with the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream.
Along with retinol, the formula is loaded with a whole lot of moisturizing and anti-aging actives which makes it a top-notch product totally worth the splurge! I am not new to retinol, but this one has proved to be the best retinol cream for my dry skin and definitely earned a place in my HG (holy grail) skincare list.
That being said, if you have never used retinol before, this 1% retinol cream may not be the right choice for you. But it’s perfect for anyone who wants to ramp up their retinol routine! Just start slowly! Like, once or twice per week to avoid any redness or irritation. And then gradually build up usage to thrice or more per week as your skin gets accustomed to it.
Available at Sephora and drunkelephant.com for $74.
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