Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Dicaprylyl Carbonate
3. Glycerin
4. Cetearyl Alcohol
5. Cetearyl Olivate
6. Sorbitan Olivate
7. Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
8. Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract
9. Nymphaea Alba Root Extract
10. SH-Oligopeptide-1
11. SH-Oligopeptide-2
12. SH-Polypeptide-1
13. SH-Polypeptide-9
14. SH-Polypeptide-11
15. Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
16. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
17. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
18. Alanine
19. Arginine
20. Glycine
21. Histidine
22. Isoleucine
23. Phenylalanine
24. Proline
25. Serine
26. Threonine
27. Valine
28. Acetyl Glutamine
29. Coconut Alkanes
30. Hydrergy
31. Coco-caprylate/Caprate
32. Sodium Hyaluronate
33. Aspartic acid
34. Linoleic Acid
35. Linolenic acid
36. Lecithin
37. Butylene Glycol
38. Polyvinyl Alcohol
39. Sodium Lactate
40. Sodium PCA
41. PCA
42. Sorbitan isostearate
43. Carbomer
44. Polysorbate 20
45. Polysorbate 60
46. Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
47. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
48. Xanthan Gum
49. Isomalt
50. 1,2-Hexanediol
51. Caprylyl Glycol
52. Chlorphenesin
53. Phenoxyethanol
54. Tocopherol
55. Sodium Benzoate
56. Phenylpropanol
57. Glyceryl caprylate
58. Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains essential oilsContains mineral oilContains fragranceContains PEGContains EU-26 allergens

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Dicaprylyl CarbonateCetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Olivate

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Sorbitan Olivate

HAIR CONDITIONING

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

SKIN CONDITIONING

Nymphaea Alba Root Extract

Other ingredients

Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment ExtractSH-Oligopeptide-1SH-Oligopeptide-2SH-Polypeptide-1SH-Polypeptide-9SH-Polypeptide-11Heptapeptide-15 PalmitatePalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1AlanineArginineGlycineHistidineIsoleucinePhenylalanineProlineSerineThreonineValineAcetyl GlutamineCoconut AlkanesHydrergyCoco-caprylate/CaprateSodium HyaluronateAspartic acidLinoleic AcidLinolenic acidLecithinButylene GlycolPolyvinyl AlcoholSodium LactateSodium PCAPCASorbitan isostearateCarbomerPolysorbate 20Polysorbate 60Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid CopolymerHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerXanthan GumIsomalt1,2-HexanediolCaprylyl GlycolChlorphenesinPhenoxyethanolTocopherolSodium BenzoatePhenylpropanolGlyceryl caprylateSymphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Light emollient solvent at 5–15%; mineral oil-free, refreshing feel, low sensitization.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Cetearyl Olivate

Natural emulsifier pairing with glucosides; skin-like feel, biodegradable, prone to oxidation requiring light protection

Sorbitan Olivate

O/W emulsifier, HLB ~15, requires ionic co-surfactant, potential sensitizer.

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Sclerocarya birrea seed oil; fatty acid-rich for hair and skin conditioning; requires antioxidants due to unsaturation.

Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract

Not decoded yet

Nymphaea Alba Root Extract

White water lily root extract; saponin-rich for soothing

SH-Oligopeptide-1

Synthetic short oligopeptide for skin conditioning; generally low irritancy and comedogenicity

SH-Oligopeptide-2

Not decoded yet

SH-Polypeptide-1

Not decoded yet

SH-Polypeptide-9

Not decoded yet

SH-Polypeptide-11

Not decoded yet

Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate

Not decoded yet

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 boosts collagen; use 0.1–1%, formulate with lipid carriers

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 for repair; requires lipid carrier, unstable in aqueous phase

Alanine

Amino acid for antistatic and conditioning; low irritation, slight salty taste at high levels

Arginine

Arginine for moisturizing/conditioning; amino acid, high biocompatibility, often used in blends.

Glycine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; small molecule, low irritation.

Histidine

Amino acid humectant and antistatic agent; pH-dependent behavior, consider buffering in formulation.

Isoleucine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning and antistatic purposes; often blended; check taste if high.

Phenylalanine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning; usually part of a blend, no significant standalone efficacy data

Proline

Proline, amino-acid humectant; boosts stratum corneum hydration, stable at pH 4-5.

Serine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; high water solubility, compatible with sensitive skin.

Threonine

Threonine, essential amino acid for hair/skin; blended with other AAs for balance.

Valine

Amino acid humectant, common in amino acid cleansers and sprays; mild, suitable for all skin types

Acetyl Glutamine

Acetylated glutamine; barrier repair and soothing, suitable for acute or sensitive skin

Coconut Alkanes

Coconut alkanes as solvents/emollients with medium volatility; check oxidation stability.

Hydrergy

Not decoded yet

Coco-caprylate/Caprate

Lightweight mid-chain ester, quick spreading, suitable for oily skin, non-comedogenic.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Aspartic acid

Amino acid humectant and conditioner, common in rinse-off products; low levels mild, high levels may shift pH

Linoleic Acid

Essential fatty acid for barrier repair and hydration; oxidizes easily, high levels may be comedogenic

Linolenic acid

Omega-6 fatty acid for barrier repair; prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants and low light exposure

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Film/viscosity agent for masks/cleansers; water-soluble, forms flexible film

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

PCA

Proline carboxylic acid, NMF component; humectant, generally low irritation but may sensitise.

Sorbitan isostearate

Non-ionic emulsifier (low HLB); typically used in blends, low comedogenicity, soft skin feel.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer

AHA copolymer; exfoliating, requires buffering agents.

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

High-molecular-weight thickener and emulsion stabilizer; requires electrolytes or acid adjustment near isoelectric point for optimal performance.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Isomalt

Isomalt humectant; tacky at high levels, non-comedogenic, suitable for sugar-free formulas.

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Phenylpropanol

Phenylpropanol for fragrance and solvent; allergen risk, requires assessment

Glyceryl caprylate

Mild emulsifier/deodorant at 0.5-2%; polyol ester, high humectancy, low irritancy, check cationic surfactant compatibility.

Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract

Not decoded yet