The Ordinary vs Drunk Elephant 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've heard of The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant before; particularly their wide range of cult-favorite serums at the very least. But which one should you choose?

Today, we will be comparing The Ordinary vs Drunk Elephant to help you figure out which brand better suits you and your skin!

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About the brands

The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant have been compared on social media for as long as skincare influencers have been around, with The Ordinary often labeled as the dupe of Drunk Elephant.

In 2018, The Ordinary even started a feud with Drunk Elephant when it posted an advertisement for its popular Marula Oil product with the caption - "One would have to be drunk to overpay for Marula," causing a stir on Instagram.

Eventually, the founder of DECIEM apologized for the distasteful post, even going so far as to donate $25,000 to the elephant rescue charity that Drunk Elephant supports. So, lets see how these two brands compare when it comes to three of their much loved skincare products.

The Ordinary

The Ordinary is highly regarded as a no-fuss simple skincare line that is affordable and, most importantly, effective. The brand is owned by an umbrella company called DECIEM, The Abnormal Beauty Company.

The Ordinary has been certified vegan by PETA and cruelty-free by The Leaping Bunny. High-quality products at affordable prices is exactly what The Ordinary are out to achieve. With most of their best-selling products costing US $30.00 or less, the brand has put the active ingredients over luxurious packaging and the minimal look has done very well for DECIEM.

Drunk Elephant

Biocompatible Skincare is founded on the Drunk Elephant myth, which tells of how elephants love to eat the fruit that has fallen from Marula trees and the natural alcohol content from the fermented marula fruit gets the elephants drunk. You will find Marula Oil in most Drunk Elephant products, including the cult favorite Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil.

According to Drunk Elephant, “there are six culprits that are at the root of almost all skin problems. If you take a break from the Suspicious 6, your skin can reset to its happiest, healthiest state.”

The Ordinary vs Drunk Elephant Serums

When it comes to treating dull, dehydrated, tired skin conditions, there are many ways to use active ingredients that target specific concerns. In this section, we'll be comparing some of The Ordinary's and Drunk Elephant's best-selling treatments packed with premium active ingredients, side-by-side.

Drunk Elephant Marula Oil vs The Ordinary Marula Oil

Marula oil is a type of emollient that works wonders on the skin and has been hailed as a multitasker for a range of skin issues. Packed with vitamin C and vitamin E, Marula oil is fantastic at locking in moisture, softening the skin, and keeping it hydrated throughout the day. Marula oil is ideal for sensitive skin and suitable for daily use.

Let's compare two of the most popular Marula Facial Oils side-by-side; Drunk Elephant Marula Oil vs The Ordinary Marula Oil.

The Ordinary is well known for the single ingredient formulas that provide a solution to sensitive skin types and those with hyper-reactive skin so there is no need to worry about decoding the ingredient list.

The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil formula uses 100% Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil - also known as Marula oil. It is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, silicone-free, and gluten-free.

Apply the product to your face, neck, hands or work through damp hair as a treatment to add nourishment and hydration any time of the day.

Drunk Elephant have also gone with a single ingredient formula derived from 100% Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil. Free of essential oils, silicones, and fragrance, the Drunk Elephant Marula Luxury Facial Oil is suitable for sensitive skin.

In addition, Marula oil works wonders for oily skin because it is non-greasy and fast-absorbing.

Drunk Elephant is significantly more expensive (almost 7x the price!) than the seemingly identical product from The Ordinary. One notable difference; the packaging. Skincare brands are often priced higher due to the expectation of luxurious packaging so if you aren’t bothered by the no frills glass dropper bottle, The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil should do the job!

The Ordinary Peeling Solution vs Drunk Elephant Babyfacial

Peeling solutions are a great way to exfoliate and reveal glowing skin. Still, this combination may not work for everyone; remember, it is often trial and error when introducing active ingredients to your beauty routine.

Two of the best peeling solutions available on the market are The Ordinary Peeling Solution vs Drunk Elephant Babyfacial.

The Ordinary does not recommend this product for sensitive skin or skin that does not react well to acid peels. In addition, compromised skin is not ideal for acid exfoliation. The pH of this formula is approximately 3.6.

Formulated with 25% AHA and 2% BHA plus a unique blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric, and salicylic acid; Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial offers effective yet gentle exfoliation.

Although this product has been made with all skin types in mind, it is still an acid and is not ideal for compromised skin, hyper-reactive skin, or sunburn. The pH of this formula is 3.5.

Suppose you have sensitive skin or are new to exfoliating acids. In that case, the Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial may be the better choice over The Ordinary Peeling Solution, which is intended for deep exfoliation.

Drunk Elephant Retinol vs The Ordinary Retinol in Squalane

Retinol comes from two sources; animal sources called retinoids and carotenoids from plants. A range of prescription medications used to treat various skin conditions, including acne, contain retinoids (synthetic Vitamin A) such as Isotretinoin (Accutane). Vitamin A supplements are also available over the counter.

Retinol is, in fact, an antioxidant that encourages the skin to produce collagen. As a cosmetic ingredient, Retinol (Vitamin A) will be found in the ingredient list as retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, or retinaldehyde.

Retinol is typically found in a range of acne/blemish-prone or anti-aging products in skincare. Retinol works to treat both of these conditions by increasing cell renewal and exfoliating the skin. In addition, Retinol can be used to treat age spots, soften rough patches, reduce blemishes, and stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin.

Let's compare two of the most popular retinol products side-by-side; Drunk Elephant Retinol vs The Ordinary Retinol in Squalane.

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane solution contains 1% pure retinol. If you are new to using retinol in your skincare routine, do not start with the 1% solution. Instead, it is best to start with the 0.2% or 0.5% version before graduating to the 1% solution.

Retinol can cause skin sensitivity, redness, tingling, irritation, and your skin may need to build its tolerance.

The Ordinary offers a range of Retinol Solutions so you can start where you feel your skin can tolerate the active ingredients and stay with the same brand as your skin requires an upgrade.

This is definitely value for money in our opinion, making the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol our preference out of the two, but too many ingredients can make it difficult for those with sensitive skin to know which ingredient is irritating. So, if you have sensitive skin, you may prefer to try The Ordinary retinol range that starts at just 0.2%.

The Ordinary vs Drunk Elephant Conclusion

In summary, both The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant offer a great range of products to treat dull, tired, dehydrated skin, so this will come down to two things; price tag and skin type.

This article was originally published on March 7th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 25th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.