Fabulous Drunk Elephant skincare holiday gifts, Part 1

This year, holiday presents have to hit a lot of marks: memorable and cute, practical and affordable. While we’re at it, how about a gift that keeps on giving, like gorgeous skin? Drunk Elephant has attractively packaged goodies that are perfect for everyone of all ages and genders on your list! I was happy to be hosted to experience them.

Skin is said to regenerate more at night — which is why, when you don’t get enough sleep, you look like crap. Best to use your special skincare when it’s working its hardest! Another thing to keep in mind about skincare: the secret is consistency. The occasional Sunday night masque won’t cut it. So, even if you’re on the go, keep some fine nighttime products at the ready. Littles Night Out is discreetly packaged in a jelly-like tote with tactile rubberized pulls.

The products include their award-winning Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. It’s a clear cleanser that’s silky, soothing, gentle, yet effective. It is fragrance free. When you want pure cleanser — no other action going on to conflict with your treatments — this is the product you want. If you want to feel refreshed, but you’re having skin issues, I think you’re going to enjoy the clean. It has mild surfactants and emollients and no essential oils. It’s suitable for all ages.

There are times when you want pure hydration: no oiliness, no complex effects (like, don’t go out on a limb with products the day before you might be photographed, for instance). B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is perfect for for all skin types. It has a very gentle brightener — pineapple ceremide — plus that well-known skin plumper, Pro-Vitamin B5. It ergonomically pumps up a thin, silky serum that’s instantly absorbed. Have no fear of being able to apply makeup of any consistency on top immediately, it will not pill or slide. Serums are the first layer for post-cleansing treatments and can be the only product, too. Use it on your face, chest, hands or wherever you need hydration!

When you are up for some serious anti-aging at night, look to T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum. This is a thin, clear serum for those nights when you aren’t using other anti-aging products, such as their TLC Sukari Babyfacial. It’s formulated with an AHA/BHA blend of glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acids, blended with raspberry extract to dissolve dead skin cells while you sleep. It also has ingredients to calm irritations and reduce the appearance of capillaries. That should reassure those who are hesitant to explore glycolic acid.

If you’re flying or out in the great outdoors this winter, Protini Polypeptide Cream will be a very welcome travel companion. It’s a richer cream and more of a heavy lifter. This adds protein to thin skin — so common in winter — that is aged. Amino acids and growth factors help. This really helps crepey necks! Think of this when you have those patchy, dry areas that you thought were hopeless.

Drunk Elephant has created several gift collections with the cutest packaging! They’re these reusable metal coffrets with stylized portraits of multi-cultural ladies on the front. This feels modern. The products inside are bezel-set in paper, so they don’t rattle around. The Face Value collection has an innovative new product, C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum, that you mix yourself before the first use (and then it stays fresh). Vitamin C products are known to be volatile and lose their efficacy if not packaged to optimum protection. It comes in two parts. The serum, which pumps out bubbly and a little creamy, has fruit enzymes, 15% l-ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid and 1% Vitamin E. Let it dry a couple of minutes before applying your makeup. This product helps with that “muddy” look you might have or crispy top layer of skin, even after good cleansing, exfoliating and masque routines.

The collection contains C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream. This is a pump-out pearlized cream with serum-like consistency. It acts instantly to soothe the dry, crinkly areas around the eye without being drippy, goopy or sweaty feeling. It won’t seep into your eyes. You can apply makeup over it almost instantly. They describe it as “featuring a brightening combination of eight peptides, five forms of vitamin C and cucumber extract for firmer, stronger-looking skin around the eye area”.

This particular collection also has a mini B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum and Protini Polypeptide Cream.