If you enjoy high-quality skincare and constantly search for a way to keep your skin hydrated without using products that contain harmful ingredients, this article is for you.
In this article, I will compare two major skincare brands – Tatcha and Drunk Elephant.
Both brands are quite similar yet different, but one thing is for you sure – in 10 years they’ve made a huge impact in the skincare world and they have a well-deserved spot on shelves in Sephora and other high-end cosmetics stores.
Note: Whatbrandreview is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on our website, we’ll make a small commission, without impacting your price. Thank you. Learn more.
Everything About Tatcha & Drunk Elephant
Both Tatcha and Drunk Elephant have interesting backgrounds related to their founders – and perhaps that’s the reason they’re so popular.
Tatcha was founded in 2009 by Vicky Tsai, a Taiwanese-American who wanted to bring natural Japanese beauty ingredients to America.
Vicky has collaborated with scientists, skincare experts, and cultural advisors to create Tatcha.
Each product is a perfect example of traditional Japanese skincare techniques and clinically-proven ingredients.
Tatcha features outstanding moisturizers such as The Dewy Skin Cream and I’ll analyze it in detail further on.
Drunk Elephant was created out of necessity, and that’s truly inspiring. Its founder, Tiffany Masterson, was suffering from various skin conditions such as rosacea, and the products she was using to help her were actually making things even worse.
She realized that essential oils, drying alcohol, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS were the culprits and she pledged not to use them ever again.
That’s why Drunk Elephant products have a Clean Best of Beauty Award seal.
Table Comparison – Tatcha vs Drunk Elephant
Both brands create ultimate skincare products and in this table, you’ll see the main differences between their best-sellers.
| Tatcha vs Drunk Elephant |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Sample | The Dewy Skin Cream | Protini™ Polypeptide Cream |
| Description | A rich, moisturizing cream with hydration and antioxidant-packed Japanese purple rice for a dewy, healthy glow. | This protein moisturizer combines signal peptides, growth factors, supportive amino acids, and pygmy waterlily for immediate improvement in the appearance of skin’s tone, texture, and firmness. |
| What it does | Hydrates and plumps with a special blend of Okinawa algae and hyaluronic acid. Protects against pollution and stress with Japanese purple rice. Imparts a dewy glow with botanical extracts. | Protini’s proprietary formula restores younger, revived-looking skin, almost from the first application. Lines, wrinkles, and signs of sun damage appear reduced, and skin feels strengthened and moisturized. |
| Ingredients | Japanese Purple Rice Okinawa Algae Blend + Hyaluronic Acid Botanical Extracts | Signal Peptide Complex Pygmy Waterlily Stem Cell Extract Soybean Folic Acid Ferment Extract Acetyl Glutamine |
| Shipping | Free Standard Shipping | Free Standard Shipping Free 2-Day Shipping on orders $200 and over |
| Return Policy | Free return within 90 days | Free return within 30 days |
| Size | 75 ml / 2.5 fl. oz. 50 ml / 1.7 fl. oz. | 50 ml / 1.7 fl. oz. 15 ml / 0.5 fl. oz. |
| Website: |
As you can see, both products will make your skin look fresh and moisturized with a different set of ingredients.
What matters is that both products are formulated without mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, urea, DEA, TEA, or phthalates.
Now, let’s have an in-depth look at their signature products.
Tatcha Review – The Dewy Skin Cream Review
The Dewy Skin Cream is one of Tatcha’s best sellers. Its key ingredients, Japanese Purple Rice, Okinawa Algae Blend + Hyaluronic Acid, and Botanical Extracts, give a rich but non-greasy feel, amazing smell, and hydration.
The Dewy skin moisturizes and purifies your skin leaving it glowing and refreshed.
It’s ideal for dry skin. Also, it can be used on combination skin for those who prefer a moisturizer with a richer texture.
How It Feels
The Dewy Skin Cream is smooth, light, and creamy. After applying it feels cool and nourishing, but not heavy, and I personally find this really important.
As someone who has dry skin, it was insane how dewy and moisturized my face looked.
Also, you don’t have to apply much of it. As a matter of fact, you’ll get a gold spoon you can use to scoop just the right amount of your skin cream.
The Result
Glowing skin! Yes, my skin was literally glowing. I perfectly understand why this product is recommended for those with dry skin. It’s like having a second skin.
You can use the cream before applying makeup, to add a bit of radiance and makeup-adding will go smoothly.
Speaking of long-term results, I’ve noticed that my skin looks healthier, smoother, and has that natural glow.
Even though The Dewy Skin Cream is cruelty-free and contains no oils, parabens, etc, it does contain some fragrances that give it its luxurious scent, as well as some alcohols that could be aggravating to some skin types.
PROS
- Incredibly good moisturizer cream
- Light and smooth, not greasy
- It doesn’t feel heavy on skin
- Perfect for dry skin
- Hydrates and nourishes your skin
CONS
- Contains some fragrances and alcohols
Drunk Elephant Review – Protini™ Polypeptide Cream
Protini Polypeptide Cream doesn’t just improve skin’s texture and hydration but aims to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and reduces the signs of sun damage.
It contains Signal Peptide Complex, Pygmy Waterlily Stem Cell Extract, Soybean Folic Acid Ferment Extract, and Acetyl Glutamine.
Even more importantly it DOESN’T contain essential oils, drying alcohol, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS making it “clean”.
Speaking of skin types, allegedly it’s good for all skin types but I’d say it’s good for dry and normal skin types.
How It Feels
The texture is nice and creamy and the product is an amazing moisturizer. Surprisingly it’s more creamy than watery for this type of cream. Also, it contains absolutely no fragrancies, oil, and other stuff that can harm your skin. Having that in mind, you feel safe and rested while putting on this cream.
On the other hand, this cream doesn’t suit me, or should I say, my skin. It feels heavy and my skin couldn’t absorb every bit of it, so the rest just sits on top of my skin.
Due to the thickness, I couldn’t wear it under makeup, and I felt a bit hot under it.
Again, this is only me.
The Result
Even though I didn’t test it for weeks or months, I can definitely say that my skin was moisturized. Also, it seemed firmer thanks to peptides.
The bottom line is – this product is effective and it moisturizes and nourishes your skin. It doesn’t irritate or sting, but it simply wasn’t the right match for me.
READ ALSO: Ilia Beauty Review: Before You Buy (Pros + Cons)
PROS
- Officially Clean skin care product (no fragrances, essential oils, alcohol, etc.)
- Great moisturizer
- Nice and creamy texture
- Great layers (no balling up, etc.)
- Skin firming peptides
CONS
- Feels a bit heavy
- My skin couldn’t absorb it well
Tatcha vs Drunk Elephant – Which Is Better?
Now that we’ve analyzed their best sellers, let’s compare the two brands, head-to-head.
Ingredients
Drunken Elephant has identified six ingredients that may harm your skin and has marked them as “suspicious 6” – essential oils, drying alcohol, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
What does this mean? The ingredients will absorb into your skin without causing any harm.
Tatcha promotes natural Japanese ingredients and the results are potent products with a proprietary combo called Hadasei-3™.
Hadasei-3™ delivers superfoods, amino acids, and AHAs to your skin through a process of twice-fermented rice, green tea, and algae.
Aside from natural ingredients, Tatcha uses more industry-standard ingredients that contain some synthetic ingredients and most of their products have fragrances.
The winner of this category is awarded the Clean Best of Beauty Award seal – Drunk Elephant.
Sustainability
Tatcha engages a lot in preserving the environment, especially in terms of product shipment. The company claims the goal is 100% reusable, refillable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.
Tatcha plans to use FSC or equivalent certified paper exclusively. Also, it wants to reduce virgin plastic use and design for circularity.
Drunk Elephant doesn’t share a lot of information on its sustainability efforts. They are mainly focused on promoting clean products and that’s fine.
The winner is clearly Tatcha.
Ethics and Reputation
Drunk Elephant was in the middle of controversies related to the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement. Many people accused Drunk Elephant of substandard contribution to the movement.
Moreover, it was acquired by a parent company (Shiseido) that tests on animals.
Tatcha has a similar issue with its parent company. It’s owned by a parent company (Unilever) that tests on animals.
However, Tatcha created the Beautiful Faces, Beautiful Futures fund in 2014. The purpose of the fund is to keep girls (from Asia and Africa mostly) in school to reach their potential through the Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program.
They report that purchases of Tatcha products have thus far contributed to almost 6 million days of school for girls in the RTR program.
Well done!
The winner – Tatcha
The Verdict: Which One Is For You?
Today, I’ve analyzed two skincare giants. Both brands make exceptional products and the winner will be determined thanks to tiny things that matter (to me, at least).
As I’ve mentioned numerous times today, the Drunk Elephant research team has put so much effort into creating “clean” products and we have to give it to them. Good job!
Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream was better for me, and that’s just my personal opinion. The fact is that The Dewy Skin Cream is lighter and you can freely wear it under makeup.
Tatcha also puts a lot into sustainability and ethics while Drunk Elephant keeps that part quite opaque.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with these two brands, but I’d give a slight edge to one of the. The winner is Tatcha!
READ NEXT: Prose Hair Care Review: Hair Care Products (Pros & Cons)