Protini is a lightweight moisturizer for oily to normal skin types and it’s packed with peptides.
Drunk Elephant’s serums and moisturizers are some of the cult-favorite skincare brand’s best products. DE is all about creating quality skincare free of irritating ingredients like fragrance and dyes. If you know anything about Drunk Elephant, you know just how expensive all their products are. Let alone an entire routine of Drunk Elephant? It adds up very quickly!
The Drunk Elephant moisturizer is great, but can be expensive (see our initial review here). We found the perfect Drunk Elephant Moisturizer Dupe with the InkeyList Peptide Moisturizer. This dupe contains peptides for skin smoothing and anti-aging properties. Plus, the texture and packaging is similar to Protini and it’s so affordable. The entre InkeyList product line is free of fragrances, parabens and dyes making it a great, comparable (and affordable!) option to Drunk Elephant’s line.
Drunk Elephant Moisturizer Dupes
Protini is a lightweight moisturizer for oily to normal skin types and it’s packed with peptides.
Protini is a lightweight moisturizer for oily to normal skin types and it’s packed with peptides. While hydrating the skin and locking in moisture, the peptides will help to repair the skin barrier and ease the appearance of fine lines. This moisturizer is good because it contains benefits like a serum would but it’s still gentle and locks in moisture. If you’re happy to pay the price, it’s a nice option but this Drunk Elephant moisturizer is not the only way to get a good moisturizer packed with peptides.
1. InkeyList Peptide Moisturizer
This moisturizer contains shea butter and peptides. The peptides are the last ingredients so it won’t be as intense as Protini but it’s a good light-weight moisturizer that sinks into the skin. It does contain 2% Royal Epigen to help with the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The packaging also has a push top like Protini which is a nice way to keep your product clean and free of bacteria.
Pros:
- Affordable!
- Cruelty-free, fragrance-free, paraben and phthalate free.
- Has the same push top packaging as Protini.
- Supports natural collagen to help improve the quality of the skin.
Cons:
- Peptides are at the bottom of the ingredient list. It’s not going to be as potent as Protini in improving the skin tone.
- Some reviewers comment on a chemical-like smell.
- Not as rich as Protini, save this for normal to oily skin.
Where to buy it: Amazon
2. Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream
This cream will brighten the skin tone, fade dark spots and help to make it appear more even.
This cream contains multi-peptides and antioxidants like vitamin c and ferulic acid. This cream will brighten the skin tone, fade dark spots and help to make it appear more even. It does contain peptides which help to improve the elasticity in your skin as well as boost collagen. It’s a whipped texture and has a thicker, cream consistency than Protini (gel texture) so if you have dry skin, you make like this as a Drunk Elephant moisturizer dupe.
Pros:
- Affordable dupe!
- Vegan. Cruelty-free and paraben free.
- Contains antioxidants which work to brighten the skin tone.
- Potentially less irritating than Protini ingredients wise.
- Contains lots of the same peptides found in Protini.
Cons:
- Acure focuses more on brightening the skin tone and hydrating. Protini is geared towards boosting collagen and improving the skin barrier.
- Doesn’t have a gel texture like Protini.
Where to buy it: Amazon
3. Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides
This gel moisturizer contains celery to blur, smooth and minimize the appearance of pores.
This gel moisturizer contains celery to blur, smooth and minimize the appearance of pores. The peptides work to visibly plump the skin and minimize wrinkles and fine lines. This cream is a great option for oily skin types since it’s lightweight but still helps to improve moisture retention. This isn’t the cheapest Drunk Elephant moisturizer dupe, but it’s cheaper than Protini and a great option that contains peptides and offers lightweight hydration.
Pros:
- Contains peptides and hyaluronic acid.
- Gel, cream texture makes it lightweight but good for retaining moisture.
- Paraben and sulfate free.
- Celery juice helps to blur and reduce the appearance of pores.
Cons:
- Price is high.
- Not the greatest option for dry skin.
Where to buy it: Amazon
4. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
This moisturizer isn’t thick or heavy and will never feel greasy on your skin.
This moisturizer from the Ordinary contains amino acids like Protini. (Peptides are strings of amino acids.) Ingredients-wise, it contains amino acids, ceramides, fatty acids and glycerin. All of which are really great for hydrating and repairing the skin barrier. This moisturizer isn’t thick or heavy and will never feel greasy on the skin.
Pros:
- The Ordinary is so affordable!
- Good for oily skin.
- Offers immediate hydration that’s sustained with consistent use.
Cons:
- Likely not the best option for dry skin types.
- Formula feels like a basic moisturizer.
Where to buy it: Amazon
5. Derma E Advanced Peptides and Collagen Moisturizer
Derma E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Moisturizer is one of the best formulas for diminishing dark undereye circles and wrinkles.
This lavender scented cream contains peptides to help smooth wrinkles. It contains matrixyl and argireline which are really great for their anti-aging properties. Matrixyl is a popular peptide used to reverse the signs of aging and promotes the production of collagen. This isn’t identical to Protini but it’s a good dupe because you get the heavy lifting capabilities of peptides and collagen for an affordable price.
Pros:
- Contains Peptides to help smooth wrinkles.
- Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free formula.
- Affordable cream packed with skin friendly ingredients.
- Peptides and collagen in one moisturizer for this price is great!!
Cons:
- The lavender scent / lavender oil may be irritating. For sensitive skin types of if you’re sensitive to fragrance in your products.
- Protini is not scented.
Where to buy it: Amazon
6. Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri Peptide Moisturizer
This moisturizer contains vitamin c to brighten your skin.
This moisturizer contains vitamin c to brighten the skin. Along with tri peptide to boost skin elasticity for a plumper and brighter complexion. While Protini doesn’t contain vitamin c, this moisturizer is a great drugstore option that contains peptides. The texture is a cream that’s not too heavy and not too light that sinks into the skin.
Pros:
- Affordable!
- Would be good for dry skin types!
- Contains vitamin c to brighten the skin.
- Cruelty-free and vegan formula.
- Contains peptides and antioxidants! Antioxidants are great for brightening a complexion and fading dark spots.
Cons:
- The ingredients aren’t as high quality as Protini.
- Heavier than Protini.
- Smells like oranges.
Where to buy it: Amazon
Final Thoughts
Drunk Elephant’s Protini is a moisturizer all skin types can see some benefit from. Our favorite dupe is the InkeyList’s Peptide moisturizer. The packaging, claims, and ingredients are all reminiscent of Protini and the price is fantastic.
When building your skincare routine, moisturizer is not something that you have to splurge on. Spend your money on actives as they will do the heavy lifting in your skincare routine. Save on the Drunk Elephant moisturizer and go for something that will hydrate and help to nourish the skin barrier — any dupe on this list is a great option for that!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use face oil before or after moisturizer?
Some say before so that their moisturizer can lock in the hydration. Some say after so the oil can lock in hydration from the moisturizer. It depends on preference and what you prefer. If you have dry skin and really want to lock in moisture, applying your face oil after moisturizer works really well.
When applying skin care you want to go thinnest to thickest so keep that in mind. But applying a face oil before or after moisturizer won’t make or break your entire routine.
What is the function of peptides in skincare?
Peptides are strings of amino acids which we know are the building blocks of protein. Including collagen in the skin. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin fibers which make up our skin and are vital for the firmness and elasticity of the skin. This is why peptides and collagen are so popular in anti-aging and skin care.
Our bodies cannot function without peptides. As you age, you lose 1% of collagen in your body each year. Using skincare with peptides is a sign to your body to create more collagen where it’s needed most.
Overall, peptides help to slow down the effects of aging. They increase collagen production which keeps our skin looking firm, elastic and young.
Why does my moisturizer ball up?
This is referred to as ‘pilling.’ It means your skincare products are clashing or they aren’t absorbing. ‘Pilling’ is when the product doesn’t absorb into the skin. It forms little balls of product when you touch your face.
So, you can give the product more time to absorb or replace the product that is causing the pilling. It doesn’t happen too often but it’s definitely annoying and not what you want in skincare!