Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ingredients, decoded

What Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream is mostly made of, which ingredients do the work and what to watch for — based on the ingredient list the brand publishes.

Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Cream
프로티니 폴리펩타이드 크림
What the brand says it does

Lightweight peptide gel-cream with signal peptides, growth factors and amino acids said to firm skin and smooth the look of texture and fine lines.

58ingredients
3key ingredients
1worth knowing

What it targets

  • Wrinkles & firmnesssh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-2, sh-Polypeptide-1 +6
  • HydrationGlycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA +1

Based on which ingredients are in it, how high up the list they are, and whether they are key actives.

Key ingredients

sh-Oligopeptide-1#10
에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-1
Above the 1% line

Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.

Wrinkles & firmness

Ingredient guide →
Sodium Hyaluronate#32
소듐하이알루로네이트
Above the 1% line

The salt form of hyaluronic acid; the version most products actually use.

Hydration

Ingredient guide →
Lactic Acid#46
락틱애씨드
Above the 1% line

Gentler AHA that exfoliates and hydrates. Increases sun sensitivity.

ExfoliationHydration

Ingredient guide →

Worth knowing

  • Contains exfoliating acids (Lactic Acid), which can make skin more sensitive to the sun. Use sunscreen during the day.

What most of it is made of

  1. WaterBase
  2. Dicaprylyl CarbonateEmollient
  3. GlycerinHumectant
  4. Cetearyl AlcoholFatty alcohol
  5. Cetearyl OlivateEmulsifier

1% line: from Chlorphenesin (#52) onward, ingredients are probably at 1% or less. Chlorphenesin is limited to 0.3% in the EU, and ingredients at 1% or less may be listed in any order. Products made only for other markets can use more.

Full ingredient list, decoded (58)
1Water정제수The base of most creams and toners; dissolves the water-loving ingredients.Base
2Dicaprylyl Carbonate다이카프릴릴카보네이트Very light, dry emollient often used in sunscreens.Emollient
3Glycerin글리세린A classic humectant that draws water into the outer skin layer. Well tolerated by almost everyone.Humectant
4Cetearyl Alcohol세테아릴알코올Fatty alcohol blend that thickens creams and stabilises emulsions.Fatty alcohol
5Cetearyl Olivate세테아릴올리베이트Emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
6Sorbitan Olivate솔비탄올리베이트Emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
7Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil마룰라씨오일Plant oil that softens and nourishes dry skin.Plant oil
8Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Extract바실러스/엽산발효추출물Ferment ingredient made with yeast or bacteria; used for conditioning.Ferment
9Nymphaea Alba Root Extract알바수련뿌리추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract
10sh-Oligopeptide-1에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-1Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
11sh-Oligopeptide-2에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-2Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
12sh-Polypeptide-1에스에이치-폴리펩타이드-1Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
13sh-Polypeptide-9에스에이치-폴리펩타이드-9Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
14sh-Polypeptide-11에스에이치-폴리펩타이드-11Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
15Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14카퍼팔미토일헵타펩타이드-14Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
16Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate헵타펩타이드-15팔미테이트Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
17Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7팔미토일테트라펩타이드-7Peptide used to support firmness and smoothness.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
18Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1팔미토일트라이펩타이드-1Signal peptide used in anti-ageing formulas.Ingredient guide →Active ingredient
19Alanine알라닌Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
20Arginine알지닌Amino acid used as a gentle pH adjuster.pH adjuster
21Glycine글라이신Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
22Histidine히스티딘Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
23Isoleucine아이소류신Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
24Phenylalanine페닐알라닌Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
25Proline프롤린Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
26Serine세린Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
27Threonine트레오닌Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
28Valine발린Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
29Acetyl Glutamine아세틸글루타민Skin-conditioning ingredient.Skin conditioning
30Coconut Alkanes코코넛알칸Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
31Coco-Caprylate/Caprate코코-카프릴레이트/카프레이트Light, fast-spreading plant-derived emollient.Emollient
32Sodium Hyaluronate소듐하이알루로네이트The salt form of hyaluronic acid; the version most products actually use.Ingredient guide →Humectant
33Aspartic Acid아스파틱애씨드Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
34Linoleic Acid리놀레익애씨드Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
35Linolenic Acid리놀레닉애씨드Emollient that softens skin and helps the formula spread.Emollient
36Lecithin레시틴Natural emulsifier from soy or sunflower.Emulsifier
37Butylene Glycol부틸렌글라이콜Light humectant and solvent that helps other ingredients spread and absorb.Humectant
38Polyvinyl Alcohol폴리비닐알코올Thickener, film-former or powder that sets the texture and finish.Thickener / texture
39Sodium Lactate소듐락테이트Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
40Sodium PCA소듐피씨에이Part of the skin's own natural moisturizing factor; strong humectant.Humectant
41PCA피씨에이Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
42Sorbitan Isostearate솔비탄아이소스테아레이트Emulsifier or solubiliser that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
43Carbomer카보머Gelling agent that creates clear gels.Thickener / texture
44Polysorbate 20폴리솔베이트20Emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
45Polysorbate 60폴리솔베이트60Emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed.Emulsifier
46Lactic Acid락틱애씨드Gentler AHA that exfoliates and hydrates. Increases sun sensitivity.Ingredient guide →Exfoliant
47Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer하이드록시에틸아크릴레이트/소듐아크릴로일다이메틸타우레이트코폴리머Thickener, film-former or powder that sets the texture and finish.Thickener / texture
48Xanthan Gum잔탄검Natural gum thickener.Thickener / texture
49Isomalt아이소말트Humectant that helps skin hold on to water.Humectant
501,2-Hexanediol1,2-헥산다이올Humectant that also helps preserve the formula; very common in Korean skincare.Humectant
51Caprylyl Glycol카프릴릴글라이콜Humectant with preservative-boosting action.Preservative
1% line — probably 1% or less below this point
52Chlorphenesin클로페네신Preservative capped at 0.3% in the EU.Preservative
53Phenoxyethanol페녹시에탄올The most common preservative. The EU caps it at 1%, so everything listed after it is at 1% or less.Preservative
54Tocopherol토코페롤Vitamin E. Antioxidant that also protects oils in the formula from going rancid.Antioxidant
55Sodium Benzoate소듐벤조에이트Preservative, often used in "paraben-free" formulas.Preservative
56Phenylpropanol페닐프로판올Skin-conditioning ingredient.Skin conditioning
57Glyceryl Caprylate글리세릴카프릴레이트Emollient with antimicrobial action; helps preserve the formula.Preservative
58Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract컴프리캘러스배양추출물Plant extract, usually present in small amounts for conditioning.Plant extract

Based on the ingredient list the brand publishes; formulas can change and differ by country. The order shows relative amounts, not exact percentages. General information, not medical advice.

Ingredient list as published on the brand’s official website. Formulas change and can differ by country, so check the list on your pack too. General information, not medical advice.