Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
Drunk Elephant
Product
Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Claims check
If you want a fragrance-free gel wash, its surfactants support routine makeup and oil removal, but universal removal of stubborn waterproof products is not established.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
- Acne-Prone
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Dermatologist-Tested
Key ingredients
| Glycerin | Provides water-binding support near the start of this rinse-off cleanser. |
|---|---|
| Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate | Supports cleansing in a mixed surfactant system. |
| Glycolipids | Contributes conditioning lipid components without proving post-rinse repair. |
| Linoleic Acid | Adds fatty-acid support within the rinse-off formula. |
| Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate | Adds skin-comfort support during cleansing. |
Price tier
$$$ Premium
Value check
At the Premium tier, you pay for a fragrance-free jelly texture and disclosed pH, not evidence of superior cleansing to every Budget option.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you like fragrance-free jelly cleansers, this formula combines a mild foaming system with glycerin and lipids. Its published pH does not prove lasting barrier repair, and stubborn waterproof makeup may need an extra step. At the Premium tier, choose it for texture and ingredient preferences rather than basic cleansing alone.
If you want a fragrance-free gel cleanser with a polished jelly texture and enough removal power for everyday makeup and sunscreen, Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser gives you that at the Premium tier. The higher spend buys formula detail and texture, not a uniquely necessary cleansing function.
What it claims
Drunk Elephant says Beste No. 9 removes all traces of makeup, excess oil, sunscreen, and daily grime, then rinses without residue and leaves your skin clean and soft rather than stripped. The current U.S. page publishes a pH of 5.5 and identifies the cleanser as dermatologist-tested and free of essential oils, silicones, solvent alcohols, fragrance and dyes, and sulfate surfactants.[1]
The brand directs you to massage the cleanser over wet or dry skin, add water to lather, rinse well, and use it nightly or in alternation with other Drunk Elephant cleansers.[1]
Claims vs. formula
Cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, and lauryl glucoside create the cleansing system. That combination is well suited to routine surface oil, sunscreen, and everyday makeup without relying on one especially aggressive surfactant.
Glycerin appears high in the formula and helps reduce a tight after-feel. Propanediol adds more humectant support, while glycolipids, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, marula oil, and tocopherol help reinforce the softer rinse.
Aloe, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, and cantaloupe extract add skin-comfort support. Because you rinse the product away, those ingredients improve the cleansing formula rather than turning it into a leave-on treatment.
The published pH of 5.5 fits the brand’s skin-comfort positioning.[1] It is useful finished-product information, but pH alone does not establish superior long-term barrier results.
The “all traces” removal language is the broadest claim. The formula is well matched to routine makeup and sunscreen, but the public page does not establish standardized one-pass removal for every waterproof mascara, transfer-resistant foundation, or highly water-resistant sunscreen.
Ingredients that matter
The gel combines glycerin with several cleansing surfactants, including sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, coco-glucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine. Glycolipids, linoleic and linolenic acids and marula oil contribute to the formula’s conditioning ingredient story without turning this wash into a leave-on barrier treatment.
The published finished-formula pH is 5.5. That is a useful specification but not evidence that this cleanser is uniquely gentler than every less expensive formula. Drunk Elephant claims strong makeup and sunscreen removal, but its public page does not demonstrate universal one-step removal of every highly water-resistant product.
Glycerin
If your skin feels dry or tight, glycerin helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need a high percentage or a separate serum when your moisturizer already works well.
Read the IngredientBrief
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate is a well-established cleansing and foaming surfactant used in rinse-off products. It can support a comfortable cleanser, but the complete surfactant blend determines mildness.
Read the IngredientBrief
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid used as an emollient and involved in normal barrier-lipid biology. Human benefits are strongest in complete moisturizers rather than isolated linoleic acid.
Read the IngredientBrief
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is an established cleansing surfactant and foam booster. Irritation and contact allergy depend on the formula and may involve manufacturing impurities such as amidoamine or DMAPA.
Read the IngredientBriefSafety and regulatory context
Drunk Elephant labels this cleanser dermatologist-tested and free of added fragrance, essential oils, dyes, solvent alcohols, silicones and sulfate surfactants.[1] These are formula attributes, not proof of guaranteed tolerance.
Its published pH of 5.5 supports a mildly acidic formulation, but it does not establish skin-barrier repair. For highly water-resistant sunscreen or makeup, verify removal in your routine rather than assuming the phrase “all traces” includes every product.
What to expect in the short term
You get a lightweight jelly that lathers with water and rinses clean without the dense feel of a cream cleanser. If your skin is normal, combination, oily, sensitive, acne-prone, or dry-but-comfortable with foam, the formula is easy to pair with the rest of your routine.
If you regularly wear very stubborn waterproof eye makeup or highly resistant sunscreen, keep a dedicated first cleanse available rather than rubbing longer when one pass is not enough.
What to expect over time
The repeat-use value is dependable cleansing that stays easy to pair with retinoids, acids, benzoyl peroxide, and other leave-on treatments because the cleanser itself does not add fragrance, essential oils, or exfoliating actives.
At the Premium tier, you are paying for high-placed glycerin, multiple cleansing agents, glycolipids, fatty acids, marula oil, soothing ingredients, pH disclosure, and a fragrance-free formula. If you only need basic cleansing, less expensive formulas can still do the core job well.
Who it fits
This makes the most sense if you want a fragrance-free gel cleanser with visible lather, broad skin-type compatibility, and enough everyday removal power for sunscreen and makeup.
If your skin is very dry and dislikes foaming cleansers, a creamier format may suit you better. If you regularly wear highly resistant makeup, you may prefer an oil or balm first cleanse.
Compare before you buy
Choose CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser when you want a less expensive cream-to-foam cleanser with ceramide and lipid support.
Read the BeautyBriefChoose Beste No. 9 when the lighter jelly texture, fragrance-free formula, published pH, and formulation details are worth the Premium tier to you.
Final Assessment
If you prefer a fragrance-free jelly cleanser with a published pH, this formula provides foaming cleansing with glycerin and conditioning lipids. The pH and ingredient detail are useful, but universal removal of stubborn waterproof makeup and lasting barrier repair are not demonstrated. At the Premium tier, the value depends on feel and formula preferences rather than a uniquely necessary cleansing function.
Where to buy
Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Drunk Elephant. Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. Official U.S. product page, accessed October 14, 2026; complete ingredient list, pH, directions and brand declarations.
