Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
Drunk Elephant
Product
Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Claims check
You get effective, comfortable cleansing and strong everyday makeup and sunscreen removal, while the public page does not establish universal one-pass removal of every stubborn waterproof product.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
- Acne-Prone
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Dermatologist-Tested
Key ingredients
| Glycerin | Helps reduce a tight, dry after-feel during cleansing. |
|---|---|
| Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate | Helps lift oil and residue while keeping the cleansing feel relatively mild. |
| Glycolipids | Helps support a softer after-feel. |
| 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 are paying for high-placed glycerin, multiple cleansing agents, glycolipids, fatty acids, marula oil, soothing ingredients, pH disclosure, and a fragrance-free formula; less expensive products can still handle basic cleansing well.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.
Bottom line
If you want a polished fragrance-free jelly cleanser with pH disclosure and detailed formula support, this gives you a credible Premium option. If you only need basic cleansing, you can spend less.
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
Glycerin: Helps reduce a tight, dry after-feel during cleansing.
Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate: Helps lift oil and residue while keeping the cleansing feel relatively mild.
Glycolipids: Help support a softer after-feel.
Linoleic acid: Adds fatty-acid support within the rinse-off formula.
Dipotassium glycyrrhizate: Adds skin-comfort support during cleansing.
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 IngredientBriefWhat 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
Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser gives you a polished, fragrance-free Premium cleanser with a well-supported formula and useful pH disclosure. Its strongest value is texture and formulation detail; you do not need to spend at this level to get effective basic cleansing.
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. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
- Drunk Elephant. Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. Current U.S. product page. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Source for current product identity, Premium price context, directions, Dermatologist-Tested status, finished-product pH of 5.5, fragrance- and essential-oil-free positioning, and makeup, sunscreen and oil-removal claims. Stored INCI was accepted as verified for this review cycle.
