Drunk Elephant Issued a Voluntary Recall of 3 Best-Selling Skin-Care Products
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Drunk Elephant
Popular skin-care brand Drunk Elephant has issued a voluntary recall of several products due to “an isolated ingredient mix-up between preservatives and surfactants,” according to a FAQ page about the recall on the brand's site. (Surfactants are commonly added to hair- and skin-care products to cleanse and make products emulsify and foam. Preservatives prevent microorganisms from contaminating or growing in a product throughout its shelf life.)
Certain batches of Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, Protini Polypeptide Cream, and Lala Retro Whipped Cream are impacted by the recall, including sample packets of Lala Retro Whipped Cream that come free with the purchase of the brand's O-Bloos Rosi Drops. (The Rosi Drops are not impacted by the recall.)
According to a spokesperson from the brand, the mix-up happened during production, and “the formulation of certain lots of these products were compromised.” For example, the ingredient Microkill COS, a patented combination of three different preservatives, was found in Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, though it is not featured on the product's ingredient list. “The ingredients phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin [which are included in that combination] can be irritating to some people's skin,” cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski says.
Affected batches of the fan-favorite Lala Retro Whipped Cream and Protini Pepolypeptide Cream, on the other hand, mistakenly contained Mirataine CBS, a patented surfactant for hair and skin care. “This is a mild, non-ionic surfactant used in gentle cleansers,” Romanowski explains. “If it is included in a cream accidentally, it could possibly destabilize the formula so it might separate over time, or it could cause some irritation on the skin.” However, he adds that it’s likely not a problem in this situation.
Batches of Lala Retro Whipped Cream were also found to contain yeast, including Candida parapsilosis, which cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski says is “a part of the normal human microbiota but can become pathogenic under certain conditions.” On the skin, this yeast can cause infections like cutaneous candidiasis, especially for immunocompromised people, and can also show up as red, irritated, or itchy skin or pustules, says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD.
As for the Protini Polypeptide Cream, certain lots were found to contain species of bacteria closely related to Klebsiella and Enterobacter bacteria. But before you stress out, remember that bacteria are everywhere, including on our skin. “Our skin has a microbiome with millions of species of bacteria living in symbiosis with it every day,” says Dr. Gohara. “Most do nothing or are actually helpful.”
However, that may not always be the case. According to Romanowski, Klebsiella and Enterobacter bacteria are commonly found in water, soil, and plants, as well as the human gut microbiome. “On the skin, these bacteria can act opportunistically, especially if the skin barrier is compromised,” he says. “They could cause infections or exacerbate conditions like dermatitis, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.” They can also pose challenges in product formulations, Romanowski says, because they’re hard to kill when they start growing.
The impacted batches of both creams are missing their preservatives, which is likely to have caused or contributed to the presence of yeast and bacteria. “Without preservatives, a formula could become contaminated and lead to microbial growth, which could cause skin problems for people using the products,” Romanowski explains.
“Preservatives often get a bad reputation in skin care, but they play an essential role in keeping microbial growth at bay—think yeast, bacteria, and other little nasties that are everywhere,” Dr. Gohara adds. “Without effective preservatives, contamination can occur, which is why recalls happen.” For instance, the bacteria found in Lala Retro Whipped Cream could cause “red and inflamed skin” or “pustules,” says Dr. Gohara, but she adds that the likelihood is low. Yeast in a cream “generally would not do anything harmful and if it does it would be evident,” she says. “It may also just make the product a bit less efficacious.” In short, give your dermatologist a call if you notice any redness, inflammation, flakiness, or general irritation.
If you purchased a Drunk Elephant product between May and November of 2024, check your lot code to see if your product was impacted. The lot number is shown at the top of the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser tube as well as at the bottom of the carton. For both creams, check the bottom of the tub or carton. If your product was impacted, fill out the return form online or contact the Drunk Elephant customer service team at 1-800-604-1795 or voluntaryrecall@drunkelephant.com. You'll receive a return shipping label, and once your product is received and verified, a full refund and replacement. If your product does not match the impacted lot codes, Drunk Elephant says it's safe to use. “Retail partners have been notified and they are removing the affected lots from stores,” a Drunk Elephant spokesperson told Allure.
Romanowski says mistakes like this are rare. “Since the formula is supposed to have preservatives in it, that made [Drunk Elephant] aware there was some kind of problem with the batch and led to more investigation to find the cause,” he says. “This is just the system working as it should. They made a batch, discovered a problem, and did what they could to correct the problem.” Dr. Gohara agrees: “The brand did the right thing by addressing the issue transparently.”
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