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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser versus Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on October 28, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Cleanser Australian Brand Australia
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Balancing Cleanser

Starts at $38.00
Shop

Buy Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

Starts at $19.50

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.

You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect.

Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

The aloe plant is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugar molecules. Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.

As it is easily absorbed by the skin, aloe is a great moisturizer. It is both a humectant and emollient. Emollients help trap moisture in your skin, keeping your skin soft. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin.

Other components of aloe include sugars such as monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.

There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Mixed

Lauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.

Lauryl Glucoside makes it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other polluants away.

A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Lauryl Glucoside

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

4
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

5
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.

6
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

36% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
57% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
35% are loved or liked
22% have mixed ratings
30% are disliked or very disliked
13% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser 14 ingredients

Balancing Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser 23 ingredients

2.6 /5
from 5 ratings
Broke Me Out (2) Irritating (2) Drying (1) Expensive (1) No Scent (1)
LeenaYager's avatar

LeenaYager

3 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

I have sensitive skin so I’ve been trying cleansers. This cleanser was horrible. It gave me red patchy and itchy skin. My skin still hasn’t cleared...

I have sensitive skin so I’ve been trying cleansers. This cleanser was horrible. It gave me red patchy and itchy skin. My skin still hasn’t cleared up. Would not recommend

BriannaA's avatar

BriannaA

1 month ago · Combination Skin
Review

My skin broke out horribly. My neck and sides of my face was red, severely irritated and patchy. It took weeks to recover and I still have flaking...

My skin broke out horribly. My neck and sides of my face was red, severely irritated and patchy. It took weeks to recover and I still have flaking under my neck. This was since late January.

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