Protini, long sold as Protini Polypeptide Cream and now listed in full size as the Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer, is Drunk Elephant's peptide gel-cream with nine signal peptides, amino acids, pygmy waterlily and soybean folic acid ferment at pH 4.0. It is free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance and dyes, and Drunk Elephant reports improved tone, texture and hydration in a 31-person, 8-week study. Reviewers describe it as hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy. Price is the most common criticism, and creators often compare it with cheaper peptide moisturizers such as The Inkey List's.

Best for

Anyone wanting a fragrance-free peptide moisturizer
Users who like a light gel-cream under makeup
Buyers who value refillable packaging

What we love

Nine signal peptides plus amino acids and copper peptide
Free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance and dyes
Light gel-cream texture that works under makeup
Refillable jar and refill pod available
Sizes from 15 ml to 100 ml plus a 50 ml refill

Worth knowing

Expensive for a daily moisturizer
Firming claims rest largely on Drunk Elephant's own 31-person study
Contains marula (sclerocarya birrea) seed oil, so it is not oil-free

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.

7.3Good

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Results30%7.4
Reviewers report smoother, more hydrated skin, and the brand's 31-person study shows tone and texture gains, but the firming claims rest mainly on that brand study.
Formula & ingredients20%7.9
A broad peptide and amino acid complex with copper peptide in a fragrance-free, silicone-free base at pH 4.0; marula seed oil is the only plant oil listed.
Texture & experience15%8.1
A lightweight gel-cream that reviewers say never feels heavy or greasy and works under makeup, now in a refillable jar.
Value20%5.8
Costs well above peptide moisturizers from budget brands, such as The Inkey List's, that creators suggest as alternatives.
Community love15%7.4
Very popular and widely reviewed, with several creator videos asking whether it is worth the price or comparing it with cheaper dupes.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Lightweight gel-cream (brand description); reviewers say it never feels heavy, sticky or greasy

Format

Gel-cream

Fragrance

Fragrance-free

Size

1.69 fl oz / 50 ml

Key ingredients

Ingredient encyclopedia →

What’s in it: Signal peptide complex of nine peptides (including copper palmitoyl heptapeptide-14 and palmitoyl tripeptide-1) with amino acids, pygmy waterlily stem cell extract and soybean folic acid ferment; formulated at pH 4.0. No percentages disclosed.

How to use

Apply morning and night to a clean, dry face; it can be used daily, rotated with other Drunk Elephant moisturizers or mixed with the brand's serums.

Free from (brand-stated)

essential oils
silicones
fragrance
dyes
solvent alcohols

Claims & certifications

Dermatologist-tested
Fragrance-free
Silicone-free

Full ingredient list (INCI)59 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

Water/Aqua/Eau,
Dicaprylyl Carbonate,
Glycerin,
Cetearyl Alcohol,
Cetearyl Olivate,
Sorbitan Olivate,
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil,
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Extract,
Nymphaea Alba Root Extract,
sh-Oligopeptide-1,
sh-Oligopeptide-2,
sh-Polypeptide-1,
sh-Polypeptide-9,
sh-Polypeptide-11,
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14,
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate,
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7,
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1,
Alanine,
Arginine,
Glycine,
Histidine,
Isoleucine,
Phenylalanine,
Proline,
Serine,
Threonine,
Valine,
Acetyl Glutamine,
Coconut Alkanes,
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate,
Sodium Hyaluronate,
Aspartic Acid,
Linoleic Acid,
Linolenic Acid,
Lecithin,
Butylene Glycol,
Polyvinyl Alcohol,
Sodium Lactate,
Sodium PCA,
PCA,
Sorbitan Isostearate,
Carbomer,
Polysorbate 20,
Polysorbate 60,
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer,
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer,
Xanthan Gum,
Isomalt,
1,
2-Hexanediol,
Caprylyl Glycol,
Chlorphenesin,
Phenoxyethanol,
Tocopherol,
Sodium Benzoate,
Phenylpropanol,
Glyceryl Caprylate,
Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.

What people say

Straight from the source.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.

3 verbatim quotes · 1 positive · 2 mixed

ReviewingThis

While the product is extremely hydrating, it never feels heavy, sticky, or greasy on the skin and leaves behind no residue.

AnonymousReviewingThisSource

ReviewingThis

With that said, the initial cost is still likely the only downside I see with the use of this product

AnonymousReviewingThisSource

r/SkincareAddiction

I usually use DE Protini and swap it for the Retro Lala in the winter, but when my skin is REALLY dry, I started using LRP Lipikar AP+M face and body lotion.

u/Deep_Amoeba2197r/SkincareAddiction · 2026-111Source

Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

$72.00

for 1.69 fl oz / 50 ml

Per ounce

$42.59

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

About 66% more per ounce than the typical moisturizers we review. Our value score: 5.8/10 for a prestige pick.

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon Buy from the brand$72.00

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money

Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

No member ratings yet.

Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

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Tried Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.

FAQ

Good questions.

Is this the same product as Protini Polypeptide Cream?

Drunk Elephant now sells full sizes as the Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer. The product page FAQ still calls it Protini Polypeptide Cream, and the travel size is still listed as Protini Polypeptide Cream Travel size.

Does Protini contain fragrance?

No. Drunk Elephant says it is 100% free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance, dyes and solvent alcohols.

Can it be mixed with other products?

Yes. Drunk Elephant says it can be mixed with any of its serums, treatments or creams and used daily or in rotation with its other moisturizers.

What results does Drunk Elephant report?

In its clinical study of 31 people over 8 weeks, 96% showed improved tone, radiance and luminosity, 93% improved texture and 90% improved hydration, according to the brand.

Sources we checked (4)