We're always on the lookout for the best moisturizer. It's a staple in everyone's skincare routine and the most important product for happy, hydrated skin.
There are many facial moisturizers on the market and it can seem impossible to know the best one for you, but we decided to take on the task. Our editors recently tried one of the most popular moisturizers and one of the newer brands, that caught our attention after positive reviews going viral on TikTok. We're talking about: Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Moisturizer and FIOR Perfecting Moisturizer.
Here's what we thought.
Key Similarities
- Both promise hydration
- Both come from brands that have been hyped up on #SkinTok
- Both are meant to be used on a daily basis
Key Differences
- FIOR is brand new and is not available at Sephora
- Drunk Elephant is meant to be used with the accompanying serum
- FIOR comes in squeeze bottles; Drunk Elephant comes in wide jar containers
- FIOR uses a special formulation called CBX
Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Moisturizer
A Sephora favorite, the Drunk Elephant line is known for its clean ingredients, high-quality formulas, and fun, minimal packaging.
The ingredient list is impressive: Signal Peptide Complex of amino acids which bind moisture to the skin, Pygmy Waterlily Stem Cell Extract, Soybean Folic Acid Ferment Extract...
This product was very hit-or-miss. Some of our editors thought it was a fantastic moisturizer, but many found it underwhelming and didn't really notice a difference. It's also meant to also be used with the companion product, the $82 Protini™ Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum. We figured if we weren't fans of the moisturizer, Drunk Elephant could just claim that's because we weren't using the serum with it.
This moisturizer nourishes the skin and claims to target aging and dullness, but it's suitable for all ages and skin types.
A 50 mL container goes for $68.
FIOR
Perfecting Moisturizer
Revive & Optimize
25% Off Your Order With POPDUST25
FIOR Perfecting Moisturizer
This one is brand new, so we didn't know many that have tried it yet, but their viral customer reviews got us thinking if we should be paying close attention. Simply put, we were instantly in love. It's a clean formulation with CBX (a blend of CBD & CBDA) with other skin-loving ingredients like Oat Kernel, Bark extract, Oleanolic acid, packed full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help reduce redness and hydrate skin.
The formula feels luxurious, super light-weight and you can feel it working. We enjoyed the slight cooling sensation from the wintergreen leaf, and it fully absorbs into the skin quickly leaving a soft-to-the-touch finish. It's perfect for right under makeup as it minimizes glare and excess sebum. We noticed a difference right away in our foundation applications with this as a base.
It's meant to revive and optimize skin for a healthy, hydrated look. We loved that the fragrance and packaging were gender-neutral and unique for gift-giving.
A 90 mL tube goes for $89.
Final Verdict
Although both of them have their pros and cons, and it's about what works for you, we have to say: FIOR is your best bet. Drunk Elephant's moisturizer worked well on some but not others - perhaps it would work better with the serum, but we'd rather not have to purchase a second product when we all got great results with FIOR's moisturizer on its own.
With FIOR, none of us had negative reactions, we didn't feel like the CBX factor was some gimmick, it felt high-end, and most importantly it made an immediate difference. Even though it's a new brand, it's legit. We can tell it's going to be the next big thing.