Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream vs IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream scores 9.1/9.8 and IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening scores 9.0/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Drunk Elephant WINSIrritation Risk
Drunk Elephant WINSActive Ingredient Strength
Drunk Elephant WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
5% overlapOnly in Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
53 unique
Only in IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening
23 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream scores 8.7 here versus 6.8 for IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream brings Niacinamide, Retinol, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 as actives, while iOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening relies on Ascorbic Acid, Gluconolactone, and Glutathione. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting
IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Ascorbic Acid does the heavy lifting
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Both sit in the premium bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream gets the nod here with its 9.1 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
Our verdict
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream or IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening?
Based on ingredient analysis, Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream and IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream and IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for Brightening?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.