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Drunk Elephant Proti… vs Isntree C-Niacin Ton… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream vs Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream scores 8.5/9.8 vs Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule at 8.1/9.8. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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Drunk Elephant

Protini Polypeptide Cream

moisturiserpremium

8.5

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Isntree

C-Niacin Toning Ampoule

serumbudget

8.1

Score comparison

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

Drunk Elephant wins 1

Tied 3

Isntree wins 1

8.5Drunk Elephant

+0.4vs

8.1Isntree

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Isntree WINS

6.3

8.5

Drunk Elephant

Isntree

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Drunk Elephant

Isntree

Active Ingredient Strength

Drunk Elephant WINS

9.8

4.7

Drunk Elephant

Isntree

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Drunk Elephant

Isntree

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Drunk Elephant

Isntree

Ingredient face-off

6% overlap

34Drunk Elephant

2Shared

26Isntree

Only in Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

32 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Dicaprylyl Carbonate Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-1 Sh-Oligopeptide-1+22 more

Shared ingredients

2 in common

Glycerin Sodium Hyaluronate

Only in Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule

24 unique

Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Betaine Water Niacinamide Propanediol Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract+14 more

Why Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream comes out ahead

Where Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 9.8 compared to Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule's 4.7. Its formula features Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule scores 8.5 here versus 6.3 for Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream brings Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 as actives, while isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule relies on Niacinamide, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, and Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

At premium pricing with a score of 8.5, Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream delivers strong value. Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule sits at the budget level with a 8.1 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.4 lead

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule is still a solid pick.

✶

8.5Drunk Elephant

8.1Isntree

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream or Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule?

Based on ingredient analysis, Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule 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 Protini Polypeptide Cream and Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream→Full analysis: Isntree C-Niacin Toning Ampoule→

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