Storytime! This summer has been humid where I live, but my skin has been drier than ever. Even on the muggiest days, my skin felt tight and flaky. Something needed to change.
I’ll spare you the boring details of my research, but this story does have a happy ending: I tossed the random assortment of brands that made up my skincare regimen, and switched to a routine that really works. My skin is hydrated and glowing. ✨ Not even my cycle seems to spoil it, which is a first!
So what’s my secret? I did a deep dive on two brands to find out which was best. The first was from my favorite shampoo brand, Prose, who just launched a custom skincare line. The second was Drunk Elephant, a Sephora staple that I’ve been seeing all over my TikTok lately.
How does Prose’s shiny new skincare line match up to one with an established cult following? Let’s find out.
The one that zeros in on your needs, and then addresses them… Prose
Basically, my old skincare products were not aging along with me. I wasn’t aware of how much our skin changes as we mature, but it’s no wonder that the products that worked for me growing up no longer do the trick. But figuring out what my new needs were wasn’t easy—until I took the quick Prose quiz. 📝
Prose will ask you questions about your top skin concerns (dryness? fine lines? blemishes?), your environment (strong UV rays? low humidity?), even your lifestyle — and, of course, your age. Just by telling them about your experience, they’ll sort out exactly what your skin needs and customize your formulas based on your unique skin concerns and goals.
If you’re like me and get SO overwhelmed by all the products at Sephora—Drunk Elephant included!—then you’ll love how easy Prose makes it to get exactly what your skin needs.
The one that’s designed for your unique skin for maximum efficacy… Prose
Prose set me up with a foaming gel cleanser, serum, and moisturizer that were made-to-order in Brooklyn with ingredients included specifically to address my parched skin (think glycerin, amino acids, squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid). These products arrived with the fragrance I chose (and my name on the bottles!) and immediately unlocked a new level of hydration for my skin. 💦
And because Prose will update my formulas to grow with me, I don’t have to worry about doing this all again in a few years. 🙌
Drunk Elephant has a lot of good going for it: they use beneficial ingredients with bioavailability and avoid irritants. But in the end, they’re still one-size-fits-all, and more often than not, skincare brands’ good intentions don’t work for everyone.
The one you’ll never run out of… Prose
If a brand offers an autoship option, I’m signing up. No question about it. Between these two brands, Prose is the one that arrives on my doorstep exactly when I need it, without me having to even think about it.
After the first month, I realized I had it set to arrive a little too frequently, but it was easy to adjust in my account so that my refills arrive right on time. And when you subscribe, you’ll save 15% on your order (20% if you subscribe to both haircare and skincare!), plus free shipping, every time.
The one you can buy in-person… Drunk Elephant
If you’re a regular in-person shopper at Sephora or Ulta and you want to pick up your cleansers and serums while you’re out on errands, you’ll have a much easier time finding Drunk Elephant.
You can only get your Prose skincare through their website, but they do have a 100% satisfaction guarantee within 30 days of delivery. That means you can (and should) try what you received a few times before deciding—if you’re not happy, return your products for a full refund. Or, better yet, you can work with them to tweak your formula and get a new custom solution for free!
The one that’s as fresh as a daisy… Prose
Prose being made-to-order means there’s no question of how long your products have been sitting on the shelf—they haven’t at all! Both Prose and Drunk Elephant are paraben-free, which is awesome, but having a fresh-as-possible formula in your hands just days after it’s been made is how you know that every ingredient is at its most effective.
My ultimate winner? Prose
My dehydrated, flaky skin is gone, and now my skin is smooth, supple, and velvety. I thought Prose was onto something with their custom haircare, but the formulas they created for my unique skin are literally the best thing that’s ever graced my bathroom counter!
