In the first installment of a series I’m calling “Dupe?” I’ll examine The Ordinary’s AHA/BHA Peeling Solution versus Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial. The Ordinary’s Peeling Solution ($7.50) is supposed to be a dupe for the latter ($80.00).
So, I’ve been using both intermittently for a while and can say, to quickly summarize, that they are not interchangeable (my definition for a real dupe) but are both effective. The first noticeable difference is that The Ordinary’s product is much more light weight and liquid. And, perhaps somewhat predictably, Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial is harsher and more irritating than the Peeling Solution but also more effective for doing a total exfoliation. That being said it’s important to quickly state that the Peeling Solution is still effective, of course, just less so. The two products also provide different types of results visually in terms of exfoliation not just due to effectiveness. The Peeling Solution’s initial result is a refreshed, smoother appearance akin to the combined results of mild manual exfoliation and maybe the one time use of a fairly effective brightening mask. Sukari Babyfacial affects fine lines more than the Peeling Solution but it also makes the skin look like it was “resurfaced” and while that doesn’t necessarily sound bad…I actually don’t entirely appreciate the way my skin looks from Sukari Babyfacial. The results almost remind me of how a piece of wood looks after you’ve sanded it. *laugh* …It’s nearly too much exfoliation for my sensitive skin.
Would I rebuy Drunk Elephant Sukari Baby Facial? No. Would I rebuy The Ordinary’s Peeling Solution? Maybe? It’s $7.50 for a mild but still very real exfoliation. Over time the Peeling Solution might be genuinely helpful and it’s certainly cost effective. But is the Peeling Solution truly a dupe for Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial? No.
Keen to Cross the Pond 
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