Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial Reviews From 4 Editors

Bubble, paper, clay, exfoliating, overnight, peel-off — the modern-day face mask has taken on many a forms over the years. (Not to mention the entirely other type of mask we’ve all, hopefully, also been wearing.) Still, despite its evolution, and no matter if you are prone to acne, experience dryness, or are on the oilier side, the end goal when using one is always the same: brighter, clearer, better-looking skin. That’s the focus of Drunk Elephant’s latest launch, the Bouncy Brightfacial mask ($68, available on Sephora.com starting Dec. 5), which promises to give your visage that ring-light effect.

It marks the third face mask in the Drunk Elephant product lineup — joining heavy-hitting predecessors the Babyfacial and the Waterfacial — but it’s the brand’s first treatment to harness the power of the buzziest ingredient in skin care right now: azelaic acid.

“It’s a really interesting ingredient with lots of great properties, so I wanted to create an entirely new formulation around it,” founder Tiffany Masterson tells POPSUGAR. “We always go as high as we can with our actives, but at a low molecular weight and at a safe pH level so it’s effective yet not irritating.” That’s why the team loaded Bouncy Brightfacial with 10 percent azelaic acid, plus salicylic acid (to dissolve dirt and grime from pores), diglucosyl gallic acid and glutathione (to brighten), and marula oil and ceramides (to hydrate), among others.

In recent years, azelaic acid in particular has been identified in the market as a workhorse ingredient that exfoliates just as well as other well-loved acids like AHAs and BHAs, albeit more gently, making it better tolerated by sensitive or compromised skin. It’s also said to treat a plethora of skin concerns, from dark spots and hyperpigmentation to redness.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kelsey Castañon

“It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, which are great for acne-prone skin as it can help calm and reduce spots,” says consultant dermatologist Mary Sommerlad, MBBS, MRCP. This also makes it a solid treatment for rosacea: “Papulopustular rosacea is associated with red bumps and pus-filled blemishes, and regular use of azelaic acid helps to mitigate the associated redness and swelling with minimal risk of adverse side effects.”

For anyone with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, Dr. Sommerlad says azelaic acid can also help to fade stubborn marks. “It can improve hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme crucial to the production of melanin.”

As a result, Masterson assures that the Bouncy Brightfacial works across all skin types and can be used as the last step to your existing skin-care regimen or coupled with the brand’s C-Firma for “a brightening win-win.” The formula is meant to be left on the skin, instead of rinsing it off, but really how (and how often) you use it is entirely up to you. “We’re big on ‘smoothies’ — mixing products together depending on what your skin needs that day — so you can customize. Some people need more moisture, some people need less. Some people want more exfoliation, some people don’t want as much depending on your age or your concerns.”

Because it was designed to play well with other acids and skin treatments, you don’t need to replace a skin-care step to make room for it in your routine, either. “You can put it on as the top layer of your smoothie at night; you can mix it in with your other products during the day; you can use it just twice a week if you want; it’s even gentle enough that you can use it twice a day,” says Masterson. “That’s the thing, it’s very versatile.”

Now, for the all-important question: is it too good to be true? We were determined to find out, so we asked four POPSUGAR editors with different skin types — from oily and acne-prone to dry and beyond — to put Drunk Elephant’s Bouncy Brightfacial to the test for a full month. Keep reading for our unfiltered reviews.