Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
Sensitive Skin Staple
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Four-surfactant system cleanses thoroughly without disrupting the skin barrier
- +pH 5.5 preserves the acid mantle for better active ingredient performance afterward
- +Glycerin as second ingredient provides unusual hydration for a gel cleanser
- +Completely fragrance-free with no essential oils, dyes, or synthetic scent
- +Sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, and cruelty-free with vegan formula
- +Marula oil and licorice root actively soothe and condition during the wash
- +Versatile enough for both AM cleansing and PM double-cleanse second step
- +Nearly a decade of consistent reformulation history with no irritation complaints
- −At $36 for 5 oz, significantly overpriced for a wash-off product category
- −Modest lather may feel insufficient to users accustomed to foaming cleansers
- −Cannot remove heavy or waterproof makeup without a first-cleanse step
- −May feel slightly stripping for very dry skin types, especially in winter
- −Travel-size cap design is prone to leaking in bags
The full review.
The name is a flex. ‘Beste’ means ‘best’ in German, and ‘No. 9’ shows Tiffany Masterson failed eight times before finding a gel cleanser she deemed worthy. This iteration isn’t marketing mythology; the product actually does what gel cleansers promise but rarely do: cleanse without stripping.
The original Beste Jelly Cleanser launched in 2013 alongside Drunk Elephant’s debut line. It faced complaints about mild eye stinging and leaking travel caps. Instead of making small tweaks, Masterson rebuilt the formula from scratch. The 2017 version uses a four-surfactant system — cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine — that works like a relay team, with each runner being gentler than the last.
This matters because most gel cleansers use one or two surfactants. They either clean too aggressively, leaving skin feeling tight, or clean too gently, leaving sunscreen behind. Beste No. 9 spreads the workload across four surfactants to handle different parts of the dirt-and-oil spectrum. This achieves thorough cleansing at a lower total surfactant concentration, so your face feels clean but not tight.
Texture
The texture is a clear, wobbling jelly that catches light and dispenses with heft. It turns into a light, almost creamy lather with water. It does not produce the voluminous foam some people want; if you want thick suds, avoid this product. The foam it does make feels substantive and slippery, signaling it works without the squeaky tightness of most foaming cleansers.
Scent
The fragrance-free formulation is a strength. Drunk Elephant’s ‘Suspicious 6’ philosophy excludes essential oils, synthetic fragrance, and dyes. In a cleanser, this restraint works. There is no interference with sensitive nostrils, no risk of fragrance-triggered irritation on reactive skin, and no lingering scent to compete with later products.
How to Use
Beste No. 9 easily handles daily grime, light makeup, and chemical sunscreen. It is not a heavy-duty makeup remover. Waterproof mascara and full-coverage foundation need a dedicated first cleanse — an oil balm or micellar water — before Beste No. 9 acts as the second cleanser. This is intentional. Trying to make one product remove heavy makeup and remain gentle for bare-skin mornings usually results in a product that fails at both.
Common Complaints
The limitations are clear. Very dry skin types may find this surfactant system slightly depleting, especially in winter or hard-water areas. The lather is modest by American standards, which some users mistake for lack of efficacy, even though foam volume has approximately zero correlation with cleansing efficacy. Then there is the price.
Thirty-six dollars for five ounces is expensive for a product that stays on your skin for thirty seconds. The surfactant system is well-engineered and the ingredient quality is high, but the active ingredients are not exotic or expensive. You pay for the R&D of those nine iterations, the brand’s exclusion of potential irritants, and the orange-capped tube. Whether that premium is worth it depends on how much you value a cleanser that won’t cause skin problems.
About
After nearly a decade in its current formulation, Beste No. 9 has earned its reputation through consistency. It does not promise miracles. It promises not to cause issues. For a cleanser — a product that should get out of the way so the rest of your routine works — that restraint is correct.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list · pH 5.5
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polylysine
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The surfactant system in Beste No. 9 is built around a principle that cosmetic chemists call 'surfactant synergy' — combining multiple mild surfactants that work more gently together than any single one at higher concentration. The lead surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), is an amphoteric molecule that gained notoriety as the American Contact Dermatitis Society's 2004 'Allergen of the Year.' However, a landmark study published in Dermatitis in 2012 demonstrated that allergic reactions attributed to CAPB were actually caused by manufacturing impurities — specifically aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) — rather than the purified ingredient itself (Fowler et al., Dermatitis, 2012). High-purity CAPB, as used in premium formulations like this one, carries a significantly lower sensitization risk.
Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (SLMI), the third surfactant in the blend, belongs to the isethionate family widely considered among the mildest anionic surfactants available. Clinical testing on infant skin — a population far more reactive than adults — has shown SLMI-based formulas produce measurable improvements in facial erythema and scaling with significantly lower transepidermal water loss compared to traditional surfactant systems.
The inclusion of dipotassium glycyrrhizate brings evidence-based anti-inflammatory action to the cleansing step. A 2023 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences demonstrated that this licorice-derived compound modulates the inflammatory cascade through multiple pathways, including inhibition of hyaluronidase — the enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid in the skin (IJMS, 2023). In a cleanser context, this means the brief exposure window still provides a soothing counterpoint to any surfactant-induced irritation.
Sclerocarya birrea seed oil (marula oil) contributes approximately 69% oleic acid alongside tocopherols. A 2015 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology confirmed marula oil's non-irritant profile and documented its moisturizing properties and antioxidant capacity derived from its polyphenolic content (Mariod & Abdelwahab, J Ethnopharmacol, 2015). While the oil's contact time in a wash-off product is limited, its lipophilic nature allows it to interact with sebum-soluble impurities and deposit a thin conditioning layer during the rinse phase.
References
- Safety and efficacy of Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst (Marula) oil: A clinical perspective — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2015)
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizininate Improves Skin Wound Healing by Modulating Inflammatory Process — International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023)
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists frequently recommend gel cleansers with balanced pH for patients on active treatment regimens — retinoids, chemical exfoliants, and prescription topicals all perform better when the cleansing step doesn't compromise the skin barrier. Board-certified dermatologists note that Beste No. 9's four-surfactant system at pH 5.5 aligns with current understanding of barrier-supportive cleansing. The absence of fragrance, essential oils, and sulfates makes it a commonly recommended option for patients with contact dermatitis, rosacea, or post-procedure skin. Dermatologists also appreciate the inclusion of licorice root derivative for its anti-inflammatory properties, though they note that any wash-off product has limited active ingredient delivery compared to leave-on treatments.
Where it fits in your routine.
Wet your face and hands with lukewarm water. Squeeze a nickel-sized amount into your palms and lather. Massage the product over your face and neck in gentle circles for 30 seconds. Rinse well and pat dry. For AM use, apply to bare skin. For PM use, follow an oil-based first cleanse if you wear makeup or heavy sunscreen. You can use this on eyelids; the fragrance-free, low-irritation formula works for the full face, including the eye area.
At $36 for 150 mL, Beste No. 9 is a premium cleanser in a category where contact lasts about thirty seconds. The 60 mL / $18 midi size has worse per-ounce value but works for trialing. The surfactant system is well-engineered, and the clean-ingredient philosophy matches the price. However, pharmacy brands sell gentle, fragrance-free gel cleansers with similar surfactant profiles at one-third the price. The premium price pays for Drunk Elephant's rigorous ingredient exclusion list and a formula with nine documented iterations — whether that premium is worth it depends on how many cheaper cleansers you have already tried and returned.
This cleanser works for oily, combination, normal, or sensitive skin. It does not interfere with active treatment routines. It suits people who experience irritation from fragranced or sulfate-based cleansers and want a simple, reliable formula.
People with very dry skin who need moisture preservation from every step, including cleansing, should use this. It is not the best choice for people who prioritize heavy makeup removal from a single product, or anyone who finds the price unjustifiable for a wash-off product when similar gentle options exist at lower price points.
Product details.
Clear, jelly-like gel turns into a light, creamy foam when mixed with water. The texture is neither too thick nor too runny and dispenses cleanly from the tube.
Unscented — has no fragrance, essential oils, or detectable product smell.
White squeezable tube with Drunk Elephant's signature bright orange flip-top cap. The design is simple, hygienic, and travel-friendly. The midi size (60 mL) uses a twist-to-open cap.
The first use delivers a pleasant, non-stripping cleanse. The jelly texture lathers well without excessive foam. Skin feels clean and soft immediately; no adjustment period or purging occurs with this cleanser.
2-3 months with twice-daily use on face
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
Tiffany Masterson developed the Beste (German for 'best') cleanser after struggling to find a gel cleanser that was truly non-irritating. The original version launched with Drunk Elephant's debut line, but customer feedback about mild eye stinging and a leaky cap led to a ground-up reformulation in 2017 — the ninth iteration that finally met Masterson's standards.
About Drunk Elephant
Established Brand (5–20 years)Tiffany Masterson founded Drunk Elephant in 2012, and it launched at Sephora in 2013. Shiseido acquired the brand for $845 million in 2019. Drunk Elephant built its reputation by avoiding its 'Suspicious 6' ingredients. It is one of the best-selling prestige skincare lines in the U.S., though it relies on clean-beauty positioning and consumer loyalty rather than peer-reviewed clinical research.
Common myths.
Gel cleansers strip the skin and only work for oily types.
Beste No. 9 uses a multi-surfactant system at pH 5.5. Glycerin is the second ingredient. This cleanses effectively and maintains hydration; many combination and sensitive skin users find it comfortable.
Expensive cleansers work better because the ingredients absorb into your skin.
Cleansers are wash-off products that touch the skin briefly. Their value lies in what the surfactant system avoids — barrier disruption — instead of active ingredients that penetrate the skin.
FAQ.
Is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 good for acne-prone skin?
Yes — the sulfate-free, fragrance-free formula at pH 5.5 cleanses without disrupting the acid mantle, and it contains no comedogenic ingredients. Its gentle surfactant system removes excess oil and impurities without triggering the rebound oil production that harsher cleansers can cause in acne-prone skin.
Can Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 remove makeup?
The glycolipids and marula oil in the formula dissolve light to moderate makeup well. For heavy or waterproof makeup, use it as the second step in a double-cleanse routine after an oil-based first cleanser.
Is Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 worth the price?
At $36 for 5 oz, the price is high for a wash-off product. The surfactant system is excellent. This fragrance-free, pH-balanced formula works well for sensitive skin. However, drugstore options have similar gentle surfactant profiles for much less.
Is Beste No. 9 safe to use during pregnancy?
Yes — this cleanser lacks retinoids, salicylic acid, or other ingredients flagged during pregnancy. Its simple formula uses mild surfactants, glycerin, plant extracts, and essential fatty acids, making it a safer cleanser choice for expectant mothers.
What does 'No. 9' mean in the product name?
The '9' means this is the ninth formulation iteration. Drunk Elephant founder Tiffany Masterson tested nine versions to find a surfactant blend that cleanses well without the eye stinging seen in the original Beste Jelly Cleanser.
Can I use Beste No. 9 with retinol and other actives?
The pH 5.5 formula and gentle surfactant system do not interfere with or neutralize subsequent actives. This non-stripping cleanse helps maintain barrier integrity, which matters when using irritating treatments like retinoids or chemical exfoliants.
Community
What the community says.
"Extremely gentle and non-irritating even on sensitive skin"
"Rinses completely clean with no residue"
"Fragrance-free with no essential oils or dyes"
"Pleasant jelly texture that lathers lightly"
"Leaves skin feeling clean and soft without tightness"
"Works well as a second cleanse in a double-cleanse routine"
"Expensive for a wash-off cleanser at $36 for 5 oz"
"Can feel slightly stripping for very dry skin types"
"Doesn't foam as much as some users prefer"
"Not powerful enough for heavy or waterproof makeup removal"
"Travel-size cap prone to leaking"
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