Are They Dupes?: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream Vs Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream

Last Updated on December 23, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Stop the press! I’ve finally found a dupe for Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream – and it’s less than half the price! The catch? Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream is NOT suitable for everyone. Some skin types will like it more than others. Are you one of the lucky few? You’re in for a treat. Read on to find out if this night cream is the right dupe for you, who should use it, and how to add it into your skincare routine:

What Do Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream And Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream Have In Common?

PEPTIDES TO FIRM SKIN

Both Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream contain the same peptides (A LOT of them):

• sh-Oligopeptide-1: A.k.a. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), it sends signals to molecules to stimulate cell growth and healing. It’s safe for 99% of people, but if you have skin cancer avoid. You want EGF to produce new healthy cells, not new cancer cells.
• sh-Oligopeptide-2: A.k.a. Insulin-like growth factor 1, it belongs to the same Growth Factors family as sh-Oligopeptide-1. It does the same thing: stimulates cell growth and wound healing. Studies show they work even better when used together. Again, this is safe for everyone NOT affected by skin cancer.
• sh-Polypeptide-1: A.k.a. Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, it stimulates the growth of fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen. In other words, it helps your skin makes more collagen. Like other EGFs, it’s safe unless you apply it directly on skin cancer.
• sh-Polypeptide-9: A.k.a. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, it stimulates the formation of blood vessels to supply collagen-making cells with all the nutrients they need. It also helps them heal faster. Use it only on healthy skin.
• sh-Polypeptide-11: A.k.a. Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor, it stimulates the growth of collagen-making cells, skin regeneration and wound healing. Use it on healthy skin only.
• Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14: It strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, boosts collagen and makes skin plumper.
• Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate: A peptide that transports Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 to collagen-making cells so it can work its magic on them.
• Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Part of Matrixyl 3000, it helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and soothe sensitive skin.
• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: Part of Matrixyl 3000, it helps stimulate the production of collagen and firm skin.

I’m sceptical of peptides. Most of these studies were done in vitro (NOT on real skin) by the manufacturers. Not the most unbiased source! Having said that, there’s enough independent evidence that copper peptides can keep skin in a constant state of repair and help firm skin. If you want to give those a try, both creams are worth a go. FYI, Growth Factors do not cause cancer. But like everything else in your body, they can feed it. Dr. John and Dr. George, authors of barefacedtruth.com say it best:

We do not believe that EGF causes cancer. Period. There is much research about how cancers use EGF and other growth factors and their receptors to further their agenda of growth at all costs. But the same can be said of the ability of cancers to beg, borrow, or steal blood, oxygen, nutrients, and everything else they need for growth, often at the dire expense of tissues, organs or the whole organism. In short – that is the very nature of cancer and why it is dangerous – but that is not the nature of EGF. To blame EGF would be like blaming amino acids, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals, hormones, etc. (cancers use them all). But you should think of EGF as the stolen object, not the thief. To the extent that cancers may co opt EGF, well then so does healing tissue after a surgery, or skin after damage by the sun.  There is no scientific evidence that EGF applied to skin in any dose causes cancer.  But then you don’t want to apply it to known skin cancers either. That is common sense. Knowing your own skin, and the signs of skin cancer, and promptly presenting to your doctor if you perceive any changes is the reasonable caution there.

Related: Do Copper Peptides Work Better Than Retinoids?

MOISTURISING BASE TO MAKE SKIN SOFTER AND SUPPLER

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream don’t just use the same peptides. 99% of the moisturising ingredients that make up the bulk of the cream are the same too:

• Glycerin: A humectant that draws water from the air into the skin to increase its moisture levels.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: A moisturizing alcohol derived from coconut, it gives slip to a product, improves its texture and moisturises skin.
• Hyaluronic Acid: A humectant that can draw and bind to the skin up to 1000 times its weight in water.
• Marula oil: A rich source of fatty acids and antioxidants, it deeply moisturises dry skin, soothe irritations, and fight free radicals (the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles).

Related: What The Heck Are Humectants And Why Are They In My Skincare Products?

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What Else Is In Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream And Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream?

ACURE RADICALLY REJUVENATING WHIPPED NIGHT CREAM

DRUNK ELEPHANT PROTINI POLYPEPTIDE CREAM

• Water: Every skincare product needs a base to dissolve everything else in, and water does the job because it’s cheap, effective, and your skin recognizes it.
• Dicaprylyl Carbonate: This is what makes the cream feel nice and silky when you slap it on your face.
• Cetearyl Olivate: This mixes oil and water together so your cream doesn’t separate into weird gross layers like salad dressing that’s been sitting too long.
• Sorbitan Olivate: Works with that olivate above because they’re a team. Together they keep everything blended and stable.
• Bacillus/Soybean/Folic Acid Ferment Extract: This is basically a probiotic for your face. It strengthens your skin barrier, calms down inflammation, and helps your skin protect itself better against all the crap in the environment trying to mess with it.
• Nymphaea Alba Root Extract: White water lily extract that soothes irritation and has antioxidants.
• Alanine: This is an amino acid that helps your skin hold onto moisture and supports your barrier function.
• Arginine: Another amino acid that helps with wound healing and boosts hydration, plus it helps other ingredients penetrate better because it can temporarily make your skin more permeable in a good way.
• Glycine: This is a building block for collagen,, so it’s kind of essential if you care about keeping your skin firm.
• Histidine: An amino acid with strong antioxidant properties that specifically helps protect against UV damage. It also has some soothing benefits and helps maintain your skin’s pH balance so it doesn’t get too acidic or too alkaline.
• Isoleucine: This is an essential amino acid that your body can’t make on its own, and it’s important for skin repair and maintaining healthy structure.
• Phenylalanine: Another amino acid that’s involved in collagen production and maintaining skin structure. It’s one of those building blocks your skin needs to stay healthy and functional.
• Proline: This is absolutely crucial for collagen synthesis because collagen literally cannot form properly without enough proline.
• Serine: Helps with moisture retention and plays a big role in maintaining your skin barrier. It’s also involved in producing ceramides, which are essential for keeping your barrier healthy and functional.
• Threonine: Another amino acid that supports collagen and elastin production, plus it’s important for immune function in your skin so it can fight off bacteria and stay healthy.
• Valine: Essential amino acid that helps with tissue repair and is particularly important when your skin is damaged or stressed from whatever life throws at it.
• Acetyl Glutamine: This is glutamine that’s been modified to penetrate skin better than regular glutamine. It boosts hydration, strengthens your barrier, and helps your skin cells function.
• Coconut Alkanes: Derived from coconuts, these give the product that silky, non-greasy feel that makes you actually want to use it.
• Coco-Caprylate/Caprate: Super lightweight emollient from coconut that spreads easily and absorbs fast. It gives you that moisturized feeling without any of the heaviness or shine.
• Aspartic Acid: Amino acid that helps with skin renewal and moisture retention.
• Linoleic Acid: This is an omega-6 fatty acid that’s crucial for a healthy skin barrier. It has anti-inflammatory properties and actually helps with acne because acne-prone skin is often deficient in linoleic acid.
• Linolenic Acid: An omega-3 fatty acid that soothes inflammation and supports barrier health. It works together with linoleic acid to keep your skin’s lipid barrier strong and functional so moisture stays in and irritants stay out.
• Lecithin: This helps ingredients penetrate deeper into your skin and also acts as an emollient.
• Butylene Glycol: A humectant that attracts moisture to your skin, and it also helps other ingredients dissolve better and work more effectively.
• Polyvinyl Alcohol: Forms a thin film on your skin that helps lock in all that moisture and creates a smoother surface. It’s also a texture enhancer that makes the product feel more elegant.
• Sodium Lactate: Part of your skin’s natural moisturizing factor, which is that mix of stuff your skin naturally produces to keep itself hydrated.
• Sodium PCA: Another component of your skin’s NMF, and this is seriously good at attracting and holding moisture.
• PCA: This is pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which is what sodium PCA is made from. It keeps skin hydrated and supports barrier function, and it’s hygroscopic which means it pulls moisture from the environment into your skin.
• Sorbitan Isostearate: An emulsifier that keeps all the oil and water ingredients playing nice together. Without emulsifiers like this, your cream would separate into layers and be completely useless.
• Carbomer: A thickening agent that gives creams and gels their texture. It’s what creates that nice gel-cream consistency that’s not too thick or too runny, basically the structure that holds everything together.
• Polysorbate 20: Helps mix oil-soluble and water-soluble ingredients together so they don’t separate. It keeps the formula stable so it doesn’t get weird or separate over time.
• Polysorbate 60: Another emulsifier doing basically the same job as Polysorbate 20 but with slightly different properties. Using multiple emulsifiers creates a more stable, longer-lasting product that won’t turn into a separated mess.
• Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer: This is actually genius because it’s a sustained-release form of AHAs. Instead of hitting your skin all at once which can cause irritation and stinging, it releases slowly over time so you get gentle, continuous exfoliation without any of the drama. But there’s so little in here, don’t expect it to exfoliate much.
• Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: A thickener and stabilizer with a ridiculously long name that nobody can pronounce. It gives the cream that luxurious texture and helps keep all the ingredients evenly distributed so you’re not getting more actives in one part of the jar than another.
• Xanthan Gum: A natural thickener that’s made by fermenting sugar, and it helps suspend other ingredients evenly throughout the formula. It keeps everything from settling or separating and contributes to that smooth, consistent texture.
• Isomalt: A sugar-based humectant that helps with hydration and also improves the texture of the product.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: Does double duty as a preservative booster and a solvent. It helps other ingredients dissolve properly and also keeps bacteria from growing in your cream.
• Caprylyl Glycol: Another preservative booster that also moisturizes, so you’re getting preservation and hydration in one ingredient. It helps fight bacteria and fungi while making the product feel nice on your skin.
• Chlorphenesin: A preservative that keeps your cream from turning into a science experiment full of bacteria and mold.
• Phenoxyethanol: One of the most common preservatives in skincare because it’s very effective at preventing microbial growth and is generally well-tolerated by most people.
• Tocopherol: Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from free radical damage caused by pollution, UV rays, and just living your life.
• Sodium Benzoate: Another preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal growth.
• Phenylpropanol: A preservative and antimicrobial that helps keep the product fresh and safe to use.
• Glyceryl Caprylate: Derived from coconut, this is both a moisturizer and a preservative booster.
• Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract: Comfrey plant stem cells with antioxidant properties.

ACURE RADICALLY REJUVENATING WHIPPED NIGHT CREAM

• Water: It’s water, nothing fancy, just the base that dissolves all the other ingredients so they can mix together properly and actually get absorbed into your skin when you slap this on your face.
• Cetearyl Olivate: This is what keeps all the oily ingredients and all the watery ingredients mixed together nicely.
• Coconut Alkanes: These come from coconuts and they’re what make the product feel really silky and nice when you’re rubbing it on your face, no greasy film or heaviness.
• Sorbitan Olivate: This works together with that cetearyl olivate I mentioned before. They’re basically a team that keeps everything stable and properly mixed so you don’t end up with weird separation happening after a few weeks of the product sitting on your shelf.
• Ascorbyl Glucoside: This is a stable form of vitamin C that brightens up dark spots and hyperpigmentation, boosts collagen production, and fights free radical damage, but it doesn’t oxidize and turn into useless orange gunk like pure L-ascorbic acid does if you look at it wrong.
• Acetyl Glutamine: This is glutamine that’s been modified so it can actually penetrate your skin barrier properly, and what it does is strengthen that barrier, boost hydration levels, and help your skin cells function optimally.
• Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract: This comes from bacteria that survive in the freezing waters of Antarctica and it just has antioxidant properties.
• Ferulic Acid: This is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the effectiveness of vitamin C and protects your skin from UV damage and free radicals. It also stabilizes other antioxidants in the formula so they work better and last longer in the bottle, which is why you often see it paired with vitamin C and vitamin E.
• Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract: Water lily extract that soothes any irritation and has antioxidant benefits.
• Symphytum Officinale Root Cell Extract: These are comfrey plant stem cells that are loaded with growth factors and nutrients that have antioxidant properties.
• Sodium PCA: This is part of your skin’s natural moisturizing factor, which is basically that mix of components your skin naturally produces to keep itself hydrated and protected.
• Salicylic Acid: This is a BHA that gets deep into your pores and cleans them out from the inside, breaking down all the dead skin cells and oil and gunk that causes congestion and leads to breakouts. But there’s little of it here, so don’t expect much exfoliation.
• Lecithin: This helps other ingredients penetrate deeper into your skin where they can be more effective, and it also acts as an emollient that makes the product feel more nourishing and luxurious on your skin.
• Isomalt: This is a sugar-based humectant that pulls moisture into your skin and also improves the overall texture and feel of the product so it’s comfortable and pleasant to use.
• Linoleic Acid: This omega-6 fatty acid is absolutely crucial for maintaining a healthy skin barrier, and it has anti-inflammatory properties that help calm your skin.
• Linolenic Acid: This is an omega-3 fatty acid that soothes inflammation and works synergistically with linoleic acid to keep your skin’s lipid barrier strong and functional, which means moisture stays locked in where it belongs and all the irritating stuff from the environment stays out where it can’t mess with your skin.
• Sodium Anisate: This is a natural preservative that’s derived from anise, and it keeps the product fresh and prevents bacterial growth without being harsh or irritating to your skin.
• Xanthan Gum: This is a natural thickener that’s made by fermenting sugar, and what it does is keep all the ingredients suspended evenly throughout the formula so you don’t get weird settling at the bottom of the jar where some parts have more active ingredients than others and you’re getting inconsistent results.
• Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract: This is a probiotic ferment that strengthens your skin barrier, calms down inflammation, and helps your skin defend itself more effectively against environmental stressors and irritants.
• Sodium Levulinate: This is a natural preservative that’s derived from corn or sugar, and it has antimicrobial properties that keep bacteria and mold from growing in your cream.
• Caprylyl Glycol: This does double duty as both a preservative booster and a moisturizer, so it’s keeping the product safe from microbial contamination while also hydrating your skin at the same time.
• Coco-Caprylate/Caprate: This is a super lightweight emollient that comes from coconut, and it spreads really easily across your skin and absorbs fast without leaving you looking greasy or shiny like you just rubbed cooking oil on your face.
• Glyceryl Caprylate: This comes from coconut and it acts as both a moisturizer and a preservative booster.
• Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer: This is honestly genius because it’s a sustained-release form of AHAs that releases slowly over time rather than hitting your skin all at once. But there’s to little in it, don’t expect it to exfoliate much.
• Sorbitan Isostearate: This is an emulsifier that keeps all the oil-based ingredients and water-based ingredients properly mixed together so the formula stays stable and consistent and doesn’t separate into layers over time.
• Carbomer: This is a thickening agent that creates that nice gel-cream texture that’s easy to spread and not too thick or too runny.
• Polysorbate 20: This helps oil-soluble ingredients and water-soluble ingredients blend together properly so everything stays mixed and stable and you don’t end up with separation happening in the bottle.
• Butylene Glycol: This is a humectant that attracts moisture to your skin, and it also helps other ingredients dissolve better and penetrate more effectively.
• Propanediol: This is derived from corn and it pulls moisture into your skin while also acting as a solvent that helps other ingredients penetrate better.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: This helps ingredients dissolve properly in the formula and also acts as a preservative booster that keeps bacteria from growing in your cream.
• Polyvinyl Alcohol: This forms a really thin film on your skin that locks in all that moisture you just applied and creates a smoother surface. It also makes the product feel more elegant and luxurious when you’re applying it to your face.
• Citric Acid: This adjusts the pH of the formula so it matches your skin’s natural slightly acidic pH, which means you get less irritation and better absorption of all the active ingredients because they work best at the right pH level.

WHICH FORMAL IS BETTER?

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream are almost perfect dupes. I say almost because Drunk Elephant chose to go with amino acids, while Acure is loaded with antioxidants. Let’s start with them. Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream has vitamin C, ferulic acid and turmeric, all antioxidants proven to fight the free radicals that give you wrinkles and dark spots. Granted, there’s only a sprinkle of them here but hey, every little bit helps.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream has every amino acids you can think of. Amino acids do all kinds of things for your skin, from fighting free radicals (histidine), to boosting collagen (proline) and helping skin heal faster (arginine). Which one is better for anti-aging? Hard to say. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. A better approach is, what is your skincare missing? If it’s low on amino acids, go with Drunk Elephant. If you could do with more antioxidants, Acure is the better choice.

Related: The Complete Guide To Amino Acids: What They Are, What They Do For Skin And Where To Find Them

What’s The Texture Like?

The other main difference between Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream is their texture. Drunk Elephant has a lightweight gel texture that sinks in quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind. It’s suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone. Acure has a much heavier cream texture. It takes a while to sink in and can feel heavy on some skin types. I’d recommend it only to dry skin.

What’s The Packaging Like?

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream comes in a white and green airless jar that keeps the goodies inside safe from the light and air that can make them go bad. You have to press the top down to make the cream come out. Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream comes in a white and purple tube. It’s sleek and practical.

How To Use Them

They’re both the last step of your skincare routine at night. You could also use them during the day. Just because it says night cream, it doesn’t mean it won’t work during the day. Skin is skin, you know what I mean?

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

If you’re looking for a peptide cream, both Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream will do. But which one is better for YOU? It depends on your skin type and needs:

Go with Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream if:

• You have combination, oily, acne-prone skin
• You need more amino acids in your skincare routine
• You prefer gel textures

Choose Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream if:

• You have dry skin
• You need more antioxidants in your skincare routine
• You prefer cream textures
• You’re on a budget and willing to compromise on texture

Price & Availability

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ($72.00): Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora and SpaceNK

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream ($21.99): Available at Acure and iHerb

Is Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream A Dupe For Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream?

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream isn’t an exact dupe for Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream – but it’s close enough. If it’s a peptide cream you want, both will do the trick. But Acure is better for dry skin, while Drunk Elephant is suitable for all skin types.