Lessons from the Drunk Elephant Recall: Why Quality and Preservative Safety Matter
As someone who has spent decades studying inflammation, skincare, and the science behind safe, effective formulations, the recent Drunk Elephant product recall—following the Youthforia Foundation incident—made me think deeply about what could have gone wrong and highlighted the ongoing challenges in the beauty industry.
Unfortunately, the Drunk Elephant recall, now under the Shiseido umbrella, underscores why stringent quality control and the thoughtful use of preservatives are non-negotiable and why accurate ingredient labeling matters for consumer safety and trust.
Image Credit: Drunk Elephant
What Happened With Drunk Elephant Products?
Drunk Elephant voluntarily recalled several products, including the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, Protini Polypeptide Cream, and Lala Retro Whipped Cream, as well as sample packets of the Lala cream found in the cartons of O-Bloos Rosi Drops.
Although the O-Bloos Rosi Drops themselves were unaffected, the recall revealed multiple critical issues:
Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser:
Contained a preservative called Microkill COS, which wasn’t listed on the ingredient label, compromising transparency and possibly the formulation integrity.
Protini Polypeptide Cream:
Contained Mirataine CBS, a surfactant that wasn’t disclosed in the ingredient listing, compromising transparency.
Lacked essential preservatives, leading to microbial contamination. Some batches were found to contain bacteria from the Klebsiella and Enterobacter genera. While generally harmless, these bacteria can occasionally cause infections.
Lala Retro Whipped Cream:
Also included Mirataine CBS, leading to potential skin sensitivity in some users.
Missing preservatives allowed for microbial growth, with some batches testing positive for Candida parapsilosis, a yeast naturally found on human skin that can cause irritation or infections in certain cases.
Correct ingredient listings and preservatives are absolutely needed for consumer safety with any skincare product.
Image Credit: Drunk Elephant
So Why Do You Need Preservatives in Your Products?
Preservatives are the unsung heroes of cosmetics, ensuring products remain safe, stable, and effective over time. As I’ve explained in this article on preservatives, water-based skincare products are particularly vulnerable to contamination by bacteria, mold, and yeast.
When preservatives are not used, products can become breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms.
Short version: Without preservatives, your skincare products are 100% bug food.
For example in Drunk Elephant Recall:
- Klebsiella and Enterobacter bacteria, found in the Protini Polypeptide Cream, can thrive in poorly preserved formulations, potentially causing infections in rare cases.
- Candida parapsilosis, detected in the Lala Retro Whipped Cream, is another example of what happens when preservation systems fail.
Preservatives act as your safeguard, ensuring the product remains stable from the moment it’s manufactured until its final use.
Here are examples of creams and wet wipes with microbial or mold growth when not preserved or not preserved properly.
Credit: Microbiology AU, Kevin Roden.
How Could Have This Happened?
It makes me wonder: Is the recent Drunk Elephant recall just a mistake? Or is it a glaring failure that raises deeper questions about quality control across the corporate skincare industry?
Mistakes happen, and to their credit, the brand addressed the issue transparently. They made the batch, discovered the problem, and took steps to correct it. But for a brand that is no longer a small brand and operating under the Shiseido umbrella, these oversights make you pause and think—what might have gone wrong?
Let’s break down how this could have happened.
Possibility #1: Lack of Rigorous Raw Material Testing
Every product begins with its raw ingredients, and without thorough testing, issues can spiral. Ingredients must be verified for purity, quality, and compatibility to avoid contamination or mismatches.
In this case: Microkill COS, a preservative found in the recalled Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, wasn’t listed on the ingredient label. This might indicate an oversight in raw material verification or miscommunication with suppliers.
Possibility #2: Failure to Validate Formulation Changes
Formulation tweaks require extensive testing to ensure they meet safety, stability, and regulatory standards. Any unvalidated change introduces risk.
In this case: The presence of Mirataine CBS in Protini Polypeptide Cream and Lala Retro Whipped Cream suggests formulation adjustments might have been made without sufficient oversight. The absence of necessary preservatives allowed microbial contamination to flourish.
Possibility #3: Inadequate Batch Testing
Batch testing is non-negotiable. It ensures every batch of product meets stringent safety and quality standards
In this case: The detection of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Candida parapsilosis in recalled products suggests batch testing might not have been rigorous enough or could have been skipped at certain intervals.
Possibility #4: Gaps in Supplier Communication and Auditing
Most brands depend on third-party suppliers for raw materials, packaging, or manufacturing. However, trust alone isn’t enough—clear communication and regular audits are critical.
In this case: The inclusion of unlisted ingredients like Microkill COS and Mirataine CBS could indicate a breakdown in supplier accountability. Regular audits and tighter oversight of suppliers might have caught these discrepancies earlier.
Possibility #5: Overlooking Packaging and Labeling Accuracy
Packaging and labeling are the final opportunities to ensure the product meets consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. Yet errors in this stage can undo even the best formulations.
In this case: Missing preservative listings and the presence of unverified ingredients suggest that packaging and labeling checks might not have been thorough.
Possibility #6: Insufficient Post-Market Surveillance
Even after products reach the market, quality control doesn’t end. Post-market surveillance is essential for identifying and addressing issues that might emerge.
In this case: While Drunk Elephant acted swiftly to issue the recall, stronger surveillance systems could have potentially minimized the problems.
Moving Forward: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
I believe that from adversity comes an opportunity—to learn, to change, and to improve. The recent recall is a clear example of what can happen when established skincare companies falter.
It serves as a critical reminder that even the corporate beauty industry must continually evaluate its priorities and practices to maintain consumer trust and avoid costly mistakes.
Big Corporate Brands: Complacency Has a Cost
Corporate beauty brands, with their extensive resources and global reputations, can sometimes grow too comfortable, assuming their systems are flawless.
This incident highlights that even the biggest names must remain vigilant to ensure their processes, quality control, and transparency meet the standards consumers expect.
Smaller Brands Leading the Change
Smaller beauty brands often shine where larger corporations stumble. With a focus on transparency, rigorous quality control, and a personal touch, they prioritize quality over quantity, building trust and fostering lasting relationships with their consumers. Their dedication to integrity and care sets an example the entire industry can learn from.
Take Away: Why This Matters to You?
Interestingly enough there is a good side to all that happened: The Drunk Elephant recall highlights why safety, transparency, and rigorous quality control are essential in skincare.
Because missing preservatives and microbial contamination can lead to infections or irritation, while inaccurate ingredient lists erode trust and leave consumers vulnerable to harm.
This recall is a reminder of why we must prioritize safe, transparent, and science-backed products to protect both consumer wellness and trust in the industry.
Your choices make a difference—by staying informed, trusting your instincts, and supporting brands that prioritize safety and quality, you help shape a safer, more trustworthy industry.
Thank you for being you and your dedication to wellness and a better life inspires change.
Molecular Immunologist & Skincare Expert
As an Immunologist trained in Molecular Medicine and as an expert in skin care and cosmetic chemistry, Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu has spent +20 years researching skin, impact of hormones on the immune system sharing her findings in international publications with her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Trusted by scientists, doctors, editors, bloggers, celebrities and skincare lovers around the world, her deep real-world knowledge and research are invested in every drop of AveSeena.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available data about the Drunk Elephant recall. For official information about the recall, refer to statements from the brand.
