Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($68 for 1.7 oz) and Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($60 for 1.69 oz) are two of Sephora's bestselling moisturizers. Both target dry to combination skin seeking a plump, dewy finish. Both are expensive for what's in the jar. But they have genuinely different ingredient approaches, and one is a better product.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro has a better-formulated ingredient list — six rare fermented oils, peptides, and ceramides that support the skin barrier beyond simple hydration. Tatcha is beautifully packaged and the silk extract has soothing properties, but the formula leans heavily on Japanese botanicals and aqueous emollients that are pleasant but not clinically differentiated. For the money, Lala Retro wins on ingredients.
Specs Comparison
| Spec | Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream | Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $68 / 1.7 oz | $60 / 1.69 oz |
| Key Actives | Hadasei-3, HA, squalane, silk | 6 fermented oils, ceramides, peptides |
| Texture | Smooth, dewy finish | Whipped, rich |
| Best Time | Morning (under makeup) | Night (barrier repair) |
| Fragrance | Yes (mild) | No |
| Best Skin Type | Normal to dry | Dry, combination, barrier issues |
| Under Makeup | Excellent | Adequate (slightly heavy) |
Key Ingredients
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is built around Hadasei-3, Tatcha's proprietary complex of green tea, rice, and algae. It also contains hyaluronic acid, squalane, and silk protein. These are good ingredients — well-tolerated, hydrating, gentle. But the 'Japanese beauty ritual' positioning elevates the narrative beyond what the ingredient list independently supports.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro contains a blend of six fermented rare oils (marula, baobab, mongongo, passion fruit, jojoba, and sea buckthorn), ceramides, and peptides. This is a richer, more functional formulation — ceramides support the lipid barrier; fermented oils penetrate more efficiently than cold-pressed equivalents; peptides provide mild collagen-supporting signaling. It's a legitimately different approach.
Texture and Finish
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream has the more distinctive texture — very smooth, glides on effortlessly, and gives skin an immediate glass-skin dewiness. For a morning moisturizer under light makeup, the finish is beautiful. It's a sensory pleasure that the Drunk Elephant doesn't quite match.
Lala Retro has a 'whipped' texture — airy but rich, almost like a mousse. It absorbs fully without a heavy residue but takes a moment longer to sink in. On very dry skin it works well overnight. Under makeup it can feel slightly heavy for some skin types.
Skin Types and When to Use Each
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream is ideal for normal to dry skin, particularly in the morning. The dewy finish plays well under foundation and the formula is light enough to not feel occlusive in humid conditions. It's not the right choice for oily or acne-prone skin — the sheen compounds oiliness.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro works best as a night cream for dry, combination, or barrier-compromised skin. The ceramide content makes it genuinely reparative overnight. It's too rich for oily skin and the oil blend may not agree with acne-prone skin.
Price and the Sephora Premium
Both products are priced at the upper end of what drugstore alternatives demonstrate is 'necessary.' A ceramide moisturizer from CeraVe ($19) performs similarly for barrier repair. The premium you're paying at Tatcha or Drunk Elephant is for formulation quality, sensory experience, brand ethos, and the ritual of a $60+ skincare routine.
That said, both brands are legitimate — not hype factories. Drunk Elephant in particular has a very clean formula philosophy (no 'Suspicious 6' irritants). If you're going to spend this much on a moisturizer, these are among the better-formulated options in the tier.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Strengths
- Beautiful dewy finish — best morning glow texture at this price
- Lightweight enough to use under makeup without pilling
- Gentle, well-tolerated formula suitable for sensitive skin
- Hadasei-3 botanicals (green tea, rice, algae) have soothing and antioxidant properties
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Strengths
- Six fermented rare oils — functionally richer formulation
- Ceramide content supports skin barrier repair, not just surface hydration
- Peptides for mild collagen-supporting activity
- Clean formula — no fragrance, essential oils, silicones, or drying agents
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Weaknesses
- Ingredient list doesn't fully justify $68 vs comparable drugstore moisturizers
- Not ideal for oily or acne-prone skin
- Japanese botanical positioning inflates premium over formula substance
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Weaknesses
- Whipped texture takes longer to absorb than Tatcha — less ideal for rushed mornings
- Too rich for oily skin; may not suit acne-prone users
- $60 for 1.69 oz is hard to justify against CeraVe-tier performance on barrier repair alone
Best For
- a: Dry to normal skin seeking a glass-skin morning moisturizer with a beautiful dewy finish under makeup
- b: Dry or barrier-compromised skin needing a night cream with functional ingredients beyond basic hydration
FAQ
Can I use Lala Retro every day?
Yes, though it's rich enough that oily skin types may want to limit it to nights. Dry skin can use it morning and night without issues.
Is Tatcha worth the price compared to drugstore moisturizers?
For the formula alone, not really — a $20 drugstore hyaluronic acid moisturizer with similar actives delivers comparable hydration. You're paying for the texture, packaging, and experience. That's a legitimate purchase; just be clear about what you're buying.
Do these moisturizers have SPF?
No — neither Tatcha nor Lala Retro includes sun protection. You'll need a separate SPF in your morning routine. Don't skip it.