Trader Joe's Marula Oil Cream Cleanser Review: Clean and Marula Soft

Trader Joe's quietly added a Marula Oil Cream Cleanser to its skincare lineup and if the packaging looks familiar, that is intentional. It matches the wildly popular marula oil that many shoppers considered a reasonably priced alternative to higher end options.

This cleanser feels like Trader Joe's is taking another swing at the same audience. It closely resembles the Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser, which contains 1.0 percent colloidal oatmeal. Trader Joe's even alludes to this comparison directly on its website by referencing a thirty six dollar product. The difference here is the price point and accessibility.

Review

Trader Joe's quietly dropped a Marula Oil Cream Cleanser and if the packaging looks familiar, it should. It mirrors the fan favorite marula oil that many shoppers (myself included) viewed as a reasonably priced dupe for Drunk Elephant's version. This new cleanser feels like Trader Joe's took notes again, because it reads like a very close cousin to Mello Marula Cream Cleanser which features 1.0 percent colloidal oatmeal. Trader Joe's even hints at this directly in its website description by pointing out that a similar cleanser retails for thirty six dollars.

The good news is that this one performs well. I used it in my nightly shower routine and it left my skin feeling soft rather than tight. My face felt clean, hydrated, and comfortable which is not always the case with cream cleansers. It is not moisturizing enough to skip a follow up product, but it sets a nice base before adding serums or moisturizer. There is almost no detectable fragrance which will make a lot of people very happy.

The texture is creamy without being greasy. It spreads easily, rinses clean, and does not leave behind film or heaviness. If you are used to foaming or gel cleansers, this will feel different, but in a way that leans soothing instead of slippery. I found the colloidal oatmeal effect noticeable in the way my skin felt immediately after rinsing which is where the softness came through most clearly.

Overall, this is one of the more promising skincare drops from Trader Joe's in a while. It feels thoughtfully formulated, gives gentle hydration, and plays well under the rest of a nighttime routine. If you enjoyed the marula oil or simply want a cleanser that does not strip your skin, this is worth picking up. I'm absolutely adding this product to my Best of Trader Joe's Beauty. This is an affordable find that performs well.

It is a dupe? Trader Joe's vs Drunk Elephant

Trader Joe's is not shy about the inspiration here. The ingredient list on the new Marula Oil Cream Cleanser bears a striking resemblance to that of the Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser, and the overlap is hard to miss. Both formulas rely on a gentle surfactant blend, marula oil, colloidal oatmeal, and a mix of fatty acids, amino acids, and supporting plant oils.

Here is what stands out when you look at the ingredients side by side.

Shared Key Ingredients

Both cleansers share a long list of core ingredients including:

• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine as the main cleansing agents
• Marula oil as the signature emollient
• Colloidal oatmeal for soothing and softness
• Evening primrose oil, chia seed oil, coconut oil, and rosehip oil
• Cetearyl alcohol for structure and creaminess
• A blend of amino acids like alanine, arginine, glycine, valine, and serine
• Vanilla extract and marshmallow root extract
• Triglycerides and glyceryl stearate for slip and hydration

This overlap suggests that Trader Joe's aimed for the same feel and function: a gentle cream cleanser that comforts the skin rather than stripping it.

Where Trader Joe's Differs

Trader Joe's formula includes a few additions that do not appear in the Drunk Elephant version:

• Helianthus annuus sunflower seed oil
• Rosemary leaf extract
• Aspartic acid listed higher on the list
• Coconut oil placed slightly later in the ingredient order
• A slightly broader range of surfactants including coco glucoside and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate

These changes mostly influence texture, spreadability, and rinsability. They do not fundamentally shift the product away from its inspiration.

Where Drunk Elephant Differs

Drunk Elephant includes a few ingredients not found in the Trader Joe's formula:

• Coconut acid as an additional cleansing and emulsifying agent
• Sodium isethionate, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and sodium carbonate
• Sodium benzoate as a preservative

These additions contribute to the specific creaminess and lather profile of the Drunk Elephant formula but do not meaningfully change the overall cleansing experience.

The Big Picture

Both cleansers are built on nearly identical foundations. They use the same cleansing system, the same hero oils, and the same soothing agents. Trader Joe's uses a few additional plant extracts and slightly different supporting surfactants, but the overall experience is remarkably similar.

The price difference is the real standout. Drunk Elephant's cleanser retails for around thirty six dollars. Trader Joe's version costs a fraction of that and still delivers a soft, hydrated, non tight feel after cleansing.

If you liked the idea of a gentle marula based cream cleanser but did not want to splurge, this Trader Joe's version gets you surprisingly close.