Return policy comparison · 2026
Bluemercury vs Drunk Elephant
Policy data verified July 21, 2026 (Bluemercury) and July 24, 2026 (Drunk Elephant)
Winner
Bluemercury
A-
4.0 / 5.0 · Very Good
Drunk Elephant
B+
3.4 / 5.0 · Good
The verdict
Bluemercury has the more generous return policy in 2026, grading A- (4.0/5.0) against Drunk Elephant's B+ (3.4/5.0). It wins 1 of 5 scoring axes; the biggest gap is the return window: 90-day window (above average) versus 30-day window (industry standard).
Score breakdown
Five axes, 5.0 points total — the same deterministic grader behind every Thrifle policy page.
BluemercuryDrunk Elephant
Return window · worth 2.0
Restocking fee · worth 1.0
Return shipping · worth 1.0
Holiday window · worth 0.5
Transparency · worth 0.5
Key terms side-by-side
| Bluemercury | Drunk Elephant | |
|---|---|---|
| Return window | ✓ 90 days (original payment method; gift card only after 90 days) | 30 days (from purchase date) |
| Free returns | Yes | Yes |
| Restocking fee | — | None |
| Return shipping | — | Free - prepaid return label included with every order. |
| Holiday extension | — | None published |
| Non-returnable | — | Items purchased from authorized retailers other than drunkelephant.com, partial sets or kits (must return the whole set), empty containers |
| Watch-out items | — | — |
Bluemercury tip
Exchanges can only be done in-store, not by mail, so mail-in returns are refund-only even if you wanted a swap; after 90 days a refund converts to store credit (gift card) instead of cash back to your card.
Drunk Elephant tip
Buy skincare sets directly from drunkelephant.com if you might return part of it - retailers like Sephora have their own separate return rules, and Drunk Elephant's own site won't accept returns for items bought elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the better return policy, Bluemercury or Drunk Elephant?
Bluemercury has the more generous return policy in 2026, grading A- (4.0/5.0) against Drunk Elephant's B+ (3.4/5.0). It wins 1 of 5 scoring axes; the biggest gap is the return window: 90-day window (above average) versus 30-day window (industry standard).
What is Bluemercury's return window?
Bluemercury's return window is 90 days (original payment method; gift card only after 90 days).
What is Drunk Elephant's return window?
Drunk Elephant's return window is 30 days (from purchase date).
Does Bluemercury or Drunk Elephant offer free returns?
Bluemercury: Yes. Drunk Elephant: Yes.