Founder Tiffany Masterson was just trying to make a soap. She stumbled on marula oil in a tiny sample vial.
The real magic? It’s cold-pressed from fallen fruit seeds — elephants eat the fruit, but the seed is discarded. No trees are harmed. That detail sold her.
It’s a single-ingredient facial oil. $78 for 30ml. The claim? A “clean,” non-comedogenic oil that absorbs fast and doesn’t just sit on top of your skin.
Virgin, Cold-Pressed
Unrefined means it keeps all its antioxidants — it’s basically the extra virgin olive oil of face oils.
Oxidation-Resistant
Naturally stable. Won’t go rancid on your shelf in 3 months.
Biomimetic-Friendly
Plays nice with their other products — and most acids. No silicones to mess things up.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s 100% *Sclerocarya birrea* (Marula) Seed Oil. That’s it. The hero is oleic acid, which is supremely nourishing but can be heavy.
Drunk Elephant’s trick? Their sourcing gets a version high in antioxidants, which balances it. It’s not your average oil.
- Oleic Acid: Deeply hydrates & softens — can be too much for very oily skin
- Antioxidants (Tocopherols): Fights environmental free radicals — the oil’s built-in shield
- Polyphenols: Soothes irritation — the calming backup
- Palmitic Acid: Helps with skin barrier repair — the structural support
Photo: Clarissa Watson / Unsplash
Texture is golden and slick — but not sticky. Absorbs in about 90 seconds, leaving a soft, satin finish. Not greasy, but you feel *nourished*.
Week 2: My dry patches were gone. Unexpected? It layered perfectly over my vitamin C serum. No pilling. A little truly goes a long way — used more, and my pores looked congested.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
Measurable change: my winter skin barrier felt armored. Less reactive. No change: didn’t magically shrink pores or clear acne. It’s a treatment, not a cure.
It’s the expertly-sourced, single-ingredient hero it claims to be. Not for everyone, but perfect for its person.