Founder Tiffany Masterson was on safari. Saw elephants eating marula fruit from a sacred tree. Thought: what’s in that seed?
The real story? She cold-called an oil supplier in South Africa from her kitchen. The billion-dollar Drunk Elephant empire started with a single, stubborn question.
Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, $72. The claim? A dry oil that hydrates without clogging — a unicorn for oily-combo skin like mine.
100% Virgin Marula
Cold-pressed once a year from fallen fruit.
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega-6 & 9 to reinforce your skin barrier.
Antioxidant Bomb
Higher antioxidant content than argan or maracuja.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s just one ingredient: *Sclerocarya birrea* (Marula) Seed Oil. No filler, no fragrance, no bullshit. The fatty acid profile mimics your skin’s own lipids — it speaks the language.
- Marula Oil: Repairs barrier, locks in moisture
- That’s it. Literally.
Photo: BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific / Unsplash
Texture is shockingly light — like silk, not syrup. Absorbs in under 30 seconds. Leaves a soft veil, not a greasy film.
Week 3: My skin stopped over-producing oil by 11am. The surprise? It calmed a stubborn red patch I’d blamed on stress.
Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash
Measurably softer, more even skin. Makeup sits perfectly. Did it erase fine lines? No. But my complexion looks fortified — less reactive.
It’s a brilliant, single-ingredient workhorse. Not magic, but superior engineering. You’re paying for purity and a damn good origin story.