Founder Tiffany Masterson heard a story about elephants getting tipsy on fermented marula fruit. She named her brand Drunk Elephant on the spot.
The real magic? The oil is cold-pressed from the nut inside the fruit — not the pulp the elephants eat. So, no hangovers. Just glow.
A 30ml bottle of Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. $78. The claim? It absorbs in 10 seconds without greasiness. I had to test that.
Cold-Pressed
Means nutrients aren’t cooked out — it’s the good stuff.
Virgin Grade
The first, purest press. No filler oils.
Oxidation-Resistant
Comes in dark glass. Stays fresh for ages — a year easy.
Photo: Natallia Photo / Unsplash
It’s 100% unadulterated marula oil. No fragrance, no silicones. The fatty acid profile is freakishly similar to human sebum — that’s why skin recognizes it.
- Omega-9 (Oleic Acid): Softens & reinforces your skin barrier
- Omega-6 (Linoleic Acid): Calms redness, helps prevent clogged pores
- Antioxidants (Tocopherols): Fights daily environmental damage
- Polyphenols: Soothes irritation on contact
Photo: Gabriel Goncalves / Unsplash
Texture is slick and golden — like liquid silk. Warm 3 drops between your palms and it vanishes. No 10-minute wait. No residue on your pillowcase.
After two weeks, my surprise? It didn’t magically cure dryness. It managed it. My skin felt more resilient, less reactive to every little change.
Measurable change: my winter flakiness disappeared. No change: my hormonal chin spots still arrived monthly. It’s a barrier supporter, not a miracle worker.
It’s a beautifully executed, pure product. Not life-changing, but reliably excellent. The luxury is in the simplicity and the finish.