NATURAL CHEMISTRY
THE FOUNDER OF INNOVATIVE BEAUTY BRAND DRUNK ELEPHANT EXPLAINS WHY LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO SKINCARE
TIFFANY MASTERSON’S JOURNEY FROM ‘JUST ANOTHER BEAUTY CONSUMER’ TO FOUNDER OF A SUCCESSFUL skincare business began 10 years ago, when the Houston-based mother of four found herself battling an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, recurring inflammation and redness. Masterson’s desire to do something about these issues led to the inception of biocompatible beauty brand Drunk Elephant – her ‘fifth baby’.
‘I couldn’t find what I wanted on the market, so I made it,’ she explains.
HOME SCHOOL
Over the next two years, Masterson set about trying to understand why her skin was so sensitive. She ‘dissected’ her pots of cream, as well as those of her friends who were experiencing similar problems.
Between school runs, she studied ingredients and the skin itself – its function, structure and needs – and started creating and selling cleansing bars. People came to her for advice and her mission crystallised: to improve the lives of fellow bad-complexion sufferers. ‘Most people’s skin is not sensitive by nature,’ she says. ‘It’s what we put on it and into our bodies that makes it reactive.’
THE SUSPICIOUS SIX
Driven by a quest for ‘clean, compatible and clinical’ skincare, Masterson developed more formulations. ‘I realised most products contained preservatives, pH stabilisers, perfume, alcohol, essential oils and antioxidants.’ She dubbed these ingredients ‘the suspicious six’ and, with the help of a chemist, began creating products without them. The result was her now-celebrated skincare line, Drunk Elephant, so-called because the fermenting fruit of the tree the brand’s hero ingredient, marula oil, comes from seems to intoxicate elephants that eat it. While Masterson’s clean skincare crusade may have begun with her own needs in mind, today her brand’s 35 face, body and hair products are suitable for all. The bright packaging features clear instructions and details ingredients such as chickpea flour, matcha tea and milk thistle, all of which are responsibly sourced, while formulations are tested and certified to industry standards. It’s easy to see why, in just a few years, Drunk Elephant has become a brand beauty addicts adore.