Drunk Elephant is the invention of Tiffany Masterson, who began to create products at home to tackle her skin problems. Eventually she identified half a dozen common skincare ingredients – she calls them the Suspicious Six – that she wanted to steer clear of: essential oils, silicones, sodium lauryl sulphate, chemical screens, artificial colouring and fragrance, and drying alcohols. The result is a range of seriously effective, easy-to-use products that have been adored by beauty editors in the United States and elsewhere. Now the brand is available in Ireland.
You can buy Drunk Elephant online here through Cult Beauty (free shipping for orders over €40) and both online (free shipping over £70) and in-store from Space NK, which has branches on Grafton Street in Dublin and on Lisburn Road in Belfast. Although it is quite hard to go wrong with any product in the range – all are effective and practical – many are designed to be mixed together rather than layered. Here are a few of my favourites to consider.
Lippe Balm
£18 at Cult Beauty
The perfect introduction to Drunk Elephant, this lip balm is both affordable and incredibly effective. Hefty, buttery and instantly softening, it does not just feel like a layer placed atop dry and uncomfortable lips but gets to work, sinking in, right away. Ideal for anyone who struggles through the winter with tight, chapped or sore lips.
Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
£40 at Cult Beauty
If you invest in just one Drunk Elephant product, let it be this one. This nutrient-rich cold-pressed oil is rich in omega 6, omega 9and vitamin E and is antimicrobial. Anyone can use this incredibly soothing, quickly absorbed unfragranced oil. It helps regulate the skin's sebum production, prevent and tackle dryness, and smooth and plump skin texture. It is delectable.
TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
£90 at Cult Beauty
This is definitely an investment product for people who want gentle but effective resurfacing skincare. This contains lactic, glycolic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acids, making it ideal if you're prone to breakouts, for tackling dullness, and for generally improving the skin's texture, fine lines and brightness. It is gentle, so all but those with very sensitive or reactive skin should get on well with it.
Protini Polypeptide Cream
£68 at Cult Beauty
You can use this dreamy moisturiser at any age. Think of it as a fantastic skin-maintenance product. It is peptide-rich to plump and firm the skin. The water-gel texture instantly hydrates and comforts the skin, creating a lovely base for makeup.
The Littles Kit
£90 at Cult Beauty
If you're curious enough to try the Drunk Elephant equivalent of a tasting menu, or are looking for a Christmas gift, the Littles Kit is ideal. It includes miniatures of the range's Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser, Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, C-Firma Day Serum, TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum and Shaba Complex Eye Serum.
