JANUARY ISSUE 2021 Real Skin

Tiffany Masterson’s Glow-Up Routine

Tiffany Masterson, the founder of cult skincare brand Drunk Elephant, considers herself to be a beauty consumer first and foremost. In her words, she approached the beauty industry from the ‘outside’ when her own skin threw up persistent issues that refused to be reined in by existing products. After a lot of research Masterson identified six skincare ingredients that she believed were the cause of her problems. Drunk Elephant was born of this research and is now renowned as a brand that delivers straightforward products -camreally work. Here, Masterson shares her knowledge and her simple but effective Sunday skincare regimen that leaves her with beautiful glowing skin…



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"I always thought that layering skincare products and waiting in between each application was such a pain and inconvenience. And with four kids and a job, I just didn’t have that time to waste."

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First, You Need To Understand Your Skin

I remember using my mum’s products and I would buy all the things I thought looked good in magazines. I thought my skin was sensitive and prone to acne and rosacea, so I would go to the dermatologist or research a new product that I hoped might work. I was a frustrated, confused brand-hopper searching for anything that would help. Nothing really worked, and if it did, it didn’t work for long. So, I started to educate myself and identified six ingredients that I believed were at the root of my issues—today I call them the Suspicious 6™ (silicones, essential oils, SLS, chemical sunscreens, drying alcohols and fragrances/dyes). Once I eliminated all of them from my routine my skin returned to a clear, healthy, balanced state.

My Sunday Skincare Routine Is All About Glow

On Sunday morning, like every morning, I use B-Hydra, C-Firma, A-Passioni, Lala and a drop of D-Bronzi for warmth. I mix them in the palm of my hand and apply, then top it off with Umbra Sheer. I never wear foundation, but if I’m going out, I’ll swipe on some NARS Mascara and a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick.

In the evening, I cleanse and use T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial with AHAs and BHAs for a deep exfoliation. After I’ve exfoliated, I mix Protini, B-Hydra and Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil together and apply. Then, I just light some candles and relax. I love candles, Diptyque and Jo Loves are two of my favourites.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Retinol

When I first launched Drunk Elephant, I put retinol (vitamin A) on my “no” list. Like many, I was confused and scared by it. I thought that retinol exfoliated, but it doesn’t. I thought you couldn’t use it during the day, but you can. I thought you couldn’t mix it with AHAs and again, you can. Now I know it’s an antioxidant powerhouse that teaches skin cells to behave better. I made A-Passioni with 1% vegan retinol combined with other nutritious superfood extracts like passionfruit and kale.

Choose Mixing Over Layering

Like many women, I always thought that layering skincare products and waiting in between each application was such a pain and inconvenience. And with four kids and a job, I just didn’t have that time to waste. Now I know mixing up the products in the palm of your hand and applying everything at once is just as effective but so much easier. I formulate Drunk Elephant products purposefully to be used together and to not hinder or block absorption or effectiveness of one another.

I Feel Very Good In My Own Skin Now

We all age, there’s not a thing we can do about it but we can age more gracefully by eating well, exercising, being kind, taking good care of ourselves and letting nature take its course. Clean living makes me feel more beautiful and youthful than anything else.

My Top Beauty Tips


1. Skip your morning cleanse. I just use a soft damp cloth to gently wipe over my eyes with some Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water. I believe that cleansing too much challenges the skin’s acid mantle.

2. I love the ritual of applying my conditioner in the shower and then combing it through my hair to disperse it evenly. Then I let it sit for a few minutes. When I rinse it out, my hair is already combed through and it makes it very easy to blow dry afterwards.

3. Always wear sunscreen. If I could send a message to my 21-year-old self, it would be to put the olive oil away and put on sunscreen! Wow, did I do a lot of damage to my skin back then.

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