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Find out how she only takes less than five minutes every morning and night to complete her skincare regime
Acne-prone, mild rosacea, visible pores, oily and “sensitive” skin—you name it and Tiffany Masterson may have probably encountered that skin issue.
So how exactly did she create, Drunk Elephant, one of the bestselling skincare brands in recent years?
Growing up, there wasn’t a “miracle” product she hadn’t tried. Before developing Drunk Elephant, she 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.
It wasn’t until Masterson started selling a bar cleanser on the side that she began educating herself about ingredients and how skin reacts to them, and what roles they play in a formulation. She identified six ingredients that she believed were at the root of her issues—and today, she calls them the "Suspicious 6" (essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, SLS). Once she eliminated all of them from her routine, her skin returned to a clear, healthy, balanced state. But she couldn't find products without at least one of the "Suspicious 6" in them—so she decided to make them herself.
When Masterson created Drunk Elephant, she formulated the products using a high percentage of active ingredients at skin-friendly pH levels and made sure that all of the ingredients were recognised by the skin and could be easily absorbed.
Below, Masterson shares with Tatler her beauty beliefs and how she tackles skincare trends as a beauty brand owner.
See also: Tatler’s Beauty Guide September 2021: Our Top Picks This Week
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How long do you typically spend on your skincare routine?
One to two minutes in the morning, around four minutes in total in the evening.
What is your skincare routine like for the day?
I simply put a pump each of C-Firma, A-Passioni, F-Balm, Lala, D-Bronzi and O-Bloos in my palm, mix it all up and to my face and neck. Then I top that with Umbra Tinte. It’s quick, easy and effective. It sounds like it would end up being too much to put on at once, but it’s really perfect. Also there’s something about using a little bit of each active but knowing that when it’s within a mixture, it gets spread over the entire area as it needs to be. For example, sometimes one pump of C or retinol isn’t enough to spread all over your entire face, but when smoothied together with other products, you know it’s reaching the entire surface area.
What is your skincare routine for the night?
I cleanse with Slaai or Beste. Then I put a mixture of TLC Framboos, Marula, Protini and F-Balm on my face. I use eye cream nightly too, usually C-Tango. Lippe on my lips!
What was the last skincare product that you bought?
Honestly, I haven’t purchased a skincare product in years.
Are there any new skincare trends that you’re excited to try?
None that I’m aware of at the moment but every time I learn of a trend that sounds intriguing to me, I try to formulate it in Drunk Elephant style and then I use it for a long time to see if it belongs in the line. I will say though that I’d typically act on a random idea or need before I would pay attention to a trend.
When did you start paying extra attention to your skin?
I think when I got into my 40s, I started to be more responsible about caring for and protecting my skin.
What’s one skincare must-have you’ve “influenced” others to purchase?
The Drunk Elephant Littles so that they could test out my unique philosophy of avoiding the "Suspicious 6", common trigger ingredients that we believe are at the root of most issues we see.
What’s a skincare product you can’t live without?
I love all of my products and I use them all. But at this point, it would be Umbra, my sunscreen. After all the damage I did as a teen, my skin can’t take anymore sun!
What’s the most important skincare step to you?
Wearing sunscreen for sure. But it could be tied with cleansing.
Where and what is your go-to facial?
Babyfacial. I don’t ever get facials because I like to avoid essential oils totally and completely. Don’t want them near my skin. That’s one of the main reasons I developed Babyfacial. So people could have the results of a chemical peel, but at home with no appointment needed!
See also: Skincare Secrets: Clarence Lee Shares Why He’s Been Visiting the Same Facialist for 10 Years
Is skincare the new self-care? What are your thoughts on this?
I don’t really think it’s anything new to care for skin, but I do think the way I’m trying to educate my consumer is a new approach. My ingredient elimination philosophy is so different that it feels new. Skincare in general is definitely having a moment and I think there is a new level of excitement on the part of the consumer about being able to demand more transparency from brands. It’s a great thing when we can put the control into the hands of the people who are paying their hard-earned money. They should be in control and we should give them the tools to make educated decisions regarding the health of their skin.
What is one piece of skincare advice that you live by?
Avoid the "Suspicious 6" ingredients in your skincare products. By doing so, many have seen transformational, unbelievable results. The other is to only cleanse at night. I believe it is a huge mistake to over-cleanse. Let your skin do what it knows how to do by letting the acid mantle do its thing; if you strip it off, it cannot do the important job it was meant to do.
See also: Double Cleansing: Why it’s an Important Skincare Step and the Best Ways to Do it
What is your beauty tool of choice?
I’m embarrassed to say it but the good, old-fashioned tweezers. I don’t use any other tools!
See also: Skincare Secrets: Which Beauty Tool Does Jessica Wang Use as a Form of 'Natural Botox'?
What is the most unique beauty treatment you tried overseas?
I’ll let you know! I only recently started travelling overseas so I have never had the chance to have a beauty treatment while in a different country unless you count a massage in Mexico!
See also: 5 Luxurious Massages and Spa Treatments to Pamper Yourselves With
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Andrea Saadan is the Senior Digital Editor of Tatler Singapore. She oversees all digital content for the website and currently leads the Beauty and Lifestyle verticals. As a child, she had always enjoyed reading and writing but it was only after she joined her college newspaper, The Spectrum, in Buffalo, New York, that she considered a career in journalism. Her love for all things beauty started from the age of two—when she was caught playing with (and damaging) her mother’s YSL lipstick. On top of her day job, she is also an unpaid beauty consultant for friends and family. Besides make-up, her obsessions include the wizarding world of Harry Potter, podcasts, ice-cream, her walking pad and watching endless re-runs of The Office (US).
