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Tiffany Masterson’s Suspicious 6™: The Skincare Reset Approach of Drunk Elephant

Hey Beauties! It is no secret that Drunk Elephant has built its reputation on a clear and consistent philosophy: focus on skin-friendly, research-backed ingredients and avoid those that could compromise the skin’s balance. The brand does not make its choices based on whether ingredients are synthetic or natural, but on whether they are biocompatible and beneficial.

Formulations are designed to maintain healthy pH levels, use molecular structures that are easily absorbed, and include active ingredients that support the skin’s acid mantle. Just as important is what Drunk Elephant leaves out—its well-known list of six ingredient categories, known as the Suspicious 6™, that the brand avoids entirely.

drunk elephant, tiffany masterson, the contour concierge, vancouver, bc, ecoluxury, helen siwak, folioyvr

The Suspicious 6™

The Suspicious 6™ include essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS. These are not positioned as inherently harmful but as ingredients that, according to the brand, can be linked to common skin concerns such as sensitivity and breakouts. Drunk Elephant’s philosophy suggests that when these ingredients are removed from a routine—what the company calls taking a “Drunk Break™”—the skin can reset and return to a more balanced state.

As founder Tiffany Masterson has explained, “A routine is only as good as its worst product, and a product only as good as its worst ingredient. In other words, it takes just one bad guy to ruin the party.” This ingredient elimination has become a cornerstone of the company’s identity and is promoted as the best way to achieve visible results from the range.

The brand encourages using its products exclusively for maximum effect, positioning the Drunk Break™ as a total reset for skin health. According to Masterson, many users find their skin appears smoother, more even, and less reliant on makeup after following the approach.

drunk elephant, tiffany masterson, the contour concierge, vancouver, bc, ecoluxury, helen siwak, folioyvr

Biocompatibility And pH Awareness

Central to Drunk Elephant’s product development is the idea of biocompatibility. All products, except for the zinc-based Umbra sunscreens, are designed to be highly absorbable and mix easily in the palm before application. This is where the brand’s “skincare smoothie” analogy comes into play—serums, treatments, and moisturizers can be combined in one step to suit the skin’s needs at any given time.

The company also highlights the importance of pH levels in maintaining the skin’s barrier and microbiome. The skin’s microbiome, made up of a balance of microorganisms, requires an acidic environment to thrive. Drunk Elephant formulations are designed to work within this optimal range.

Part of the brand’s messaging is about adapting routines to changes in the skin. “If your skin feels tight, it is usually a sign of dehydration,” Masterson notes. Flaky spots, she adds, can indicate a more advanced stage of dehydration or the effects of overusing active ingredients such as retinol. The suggestion is to adjust product choices based on daily skin feedback rather than sticking rigidly to the same routine year-round.

Origins And Growth

Tiffany Masterson’s personal experience with various skin issues—including oiliness, sensitivity, mild rosacea, and visible pores—shaped the brand’s philosophy. Before launching Drunk Elephant in 2013, she experimented with products, sold a bar cleanser, and educated herself about formulation and ingredient effects.

The brand name comes from a myth about elephants becoming intoxicated from fermented marula fruit. While the story is not factually accurate, the marula fruit is significant to Drunk Elephant; virgin marula oil, extracted from the pip, features in many of its products and is valued by the company for its fatty acid and antioxidant content.

From its initial launch, Drunk Elephant expanded to more than 30 products and secured an exclusive US distribution deal with Sephora. In 2019, it was acquired by Shiseido Americas for $845 million—one of the largest acquisitions in the skincare sector. This growth solidified the brand’s position in the global beauty market and brought its ingredient-focused philosophy to a much wider audience.

A Reset-Driven Routine

Drunk Elephant’s approach is positioned as straightforward but disciplined: combine biocompatible ingredients, maintain skin-friendly pH, and avoid the Suspicious 6™ entirely. The company maintains that this method allows the skin to return to its healthiest, most balanced state.

“See what happens when your skin returns to its healthiest, most balanced state,” Masterson says in her invitation to try a Drunk Break™. For some, the reset could mean fewer products overall, reduced reliance on makeup, and a more even skin texture.

While the brand’s voice is often personable and conversational, its core message is structured and consistent—skin health depends on both what is included and what is excluded from a routine. Whether or not an individual sees dramatic changes, Drunk Elephant’s framework offers a defined, ingredient-driven approach to building a skincare regimen.

Be sure to pop back next week, when we will be diving into seven of Drunk Elephant’s must-have products. From texture to benefits to how they play together in your skincare “smoothie,” we will break down exactly why these favourites have earned their spot in the lineup—and how they might just become stars in yours, too.

Author Profile

Jade Massie, The Contour Concierge: With over 15 years immersed in the dynamic realms of beauty and fashion, Jade Massie is the Beauty, Health & Wellness ambassador for Port/Folio.YVR. In this series (hosted by Jade and composed by Helen Siwak), we share a commitment to the people, personalities, and places that make Vancouver are wonderful place of self-care, self-love, and satisfying experiences. Follow her on IG: @thecontourconcierge.