The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Marula Oil
aka sclerocarya birrea · virgin marula
Drunk Elephant's Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil turned a southern-African indigenous oil into a clean-prestige category. Cold-pressed from Sclerocarya birrea kernels; ~70% oleic acid, high in vitamin E and antioxidants; one of the most oxidatively stable plant oils available, which matters for clean shelf life without synthetic stabilizers. Community-sourced supply (women's cooperatives in Namibia/South Africa) makes it a values-aligned story.
- rich, fast-absorbing emollient suited to most skin types
- high oxidative stability — long shelf life without synthetic preservation
- antioxidant tocopherol and phenolic load
- Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula
- facial oils
- hair-end oils
Use 1–100% in oil products; 1–5% in emulsions. Cold-pressed virgin marula preserves antioxidants. Pairs with squalane, rosehip, and barrier ceramides.
High oleic — marula-only routines may be heavier than balanced (oleic + linoleic) blends for oily and acne-prone skin. Tree-nut adjacency (Anacardiaceae family) — patch test for cashew/mango allergies.
Strongly positive — the indigenous-sourcing story is part of the credential.
The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Marula Oil
aka sclerocarya birrea · virgin marula
Drunk Elephant's Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil turned a southern-African indigenous oil into a clean-prestige category. Cold-pressed from Sclerocarya birrea kernels; ~70% oleic acid, high in vitamin E and antioxidants; one of the most oxidatively stable plant oils available, which matters for clean shelf life without synthetic stabilizers. Community-sourced supply (women's cooperatives in Namibia/South Africa) makes it a values-aligned story.
- rich, fast-absorbing emollient suited to most skin types
- high oxidative stability — long shelf life without synthetic preservation
- antioxidant tocopherol and phenolic load
- Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula
- facial oils
- hair-end oils
Use 1–100% in oil products; 1–5% in emulsions. Cold-pressed virgin marula preserves antioxidants. Pairs with squalane, rosehip, and barrier ceramides.
High oleic — marula-only routines may be heavier than balanced (oleic + linoleic) blends for oily and acne-prone skin. Tree-nut adjacency (Anacardiaceae family) — patch test for cashew/mango allergies.
Strongly positive — the indigenous-sourcing story is part of the credential.