To say I’m surprised Drunk Elephant is expanding into foundation would be a lie. With the overwhelmingly popular trend of skin care–based makeup, it not only makes sense; it’s also really smart. Last month I met with the brand to preview the new Kamo Triple-Peptide Cover Drops (launching August 11; sign up to be notified), which I’ve been using ever since.
“When I launched Drunk Elephant, I was around 42 and had never worn foundation,” says Tiffany Masterson, who had the idea for Kamo back in 2019. “My mom wouldn’t allow me to wear it, so I was always focused on skin care and how I could improve my skin. As I’ve aged, I’ve started seeing things I didn’t want to see, like redness in certain places. No matter what you do or how you take care of your skin, there are little things that you sometimes want to cover up. Now I wear Kamo every day.”
Here’s everything to know about the new launch.
What Makes Drunk Elephant’s Kamo Triple-Peptide Cover Drops Unique
Think of Kamo less as a traditional liquid foundation and more as a shape-shifter. Building on the “drop” formula the brand is known for (D-Bronzi is still a best-seller), this multiuse complexion drop can be used solo for full coverage; dabbed on as concealer; or mixed into your moisturizer for a your-skin-but-better tint. It’s super hydrating (infused with marula oil, green tea seed oil and squalane) and I can feel the difference on my skin.
In fact, Masterson says it’s also an incredible skin-care product on its own. “If you took the pigment out, you would still have a very comprehensive, powerful peptide serum for the skin,” she notes. “The amino-acid-coated pigments are different from anything else that’s been launched on the market, and they’re very difficult and expensive to formulate. It took years to get it right and get the technology stable, but that’s how we’ve always been with Drunk Elephant. We get something in our minds, and we can’t stop until we get it right.”
Those amino-acid-coated pigments ensure a more even dispersion across the skin. They also allow the formula to effectively be mixed with both water- and oil-based products (even sunscreen), which is what makes the moisturizer-blending trick actually work. What’s more: Nathan Rivas, vice president of global research and product development for Drunk Elephant, says Kamo has been clinically tested to ensure that it won’t separate when combined with other products and will look just as natural and color-true as it does when applied directly on its own.
“No brand has ever used amino acids at this level in a complexion product,” Rivas explains. “Amino acids are unique because they’re the same amino acids that are present in your skin barrier. They make up our natural moisturizing factors, which are responsible for keeping our skin soft and pliant. And because they’re part of our barrier, they’re compatible with both water- and non-water-based substances, which is important for how they interact with pigments.”
The Clinical Testing
“In our clinical testing after eight weeks, clinician grading showed 100-percent improvement in elasticity, firmness and wrinkle reduction,” says Rivas. “In my 20 years of doing this, I’ve never seen a perfect 100-percent score in clinician grading. It just doesn’t happen. To see that in a complexion formula that is also a skin-care product was incredible.” Ninety-one percent of participants also showed improvement in their skin’s texture.
What Else You Should Know
Kamo comes in 25 shades and is clinically proven to be transfer-resistant, crease-proof, sweat-proof and humidity-proof for up to 12 hours. I have not noticed any creasing, streaking or separation on my skin (even when I mixed it with Virgin Marula Face Oil ($72), Protini Moisturizer ($72) and a couple types of sunscreen, and I love the way it blends in seamlessly with a brush, though you could also use a sponge or your fingers. One pump is really all you need for your entire face, and Rivas told me you get about 300 drops per bottle.
I also asked Rivas if Drunk Elephant had any plans to launch a corresponding brush (I personally love when brands do this), and though there isn’t one planned for the launch, there could be one coming in the future.
The Bottom Line
Drunk Elephant didn’t just add a foundation to its lineup to check a box; it built one that behaves like an extension of its award-winning skin care, using pigment technology and a peptide complex to blur the line between “base makeup” and “treatment.” If you want a versatile foundation that not only flexes with your existing skin-care routine, but also enhances it, this is the product to try.
