Drunk Elephant’s newest cleanser is more than the brainchild of founder Tiffany Masterson—it’s somewhat of a spousal collaboration with her husband, Chas. As the story goes, he came to her with a request: make a shaving cream. At first, Masterson advised him to mix together two Drunk Elephant bestsellers—the Slaii Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser and Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. After seeing the result, however, she was inspired to dream up an entirely new formula, and Mello Marula Cream Cleanser was born.
Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser
“This combo creates a rich lather for shaving, and it was a texture that immediately inspired me,” Masterson tells ELLE. “While mixing Slaai and Beste works as shaving cream, it won’t make a very good cleanser. It did, however, help point me in the direction for the feel and experience that would ultimately become Mello.”
Mello Marula Cream Cleanser is a cream formula that supports the skin’s barrier while it gently cleanses. It’s made with colloidal oatmeal and marula oil to nourish skin and remove dirt, oil, and impurities. Though it’s a low-lather formula, the bubbles make it feel rich and fluffy. The cleanser also has a subtle vanilla scent.
“Mello is for anyone who prefers an ultra-gentle, moisturizing, and soothing experience from their cleanser,” Masterson adds. “Mello is the perfect balance between Beste and Slaai—low lather, easy on the eyes and skin, with a quick and residue-free rinse.”
The new cleanser taps into a phenomenon that Drunk Elephant has noticed: significant others stealing skin care products. In the brand’s case, it’s not just partners either, but can even include little ones—Drunk Elephant often tops the wish lists for the beauty-obsessed Generation Alpha, and has made headlines for doing so.
“Everyone in my household, from my kids to my husband to my parents, have always taken my products,” Masterson says. “I think for whatever reason, people are naturally attracted to the packaging and that it doesn’t feel intimidating, so it makes people curious.” For its part, Mello features a tennis-ball-yellow cap and Drunk Elephant’s signature playful black and white design. It’s an approachable cleanser—and FYI, it does make a great shaving cream, too.