Overview
Before Sephora tweens were even born, Drunk Elephant had already made a name for itself with buzzy skincare formulas that inspire fervent fanbases. And after more than a decade (and one $845 million acquisition deal later), the brand is finally giving its community a bucket-list product: foundation. (Sort of — more on that later.)
Drunk Elephant isn’t exactly a stranger to the makeup-skincare hybrid category. The brand’s viral bronzing drops (along with the lesser-known B-Goldi highlighting drops, which I actually prefer, not to mention O-Bloos Blush Drops) helped usher the concept of cocktailing complexion products into the mainstream, so it was only a matter of time before tinted complexion drops entered the chat. Meet Kamo Triple-Peptide Cover Drops.
“Kamo is a natural extension, perhaps evolution even, of our color drop family,” Drunk Elephant founder Tiffany Masterson says of the launch. Like its predecessors, it’s designed to be used in myriad ways: worn alone for the most comprehensive coverage, mixed with moisturizer for a sheer, skin-tint-like result, or combined into liquid illuminators (like Rhode’s Highlight Milk, for example) for a glowy finish.
In addition to a 4% concentration of skin barrier-supporting peptides, Kamo (available in 25 shades and retailing for $42) is infused with marula and green tea seed oils and squalane to moisturize skin and provide antioxidant benefits against pollution and UV damage. Ahead, three Refinery29 editors put the innovative drops to the ultimate summer wear test.
Drunk Elephant Kamo Triple-Peptide Cover Drops, $42
Shade(s) tested: Fair 4N
“Makeup alchemy isn’t usually my thing. Rather than mix my products to perfection, I prefer to use a dedicated foundation or concealer as a base, but lately, nothing has been sitting right on my skin. It’s a combination of the unprecedented heat in London and using tretinoin (don’t worry, I’m diligent with sunscreen!), which has left me with flaky patches and uneven texture. With that in mind, I’ve been wearing more moisturizer, and the fact that I can mix these drops with my go-to (currently Prequel Half & Half Fluid Moisturizer — I love the ceramides!) has been a godsend in the soaring temperatures.
I mix one drop (trust me, that’s all you need!) of Kamo into the milky lotion on the back of my hand, dunk my brush in — or what Katie Jane Hughes likes to call “priming” the brush — and apply all over. A single drop is enough to blanket breakouts and post-pimple staining. It’s even high-coverage enough that I can comfortably skip concealer under my eyes. It provides excellent coverage with a barely-there feel, but because one drop packs so much pigment, it really sticks around. I top mine off with setting spray, and I’m good to go from 8 a.m. until I come home in the evening.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director
Details
Shade(s) tested: 11N, 12W, 12N
“I love light, customizable coverage, so the concept of tailoring my complexion product was right up my alley. I liked being able to mix it into my day cream of choice (but never sunscreen, as this can disrupt the integrity of each formula, resulting in lower SPF protection than advertised) to create my own tinted moisturizer. A one-to-two ratio yielded a skin tint-like finish, while equal parts basically mimicked a medium-coverage foundation.
My preferred method, however, ended up being really similar to our Beauty Director; after applying a tinted sunscreen (my go-to is EltaMD’s UV Clear in Medium), I dispensed a pump of Kamo (and as she mentioned, a little truly does go a very long way with this stuff), worked it into the bristles of a fluffy, medium-sized brush, and “airbrushed” any imperfections away. This resulted in glowy, hydrated skin that looked even, but not like I was wearing a makeup mask. Just for curiosity’s sake, I also tried wearing Kamo alone (which required about two pumps for my entire face), but that ended up looking a bit heavier than I like. That said, I’m not mad that it’s almost too concentrated; even with a relatively small bottle, I doubt I’ll finish it anytime soon.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Beauty Writer
Shade(s) tested: 23C, 25C, and 24N
“Matching shades turned out to be an adventure. The Drunk Elephant team sent over 23C, 25C, and 24N after I let them know I fall into the rich category, but I probably should have been a bit more specific to land my exact match. I usually lean toward neutral undertones like 24N, but with a deep summer tan, I debated between 24N and 25C. When testing, I started with 23C on the back of my hand expecting a lighter swatch, but the color payoff has way more richness and depth once dispensed than it appears in the bottle.
Even though 23C was deeper than my natural tone, just one drop blended out seamlessly across the outer areas of my face for a sheer, sculpted, bronze finish. Trying 24N proved even deeper, so 23C ended up being the sweet spot. The formula itself feels less like a traditional foundation and more like blending a weightless, nourishing serum into the skin.
I wish I had 22N in my arsenal (I think that would be my true perfect match), but either way, the ultra-blendable formula melted seamlessly into my skin. With just a light layer, it evens out hyperpigmentation while leaving my skin looking like, well, skin. Not caked-up or heavy at all. This is strictly for the girlies who want an effortless, no-makeup makeup look. I gave it a test drive on Sunday before church, and a woman on the elevator stopped me just to compliment how fresh-faced I looked. Honestly, those are the absolute best compliments.” — Alexis Bennett Parker, Director of Shopping Partnerships
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Source
Originally published at www.refinery29.com.