Drunk Elephant Logo PNG
The Drunk Elephant logo expresses the creativity and lightness behind their skincare products. The brand is built on simple and clean formulas, offering effective solutions for those who value self-care without unnecessary complexity.
Drunk Elephant was founded in Houston in 2012 by Tiffany Masterson, who had begun studying cosmetic formulas while selling an imported cleansing bar around 2009. She linked her own skin irritation to six ingredient groups: essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfate. She called them the “Suspicious 6” and worked with a contract chemist to build a line without them. Her brother-in-law invested $300,000, and the brand launched in August 2013. Its name referred to a story about elephants eating fermented marula fruit. In contrast, marula oil became part of an early flagship product.
After presenting at Cosmoprof in 2014, Drunk Elephant reached Sephora stores in January 2015. Sales rose 600% in 2016, and T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial became a top seller on Sephora.com after its January 2017 launch. VMG Partners acquired a minority stake in March 2017, bringing additional capital and experienced beauty executives.
By 2018, net sales approached $100 million. The rise of brands such as Tatcha showed investor demand for premium skincare. At the same time, Estée Lauder had already explored an acquisition in 2016. In October 2019, Shiseido agreed to buy Drunk Elephant for $845 million. Masterson remained president and chief creative officer.
Under its new owner, the brand expanded into hair and body care. In September 2023, it moved beyond its earlier retail exclusivity and entered more than 1,300 Ulta Beauty stores across the United States.
Meaning and History
What is MDrunk Elephant?
This company produces cosmetics for skin care that exclude potentially irritating ingredients. Faced with skin problems, the founder studied the effects of popular ingredients and created a line that does not contain the six most irritating substances. The assortment includes cleansers, serums, and creams designed in a convenient, bright package with a dispenser. The myth of fermented marula fruit inspires the name, emphasizing the composition’s naturalness.
2012 – today
The logo of the American cosmetics brand Drunk Elephant features a simple drawing of an elephant sketched with thin black lines on a white background. The minimalistic and light design aligns with the company’s concept of producing cosmetics free from harmful additives, the so-called “Suspicious Six” (essential oils, silicones, alcohols, chemical sunscreens, fragrances, and sulfates). The brand was founded in 2012 and established its identity through its name, inspired by a well-known legend about elephants that become slightly intoxicated after eating overripe, fermented fruits.
The elephant in the emblem is drawn loosely and abstractly, resembling a quick pen sketch on paper. The lines are smooth, sometimes asymmetrical and slightly wavy, without an attempt to depict a real animal. The simplicity of the drawing conveys a sense of ease and creative freedom. The elephant gazes forward calmly with a relaxed, half-closed eye, and its trunk hangs downward, a posture that aligns with the brand’s name. This small detail makes the symbol feel lively and humorous, reinforcing the legend behind the name.
The text portion contrasts with the light, free-flowing elephant illustration. The company name is written in a bold, serif typeface. The letters are sharp and angular, placed closely together to form a solid, confident inscription. Despite its playful name, the traditional, slightly conservative font lends credibility to the brand. The additional inscription, “ESTD 2012” (established in 2012), is positioned on either side of the elephant to balance the overall visual composition. An interesting detail: the letter “D” in “ESTD” is underlined with a horizontal line, emphasizing the brand’s founding date.
Using only black and white is intentional; the brand strives for purity and minimalism in its formulas. This approach is reflected in the logo, where the monochrome color scheme symbolizes naturalness, simplicity, and the absence of unnecessary ingredients in the cosmetics. The overall design feels effortless and approachable, while the elephant adds a friendly and playful touch.
