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Add The New York Post on Google Drunk Elephant finally made a foundation, and after testing nearly $1,000 worth of the brand’s products, I can say this one stands out.
I’ve spent enough time with the skincare-obsessed elephant to know what I like from the brand, so I was especially curious when the Kamo Triple-Peptide Multi-Use Serum Foundation arrived. It’s the brand’s first complexion product (a big deal, FYI), and it takes a very Drunk Elephant approach to foundation: skincare ingredients, a serum-like texture and buildable coverage in one bottle.
Mali Boykin, a celebrity makeup artist and educator with more than 15 years of experience specializing in complexion, color, undertones and skin, says Kamo “does not force you to choose between comfort and coverage.” She describes the formula as having “the fluidity and slip of a skincare serum” while delivering “true, buildable medium-to-full coverage.”
That versatility is exactly where Kamo has won me over. I use it a few different ways depending on my mood. For an everyday look, I’ll mix a drop into my moisturizer for a sheer tint. When I want more coverage, I apply it directly to the skin and build it around my nose, chin, and anywhere redness needs a little backup.
Pro tip: mixing the D-Bronzi Drops into your moisturizer before applying the serum foundation gives your skin an *extra* radiant, lit-from-within look (oh, and more peptides, which we love).
My prep is very Drunk Elephant-heavy, too. I start with B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, follow with Protini Polypeptide Cream and then apply Kamo once my skincare has settled. Boykin recommends the same pairing.
For application, celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard, a New York-based artist with more than 10 years of beauty-industry experience whose clients include Jenna Lyons, Ciara Miller and Kamie Crawford, prefers using his fingers. “The warmth and natural oils from the hands help the formula melt in seamlessly and create a beautiful, skin-like finish,” he says.
I’ve also used a brush, and both methods work. The finish is lightweight, smooth and surprisingly flexible.
The formula contains amino-acid-encapsulated pigments, a triple-peptide complex, marula oil, green tea seed oil and squalane. Kasey says the ingredients help the formula feel “incredibly lightweight” while allowing coverage to build evenly, with the peptides supporting “the look of firmness and elasticity.”
Compared with my beloved EltaMD tinted SPF, Kamo gives me considerably more coverage, while EltaMD remains my pick for quick, sunscreen-first mornings. Huda Beauty’s Triclone Foundation is still the one I reach for when I want a more dramatic, full-coverage makeup look. Kamo sits happily between the two: polished enough to cover; light enough to still look like skin.
After testing nearly $1,000 in Drunk Elephant products, I didn’t expect its first foundation to become one of my favorites. But Kamo has earned a spot in the rotation.
Meet your new glowy skincare product: the B-Goldi Drops that I first reviewed years ago and still adore. They work well with or without makeup for a natural finish.
For a sweet skincare treat, this nourishing face mask infused with antioxidants and niacinamide is supremely worth it.
One of the most hydrating cleansers I’ve tried is this one right here from Drunk Elephant — and one I never want to run out of.
This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.
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