There are only a handful of brands that I love whole-heartedly and by that I mean, the brand itself and what it stands for, the brand owner and of course, the products. May Lindstrom is on top of my list. I can’t praise this brand enough, for the quality of her products, how she responds on social media and the first-class customer service. She definitely has a customer for life here.

Well, for those who are unfamiliar with May Lindstrom, let me give you a little background. May grew up with highly sensitive and reactive skin herself and having discovered she had a sensitivity to glues, dyes, synthetic fragrance, preservatives, and a long list of irritants. Traditional skincare just wasn’t an option for her and she decided to study plant medicine and started to create formulas targeted to her own challenges. Over the years, her knowledge, experience and passion evolved and she began to focus specifically on creating powerful plant medicine blends that eased the discomfort of more extreme issues – skin care following cancer treatments, chemotherapy and radiation, post-trauma from burns or injury, severe acne, rosacea, and the inflammation of all types that contribute to conditions similar to her own history.

May Lindstrom Skin collection was launched in 2012, so it’s still a relatively young company but very experienced in the green beauty space. The collection itself is very concise and simplistic, in a very good way. Most products are multi-tasking and you can create your own skin ritual that’s suitable for your skin concerns. The brand is artisanal, green, organic and very luxurious but by no means, that’s how May markets her company. It’s a green brand, indeed and by nature of the ingredients she’s picked for her products are nothing but natural and organic, but that’s not how she formulated the products. Her products formulation is results-driven and the ingredients just so happened to be found to achieve the results she wanted. There are no filler ingredients to fill the green space, everything is there for a purpose. It’s clean beauty at its core without shoving it down your throat.

Without further ado, here are the goodies I’ve purchased for quite some time and I’m ready to do a review on them. While they are not daily items for me, but when my skin needs that extra boost or healing they are the ones I reach for.

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The Blue Cocoon

What is it?

A beauty balm concentrate

What it does

This balm is formulated to soothe and heal inflammation as well as provide a feeling of hydration and nourishment.

The key ingredients:

• Blue Tansy: Contains anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-microbial properties. When applied topically, blue tansy oil helps clear rashes and allergic reactions, psoriasis, rosacea, and all forms of acne.
• Camellia Oil: With high antioxidant content it protects the skin from free radicals and environmental aggressors. It is also deeply nourishing, calming, and healing. Its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties are great for inflamed skin and wound healing.
• Lavender Oil: Contains anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, as well as regulate the sebum production and speed up wounds healing. It offers beneficial remedies for inflammatory conditions such as acne, dermatitis, and eczema.

The Blue Cocoon Ingredients

Ingredient Listing: *Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, ***Butyrospermun Parkii (Shea) Butter, ***Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, ***Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, *Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Oil, *Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, **Boswellia Serrate Gum (Frankincense) Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Oil, *Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Co2 Oil, Schisandra Sphenanthera Co2 Fruit Extract, *Helichrysum Italicum (Immortelle) Oil, Ravensara Aromatica Oil, +Linalool, +Citronellol, +Geraniol, +Limonene

*Certified Organic **Wild Harvested ***Fair Trade, Raw, & Unrefined +Component of Essential Oil

There are a lot of essential oils, so if you are sensitive to these ingredients then be careful.

Who’s it for

Suitable for all. But if you have troubled skin such as rosacea, allergic dermatitis, eczema and all types of inflammation, then this is one for you to get that extra comfort. If your skin is pretty healthy and ‘normal’, this will give you a bit of glow and comfort but you probably won’t benefit from the healing aspect much.

Everything else

Packaging

Like the rest of the range, it comes in a glass jar in the May Lindstrom’s signature dark packaging with gold writings. It’s very beautiful and luxurious.

Colour, Texture & Scent

The Blue Cocoon contains only natural ingredients, without any preservatives. The scent coming from the ingredients is very aromatic but not overpowering. It has the blue tansy’s characteristic smell (I have a couple of other blue tansy products that has a similar trail), it’s very calming. When it comes to the colour, it sits somewhere between turquoise and sea blue, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Though this can vary in different batches.

The balm is very solid, like coconut oil in a jar and it is in deep-sea blue colour (coming from the Blue Tansy). When it comes to contact with the skin, it melts away very quickly into an oil. Note, if you live in a warmer environment, the texture might differ i.e. it might not be as solidified.

How to use it

Melt a rice grain to pea-sized amount into fully wet skin, morning and night, immediately after cleansing. 

May Lindstrom instruction

Usually, when I use this I’d take approximately 1/3 pea-sized and then warm it in my hands and then apply to my skin while it’s still very damp. A well-dampened skin is very important because the balm-oil goes on quicker and easier to absorb. I can’t stress enough how tiny amount you need for each application. If you are used to using other balms on the market, use 1/2 of that amount. And if you are using a very rich moisturiser, then it’s 1/3. This is truly a little goes a long way product.

When my skin needs that extra boost, I mix it with a drop of the Youth Dew and it just goes on like a warm blanket.

I like applying this in the evenings, even though it’s absolutely fine in the mornings as well and I’ve tried both and it works well under makeup, but since this is such a nourishing product, I prefer not to have anything on top that can disturb it.

My thoughts

Well, there’s no hiding the fact that this is a luxury item with a hefty price tag to match but it’s also one of those products that will last you for a while as the amount you need for each application is so little.

I purchased this because I was on the lookout for products that can soothe my skin irritations and rashes. Initially, I would use this consistently for two weeks and then when my skin got better, I’d use it less often. While I don’t think it tackles miraculously tackles the redness (no overnight wonders here) but it does gradually improves the skin health and over time that redness is reduced. For me, I saw more noticeable results after at least 2 weeks of daily use.

The scent is so comforting that you do feel like you are slowing down and taking a good breath in. So, not only my skin is hydrated and soothed, I think my mind is feeling nurtured as well.

Price: $180 – 50ml (MayLindstrom)

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The Youth Dew

What is it?

A balancing facial serum (oil)

What it does

To restore balance in those prone to acne, as well as to intense hydration for sensitive and maturing complexions.

The key ingredients:

• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone): An antioxidant to combat oxidative stress and help with skin’s basic functions such as regeneration and repair.
• 20 Botanical oils including rosehip, pomegranate, avocado and plum kernel offering an abundance of nutrients that support nourishing, regenerating, hydrating, omega-heavy and healing for the skin as well as antioxidant protection. (To learn more about what these 20 botanical oils can do, head to May Lindstrom’s Ingredients)

The Youth Dew Ingredients

Ingredient Listing: *Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, *Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Prunus Domestica (Plum Kernel) Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil, *Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, *Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Oil, *Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, *Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccans (Kukui Nut) Oil, *Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Oil, *Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, *Citrus Limon (Lemon) Oil, *Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, *Rosa Damascena (Bulgarian Rose) Oil, *Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Oil, ***Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), +Limonene, +Citronellol, +Geraniol, +Linalool, +Citral, +Eugenol.

*Certified Organic ***Wild Harvested +Component of Essential Oil

Who’s it for

Suitable for all. This is particularly designed for balancing the oil production of the skin: either chronic dryness or overproduction of oil.

Everything else

Packaging

Same clean design but in a glass opaque bottle with a pump (hooray!). It also has a cap to secure it when it’s not in use. It’s a very well-thought-out design.

Colour, Texture & Scent

There’s a noticeable scent in this yellowish/orangey oil. While it’s not the lightest oil I’ve tried, it’s not heavy at all. It absorbs very quickly but I wouldn’t say it disappears right away. You definitely still feel it but more like it’s doing its job of nourishing your skin rather than a layer of grease in an uncomfortable way. As for the scent, I can’t quite describe it, it’s a bit floral but also sweet nutty. It reminds me of almond but since there’s no almond in the ingredients list, I’m assuming that’s what Kukui Nut smells like. This oil has probably one of the strongest and unique scents in my skincare stash, but in the most relaxing way, kind of like a Zen spa.

How to use it

Massage 1-3 potent pumps into fully wet skin, morning and night, immediately after cleansing.

May Lindstrom instruction

I apply 1 pump (sometimes not even 1 full pump) and then press onto my skin before moisturiser. As mentioned above, sometimes I mix this with the Blue Cocoon and it works amazingly well together.

My experience

As my skin is prone to dry flaky patches and acne, I’ve found the use of oil to be beneficial to the balance of my skin. I use this for treatment purposes, typically after 3 consecutive days of use, I could see my skin is back to somewhat normal again. When I apply the Youth Dew at night, the following morning, my skin feels revitalised and soft. It feels rested.

Price: $140 – 30ml (MayLindstrom)

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The Problem Solver

What is it?

A powder-to-mousse clarifying masque

What it does

The masque brightens, heals inflammation and irritation, fades hyperpigmentation, stimulates collagen production, and treats and prevents breakouts.

Key ingredients:

• Fuller’s Earth Clay: With its natural cooling effect, it helps to brighten skin, evening tone and helping to minimise discolouration, hyperpigmentation, age spots, and residual scarring from acne or injury.
• Rhassoul clay: Draw out blackheads, congestion, and other impurities from the skin
• Cacao: High in antioxidants, raw cacao blocks free radicals, protecting skin against damage to collagen and elastin while promoting and renewing skin cell tissue.
• Cayenne Pepper: Increases blood circulation, and helps reducing inflammation as it detoxifies.

The Problem Solver Ingredients

Ingredient Listing: Solum Fullonum (Fuller’s Earth) Clay, Red Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, **Theobroma Cacao (Raw Cacao), Red Alaea Sea Salt (Sea Salt and Red Alaea), L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Bicarbonate, Charcoal Powder (Activated Bamboo Carbon), *Vanilla Planifolia Bean, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower, *Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root, *** Boswellia Serrate Gum (Frankincense) powder, *Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), *Archangelica (Angelica) Root, **Cinnamomum Zealanicum Blum (Ceylon Cinnamon), *Myristica Fragans (Nutmeg), *Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove), *Curcuma Longa (Turmeric), *Capsicum Annuum (Cayenne) Pepper, +Eugenol.

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*Certified Organic **Certified Fair Trade ***Wild Harvested +Component of Essential Oil

Who’s it for

On May Lindstrom’s website, she said this is especially beneficial for clients that struggle with severe acne, rosacea, psoriasis and all types of inflammatory disorders.

Everything else

Packaging

It’s the same dark glass jar with a screwed lid.

Colour, Texture & Scent

When you open the lid, you get an immediate sweet spices scent coming from clove, nutmeg and cayenne pepper. The fine brown powder can easily be mixed with just water or be adapted in other recipes. Either will turn the powder into a mousse-like paste.

How to use it

Activate one tablespoon powder with just shy of equal parts water to form a soft, rich mousse. Smooth over skin and relax 30-45 minutes. Then wash off.

May Lindstrom instruction

When I first got this, the first few times were trial and error. I found using one tablespoon powder mixing with equal parts water was too much; then I adjusted to using less water but it was not pasty enough to spread around. Now I only use one teaspoon and that works for me brilliantly. Sometimes I mix with water, other times when my skin is feeling particularly sensitive I mix with other hydrating masks from my stash (the ones that are runny to work with) to dial down the intensity. Washing it off in the shower is the best for this as it can get messy.

My own experience

This masque is intense. While it says it’s good for severe acne, rosacea, psoriasis and all types of inflammatory disorders, you do need to be careful. I think it works brilliantly on clogged pores and acne, anything of that nature. You can see and feel the skin becomes clearer and detoxified after. When I have inflammation and patches of redness, I find the results from mixing with water vs other hydrating masks to be quite different. When I mix with water, I don’t see redness taking down whereas mixing with other hydrating masks, I do see a calmer effect. Although the visual result is different, my skin does feel better over the coming days.

Another thing to note is the sensation upon application, it kind of varies from time to time. Some days I experience warming feel with a bit of tingle, other times it leans more a cooling sensation. According to May Lindstrom, this “can vary depending on the state of your skin on this particular day, what other products are being used, where you are in your hormonal cycle, if you are healthy or feeling unwell, if you exfoliated beforehand or were in a hot bath, having a glass of wine, etc.”

This is yet another luxury item but in all honesty, it’s probably the most value for money masque I’ve ever purchased. I always love a good powder masque because you are paying for pure ingredients rather than 80% water mix. This jar is very big, at 250ml size compared with most masques on the market usually between 50-100ml size, it’s going to last a long time and since it’s a powder, you can store it in a cool place for much longer than other conventional ones.

Price: $100/250ml – (MayLinstrom)

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Final thoughts

I’m very fond of the brand as I mentioned already, everything from packaging, the products to the customer services is just in a league of its own. I can’t stress enough that while this brand predominantly operates in the organic, natural and green space, it’s by no means fluffy. They are artisanal and medicinal in their approach and how they formulate the products. And yes, the price point is total luxury, but in this case, you do really get what you pay for which is high-quality ingredients that go into efficacious formula and, because of that, you also don’t need a lot in each application. I’m very keen to try out more from the brand.

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