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It’s been a hot minute since I last posted a single product review. This one really worths a whole post. It’s The Honey Mud by May Lindstrom. Now I’ve already talked about the brand and how much I love it in another post, check it out here. So, I’ll get straight into the review.
What is it?
A facial mud that can be used as a gentle cleanser or a nourishing enzyme mask.
What it does
This is designed to plump, soften and revives complexion while restoring optimal hydration and luminance. Key ingredients are:
- Raw Honey: Rich in vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, good for sensitive and acne-prone skins because of its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Also perfect for dry skin conditions as it attracts and retains moisture as it’s a natural humectant.
- Colloidal Silver: Its skin repairing and anti-bacterial benefits are perfect for providing protection against acne, inflammation, irritation, rashes, and a plethora of skin challenges.
- White Halloysite Clay: Gently purifies skin and dissolves impurities
- Cacao: Exceptionally high in antioxidants, raw cacao blocks free radicals, protecting skin against damage to collagen and elastin while promoting and renewing skin cell tissue.
- Wintergreen (salicylic acid): Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, ideal for gently purifying oily and breakout-prone skin, visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, easing redness and discomfort and decongesting clogged pores.
- Cedarwood: Regulates sebum production, reduces inflammation and itching and heals the skin.
Full Ingredients list
Kaolin (White Halloysite), ***Honey, †Water, Theobroma Cacao Extract, *Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Colloidal Silver, Titanium Dioxide,*Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Oil, *Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Boswellia Serrata (Frankincense) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil, *Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Peel Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, †Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, +Benzyl Benzoate, +Limonene, +Linalool
—
*Certified Organic
**Wild Harvested
***Raw, local honey with bee pollen & propolis
† Sodium Chloride and Water as saltwater
+Component of Essential Oil
We have a few fragrance ingredients as highlighted in Bold, they are potential allergens and if you are sensitive to those, then best be cautious.
It is formulated without Artificial Fragrance, Parabens and PEG
Who’s it for
Suitable for all skin types.
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 Honey Mud contains only natural ingredients, without any preservatives. The scent coming from the ingredients is very aromatic but not overpowering. You’d think it’s going to smell very sweet like honey but it’s not at all. To my nose, it’s almost like a warm chocolate pudding being prepared on a stove in a forest. Now, I’ve never had one in a forest but the decadent earthy aroma totally gives me that image every time I use this product. It’s absolutely divine and calming. I can’t imagine anyone dislikes this scent.
The texture is just as gorgeous, it’s velvety soft paste-like with light brown colour and every so often you can see the natural plant oil floating on top which adds to the richness and beauty of this nutrient-dense goodness in all its raw glory. It’s very spreadable, making it easy to control how much/little you need.
How to use it
Massage a fat, blueberry-sized dollop into wet skin to emulsify into a gorgeous and silky cleansing milk.
May Lindstrom instruction
To enjoy this multi-tasker as an enzyme masque, smooth extra generously over clean, dry skin, leaving it to work its magic from a few minutes up to an hour before rinsing clear as you massage with the pads of your fingertips.
I’ve used this Honey Mud in multiple ways. As a daily cleanser, this works beautifully but I think it’s such a waste to put it on and wash it off right away so I seldom use it like that. I have done a couple of times when I put this Honey Mud on right before heading into the shower so I get to enjoy it for a few extra minutes and the hot steam over the Mud is just gorgeous, not to mention this also makes rinsing off effortlessly. It’s very easy to take off anyway but I don’t really like splashing water over my face in the sink as it gets everywhere, so my preferred choice is always a warm washcloth to remove cleansers. However, with the Mud in contact with water, it turns into a milky lotion which in itself is an experience, so you would want to follow the instruction to benefit from that.
My favourite way to use the Honey Mud is to leave it on as a masque during a long bath. It feels lovely on the skin, even I have it on for almost an hour. It never feels drying, in fact, it doesn’t dry out completely. It’s set on the skin, never drip or slide even with the heat from the bath. The scent is so relaxing making it ideal to enjoy it in the bath as you can definitely enjoy the aroma the entire time. I don’t get any tingling feeling from this which I know some people have that experience. My skin feels cleansed, calm and smooth when I wash it off, just like having a good facial.
At times when I feel particularly congested, I mix this with the Problem Solver (which I reviewed here) and this mixture is perfect for my skin type (oily acne-prone but also mild sensitive). This was actually the reason why I purchased the Honey Mud in the first place. I have had the Problem Solver for a while and it’s so potent that sometimes it’s too intense for my skin. I’d try to dilute it with other hydrating calming mask but I was always curious about mixing it with Honey Mud as this was one of the recommended ways on May Lindstrom’s website for getting the best of both worlds for my skin type, but at the time I looked it up this was completely out of stock for a while as it’s being reformulated. Long story short, the wait was so worthwhile, mixing them together gives that extra purifying boost but still feeling gentle on the skin. My skin doesn’t feel irritated by the intensity of the Problem Solver as it’s being nourished at the same time from the Honey Mud.
My final thoughts
If you asked me last year if I would sign up for a waiting list to buy a skincare product, I would laugh at you. But, I was so keen to get my hands on this after a long wait of reformulation and especially during the pandemic when production and delivery are both being affected. I was so glad I did as I never expected there were thousands of people all waiting eagerly for this relaunch.
Just like the rest of May Lindstrom’s products, the Honey Mud is not just an effective well-formulated product that delivers its claims but it feels like a ritual that calms my mind and soul. Whenever I use this, I always like to follow up with the Blue Cocoon and The Youth Dew. This is what I called a lush self-care session. It’s a whole sensorial experience. If you are still in doubt about getting any of her products, I’d say go for it. I know they are pricey but they do last a long time. And, you really won’t regret it!
Available: $90/100ml
Have you tried this before? What is your experience?