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May Lindstrom Skincare Review: Honey Mud, Problem Solver, & Youth Dew

May Lindstrom Skincare

Ever since I came across the May Lindstrom Skincare line on several green beauty blogs, I’ve been tempted to try. A self-proclaimed skin chef, May’s products are crafted from her own formulations using organic and bio-dynamic ingredients. Each bottle is then hand-blended in micro batches and lovingly filled in her private studio. The face of her own products, May is passionate about creating unique and indulgent recipes for exquisite skin, making the vital and conscious daily ritual of skincare a luxury.

I shot May an email, which she personally replied to with product recommendations suitable for my skin. I decided to go ahead and purchase three products–The Honey Mud, The Problem Solver, and The Youth Dew–which I’ll review below.

The Honey Mud

Before I got my paws on May Lindstrom’s The Honey Mud, I used to cleanse my skin occasionally with Wedderspoon’s Raw Organic Manuka Honey. I loved the way it made my skin feel clean and soft, though I don’t deny the sticky mess honey sometimes can be. A union of raw honey, white halloysite clay and plant oils, The Honey Mud feels like silk when gently massaged on a face dampened with thermal water. It’s thick, pudding-like texture melts into warm skin, looks like caramel, and smells exactly like Bailey’s Irish Cream. The cleanser emulsifies and rinses off easily with tepid water. My face immediately feels supple and hydrated, though I will say there’ll be a slight residual film which could be due to the nut oils present. It doesn’t bother me since I typically use a toner, and then apply more oils/serums, but I suppose using a muslin cloth would help in fully removing any remnants.

As much as I enjoy cleansing with The Honey Mud, at USD80 for 100 ml it’s a little too pricey to be using on a daily basis. Instead, I use it whenever my skin feels raw and dehydrated or as a hydrating mask (applied as a thick layer and left on for 20 minutes!). Once I wash it off, I don’t have to worry about my face cracking when I smile. I also like to mix it with The Problem Solver or my other powdered masks to create a richer, more sultry texture. The Honey Mud rivals dark chocolates’ good-mood-stimulating capabilities. Isn’t that reason enough to buy a jar? It’s like enjoying chocolates without the guilt and calories!

Ingredients

***Raw Honey with Bee Pollen & Propolis, *Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Argentum Metallicum (Collodial Silver), *Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia Nut) Oil, White Halloysite Clay, Theobrorna Cacao (Cocoa Absolute) Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, *Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Oil, *Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) CO2 Total Essential Oil, *Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Oil, **Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil.

* Certified Organic
** Wild Harvested
*** Collected from unsprayed and unfertilized fields of Michigan wildflowers

The Problem Solver

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know that I love my masks like a fat kid loves cake. Getting The Problem Solver was not a question for me, it was a must. I must admit I was a little worried at first, having read mixed reviews with people saying the mask gave them a glow for days after, but the hot spices in the mask burnt their skin. Years of using drying products and topical acne creams caused my skin to become hyper-sensitive. It’s taken a lot of effort (and pain!) for my skin to regain its balance and not react badly to active ingredients or acid peels. So it was with great trepidation that I mixed up my first mask…

My verdict after applying the frothy, charcoal coloured, mousse-like mask? The Problem Solver is not a mask for the faint-hearted. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you’ll experience the burn differently. For me, it was a warming sensation which started fading once the mask started drying. Those who have normal skin shouldn’t be too affected by this heat, but if you’ve got sensitive skin and still want to reap the benefits of The Problem Solver, mix it with the aforementioned Honey Mud and the burn will be but a tingle. If you want my advice, do a patch test and see how your skin deals with it.

Left on for 45 minutes, The Problem Solver potent pore-purifiing capabilities will effectively detoxify your skin. You’ll see the evidence in those watery spots (sebum/gunk/oil clogs) which are noticeable across the dried-out areas of your masked face. I usually mask right before my bath so I can wash it off in the shower without staining my white ceramic sink. I remove the mask with light circular motions using my fingertips and it serves as a gentle physical exfoliator–leaving me with a slightly flushed complexion which is refined and super smooth! The Problem Solver is a godsend for hormonal acne most of us get during that time of the month. Inflamed bumps flatten overnight and are less painful to the touch. The Problem Solver is a keeper. A 250 ml jar will set you back USD90 but will last you forever. One thing to note though, make sure you use a cotton pad with some toner and swipe your skin after to make sure there are no residue left in your pores. If you see some slight, brownish stains on your cotton pad, you’re doing it right!

When I’m feeling adventurous or have the time, I’ll take it a step further and customize my treatment by mixing The Problem Solver with YULI’s Pure, a drop of The Youth Dew, Rosewater, Coconut Oil or even a teaspoon of Chlorella powder. No matter what the addition, I always enjoy how rejuvenated my skin feels after. I did come across something strange a couple of times while mixing up my mask, there was clear grains which resembled glass/sugar that refused to dissolve. Perturbed, I emailed May immediately to ask if she knew what they were. She too was clueless, but thought it could be possible for foreign objects such as rocks, which are naturally occurring in clays to bypass the filtering process. May offered to send me a new jar and asked if I minded returning my current one, but I declined because other than this one minor issue I was satisfied with the product.

Have any of you who’ve tried The Problem Solver had similar experiences? I’d love to know, and I’m sure May would too!

Ingredients

Fuller’s Earth Clay, Red Morocan Rhassoul Clay, ** Theobroma Cacao (Raw Cacao), Red Alaea Sea Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Bicarbonate, Bamboo Carbon Charcoal Powder, *Vanilla Planifolia Bean, *Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower, *Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root, ***Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense), *Centelia Asiatica (Gotu Kola), *Archangelica (Angelica) Root, *Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon), *Myristica Fragans (Nutmeg), *Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove), *Curcuma Longa (Turmeric), *Capsicum Annuum (Cayenne) Pepper.

* Certified Organic
** Fair Trade
*** Wild Harvested

The Youth Dew

The Youth Dew in essence, is a mixture of 20 different plant oils and Coenzyme Q10 that pack a punch with every orangey-gold drop. Three of those 20 oils are citrus oils, which I was apprehensive about since I call a very sunny Singapore, home. For the uninitiated, the application of citrus oils on skin can lead to photosensitivity. I dropped May another email, and she replied saying she special attention to respecting the proper balance of ratios when utilizing citrus oils in any formulation, to protect against heightened photosensitivity. Additionally she only includes high quality oils in her blends, pairing citrus with other naturally sun protective and healing ingredients for safety and efficacy. That being said, I only use The Youth Dew at night because I’m paranoid about pigmentation, acne scars already are tough enough to deal with.

Reminiscent of a bright bouquet of beautifully scented roses, The Youth Dew smells invigorating and is a dream to apply. It’s quite a heavy oil in my opinion, so two-three drops are sufficient for my skin and neck. To be perfectly honest, I experienced a breakout when I first used it. Stumped, because I heard The Youth Dew was exceptionally competent and re-balancing oily skin, I turned to May for help again(thanks for your patience with my endless questions!). She helped me realize I was using it the wrong way. Determined not to give up on such a lovely product, I tried anew applying it on a wet (I douse my face in thermal water) instead of a damp face. It made all the difference! My skin drinks it all up greedily and there’s no remaining oiliness that used to be a problem. I can go straight to sleep, and wake up in the morning with soft and plump skin. Seriously, I can’t keep my hands off my face…

The price of youth isn’t cost-effective, but don’t worry you won’t have to sell your soul, or a kidney for that matter. Prepare to shell out USD120 for 20 ml. It might seem like a lot to cough up for a tiny bottle, and it is. However, since you’ll only need a couple drops with every application, a bottle will definitely last you awhile. I tend not to use The Youth Dew every day since I alternate it with my other facial oils, so if you want to stretch one bottle’s usage, consider using it only when your face needs some extra attention.

Ingredients

*Persea Americana (Avocado) Oil, *Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam Seed) Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Prunus Spp (Plum Kernel) Oil, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, *Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip Seed) Oil, *Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Oil, *Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, *Boraga Officinalis (Borage Seed) Oil, Aleurites Moluccans (Kukui Nut) Oil, *Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Essential Oil, *Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Essential Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Essential Oil, *Citrus Limon (Lemon) Essential Oil, *Rosa Damascena (Bulgarian Rose) Essential Oil, *Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Essential Oil, ***Daucus Carot (Carrot Seed) Essential Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10).

* Certified Organic
** Wild Harvested

May Lindstrom Skincare is undeniably all about the luxury, and for a pretty price too. One thing’s for sure, it makes you enjoy your daily beauty routine much more. Delightful scents are a big focus in her line, and while some might find it superfluous, I don’t see anything wrong with indulging in some aromatherapy when cleansing my face or massaging my night-time facial oil into my skin.

Disclosure: In the spirit of full disclosure, the links above are affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you decide to purchase anything from iHerb. I only recommend products I love and use myself, so rest assured you’ll be in good hands.  Compensation was not provided by iHerb/May Lindstrom. The opinions expressed herein are mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of iHerb/May Lindstrom.

About Author

Hello stranger. The name’s Charmaine, but you can call me Charm. I am a petite girl based in sunny Singapore with a voracious appetite for food. Most of my weekends are spent experimenting in the kitchen, cooking and baking up a storm.