The Best Products Our Beauty Editors Tried in May 2023

With summer just around the corner, it really is the season of glowy, natural looks.

Every month, our team gets sent more beauty products than we can count, and we try them all in service of bringing out readers the very best of the best. Whether you're looking to enhance your skin, try new makeup, up your hair game or just get better relaxation out of the bath, we have you covered. Want to know what had us hooked in May 2023? Just keep scrolling to discover our favorites.

Leaf People Honey & Oatmeal Replenishing Face & Body Bar: $14

When you've got extremely sensitive skin, finding the right soap can require a bit of trial and error, but we think we've found something truly special in the form of Leaf People's Honey & Oatmeal Replenishing Face & Body Bar. With a blend of shea butter, oat and honey, it's super soothing and delicate on skin, while the textured oats gently exfoliate and massage. It leaves us cleansed and moisturized without stripping skin, so it's gentle enough for the face, but tough enough for the body.

(via Leaf People)

 

Plant Apothecary Start Happy Body Wash: $20

Some days are harder to start than others, which is precisely when we love to turn to Plant Apothecary's Start Happy Body Wash during our morning showers. The wash has an invigorating scent, combining vibrant citrus and smokey frankincense that perks us right up when our minds are sleepy to help us prepare for the day. It's also made with vitamin B5 to leave skin happy and moisturized—and we also love it for a luxurious daytime bubble bath.

(via Plant Apothecary)

 

Hip Chic That Shiny Hair Grape Vinegar Rinse: $11.99

It's impossible to use Hip Chic That Shiny Hair Grape Vinegar Rinse without first commenting on its heavenly berry scent, but that's not even our favorite thing about it. Just apply this delightfully light rinse to the scalp and hair after shampooing, then rinse out for an extra refreshed feel, plus extra smooth and shiny hair.

(via Hip Chic)

 

Kitsch Satin-Lined Flexi Shower Cap: $24

Not every day is a wash day, which is why everyone needs a great shower cap in their arsenal, and we don't think we've ever seen one better (or cuter) than Kitsch's Satin-Lined Flexi Shower Cap. It doesn't just keep ultra-dry but also protects it from the humidity and moisture that's prone to build up in the shower. It's also extra wide for full coverage, with an open back so you don't have to put your hair up before donning it, and with wire closures so you can ensure that it stays right in place. However, the best part just might be the satin lining, which reduces friction as well as frizziness. Just be warned that it stays on snug, which can leave a line across your forehead that takes a few minutes to disappear!

(via Kitsch)

 

Body Proud Sami the Duck Scalp and Body Brush: $7.98

We'll admit that we were first drawn to Body Proud's Sami the Duck Scalp and Body Brush because it looks like an adorable rubber ducky, but after using it, we don't know what we'd do without it. It's made with silicone to keep it hygienic and works wonders on both the body and scalp to exfoliate and cleanse dead skin cells while improving circulation. We don't know if our skin has ever been smoother and softer.

(via Walmart)

 

Soapbox Oat Milk & Chai Comforting Moisture Body Scrub: $9.99

For even deeper exfoliation, we've been enjoying Soapbox's Oat Milk & Chai Hydrating Body Scrub twice a week. It smells sweet and clean, and while it's a sugar scrub, using the small, textured cystals to buff away dead skin, this formula is also designed to be extra gentle. Its calming oat milk and tea extract, plus hydrating coconut oil, ensure that it never feels too rough.

(via Soapbox)

 

Chunks x Mane Sky's the Limit XL Box Claw: $22

The moment we saw Mane Addicts' collaboration with Chunks, we knew we had to get our hands on their cute and innovative hair clips, and they're just as fabulous as they look in the pictures. The line is all about self-expression, with stunning clips that come with adorable stickers to personalize them just the way you want. The Sky's the Limit XL Box Claw is a massive 5.5 inches long, likely making it the biggest clip in your collection—and all yours.

(via Mane Addicts)

 

Also read about: How to Use a Blow-Dry Brush, According to Experts From Mane Addicts

 

SACHAJUAN Protective Hair Perfume Bois Noir: $89

When our hair's been needed a bit of a refresher throughout the day, we've been turning to SACHAJUAN's Protective Hair Perfume Bois Noir. Not only does it revive and moisturize hair, but it adds shine and reduces static with added UV protection. Plus, it smells amazing, with the sweet fragrance of honey, incense and tonka bean, with a formula that doesn't just mask but actually neutralizes smells.

(via SACHAJUAN)

 

Formulary 55 Neroli & Sandalwood Toning Facial Mist: $22

A great toner is essential to any beauty routine, and if you have oily or combination skin, we have to recommend Formulary 55's Neroli & Sandalwood Toning Facial Mist. Whether you're toning at the start of your skincare routine or refreshing throughout the day, this toner is super light and goes on smooth, and the combination of citrusy, herbal neroli with sandalwood will make it easier than ever to remind yourself to spritz as needed.

(via Formulary 55)

 

The Crème Shop Klean Beauty CHIMMY Clear Glow Essence Serum: $22

When the weather heats up, we prefer to use lightweight serums, and at the moment, we're loving The Crème Shop's Klean Beauty CHIMMY Clear Glow Essence Serum. It goes on super light and smooth, with a blend of brightening vitamin C, acne-busting willow extract and glycolic acid that keeps our complexions glowy. Plus, it features BT21's CHIMMY, and we seriously couldn't ask for anything cuter.

(via The Crème Shop)

 

I Dew Care Let's Do This Sheet: $12

We might be slightly addicted to sheet masks, and with five hard-working masks for just $12, I Dew Care's Let's Do This Sheet set has been making our evenings that much sweeter. It contains five different sheet masks for a whole work week of pampering, including the pore-tightening In the Zone mask with tea tree extract, the vitamin B3-rich Up All Night for brightening dullness, the firming Time Warp packed with acai and fig, the super hydrating olive extract Olive 'Bout You and the Unwind, full of mugwort for calming stressed skin. Just wear one mask per night for 20 minutes before removing and patting in the rest of the essence for the full effect.

(via Ulta)

 

KINDIA Aura Bounce ($9) and Aura Drip ($9)

For making the most of our pampering moments, we love next-level masks, like KINDIA's Aurora Bounce and Aura Drip hydrogel sheet masks. The vegan, biodegradable masks have roots in Ayurveda, with the Aura Bounce mask formulated for rejuvenation with tea tree, bakuchiol, allantoin, ginseng and peony, and the Aura Drip mask designed for hydration and brightness with sake, gotu kola, betaine and aloe vera. The hyrogel feels amazing on the skin and they are so stunning to look at, with a pearlescent sheen from non-mica glitter. Their two-piece structures also mean they always fit like a glove, without slipping, while they work their magic.

(via KINDIA)

 

INC.Redible Healing Feelings Soothing Sheet Tummy Mask: $2.98

Sheet masks definitely aren't just for the face, and we love ones that can smooth and plump the skin all over our bodies, such as this Healing Feelings Soothing Sheet Tummy Mask from INC.Redible. It's enriched with shea butter and real diamond powder to protect the skin of your tummy while making it supple and soft, and the mega-sized, crystal-shaped mask will leave you feeling extra pampered.

(via Walmart)

 

Farmacy Apple Lip Smoothie: $22

We were hooked on Farmacy's Apple Lip Smoothie from the minute we opened the jar and smelled its delicious apple scent, but it got even better when we started using it. It's hard to describe the texture any other way than juicy, with a soft, melty feel that immediately makes lips feel moisturized and look glossy and plumped. Even better, that hydration lasts for hours thanks to an awesome blend of peptides, vitamin C and apple extract. Our lips truly haven't ever been happier.

(via Farmacy)

 

Brow Code Multi-Peptide Growth Serum: $70

No matter what kind of eyebrow looks you're rocking these days, you want your brows to be thick and full where it counts, which is where a brow serum like Brow Codes' Multi-Peptide Growth Serum comes in. The multi-peptide and multi-vitamin formula, with hyaluronic acid and biotin, stimulates hair growth and builds density of the brows while helping them grow strong and smooth. It also has two applicators, one thick and one thin, allowing for precision and use on the lashes to get them extra luscious, too.

(via Brow Code)

 

Butter & Me Butter Melt Lotion Bar: $20

If your traditional liquid lotions just aren't cutting it this summer, we suggest you switch to a lotion bar like Butter & Me's dreamy Butter Melt Lotion Bar options. A single bar replaces a full eight-ounce bottle of lotion, greatly reducing plastic waste while also more deeply penetrating and hydrating the skin with a blend of kokum butter, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil and candelilla wax that seems to melt like magic when it touches the skin. It feels extra moisturizing without leaving a sticky, greasy sensation, so you can spend less time lotioning up and more time living your life.

(via Butter & Me)

 

Also read about: Butter & Me's Minimalist Skincare Will Make You AND Your Skin Happy

 

Doré Le Baume: $12

Anyone who suffers from super dry skin or issues like eczema needs Doré's all-in-one Le Baume in their lives. It's made with just seven clean ingredients (incuding castor oil, aloe vera and vitamin E), so it's great for even sensitive skin, transforming dry, irritated areas and repairing them with much-needed moisture. Though it may have a slightly greasy-looking appearance, it feels anything but—and that glassy look can also be used to your benefit as a dewy highlighter.

(via Doré)

 

Palmless Save the F#$*ing Rainforest Nourishing Oil: $45

If you care about the environment and love super versatile, nourishing products, you need to know about Palmless's Save the F#$*ing Rainforest Nourishing Oil. It's made with the brand's signature Torula oil using sustainably sourced ingredients, which is packed with carotenoids and antioxidants that smooth, hydrate and restore both skin and hair. It's the multipurpose oil you need for your face, body and strands, and its clean herbal smell is also to die for.

(Photo credit: Dylan James Nelson)

 

Oral-B iO Series 5: $119.99

If you're not using an electric toothbrush from Oral-B's iO series, you're overdue for an upgrade. We recently made the swap and can't believe what a difference this heftier brush makes, with a gentle yet super powerful clean that leaves our mouths fresher than ever. The toothbrush features five different modes for regular cleaning, intensive cleaning, sensitive, super sensitive or whitening, and pulses every 30 seconds to remind you to move to a new quadrant of your mouth, ensuring a full two-minute brush. It also has color-coded lights to let you know if you're brushing too lightly, too hard or just right. When you're done, it also pulses with a rainbow of colors to let you know you've completed your cleaning. And did we mention the battery lasts for literal weeks? That means you can put away the charging stand and declutter the bathroom counter in between charges.

(via Oral-B)

 

Unicorn Glow Glassy Lip Oil: $13

Love that glassy, glossy lip look all day long? Unicorn Glow has some of our all-time favorite products to help us shimmer and shine, and their Glassy Lip Oil gives us that mirror-like finish we crave. It's as hydrating as it is glossy, using jojoba seed oil to both moisturize lips and leave them extra shiny, without that tacky, sticky feel that other glosses can leave.

(via Unicorn Glow)

 

BAKEUP Desert Road Trip Palm Palette: $24

While makeup palettes full of vibrant, eye-catching colors are fun to play with, we find we get a lot more use out of practical neutral palettes, and BAKEUP's Desert Road Trip Palm Palette is one we can use literally every day. It's specially curated with universal neutral tones that are about to become your go-tos, and it's small enough to fit in your back pocket for on-the-go touch-ups.

(via BAKEUP Beauty)

 

Also read about: BAKEUP Beauty Co-Founder Jo Baker Shares Her Love For Cosmetics and the Brand's Artful Approach

 

Freck Beauty Cheekslime: $26

We thought "Cheekslime" was a weird name, but after trying the unusual offering from Freck Beauty, we get why it's called that—and what all of the fuss is about. The slime itself is a creamy liquid infused with plant collagen to go on super smooth, creating a buildable, layered tint for any skin tone that won't completely obscure the look of your natural skin. It'll help you look flushed and natural, no matter which tint you go with.

(via Freck Beauty)

 

LYS Beauty Aim High Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter: $19

And for that shimmery, radiant look that leaves us looking like goddesses, we can't get enough of the Aim High Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter from LYS Beauty. This liquid highlighter is made for versatility, working like a charm whether you later it over or underneath your foundation, or mix it right in. No matter how you use it, it'll give you that healthy sheen you've been craving this summer.

(via LYS Beauty)

 

Unicorn Glow Gleam Eye Glitter: $10

We weren't joking when we said that Unicorn Glow is one of our go-to brands for when we want to truly shine. Their Gleam Eye Glitter comes in a lightweight liquid form, which goes on seamlessly and dries down quickly to maximize your sparkle without leaving irritating bits of glitter everywhere you go. If you want to glimmer like a star, look no further.

(via Unicorn Glow)

 

Drowsy Damask Rose Queen Envelope Silk Pillow Case: $109

You might not think about your pillowcase as a skincare product, but since your cheek is pressed up against it for hours and hours every night, having the right case is essential for optimizing your skin health. Silk pillowcases, such as Drowsy's gorgeous options, are unmatched because they don't sap away your moisture during the night, meaning both better-hydrated skin and healthier hair. Plus, the cases are beautiful and feel extra cool during the hot nights of summer.

(via Drowsy)

 

Also read about: 18 Dreamy Products You NEED This National Sleep Month

 

Protea: $49+ per session

Whether you're hunting for a new esthetician or have never seen one to help you address your skin needs,  Protea services are worth exploring. They're a unique esthetician match service that allows you to browse a list of highly qualified skincare pros and schedule a virtual appointment with them to get top-level skincare help from anywhere. Before your appointment, you'll fill in an intake form sharing your skincare history, the products you use and images of your skin, so that when you do meet face-to-face, you can discuss your concerns, learn more about your skin and get some great recs from someone who really knows their stuff.

(via Protea)

 

Missed our picks last month? Click HERE for our most beloved beauty products from April 2023.