My skin is going through its healing phase right now. If you’ve read any of my other writing recently, you’ll know that I’ve talked extensively about my acne journey and dealings with dehydration and skin-barrier damage—all things that can be super tricky to correct. Now that my skin is healing, I’ve been able to use a few things I wasn’t able to in the past like healing botanical oils. I’m an herbal enthusiast who believes in the healing power of plants, but my skin went through a period where I couldn’t use anything but an oil-free moisturizer without breaking out. Now that it’s calmed down, I was more than excited to try a line packed with healing botanicals like Georgia May Jagger’s May Botanicals.
Not only is the packaging incredibly cute but each formula is also loaded with nutrient-rich organic ingredients and not much else synthetic. I’m such a big fan of simple, organic skincare and Jagger seems to be too. Jagger has eczema and sensitive skin herself, so she formulated the products with this in mind. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this because part of me wants to use what Jagger is using, but also because the formulas are genuinely great. They’re loaded with ingredients I already love and a few I hadn’t tried in my skincare until now. Once I gave everything a go, I was hooked. Did my skincare routine need an overhaul? Probably not, but it got one anyway thanks to this line!
For all my thoughts on the products, keep scrolling.
MAY Botanicals
Clean Slate Cleanser
Key ingredients: Rose flower water, shea butter, salicylic acid, red clay, rose flower oil
I’m obsessed with this cleanser. It’s so gentle and never leaves my skin feeling tight or dry. Because I’m now focusing on barrier repair when it comes to my skincare goals, this is the perfect addition to my routine. It’s well-suited to skin in need of a little TLC and drier skin types. It has a super refreshing rosewater scent and a creamy texture to it that doesn’t feel like a cleanser at all. If you’re used to cleansers that foam or are super sudsy, this one might take some getting used to, but it features cleansing ingredients like red clay and salicylic acid, so rest assured that you’re still getting a thorough cleanse. It also helps reduce redness and skin irritation while being extra hydrating.
I know $58 is pricey for a cleanser, but I think the high-quality organic ingredients it features and the simplicity of the routine to follow help make up for it.
May Botanicals
Daily Dose Moisturizer
Key ingredients: Shea butter, aloe vera, borage seed oil, poppyseed oil, rose flower oil
Honestly, the scents of each product alone were enough to hook me, but this moisturizer is a total dream. I love the smell of roses, in general, but these products provide such a sensory experience without smelling synthetic or too fragrance-heavy. I’m not someone who likes synthetic fragrances in my skincare at all, but these smell deliciously floral and organic in a way that I love. This moisturizer feels so buttery soft when you apply it. It does feature a few oils and butters, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re acne-prone, but it didn’t irritate my sensitive skin and it locked in hydration for me all day.
May Botanicals
Save Face Spot Solution
Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, tea tree leaf oil, salicylic acid, witch hazel leaf extract, rose flower oil
Spot treatments have come a long way in the past few years. While my spot problem has calmed down significantly in the last few months, I do still get a few congestion bumps here and there that come to the surface. This is perfect because it feels refreshing and slightly tingly when you apply it, but it never irritates my skin. I sometimes use benzoyl peroxide to spot treat and it always leaves my pimples looking angrier and more inflamed, but this product doesn’t do that! Like everything else in the line, it also smells amazing. I used it overnight and noticed a bump had gone down quite a bit in the morning, so it also works. I like to use this once in the morning and once in the evening to help with any problem areas.
May Botanicals
Super Balm Skin Saviour
Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, dog rose seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil, rose geranium flower oil, peppermint oil
This rich balm is so decadent and soothing. I couldn’t love it more for my dehydrated, barrier-damaged skin. Like the brand’s Daily Dose Moisturizer, this one is rich and features heavier ingredients so that’s something you’ll want to watch out for if you’re acne-prone—she’s thick. Once again, the scent on this one is divine and I wanted to slather my entire body with this. It locks in hydration but doesn’t feel greasy or heavy on my skin. If you’re like me and notice your skin is drier during certain points in your cycle, this one is great to have handy for that. I’ll use the daily moisturizer as my everyday staple but will add this as an extra layer or will use it alone on drier days.
My only complaint is that I wish the jar came with a spatula for this one. It’s really hard to scoop out without one—especially if you have nails.
May Botanicals
Kelp! Seaweed Sheet Mask Set of 4
Key ingredients: Kelp seaweed, aloe, pear extract, peach extract
Another instant favorite. These sheet masks leave your skin so hydrating and glowy. The serum in this mask is so refreshing, cooling, and lightweight. I made it a whole spa experience when I tried this and used a jade roller over the mask to press it in.
May Botanicals
May Essentials Gift Set
As a bonus, I got to try a travel size of the brand’s Golden Hour face oil which currently is only available in this set and a travel size (sigh). I did, however, let the brand know that a full size would be appreciated immediately. It was one of my absolute favorite products from the bunch and was perfect to add on top of the Daily Dose Moisturizer. I love a good facial oil and rotate between two or three in my daily routine. This will definitely be a staple in that rotation now. It adds so much extra hydration and leaves my skin feeling so soft after I apply it. The hydration also lasts throughout the day.
More Organic Skincare I Love
Monastery Made
Monastery Made Attar Floral Concentrate Balm
This is another rich balm that I love from Monastery. It’s so hydrating and helps repair the skin barrier.
Eminence Organic Skin Care
Eminence Organic Skin Care Eight Greens Phyto Masque – Hot 2 Fl. Oz
This mask from Eminence is definitely has a bit of a spicy feeling, but it brightens and detoxifies the skin like no other.
OSEA
Hyaluronic Sea Serum
This hydrating serum from Osea is great for sensitive skin. it features hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom for an extra boost of hydration.
Tata Harper
Resurfacing Mask
This Tata Harper mask is such a great clarifying and brightening treatment. It really gets the job done without irritating my sensitive skin, which is no small miracle.
