Our May Beauty Favourites
Find out what the team are looking forward to trialling for the next 30 days from May’s newest launches!
Fragrance
1. GUERLAIN Epices Exquises
Product Pick: GUERLAIN Epices Exquises Eau de Parfum
Chelsey: I always wanted to own Santal Royal; I set myself a goal every year that I would and I haven’t so, for now, I get to finally own one – and it’s this (Epices Exquises)! I will let you know in the next instalment how it lasts, how it wears, maybe how it compares to Santal Royal. But for now, I’m just gonna cradle it and keep it nice and safe.
Ben: It smells so opulent and rich. It’s got those notes that you smell that just make your eyes roll and you just want to cover yourself in it!
Keavy: A sexy spice cupboard! I can’t wait to try this. It’s the first time I’m spraying it. Ooh it’s like a spice cupboard. Yeah, I love it, which is good! Spicy, sweet. It’s got notes of cardamom and coffee, which are all things I really like. I love the intensity. I can’t wait to see how it wears on my skin and how I can layer it with other fragrances I have in my collection.
2. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Product Pick: Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Refillable Eau de Parfum
Gavin: My go-to fragrances normally are Dior Homme Sport, Chanel Blue and Montblanc Explorer, so I’m hoping that I can add another addition to my favourite collection.
Eleni: I’ve always loved male fragrances and, when I heard that Acqua di Gio went refillable, I had to try it.
Hannah: I love trying new things and fragrances and this is a really woody aquatic fresh, and I’m looking forward to experimenting a bit.
Darcey: Yeah, I think it’s a sexy thing. It’s my partner’s birthday coming up and he loves Giorgio Armani fragrances. I love the smell. I’d wear it myself. So this way I can experience it every day.
3. HUGO BOSS Alive Intense
Product Pick: HUGO BOSS Alive Intense Eau de Parfum
Hannah: Can I just say it smells amazing, because it does? I’ve never tried any Hugo Boss fragrances before for women, but it smells delicious. It’s very fruity, it’s a bit floral – right at my street.
Kate: We actually had the original in the #EscentualScents box about two years ago, so I’m very excited to give the new intense version ago.
Darcey: I’m in like a cloud of Hugo Boss Alive! The original scent has been in my basket, I think, five times. I love the sophisticated notes, so I’m especially gonna like the intense version.
Maja: This smell nice, like strawberries. I love all the perfumes from Hugo Boss; they are usually very fresh. Now, when I smell that, it’s like strawberries in the summer. That why I like the colour as well of the bottle; it’s all connected. I think it will be amazing.
4. Clarins Eau Extraordinaire
Product Pick: Clarins Eau Extraordinaire
Chelsey: I’ll be so honest, if anyone ever asked me for body care recommendations, I always will recommend Clarins because they smell so strong and they feel really soft and, honestly, with over 80 years of expertise, you know you’re getting a good product.
Kate: It’s got a really bright uplifting smell from the get-go and I’m really excited to use it alongside the body moisturiser too to help prolong both of the aromas.
Hannah: They smell really herbal and this is the body cream. Ooh it’s got a very lush, thick texture but it seems like it sinks in quickly.
Keavy: Yes, super fresh. I think it’s nice as like a day fragrance. Clarins have a background in treatments and spa and self-care, so they were meant to make you feel strong or comforted and I would say that does that. So it’s a silky body cream, infused with the citrus fragrance. Super hydrating and I can’t wait to try it.
Jade: As soon as this was launched, I had to try it straight away. It also comes with the body cream. It smells really fresh and it’s very uplifting.
5. GIVENCHY Irresistible Hair Mist
Product Pick: GIVENCHY Irresistible Hair Mist
Eleni: I love to accessorise my hair – and a hair mist from GIVENCHY is a must-have.
Hannah: It makes me feel very glamorous and you just spritz it in your hair, give it a shake and you can smell it for absolutely ages afterwards.
Zainab: I love the frosted glass bottle. Someone sprayed it in the office and my head was instantly turned.
Jade: I am literally Givenchy-obsessed with any fragrance; I have every single one so, when I seen this hair mist, I had to try it, I’ve also got a few holidays coming up, so this is the perfect scent and addition to a hair routine.
Makeup
6. Clarins Ever Bronze
Product Pick: Clarins Ever Bronze Powder
Kate: I’m really excited to put Clarins’ new bronzing powder to the test. I have got a few trips planned but they’re all in the UK, so I’m gonna look forward to mimicking that sun-kissed look.
Chelsey: It can be really hard to find that perfect fair bronzer and, when I looked at this online and saw the double-sided, I was like “okay, this could work”. I actually bought a brush with me and I haven’t worn bronzer today, so I’m gonna just dust a little bit on – first impressions! Just to see it… ooh! It smells like a little peach. Just looking at that, obviously includes a mirror as well, which is great. I think this is going to be the one that I can use when I’m not fake tanning.
Jade: I’ve chosen this product because I really need a new bronzer and I’ve had my eye on this product because I work alongside Clarins. I’ve known about this bronzer for a while and I’ve really liked the look of it, especially that it has two shades. I have been on holiday so I can’t really use more of the left shade at the moment. I’m willing to experiment with more the darker shade for contouring.
7. bareMinerals Liquid Liner
Product Pick: bareMinerals Maximist Liquid Eyeliner
Zainab: I’m really excited to try the Maximist eyeliner because, apparently, I’m the eyeliner queen. And yeah, I do love a good wing.
Keavy: The reason I’ve chosen this launch to try is because I love graphic eyeliner – anything that makes my eye area look more enhanced, so I can’t wait to try this. It is quite black-as-black, which is a good sign because you get those ones that go a bit grey, so I’m really excited to try this.
Maja: I’m usually not using the eyeliners but I see the opportunity to try the new Maximist bareMinerals eyeliner and, because I know this brand, I would like to check and maybe try to use this more often during the daytime as well because I’m wearing glasses and I would like to see how this will be looking during like day to day, if it’s easy or not.
8. bareMinerals Volumizing Mascara
Product Pick: bareMinerals Maximist Phyto-Fiber Volumizing Mascara
Zainab: I picked the bareMinerals Maximist Mascara because I really like testing new mascaras. This one’s got a really big wand, which I don’t usually go for, so I’m excited to see how it performs; the before and after pictures look really good.
Ceryn: The reason I’ve chosen this is because I love the mascaras and I’m not usually loyal to one mascara, so I’m always testing a different one. What intrigues me about this one is not only is the one absolutely ginormous, but they’re quite separate as well, so I think you’ll get great separation with your lashes. It’s also vegan and plant-based. I think that’s a winner too.
Keavy: I love bareMinerals because of how it’s made. There’s no bad ingredients inside – just minerals and goodness. Your eye area is quite sensitive, so it’s important there – and it is maximalist; that’s a massive brush! I like really dramatic lashes, so I can’t wait to use it.
Maja: I would like to try the bareMinerals Maximist Mascara because I’m wearing glasses and I hope that my eyes will be more visual after using them.
9. Benefit Shellie Blush
Product Pick: Benefit Shellie – Blush
Ceryn: Blush and a highlighter in one, which is perfect for someone who’s lazy like me! They have no brush inside them anymore. Now, I know a lot of people might have liked the brushes inside. I didn’t; I never used to use it, sorry Benefit! But they’ve also got a new brush now, which is really travel-friendly, really chic. Slso, because it’s got a lid, I feel like it’s the perfect handbag brush. It’s also got the perfect noise – ahh, that’s the best. Also, look how fluffy it is. And it’s really really soft on the skin.
Hannah: The colour is just lovely; it’s like a very peachy colour. It’s become more sustainable, which is something that’s very important to me. The box is recyclable now and, another reason it’s sustainable, is because they’ve got a new brush, instead of a little disposable one. The brush you can travel with really easily – like that! And I love that it comes with a little lid because I’m terrible at just chucking it in my bag, so this will keep it really nice and clean.
Keavy: I do absolutely love blusher. I think, if you don’t use it, you should. It makes me so alive and flushed. This one’s like a pinky coral colour. I love brighter blushes because they suit my fairer skin tone.
Louisha: I picked Shellie because I thought it was really good shade for summer – perfect as well to take on holiday. I picked the brush because it’s retractable, so that it’s really easy to put in my makeup bag and also the blushes don’t come with the brush anymore, so this is perfect and it’s lovely and soft as well.
10. bareMinerals BAREPRO Pressed Foundation
Product Pick: bareMinerals BAREPRO 16Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation
Hannah: bareMinerals is a brand that I’ve loved for years, but I’ve never tried any of their foundations. And this is a powder foundation, which is really good if you’re in a rush, which I always am, so I’m looking forward to giving this a try.
Rosa: I’ve never tried powder foundation before and I’ve really been wanting to try it recently. I love that kind of lightweight feel, especially because I have quite an oily face as you can probably already see. I really want something that I could just pop in my bag, pop on my face and I’m ready to go, and this would be an absolutely perfect one for it.
Keavy: I’ve never really worn powdered foundation; I usually wear liquid, so I’m excited to see how this wears on me. It’s super silky soft, I can say from first impressions. But it’s a little bit mattifying but a little bit glowy – natural, perfected. It’s a little mirror compact with a little sponge below for application. I’m excited to try this as a person who normally wears liquid foundation so, if that’s you, then keep watching my journey.
Kalli: I never tried powder foundation before. I have so many products from bareMinerals and I’m so satisfied with them, and I want to try something new for me.
bareMinerals BAREPRO 16Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation Review
11. Benefit Cheek Brush
Product Pick: Benefit Multitasking Cheek Brush
Kate: I have got quite a few little trips planned on the horizon, so I liked that it’s really good and travel-friendly. I’ve also got my eye on a new bronzer which I want to put this to the test with.
12. Benefit Hoola
Product Pick: Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder
Darcey: I’ve used it for many years now and it’s great to see a more slim version for travel. I’m actually going away soon so it’d be great for putting in my bag for that.
Louisha: I’ve actually used this before and I was quite intrigued to see the new packaging with it being a lot smaller more sustainable. I was quite excited to give the new one a try. As you might have noticed, they don’t come with a brush anymore, the new packaging, so I thought this was perfect is retractable as well and it’s really lovely and soft, so looking forward to give this a try.
Hannah: I’ve used Hoola for years – I think a lot of people have – so I was a bit nervous when they said they were coming out with a new version but, you’ll be pleased to know, it’s the same; it’s just more sustainable, and it still has that nice Hoola smell. The difference is outer packaging is recyclable, and it doesn’t come with a wasteful brush inside. But they have launched a new exciting brush, so you can buy this one and it just blends really evenly for any face product.
13. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Mini
Product Pick: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF30
Keavy: The reason I love this product already is because it’s like a light coverage, almost like a BB cream. I’ve chosen shade Butter Cream 03 because I am fair skinned, but I like to be a little bit golden as well. You can see there it’s really natural coverage. It’s super glowy; it gives you that really healthy, natural, kind of flawless look as well.
Patricya: I chose this product because I’m looking for a lightweight formula in my foundation, and also it’s very important to me that it has SPF in it and it’s quite high protection, which I love.
Rosa: I’ve chosen this one in particular because I’m very new to foundations, particularly liquid foundations. My one at the moment doesn’t have SPF in it and I’m getting more and more into SPF these days – as we know it’s so important – and I also love the lightweight feel of a liquid foundation.
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF30 Review
Sun Protection
14. Ultrasun Pre-Sun Tan Activator
Product Pick: Ultrasun Body Pre-Sun Tan Activator
Ceryn: I picked this product because it really intrigued me – I am going on holiday soon – and what this does is helps your skin to tan in the safest way possible. I’m a big advocate for SPF but I would also love a golden glow.
Ben: The reason I picked this product is because I’ve always been interested in trying a sun tan activator and this one is suited for sensitive skin. It’s important, obviously, that it’s not an SPF product, but I just wanted to see if it worked.
Darcey: I’m excited to try the Ultrasun Tan Activator because I’m going to Venice tomorrow and I’m looking forward to trying it after I’ve been in the sun to boost that glow, and it’s also good for sensitive skin so hopefully you won’t get I reactions to it.
15. Ultrasun Face SPF30 Anniversary Edition
Product Pick: Ultrasun Face SPF30 – 30th Anniversary Edition
Zainab: I’ve picked the Ultrasun 30th Anniversary SPF because it’s their best-seller and it’s been around for 30 years, but I’ve never tried it, and the package is really cute!
Ben: It’s Ultrasun‘s 30th anniversary this year and this is their icon product, the face SPF30. I’ve never actually tried it myself and I’m really excited to try it.
Darcey: It’s a special edition one, so it’s got sparkly packaging and it’s for their 30 year anniversary! I’ve heard really good things about their textures. They’re really nourishing and they’re great for sensitive skin.
Eleni: Unfortunately, I’m allergic to the sun and I have really sensitive skin. This SPF has been around for 30 years and I would love to try it and celebrate the 30 years!
16. Bioderma Photoderm Ultra SPF50
Product Pick: Bioderma Photoderm Lait Ultra SPF50+
Jade: They
