Purchasing
There was a mistake in my order, what should I do?
Please email us at your earliest convenience care@maylindstrom.com with your order number and any details and we’ll do everything we can to make it right. We look forward to the opportunity to bring you delight!
What is your return or exchange policy?
We want you to LOVE every element of your May Lindstrom Skin experience and we are committed to giving you our very best service. If you are not enamored with your selection, we do not wish for it to gather dust or disappointment. If you desire a return, we'll make the process as easy as possible. Click HERE to access our stress-less returns portal.
Please note:
* Any orders placed during gifting promotions where free product was received are not eligible for return or credit.
* The Chocolate Box and our digital gift card are not eligible for return or credit.
* We cannot process a return for products purchased through a retail partner. Refunds, exchanges, and store credit are available only for purchases made through maylindstrom.com.
* International shipping charges ($30 flat rate on orders under $200) are not eligible for refund.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes! And we make every effort to ensure that shopping fast and fresh from our Los Angeles studio is as effortless and predictable as possible - no matter where you call home.
International orders with a product total of over $200 ship FREE.
International orders with a product total under $200 ship with a $30 flat rate.
All international packages ship via DHL Global Express.*
We love surprises, but not when it comes to unanticipated fees.
Our international tax and duty calculator automatically calculates any taxes your government requires for your shipment to pass through customs and enter your country.
In service to you, we pay all of your required duties, leaving only regional taxes as your responsibility. This is the same tax that would be included in your listed purchase price if shopping locally. These taxes, if applicable, will be included in your order total for you to pay at our checkout to ensure a stress-free, only-the-best-surprises delivery.
Our website lists purchase prices in US dollars. Packages will be marked at full value in accordance with the law. No returns or refunds will be issued due to customs delays or holds beyond our control, nor for unclaimed packages.
*If DHL does not service your country, or if you wish to ship to China, Italy, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, or Spain, please email care@maylindstrom.com so we may best assist you.
Am I able to view prices in my local currency?
Our website displays purchase prices and checkout totals in US dollars (USD).
We recommend using an online currency converter to view current international exchange rates.
Note: The desktop version of maylindstrom.com features a flag icon in the upper right corner. When tapped, you may select your shipping destination to learn about options for delivery to your country. Selecting your country does not change the displayed currency. Product prices will be listed in USD, regardless of country selected.
If we are unable to ship to your country for any reason, information on alternatives will be shown upon its selection.
If you have any questions, we welcome you to connect anytime at care@maylindstrom.com. We are honored to be entrusted with your care, wherever in the world you call home.
I’d like to gift your products, can you help me make it extra special?
We love to be a part of your most celebratory moments, and it’s an honor to be given as a gift to someone you know will resonate with our treats. Our goal is to make every single package delivered feel like the arrival of your favorite holiday, but we are always thrilled at the opportunity to go above and beyond. In addition to selecting the “add gift box” option at the shopping cart page, be sure you have selected your choice of two complimentary deluxe samples and left a note for us in the “LOVE NOTES, REVIEWS, OR SPECIAL REQUESTS” box with your recipient’s name and any special message. We’ll handwrite your words on beautiful stationery and pack everything up with extra love and care. If there is anything more you have in mind that would make your gift even more extraordinary, do feel free to let us know!
Do you offer discounts?
As a company, we have a global policy that prioritizes our commitment to ever-increasing our unparalleled and uncompromising quality standards. To do so, we opt away from any financial structure that would leave us dependent upon heightened sales generated by temporary discounting.
The pricing of our products was first set in 2011. In the decade-plus since, we have had just one price change - a 15% increase across the board in 2017 to adjust for inflation. Our prices have not budged in any direction over the four-plus years since, and there are no edits anticipated or scheduled at this time.
Maintaining consistent and stable pricing across all markets ensures that we are able to continue sourcing only the world’s best and freshest ingredients, without compromise for cost, while also supporting ethical procurement practices both socially and environmentally.
As an independent family business, this layer of financial stability and predictability enables us to care for all of our team members - at every level - with fair pay, wellness-supporting benefits, and a supportive family environment.
Our goal is to share the most beautiful, intimate, and extraordinary experience we can imagine, along with the most transformative formulations. We truly appreciate the role each client plays in the investment towards this mission.
Twice-annually, or as we are able, we celebrate each of you with a big, super special gifting event. You absolutely won’t want to miss these opportunities to stock up on fresh favorites and gifts for those you love.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive your personal invitation to the fun here.
Is it safe to purchase your products on Amazon/eBay/or 3rd-party sellers?
We would highly recommend avoiding the purchase of samples or full-size products listed as ours off of eBay, Amazon, and other third-party suppliers. These are unauthorized retailers, and unfortunately, we cannot control their sales or vouch for the authenticity, safety, or freshness of any product purchased in this way.
To ensure you receive only the very best of us, please shop direct at maylindstrom.com. We ship fresh from our Los Angeles studio, and all orders include a free shipping option and a gift of two deluxe samples of your choice.
I’m on a budget - any advice on how I can tiptoe into the collection?
Our uncompromising commitment to the quality, freshness, sustainability, and integrity of our ingredients and intimate manufacturing process comes at an undeniable cost. This is reflected in the prices we charge, and we fully understand that with the constraints of a limited budget, our products might feel unattainable. The following is advice we’ve shared frequently with clients who are looking to treat themselves well and really honor their skin, but who are unable to dive into our collection in full, or even at all in this moment.
First - begin cleansing your skin with just pure, raw honey. You can find great sources at your local health food store or farmer’s market for under $20. You can use this twice per day. Moisturize with high quality, virgin cold pressed olive, avocado, or jojoba oil massaged with intention into warm, damp skin. You can purchase beautiful simple ingredients like this from Mountain Rose Herbs. While you're there, add in gentle white kaolin clay for masking and light exfoliation.
Cleanse and moisturize twice a day. Do a mask 2-3x/week. Once a month, wash with the honey, then steam your face over a bowl of boiling water with tea in it (chamomile, lavender, rose, mint - anything pure and herbal), massage gently with a hot, clean washcloth then do a masque treatment. Follow immediately with the oil on damp skin. See how you feel and make any shifts needed - do you need more oil? More or less frequent masque treatments? During this time of listening to your skin and leaning into simplicity in your care, save your money.
When you are ready to place your first order with us, you'll be able to select two deluxe-sized samples as your gift at checkout, along with always-free shipping in the USA (and $30 flat rate international, with free shipping over $200). This is the perfect way to continue to explore the collection risk-free, and make educated decisions on where to go from here.
If you’re ready to begin your exploration today, but would be more comfortable with split payments, we've just implemented AfterPay to make this easier than ever. We can't wait to share with you!
Product Questions
Where can I get samples? Do you sell travel sizes?
We love small sizing for discovery and adventure, and think sampling is such an important part of the quest to seek what best resonates with your skin. Two deluxe minis of your choice, selectable at our cart, are included as your gift with every full-size product order shipped fresh from our studio.
Orders containing only The Chocolate Box or our Digital Gift Card do not include additional gifts. If you add a full-sized product to your order of The Chocolate Box or our Digital Gift Card, your deluxe mini gift options will appear at the cart.
Further discovery is at your fingertips with The Chocolate Box, facilitating a complete tour of our primary facial collection within our beautiful gift box.
What is my product’s shelf life/expiration?
We advise a shelf life of one year from the time you open each new bottle or jar, and we encourage opening within six months of the date your individual treat was made. Every micro batch is prepared fresh in our studio for ultimate potency and dated for full transparency into our intimate process.
Under best conditions, each of our products can safely last well beyond this timeline, but we also recommend you view these treats like fresh food, indulging frequently once opened to enjoy the benefit of the highest possible level of nutrients and goodness. You can read more about our Freshness Promise HERE.
Are essential oils safe?
Essential oils are powerful tools and can function like medicine for the skin. As with all medicine, proper dosing is important. I use essential oils with total respect for ratio and balance to achieve formulas that are as safe as they are beautiful and effective. Equally important with essential oils is the source, quality and processing. Essential oils are commonly diluted or completely adulterated and this is a serious issue - and one of the reasons we sometimes see general incompatibility issues. Often, a client is responding to the adulterant, and when switching to a pure source, finds complete compatibility. Ingredients are our very foundation and the source of my greatest pride and joy in my work. We are committed to the painstaking process of securing the very best, freshest, and completely authentic and skin-compatible plants, oils, and minerals in the world, with no compromise for scarcity or cost. Read more about the sourcing and purpose behind each of our unique ingredients here: Our Ingredients
Should I refrigerate my products?
We encourage you to store our fresh goodies thoughtfully in a cool, stable environment in their light-protective original packaging and use within one year of opening. Beyond this, there is no special care needed. While not required, The Blue Cocoon and The Jasmine Garden are both gorgeous chilled for an extra anti-inflammatory treat. I keep doubles on hand, especially in the warmer months!
How long until I see results?
We encourage our clients to be consistent for at least 90 days with our collection. Changes in skin happen over time, and when working with the body as a whole, and not just your product regime.
It’s important to remember as well that skin likes consistency and change can freak it out - whether moving from conventional to new conventional or from conventional to natural. It can take time to find your natural rhythm, as well as to find your ideal fit. There is an expectation that we see often when clients are transitioning that the very first natural face oil or cleanser they reach for be “the one.” And when the sky doesn’t open up and angels start singing, they toss in the towel entirely, writing off natural skincare as something that “didn’t work for them.” I could go pick up 50 different conventional skincare products today, and 45 wouldn’t work for me - the same is true of natural skincare. Try to let go of the expectation that every product is going to be a hit. It won’t. Just as it took years for you to find your current favorites, it will take time to find new products, ingredients, and brands that resonate with you as an individual in this exact moment in time. Be patient and gentle with yourself and do reach out for help. We are here for you!
Do you sell a spatula for the blue cocoon & the honey mud?
Yes! I am incredibly happy to share The Dandelion Wand with you! Be sure to watch the incredible “making of” video we shot with our local gold artisans to see just how special this treasure is.
Is your collection safe for pregnancy & children?
Our entire collection is safe for pre-conception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond. These are the perfect treats to keep in your skincare arsenal as you navigate the hormone fluctuations and skin concerns that go right along with this powerful time. See our ritual recommendations for this chapter HERE.
I’m also happy to share that many sweet little ones have become fans of our yummy treats. The Blue Cocoon is invaluable in my own baby emergency kit. This gorgeous formula is incredibly soothing for delicate skin and on any areas of irritation - perfect to keep on hand for cuts, sunburns, scrapes, bug bites, diaper rashes, eczema, cradle cap, and all manner of normal childhood ouchies! :).
Do your products contain wheat, soy, or dairy?
The entire collection is soy, dairy, wheat, and gluten-free. You can find the complete INCI listing of all ingredients for each product on its individual product page.
Do all of your ingredients carry organic certification?
We take great care in sourcing all-natural ingredients of the absolute highest quality we can find, and then ensuring their freshness and potency is delivered beautifully in the final product. Not all ingredients we procure can be certified organic - such as clays and salts. Sometimes there is an even higher quality available to us than “organic,” which is the case with some of our best-sourced wild harvested plants.
In other cases, we believe in building relationships with small farms or operations that cannot afford the rigorous process of receiving official certification, but that do grow their plants ethically and with environmental consciousness, free of pesticides and fertilizers. These are technically organically-grown ingredients, but the documentation on these harvests would not allow us to claim the specifically-regulated words, “Organic Certified” on our label.
Our commitment is to bring you the best of the best, and being Certified Organic is not always the absolute win in this regard. If you have questions regarding the source or quality of a particular ingredient, please do reach out to us anytime at care@maylindstrom.com. We are always proud and happy to share its unique story.
Are your products vegan? Do you test on animals?
Our ingredients are not tested on animals, nor are our finished products. We do not sell in any countries that require animal testing. We do not have a parent company - these recipes, and every element of this collection, are ours alone. There is no outside factory or lab, or even distribution center. We have a dedicated team that works from principles of ingredients integrity and consciousness for our planet and its creatures, as well as the wellbeing and care of our May Lindstrom Skin family.
Our entire collection is vegan, with the exception of The Honey Mud, which contains raw honey. We source this gorgeous healer from a local apiary who follows sustainable practices, honoring the health of their bees.
Note that even our treatment brush is vegan, with the bristles made from high quality, Taklon fibers. The handle is sustainable wood and the ferrule is recycled aluminum.
We do our best to integrate conscious and loving choices into every element of our business and welcome the opportunity for further growth and dialogue.
SAULÉ & JUPITER
Introducing: Saulé and Jupiter!
Saulé and Jupiter are aromatic anointing oils that were released as limited sneak peek (2ml) gifts during my birthday month (May!) of 2023.
We have cleared our shelves of the limited edition minis but we heard you! We are currently seeking the perfect vessel for your vanity to house the full sizes of these gorgeous oils and appropriately honor their place in our forever-collection.
You can join the waitlist HERE.
saulé
Bright, euphoric, effervescent.A joyous dance of citrus flesh & flower,jasmine, blue tansy, summer basil.
jupiter
Rich, gourmand, woodsy, sexy.A hug, warmed with coffee, spicedcacao, the smoke of Palo Santo.
I wouldn't call these perfumes.
These are oils to take you home to yourself.
These are exactly what I wear, every single day, going on 9 years now. I rotate both, choosing based on mood, often blending the two in the moment for an entirely unique experience.
Press into pulse points to invite presence and infuse the beauty of the world into memory with your touch.
—------------
Questions?
Drop into an IG LIVE faq video replay with me HERE.
Below, we’ll cover both the primary questions we’re often asked during our promotions, as well as the most common inquiries around this specific gifting celebration and the sneak peek of Saulé and Jupiter.
I cannot wait for you to experience these very special aromatic honoring oils!
If we’ve missed anything, or if there’s ever more we can share to welcome you into our world, send us a note to care@maylindstrom.com and we’ll be delighted to be your guide.
All my love,
May
Do these smell like anything else in the collection? The Good Stuff? The Happy Galaxy? The Blue Cocoon? Or The Jasmine Garden?
Saulé and Jupiter are unisex aromas, each unique to themselves (and are glorious when blended for your own custom scent). There are some notes that will feel familiar to the May Lindstrom Skin experience.
Saulé pre-dates The Happy Galaxy, and served as early inspiration for that glorious head-to-toe drink of goodness. They share a citrus and floral brightness, like a marriage between The Blue Cocoon, The Youth Dew, and The Jasmine Garden, mixed with summer heat and a touch of green.
Jupiter has warmth and depth and sensuality, its rich cacao notes evoking traces of The Good Stuff, The Honey Mud, The Pendulum Potion. It’s a hug with some sexiness, a strut, a bit of smoke on skin.
Here is how May describes both:
saulé
Bright, euphoric, effervescent.
A joyous dance of citrus flesh & flower,
jasmine, blue tansy, summer basil.
jupiter
Rich, gourmand, woodsy, sexy.
A hug, warmed with coffee, spiced
cacao, the smoke of Palo Santo.
Will these last like a traditional fragrance? Will the scent remain throughout the day?
May calls these “aromatic honoring oils”, as it’s much more about the sensorial experience of anointing and returning to presence over and over throughout the day, than it is about creating a perfume that will last til dark.
Saulé and Jupiter hold an invitation to return to presence and infuse the beauty of the world into memory with your touch. They greet you big and warm in a moment just for you, and over the hours of the day, soften and meld with the unique chemistry of your skin into something very personal and intimate, an inhale to lean into.
Can I mix and match these? Wear them together?
Yes! Each is glorious all on its own, and together, they can be customized to your desire for a scent experience that is unique only to you.
Can I use them in my bath, in my hair, on my face?
Saulé and Jupiter can both be added to your bathwater, a drop in your shampoo or conditioner or bodywash, smoothed through hair, added to your dry brush, kept at your desk to bring focus, or your bedside to bring comfort or call in sensuality and presence. Take them with you everywhere and watch what happens.
We do not recommend our aromatic honoring oils for use directly on facial skin.
Will these be offered in a larger/full size? What size?
We hope so! We are in the process of seeking the perfect vessel for your vanity to house these gorgeous oils and appropriately honor their place in our forever-collection. Until then, these mini sneak-peeks are it! We hope you LOVE your preview and can’t wait to hear all your thoughts as we shape our future offerings.
Are the ingredients non-toxic? I don’t wear traditional “perfumes” and want to be sure that these are clean and safe.
YES! Saulé and Jupiter are a dance of pure essential oils of the highest quality, maintaining our rigorous raw ingredient sourcing standards. If you love our special world here, we believe you will adore these unique scent experiences.
Neither formula contains alcohol or synthetic fragrance.
The complete INCI for each follows:
Jupiter
Macadamia: Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Cacao Absolute: Theobroma Cacao Extract, Propylene Glycol
Coffee: Coffea Arabica
Australian Sandalwood: Santalum Album
Valerian Root: Valeriana Officinalis
Vetiver: Vetiveria Zizanioides
Nutmeg: Myristica Fragrans
Palo Santo: Bursera Graveolens
Saulé
Meadowfoam: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil
Grapefruit: Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Jasmine: Jasminum Grandiflorum (Jasmine) Flower Extract
Blue Tansy: Tanacetum Annumm (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil
Neroli: Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil
Basil: Ocimum Basilicum
Palmerosa: Cymbopogon Martinii
Can I order these as samples in the future? Will you add these as a sample selection?
We are currently seeking the perfect vessel for your vanity to house these gorgeous oils and appropriately honor their place in our forever-collection. Once that happens (next year, perhaps?) we may consider offering samples.
I’m allergic to most fragrances. Will I have a reaction to these?
Our aromatic honoring oils do not contain synthetic fragrance.
While we cannot guarantee any individual’s compatibility, Saulè and Jupiter are a dance of pure essential oils of the highest quality, maintaining our rigorous raw ingredient sourcing standards. If you love our special world here, we believe you will adore these unique scent experiences.
What makes these fragrances different from traditional perfumes and such on the market?
May calls these “aromatic honoring oils”, as it’s much more about the sensorial experience of anointing and returning to presence over and over throughout the day, than it is about creating a perfume that will last til dark.
Saulé and Jupiter hold an invitation to return to presence and infuse the beauty of the world into memory with your touch. They greet you big and warm in a moment just for you, and over the hours of the day, soften and meld with the unique chemistry of your skin into something very personal and intimate, an inhale to lean into.
Our aromatic honoring oils do not contain synthetic fragrance. Saulé and Jupiter are a dance of pure essential oils of the highest quality, maintaining our rigorous raw ingredient sourcing standards. If you love our special world here, we believe you will adore these unique scent experiences.
Are these fragrances oil-based or alcohol-based?
Saulé and Jupiter are a dance of pure essential oils of the highest quality. Neither formula contains alcohol.
The complete INCI for each follows:
Jupiter
Macadamia: Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Cacao Absolute: Theobroma Cacao Extract, Propylene Glycol
Coffee: Coffea Arabica
Australian Sandalwood: Santalum Album
Valerian Root: Valeriana Officinalis
Vetiver: Vetiveria Zizanioides
Nutmeg: Myristica Fragrans
Palo Santo: Bursera Graveolens
Saulé
Meadowfoam: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil
Grapefruit: Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Jasmine: Jasminum Grandiflorum (Jasmine) Flower Extract
Blue Tansy: Tanacetum Annumm (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil
Neroli: Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil
Basil: Ocimum Basilicum
Palmerosa: Cymbopogon Martinii
Are these scents compatible with my other fragrances/perfumes? Can I mix and match?
YES! This is an invitation to call you home to yourself in all the ways that feel delicious to you.
You may wear each oil alone, the two blended together, or explore any combination of this duo along with fragrances you already love. PLAY, and discover what feels like YOU.
May calls these “aromatic honoring oils”, as it’s much more about the sensorial experience of anointing and returning to presence over and over throughout the day, than it is about creating a perfume that will last til dark.
Saulé and Jupiter hold an invitation to return to presence and infuse the beauty of the world into memory with your touch. They greet you big and warm in a moment just for you, and over the hours of the day, soften and meld with the unique chemistry of your skin into something very personal and intimate, an inhale to lean into.
General Customer Service
Are you open to the public?
While we are delighted to ship our goodies straight to your door, fresh from our private studio, we are not currently open to visitors. We hope to at some point offer services or shopping by appointment, along with fun events and opportunities to connect in person. Building a community of care, connection, and celebration sounds like a fun goal! In the meantime, we are happy to ship to your home - quick, super-fresh, and easy!
Do you have a phone number I can call into?
We currently offer our best and most thorough care over email. We are hoping to add chat, phone, and video consult options soon! Human connection is at the very core of what we do, and we are excited to go deeper in our ability to serve your needs. We always want you to experience the very best of us, and we will do all we can to care for you, wherever you are in the world.
Bottles & jars - do you sell refills or have a “take back” program?
We love the idea of refills, but the realities are a little tricky for our collection. We've seen this done successfully by some of our beauty heroes (LOVE the Kjaer Weis packaging!), but it is definitely easier to institute refill options beautifully for certain cosmetics.
There is a legal aspect that is often not adhered to in refill packaging. European regulations for skincare importation require extensive testing of all products, along with very detailed labeling requirements. Our products must be tested for stability and safety in the final container - in our case, our light-protective Miron glass. If we sell an option outside of this, we must undergo the same testing procedures, and these options must also adhere to our quality standard. We have yet to discover refill packets that would meet our ideals (checking the boxes of: environmentally safe, sturdy, non-leaching, no plastic, and still clearly beautiful) that also protects our fresh-made formulas.
Our delicate oils maintain their highest integrity when housed in dark protective glass, something we have been very committed to from day one. Our powder formulas are a bit more flexible, but do still keep their vibrancy and freshness best in light filtering containers - the same as your herbs and spices do at home. Powder formulations are also incredibly messy to transfer into new containers. In our experiments, and when taking feedback from the clients we've had test our initial efforts, it's simply too much work and not a sanitary process. The opening of The Clean Dirt is too narrow to make a transfer of powder to bottle easy as it requires a very small funnel, which most individuals would not have at home. The Problem Solver is much easier as it is has a large opening, but the pouring of the powder into the jar creates a lot of mess and dust - and it's a dark, charcoal and spice-infused dust that makes for a very sneezy filling experience. :)
Many of our clients come to our collection yearning for a bit of luxury and presentation to go along with our commitment to body and planet-positive ingredients and efficacious formulas. Our promise is to deliver an enjoyable experience in every aspect of your ritual, and we find ourselves having to navigate our desire to continue researching solutions and innovating around our dedication to our Earth as we also uphold our commitment to offer the most special, intimate, and truly indulgent experience we can imagine.
The best thing to do is reuse our packaging on your own, recycling at the end of its lifecycle. We have many clients who keep our jars and bottles for holding odds and ends in the bathroom - qtips, bobbypins, and cotton balls, DIY blends - or items in the kitchen. Our bottles are perfect for different oils, vinegar, honey, and so on, keeping nutrition intact far longer than ingredients held in clear or brown glass, or any kind of plastic. The jars are great for keeping spices super fresh and beautiful.
Have you tried using the bottles for cut flowers? They stay vibrant so much longer! One of our clients posted this on her instagram a while back:
http://instagram.com/p/gobbVumGaH/
Cool, right? :)
We truly appreciate your efforts to reuse and recycle - this is such an important message to celebrate and embrace.
Do you still create bespoke formulas or can a product be modified for me?
Unfortunately, my schedule does not currently allow additional time for the intensive focus needed for thoughtful bespoke formulation or to create customized versions of existing products. This said, there are so many ways to mix and match and play to ultimately adapt each piece of my current collection to meet most needs gracefully. If you ever have any questions or would like personalized guidance into your ritual, do reach out anytime.
Can you share the significance of the dandelion in your logo?
Dandelions are what childhood wishes are made on, and I love the whimsy of that. As a country girl from Minnesota, I spent infinite hours gathering dandelions, making crowns with their flowers, salads with their leaves, and romancing endless dreams and wishes made on seeds, spiraling through the summer air. To gild this icon in gold, place it on a bottle that is designed to be a catalyst for connection and care - it just made sense on every level. Decisions made from my child-eyes always turn out to be the good ones.
Skin Ritual Questions
What are your favorite products for travel? Can I bring everything on-board with me?
The Blue Cocoon, The Youth Dew, and The Jasmine Garden have been my on-board skin saviors during even the longest travels all over the world. Be a little extra generous in your application of this trio before you fly, and your time in the air ends up being like a mini moisture treatment! I keep these three right in my purse, refreshing skin as needed throughout the flight.
When you have settled into your destination, smoothe on a rich layer of The Honey Mud and step into a steamy shower to cleanse and reset, rinsing as a last step. Slip into bed, misting The Jasmine Garden lightly on your pillow before sleep to establish familiarity and take advantage of jasmine’s sedative effects, grounding you for a perfect rest. The following morning, awaken skin with The Clean Dirt, sweeping away dead cells and giving you a fresh start in the new day.
Note: The entire current collection is TSA-approved for checked luggage. Our core facial collection, which excludes the 200 ml Happy Galaxy, is approved to take directly onboard your flight (placing The Youth Dew, The Jasmine Garden, and The Pendulum Potion with your other liquids in a ziplock bag).
I’m new to “green” beauty - any advice on dissecting labels?
Ignore the front of the box and any marketing jargon and go straight to the complete (and not just *featured*) ingredients listing. This is where the fun starts! Much of conventional skincare is filler and fluff and perfume and colorants. When you enter the natural beauty world, it’s like discovering a new universe - I believe ingredients decks should read like a yummy food label and each addition should serve a clear and understandable purpose. Over time, you’ll learn what your skin loves and what it doesn’t. I also encourage you to reach out to the brands you are exploring personally - we love to help guide individual clients into personalized rituals that will resonate with their unique needs and answer any questions they stumble upon along the way. It’s so important to have a human connection over something as intimate as skin.
“Going green” is daunting to do all at once. Where should I start?
My first advice is simply to let it be fun! Sometimes we feel like if we don’t ditch everything and have a full-life makeover along with this product switch-up that we have failed somehow. You haven’t. Take a deep breath and start with what excites you. It’s logical to go with the largest expanse of skin and swap out body wash and head-to-toe moisturizer, but I say only do this if the idea thrills you. Your first purchase should be one you long for - one you can’t wait to get home to each night and to start your day with each morning. From here, you will naturally blossom into the other pieces as you do your research, evolving at the speed that works for both your personal comfort zone and finances.
I also want to note that more often than not clients come to me from both conventional skincare, and from natural skincare, with complexions that are overstressed, highly sensitized, and exhausted - nearly always from overloading on too many products. As you shift your attention to products that will resonate more intuitively with your natural self, resist the temptation to overload on everything and start the cycle again. Clearing out the excess leaves you with the physical and mental space to be open to introducing new products that feed you in all the right ways.
After you’ve started the love-fest with a couple picks from the “lust” side of your list to get you motivated, prioritize the discovery and exchange of those items that stay on your skin - your largest organ drinks up whatever you apply to it. Full body lotions, creams, and oils absolutely must be pure and healthy. Your scalp is the single most absorbent portion of your body, so ending any hair-dye habits and adopting a good clean shampoo and conditioner is important. My current favorite haircare is made by Innersense Organic Beauty.
Once you've cut out and replaced the big trouble spots and been properly wooed with the goodies that drew you into this space, it is time to focus on your skin goals so you can achieve the results that will keep you on this beautiful path long-term. This is clearly where we come in! Visit our “Explore Skin Rituals” portal as a great starting point to discover step-by-step routines designed to address an abundance of skin goals and challenges. If you’d like further personalized guidance, reach out anytime to care@maylindstrom.com.
Are all non-natural/synthetic ingredients bad for the skin? What about something like retinol?
My personal philosophy is that all-natural wins over a cocktail of synthetics when it comes to our skin. I can't help but think of this like food and ask the question of what I'd like my skin and body to drink up. It's important to remember that this is quite literally what is happening when we adorn our largest and most vulnerable organ in our chosen products. I make very conscious decisions at the grocery store for myself and my family, and I make those same decisions in our cleansing and bathing rituals.
We’ve been able to achieve incredible results in even the most challenging skin conditions with our formulas. I encourage you to explore the step-by-step routines found HERE to address everything from acne to eczema to post-cancer care.
For personalized guidance, reach out anytime to care@maylindstrom.com. If you love your retinol, acids, or other conventional treatments - wonderful! We’d love to work alongside you to support your skin’s longterm health and integrity as you work towards your goals with these additions.
If I am currently using a retinol, can I use this with your collection?
Yes, absolutely! If you are happy with the retinol protocol you are on, my collection works in full support of your results. The Blue Cocoon is our first choice to pair with retinoids, and is a favorite of countless clients and many estheticians and dermatologists who incorporate it into their treatments and after-care recommendations. There is lots more to explore here to provide you the nourishment and support your skin needs as it moves through the healing chapters ahead. Please do reach out anytime care@maylindstrom.com and we can be at your side to guide you through step by step in this evolution.
There’s been lots of conflict around the use of essential oils in skincare lately - can you share on this?
There is so much information (and often misinformation) available about essential oils out in the world and online that it can be hard to know who or what to trust. A conflicting dialog is particularly common - the potential cons of these incredibly diverse ingredients are talked about in general terms by those who then have no issue prescribing retinoids, acids, and other highly sensitizing treatments. We all have our biases, every expert has their own opinion, and there is often much conflict between who wins in these arguments. I am personally a big proponent of the power and medicinal qualities of well-sourced, properly processed essential oils and have seen extraordinary results using them in my formulas over my history with many thousands of clients.
The big culprit that I run into over and over is not about essential oils as a whole, but about each one’s particular aspects as a unique plant, as well as the individual quality and ratio within a formula. Sourcing of true, unadulterated, undiluted essential oils has become incredibly challenging - it’s the sole role of one deeply valued team members and also where I put an incredible amount of my own time, resources, and energy.
While literally anyone can buy “essential oils” nearly everywhere online, the quality of what is readily available on the common market is terrible and very often not even close to what may be represented on the label. Adulteration, dilution, improper labeling, and misrepresentation of quality or type of processing, as well as genus species, is prevalent. There is little to no regulation on what is sold, and essentially zero enforcement. This is a pandemic issue and one that is rarely talked about. You may think you are sensitive to essential oils after reacting to a natural product, when the case may actually be that you are responding to that particular source, quality, or (often unknown even to the brand) undisclosed ingredient within that “essential oil.”
Should you ever wish to learn more about any particular ingredient we use, you can explore this page, as well as reach out anytime to go deeper care@maylindstrom.com. Ingredients are our greatest pride and joy; the foundation of our commitment to you, and we are always thrilled to have the opportunity to talk more about how we are raising our own quality standard and ultimately, spotlighting this important conversation.
I have heard you do not wear sunscreen, is this true?
I absolutely believe in using sun protection and am a proponent of finding your best fit from makers committed to safe and effective formulation.
I personally avoid conventional sunscreens entirely due to my own sensitivity to a number of ingredients they traditionally contain. Given my own circumstances, I most often blend zinc powder with The Blue Cocoon during my morning ritual to make customizable protection I can adapt to my own exposure for that particular day. Intuitive and simple for me after years of experience with this method, admittedly tricky and not recommended for most.
If I’m heading to the beach on vacation and don’t want to mess with it, I’ll happily grab what’s available - Josh Rosebrook’s SPF creams are great, as is Coola, though I’ll often just pick up an easy tube of Badger during my Whole Foods shopping trip. I have two very fair and sun-sensitive children (and a husband to match!) so there has to be simple, go-to options for them at all times.
I’m still compiling my favorite’s list to share with all of you. Email us anytime at care@maylindstrom.com and we can always help you on your search.
What is your personal self-care ritual?
I do my best to practice what I preach, and here is the most common advice I give: Eat the rainbow. Move your body. Breathe. Romance yourself to the point of blushing. Know that you are beautiful. Beauty is a reflection of your inner self - prioritize your own deliciousness, and be truly, fully, authentically You. Be sure that you create time to rest your body and your mind, to play and encourage opportunity for learning and joy, to share yourself fully with others and also to embrace moments of time alone. When we are happy and intimately immersed in our world, our beauty cannot help but shine through.
And if you want to peek at what the skincare-specific element of self-care is for me, my personal cleansing ritual is explored in full HERE.