Hall of Fame and the first peek into the next Cult Beauty Box - May Li

I won't lie. When May agreed to be in my third Cult Beauty Box I squealed a little. A lot. I squealed a lot. Every pot of Blue Cocoon is still made by hand and I can't believe that May agreed to GIVEMEALLTHEPOTSOFBEAUTIFULBLUE.

If you are a regular reader/viewer you will have seen this all over my social media and in a few videos - the links to which I will put below under the review.

So. If you're new to the blog or have not seen the videos and are not on social media, what is all the fuss about?

What is it?

A cooling, soothing, replenishing, strengthening and protecting concentrated balm, that happens to be blue.

Who is it for?

All skins, but especially those that show signs of irritation, dehydration, redness - I like the description of 'easily offended' skin types.

What’s in it?

Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, *** Butyrospermun Parkii (Shea) Butter, *** Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, *** Sclerocarya Birrea (Virgin Marula) Oil, Calodendrum Capense (Yangu) Oil, * Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Oil, * Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Oil, **Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil, * Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, ** Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil, * Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Oil, * Vanilla Planifolia CO2 Total Essential Oil, Schisandra Sphenanthera CO2 Fruit Extract, * Helichrysum Italicum (Immortelle) Oil, Ravensara Aromatica Oil

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

The second ingredient is shea butter, so traditionally not to be recommended for acneic skins. However, this formulation literally turns to oil upon application and is extremely refined. In this case, I think the cooling and soothing benefits for the spots outweigh the possibility of breaking out. Speaking purely from my experience, I have to be wary of shea in high doses and this does not break me out. At all.

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan? Fair Trade? Wild Harvested?

Organic. Natural. Vegan. Fair Trade. Wild-Harvested.

Couldn't be purer if it was made by Vestal Virgins eating kale and reading GOOP.

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/No

What's not in it?

mineral oil

synthetic fragrance

synthetic colour

animal products

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?

'Massage a pea sized amount into skin after cleansing'.

This goes a long way, less is more. Go easy. Start with a small amount, leave for a little while and then add more if necessary.

I tend to use this on evenings (evenings only) when I'm either doing something really active to my skin - such as applying a retinoid, or on evenings that I want my skin to take a chill pill and calm itself down. It is always the first thing that goes on if I have been on an airplane.

I scrape a little out of the pot - and a little goes a really long way - I am still on my one and only pot - onto my fingertips, massage lightly into the skin and then if it's being used on its own - 'give it some wellie' with the massage.

If I'm using it on top of retinoids I tend to give my active products 10-15 minutes on their own, and then put this on top.

What’s good about it?

It's just lush. This is easily in my Top 10 products of all time. Possibly Top 5, but then I don't like to pick favourites. It's just too hard.

May is really, really good at formulating beautiful products that don't compromise for cost purposes. The blue in The Blue Cocoon is blue tansy oil. No artificial colourings, no gimmicks, it's just blue.

All together, the oils in this balm are analgesic, anti-allergenic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antidepressant, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac (oo-er), disinfecting, diuretic - helping puffiness and they are a massive relaxant, which is why I only use it on the evenings. If I have work to do I cannot put this near my face. In the best way.

What's not so good about it?

It's not cheap. It's £128.00 for 50ml. Or $160.00.

BUT: May Lindstrom's Blue Cocoon is in my third Cult Beauty Box - the Box of Dreams - which is literally what popped out of my mouth* when we decided on the final round-up. So you'll be able to get this and a host of other wondrousness....when it is released.

Available from:

MayLindstrom.com Space NK: https://bit.ly/3FLSzpo Lookfantastic: https://bit.ly/3oTeMeT

Tomorrow: another Hall of Famer and information on my last event of 2015.