14 Things We’re Loving in May, from a New Serum to Pour-Your-Own Candles
April showers bring May flowers...and serums, and candles and cherry-red sandals. This month’s crop of “things we’re loving” is off-the-charts good. Is it because we’ve had all the time in the world to scour the internet for the best finds? Or is it because May has us so excited for sunshine and fresh air? Whatever the case, here are our 14 favorite things to buy and binge this month.
1. Heather Taylor Home Masks
Chic soft goods brand Heather Taylor Home is using their scrap fabric to create masks. Best of all, for every purchase of a 10-pack, the brand is donating ten masks to those in need, including medical workers, first responders, social workers and the homeless population.
2. Malin & Goetz Resurfacing Face Serum
The newest product from New York-born brand Malin & Goetz will tackle your skin woes head on. The resurfacing face serum is a lightweight gel serum formulated with powerful yet gentle AHAs and vitamin C that are clinically proven to smooth and brighten skin in just ten days. Use your finger tips to apply two or three drops after cleansing to target the appearance of pores, texture, dullness and protect skin from everyday irritants like dirt, grime and sweat.
3. Farm Girl Flowers Bouquets
Mark your calendars: Mother’s Day is May 10. These burlap-wrapped, ethically-sourced blooms have been on the scene for several years, but they now officially deliver nationwide. Their bouquets come in a reused burlap sack from local coffee roasters and will arrive on your doorstep in three days or less.
4. This T-Shirt Tees
For the foodie in your life (no shame if that person is you). This merch site donates 100 percent of proceeds to support participating restaurants affected by COVID-19, including some of the most beloved and iconic establishments in a bunch of major cities like NYC, LA and Miami. Their super-simple and cool white tees feature a restaurant logo on the back, and read "bought this shirt and stayed the f*** home" across the front.
5. Saie Beauty Hand Sanitizer
Buzzy clean makeup brand Saie is giving away a free hand sanitizer with every purchase. The little bottle contains vitamin E, glycerin and tangerine oil to give it a light citrus scent. And while it’s 99.9% effective in killing germs, it’s also moisturizing for your raw, over-washed hands. The company is donating bottles of the stuff to Feeding America, as well as a portion of their profits each week.
6. Staud Customized Pet Portrait Sweatshirt
Since we’re all spending way more time with our four-legged friends, cool-girl brand Staud is customizing C. Bonz sweatshirts with an adorable hand-embroidered pet portrait. The orders will ship in 3-4 weeks, and a portion of the proceeds are donated to a foster-based dog rescue in NYC. (P.S. They’re hand-painting their leather bags with pet portraits too.)
7. ‘Too Hot to Handle’ on Netflix
The next reality show to binge (after The Circle, Love Is Blind, Love Island and Terrace House) is Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle. The contestants are “gorgeous singles,” the premise is laughable (what happens when you put a bunch of pretty young things in a house who aren’t allowed to kiss or engage in sexual acts in order to win $100K?) and the critics have said it “never achieves the outrageousness required to make truly great so-bad-it’s-good reality TV.” Will we still watch? You betcha.
8. Bembien Le Tote
Want to support a small business (and one of our very own PureWow 100 honorees)? Handmade basket bag brand Bembien is the way to go. We can’t wait to tote their new collection of leather-woven bags to the beach, farmer’s market, and everywhere in-between this summer.
9. Siblings Pour-Your-Own Candles
If you’re like us, you’ve been burning through your supply of candles lately. Siblings Candles has come to the rescue with DIY kits, which are a fun, semi-crafty way to repurpose those old jars and vessels you’ve got lying around. The packaging is also way more chic than normal kitschy craft kits, for what it’s worth.
10. Material ‘The Three Tool Set’
From among the myriad of home-cook-founded brands that have sprung up in recent years, Material is one we’re most coveting. And since we’re all currently learning to be sourdough-bread-bakers and whipped-coffee makers, this set of minimalist tools will helps us get the job done in the most elegant way possible.
11. Lord Jones Limited Edition Spring/Summer Gumdrops
Lord (Jones) knows we all need an antidote for stress. Their new spring and summer gumdrops in blueberry and white peach flavors contain 20mg of broad spectrum CBD. So whether you’re gung-ho on the CBD stuff or just cautiously optimistic, these gummies are sure to calm your anxiety and satisfy your sweet tooth. Win-win.
12. Rothy’s Sandals
The Duchess-approved shoes made from recycled plastic water bottles just launched their first-ever line of sandals, and we’re guessing Meghan will sport a pair of these adorable knotted slides in L.A. any day now.
13. ‘This Is Big’ by Marisa Meltzer
This buzzy book chronicles one journalist’s dieting and wellness journey while exploring the fascinating story of the oft-overlooked female founder of Weight Watchers, Jean Nidetch, who built a weightloss empire in a time when women weren’t even allowed to have their own credit cards.
