May is two months into lockdown for most American readers, and the home routine has officially solidified into a routine. We have new habits we did not have eight weeks ago. Some are excellent — the consistent retinol application, the slower morning skincare ritual, the hand-cream-by-every-sink discipline. Some less so. Here is the May edit, with the products that have actually earned a place in our lockdown bathrooms and the company moves worth tracking.
The Inkey List Retinol-Eye-Cream is the surprise hit
The product that has spent the most consistent time in our routine since lockdown started is The Inkey List Retinol Eye Cream. At twelve dollars, it does not require a prestige-level investment, the formulation is gentle enough to use under the eye nightly, and the results — visible reduction in the fine-line conversation — show up at week six. We have been using it consecutively for two months now and it is the rare under-fifteen-dollar product that genuinely competes with the eighty-dollar competition.
Glossier closes its retail stores
Glossier announced this month that all of its physical retail locations — including the flagship in SoHo — will remain closed indefinitely. The brand has pivoted to e-commerce-only operations and laid off a portion of its retail staff. The Play sub-brand is also under review. We have been watching Glossier’s challenges since November, and the consolidation makes sense — but the loss of the physical experience is a real one. Generation G lipstick, Boy Brow, and Milky Jelly Cleanser remain the line’s three most reliable picks.
The hand cream tier list
Eight weeks of obsessive hand-washing have given us strong opinions about hand cream. Tier S: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm — the texture is the right balance of rich and absorbed, the scent is masculine-forward and divisive but we love it, and the bottle lasts six weeks. Tier A: L’Occitane‘s long-running Shea Butter cream is still a top three at any price. Tier B: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream is the value pick if you go through five tubes a season.
The fragrance category is bottoming out
Sales are down across every major prestige fragrance house. LVMH, Coty, and the Estée Lauder fragrance portfolio are all reporting double-digit declines. The category that benefits from leaving the house and being smelled by other humans is, predictably, struggling when nobody is leaving the house. We expect the rebound to come slowly, with niche and indie houses leading. Le Labo, Byredo, and Maison Margiela Replica are the ones to watch.
Mother’s Day gifting moves entirely online
Mother’s Day this year is a fully online holiday. The smartest gift options at sub-fifty dollars: a candle from Boy Smells, the Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm trio, or a six-month subscription to a single skincare staple like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. At the higher tier, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream remains a thoughtful prestige gift that gets used.
What we are buying in May
Repeat purchases and one self-care indulgence. The Inkey List Retinol Eye Cream (second tube). Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm (every six weeks like clockwork). One Boy Smells candle for the bedroom. And, as the one allowed splurge, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream we have been admiring at a distance for two years. We will see you on the first Tuesday of June. Be kind to yourselves.
Shop the edit
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter — for a lit-from-within complexion.
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand — an easy soft-petal cheek wash.
- EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 — the lightweight daily facial sunscreen.
- Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector — pre-summer bond repair.
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Frequently asked questions
What were the main beauty topics covered in May 2020?
Our May 2020 edit looked at: The Inkey List Retinol-Eye-Cream is the surprise hit, Glossier closes its retail stores, and The hand cream tier list. Read each in full above.
Are the May 2020 products still available?
Most are still sold by their original brands; a few have been reformulated. Each section above links to where to buy, with updated alternatives noted where the original is gone.
Who tests the products in Tried & Tested Beauty’s monthly edits?
Natalia and the Tried & Tested Beauty editorial team. We have been writing this blog since 2011 and only feature products we have tested ourselves or assessed against credible reviewer reports.
How do you choose what to include in a monthly beauty roundup?
Each entry must be either a notable launch, a viral product we tested, or a returning favourite. We do not feature anything we have not tried or vetted against trusted reviews.