From glazed brows to neck-firming creams and a travel hairdryer, May’s standout launches are built for real wear—luminous skin, smoother hair, and easy routines.
Beauty fans don’t usually need reminding that May brings a fresh wave of launches. This month’s lineup, shared by Sally Foran, leans into one big theme: products that fit into everyday life, whether that means quick colour, targeted skincare for overlooked areas, or hair tools designed for the move.
If you’re looking for the best new beauty releases in May, start with the glow and colour options.. The Strobe Beam Bronzelighter is positioned as an all-over warmth booster, while the Skinfinish Sunstruck Bronzer aims to add dimension without feeling heavy.. For Sally, the standout is the Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush in shade Velvet Teddy—praised for being velvety and blurring, with 29 shades inspired by iconic lip tones.. The pitch is simple: warmth, colour and a softer complexion finish that reads flattering rather than overdone.
There’s also a noticeable shift toward “where you forget” skincare, not just what you apply to your face.. Genosys’ ND Cell Neck & Décolleté arrives with a very specific mission: address the neck, an area often neglected but highly exposed.. Sally ties the need to real habits—like how often people look down at phones, contributing to what’s increasingly called “tech neck”—and to skin differences, including thinner, more sensitive texture and fewer oil glands.. The product is designed to lift, firm and deeply hydrate, combining firming peptides, antioxidants and deep hydration in a lightweight, non-greasy formula.
On the makeup side, Benefit’s Dream Sheen Brow Glaze is built for that “glazed” look that has been dominating complexion conversations, only now it’s focused on brows.. The promise: a glossy sheen plus tint with 12-hour wear, styled to stay put despite humidity and movement.. It’s also described as waterproof, humidity-proof, transfer-proof and smudge-proof, while still being non-sticky.. It’s a practical kind of polish—less “touch up later,” more “done and still looks good.” The range includes light, medium and dark shades.
Lips and cheeks get the same ease-first approach with Lisa Eldridge’s Velatura lip and cheek sticks.. The concept draws from a Renaissance-style glazing technique, described as placing a veil of light and colour.. Sally’s enthusiasm is tied to the way these balm-dewy sticks deliver buildable colour for a luminous, natural flush.. With shea butter at the core, the product is also framed as barrier-friendly, aiming to nourish rather than just tint.
Haircare, meanwhile, moves in multiple directions—protection, conditioning, and even travel convenience.. R&Co’s Sun Catcher is a Vitamin C-infused mist meant to protect against damage, pollution and heat styling.. It’s packed with ingredients aimed at both look and feel: hyaluronic acid for hydration, vegan peptides for pliability, goji berry for frizz control, and a blend of oils for shine.. The protection claim goes further, including UV damage and heat up to 450°F / 232°C, which positions it as a “spray-and-go” layer before styling.
Revitalash also enters the hair world with a leave-in hair mask and conditioner that doesn’t require rinsing.. The pitch here is time-saving without giving up the benefits of mask-style care: nourishing, smoothing and hydrating in one step.. The formula is described as nutrient-rich and multi-purpose, using conditioning oils, hydrating actives and peptides, with an emphasis on reducing the appearance of breakage—especially relevant for anyone who styles often or deals with dryness that compounds after repeated heat.
Then there’s the travel angle that many people now care about more than ever: Dyson’s Supersonic Travel Hairdryer.. It’s presented as carry-on compatible, smaller and lighter than the full-sized version, and designed for quick drying.. The engineering focus includes global voltage compatibility and intelligent heat control intended to prevent extreme heat damage, along with airflow engineered for fast, even drying.. It’s a launch that speaks to a very modern need: maintaining hair routine consistency even when the schedule changes.
Finally, Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Under Eye Powders bring the “on-set lighting” idea to everyday makeup.. The effect is described as instant—set concealer longer, smooth the under-eye look, and brighten with light-reflecting pearls plus peach and pink pigments for colour correction.. The shade options include translucent, soft pink (Sally’s favourite), peach, golden and rich peach, making it easier to choose the tone that matches how you want the under-eye to read.
Taken together, these May releases feel less like random additions and more like a curated response to how people actually spend their day: glow that doesn’t fade instantly, brow and colour that holds through weather and movement, skincare aimed at frequently ignored zones, and hair products designed around protection and convenience.