I Tried 5 Treatments and Over 26 Products This Month—Here Are My Favorites and Recommendations.

      As a beauty editor based in NYC, my routine doesn't adhere to a standard nine-to-five schedule. I'm frequently in and out of brand previews to explore the latest product launches, engaging with artists in real life for insights on trends, and experimenting with trendy skin treatments to provide the best informed recommendations. (I spend a lot of my time working in Ubers, if you’re wondering.) May was particularly busy—unsurprisingly, as it began with the Met Gala and signals the unofficial start of summer. Nearly every day, I was trying a new facial or applying a soon-to-be-viral product (not the best for my skin barrier, I know, but it's essential for my job to stay updated!) I decided to share a recap of my experiences—think of it as a glimpse behind the scenes of a beauty editor. After testing a total of 31 treatments and products over the month, here are the 12 top recommendations that I fully endorse. For clarity, I didn’t include the three popular launches I've previously discussed with the full Who What Wear Beauty team, but those are worthy honorable mentions!

      A Red-Carpet Facial With Mimi Luzon

      May kicked off with excitement, as beauty professionals (celebrity aestheticians, makeup artists, hairstylists, and manicurists) gathered in NYC for fashion's biggest event—the 2026 Met Gala. Among those professionals is Mimi Luzon, who prepared several celebrities (like Miranda Kerr, Hudson Williams, and Ciara) in a spacious suite at The Mark Hotel. I was fortunate to experience her magic just a few days before the event. Luzon's signature Red Carpet Skin Protocol is tailored for each client and typically includes a mix of radiofrequency (for immediate skin-tightening), EmFace (a workout for facial muscles), and her distinctive 24K Gold Mask, which provides an exceptional glow.

      "The New Yorker" With Georgia Louise

      Celebrity aesthetician Georgia Louise, known for enhancing the complexions of Anne Hathaway and Cardi B, recognizes that many of us lack the time for a full spa day, no matter how much I’d love to spend hours in her luxurious Beauty Longevity Atelier on the Upper East Side. To accommodate busy city dwellers, she created "The New Yorker" treatment, a 60-minute combined facial, lymphatic body massage, and IV drip. Yes, it’s as delightful as it sounds and makes perfect sense from a skincare standpoint since your natural detoxification system significantly influences skin health. I opted out of the IV treatment (needles make me queasy), but just the facial—another custom session featuring microcurrent, red light therapy, and a light peel—along with the lymphatic massage left me feeling completely revitalized. (I also felt quite relaxed, but in the best way possible.) I nearly floated back to Brooklyn.

      A Lymphatic Massage With Prune

      Speaking of lymphatic massage, I must mention my extraordinary experience with Prune, a specialist trained in the Brazilian Renata França method. Splitting her time between NYC, the Hamptons, and France (goals!), Prune offers her services through private house calls. On my birthday (which, technically, was at the end of April), she brought her massage bed and a trunk full of Tronque products to my apartment. What followed was a blissful 90 minutes, and my skin glistened for hours thanks to Tronque's luxurious Vitamin C Body Oil.

      A Custom Facial At Sloan Studio

      With so many facials this month—call it on-the-ground reporting! I traveled to Chelsea to see Malika Sloan, a medical aesthetician and founder of Sloan Studio, for a skin analysis and custom treatment. After discussing my specific concerns and goals, she began with the Sloan Signature: a 60-minute session involving a soothing exfoliation and steam treatment, a round of extractions (not the most pleasant, but definitely necessary), Laser Genesis (my secret to achieving glass-like skin), red light therapy, and a cooling mask. I was so relaxed on the treatment table that I nearly dozed off—a surefire indication of an outstanding facial.

      A Sauna Session At Lore Bathing Club

      The sauna had a no-phones policy, but I managed to sneak a quick photo of the locker area. I had heard whispers about Lore Bathing Club, a new sauna and cold plunge studio in NoHo, which features spacious, stylish, and—most importantly—clean interiors. I've been keeping an eye on their Instagram for updates on their schedule. I must have manifested an invite to its soft opening during the weekend of May 15, where I indulged in the Finnish alder wood sauna (which was among the hottest I've experienced lately, reaching up to 190°F) and lounged on the hammam-style heated benches near the cold pool. While I didn’t have the courage to immerse myself in the 50–59°F water, there’s always next time—maybe I’ll