A French Serum to Revive Red-Eye Skin, a Shiatsu Massage in Brush Form, and More Beauty Finds Our Editors Loved in May
Getting to know the new clean beauty products our buyers bring to goop is one of the (very fun) parts of our job as editors. So, we tend to switch up our rotations regularly, slotting in new launches and turning back to longstanding heroes, experimenting to see how things work for us in different seasons, for different needs, in different combinations. Inevitably, some products start to stand out more than others—and each month, we’re excited to share the ones we’re newly obsessed with.
Ahead, the roundup of our favorite new finds from June.
1Dr. Barbara Sturm Everything Bronzing Drops
There’s a particular kind of woman you increasingly see in Los Angeles—usually emerging from Equinox or Erewhon on a Saturday, green juice in hand and an Oura ring visible—who has become so committed to longevity that she now resembles someone managing a midsize private equity portfolio. This woman tracks her REM sleep, HRV, protein intake and cortisol spikes. She strength trains. She wears SPF 50 with almost militant discipline. She has probably given up alcohol, seed oils, and possibly joy.
I say this with affection because, unfortunately, I have become this person. Well, this person plus Chardonnay. I am no Bryan Johnson (and something needs to take the edge off single parenting during menopause).
Lately, after months of twice-weekly trainer sessions and a fairly elaborate wellness protocol involving cognitive supplements (citocholine, Lion's Mane, etc.), continuous glucose monitoring, and early morning sunlight exposure, I actually do feel healthier. Stronger, too. But despite all this effort, my skin has continued to look weirdly tired—slightly sallow, occasionally broken out, like someone who knows what her ApoB levels are but still wakes up at 4:30 every morning staring at the ceiling, mentally calculating whether it’s too late to salvage another REM cycle.
Part of the problem is that I’m now almost aggressively diligent about sun protection. Which is obviously the correct choice if you enjoy things like collagen and not getting melanoma. But there’s a fine line between protected and faintly Victorian. I wanted something I could mix into sunscreen that would make me look subtly healthier—not glittery, not orange in a Melanotan II stacking kind of way—just marginally more alive.
The first time I used Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Bronzing Drops, I had slept barely five hours, according to my Oura ring, and my face reflected it with brutal honesty. I was getting ready for a dinner party in Laurel Canyon and, in a mildly desperate act, mixed a few drops into my Youth Boost peptide serum before applying my makeup. The effect was immediate. Not makeup exactly. Not self-tanner either. My skin just looked better rested, warmer, more even—as though I’d spent a long weekend outside reading novels in linen instead of mopping my living room and scrubbing the scuzzy bottom of my Vitamix.
What makes the formula work so well is that it behaves more like skin care than makeup. The texture is thin and fluid, so it melts into the skin rather than sitting on top, as traditional bronzers often do, particularly once you hit perimenopause and bronzing powders tend to look flat and muddy. Optical pigments in this Sturm's dewy formula create the actual bronzing effect, and the finish stays sheer and believable thanks to hydrators like hydrolyzed yeast extract and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, which help plump the skin so the color diffuses naturally rather than catching in dry patches or pores. Red clover extract helps soften the appearance of pores, while purslane—one of Sturm’s signature ingredients—calms inflammation and supports the skin barrier.
The only downside? At $160 a bottle, I feel the need to ration it.
2Wonder Valley Hinoki Roller
I’ve recently become slightly obsessed with the idea that your various beauty products should smell coherent together. Not identical exactly, but harmonious. The problem is that many “clean” body products smell aggressively herbal in a way that doesn’t necessarily pair well with perfume. You emerge from the shower smelling like a very expensive health-food store, only to spray on fragrance that belongs to an entirely different woman.
That was not the case with Wonder Valley’s Hinoki body wash and body lotion, which I started using a few months ago and immediately became mildly fixated on. The scent—a warm, woodsy blend of Japanese hinoki, cedarwood, and Siberian fir—manages to smell grounding and expensive without tipping over into spa cliché. It lingers just enough that I found myself wishing they would turn it into a perfume so my entire post-shower smell situation could feel more cohesive.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone because shortly afterward, this rollerball version appeared on my doorstep.
What I love most about it is that it doesn’t doesn't smell "perfumey"—it's subtle, clean, and vaguely outdoorsy in a way that suggests actual trees rather than ‘fragrance notes.’ I keep it in my purse and swipe it onto my wrists whenever I need to remind myself that I spent my childhood barefoot in the woods of New England, chipping mica off rocks and chasing after my brother. Every time I sniff my wrist after putting it on, I instantly feel calmer.
3Monastery Made The Deep Red LED Mask
Over the course of my 25+ years in beauty, I had accumulated an embarrassing number of LED masks before I actually started using one. Beauty editors are constantly sent these vaguely dystopian-looking devices promising collagen stimulation and firmer skin, and mine had essentially turned my closet into a small graveyard of unopened boxes. The problem wasn’t skepticism exactly. It was that the whole thing felt exhausting. Another thing to optimize. Another 15-minute wellness task wedged into a morning already defined by coffee, cortisol, and trying to get my daughter out the door by 8:00 a.m.
Then I interviewed designer Tiffany Howell, whose morning routine involved lying under an LED mask for 15 minutes every morning while listening to 432-hertz frequency music on Spotify. The entire routine sounded so serene and intentional that it made me realize my own mornings had somehow devolved into a stress-response obstacle course fueled by caffeine and low-level panic.
So I decided to try it, setting my alarm just 10 minutes earlier than usual.
For the next month, I was diligent. Every morning, after turning on the coffee maker, I’d crawl back into bed, strap on Monastery’s LED mask, put on the vaguely woo-woo grounding frequencies, and spend 10 minutes breathing deeply while the deep burgundy lights glowed over my face like something from a very chic alien abduction. Every time my daughter walked into my room, she would snort when she saw me.
At first, I thought the appeal was mostly psychological. The ritual itself forced me to pause before immediately flooding my nervous system with Slack messages and logistical panic. But the skin benefits proved surprisingly immediate. From the first time I took the mask off, my skin looked brighter and more glowy and even—like I’d gone for a run or sat in a sauna for 10 minutes. After several weeks, I noticed something more: the persistent inflammation around my mouth had calmed down, the flaky skin around my lip had disappeared, and the fine lines around my eyes looked ever so subtly less pronounced.
Part of what makes Monastery’s version different is the wavelength. The mask uses 650-nanometer red light, which penetrates more deeply into the skin than lower wavelengths and is thought to better stimulate collagen production while calming inflammation. It also has 470 LEDs, so the treatment feels unusually even and thorough rather than spotty or weak.
But honestly, what surprised me most wasn’t just the change in my skin. It was the realization that a slightly more intentional morning routine could alter the tone of my entire day. Which is exactly the kind of thing people peddling LED masks have probably been trying to tell me for years.
1Mimétique Skin Revive
When this little bottle of French skin serum arrived on my doorstep, my first thought was that it was the perfect travel serum. It’s a petite bottle with a simple screw top; no dropper cap or pump that will leak all over your Dopp kit. And since I was also on my way to Stockholm for a weekend, I decided to put my theory to the test. Turns out that yes, this serum travels well. But more remarkably: This serum can actually revive post-red-eye skin. It’s a rich-feeling liquid that’s made with a complex of (as the name suggests) biomimetic actives, plus vitamin C, niacinamide, and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, so it’s super nourishing, leaving skin plumped with moisture. But the coolest part is that it’s made with organic oat sugars (avena sativa) that create a biomimetic mesh on the skin’s surface for an instant lifting effect. As soon as I got to the hotel, I washed my face, massaged in a few drops of this serum, and followed with the complementary face cream—it was like a metaphorical cup of coffee for my complexion: I looked fresh, revived, and like I’d actually slept a full night in a real bed.
2Mimikai Mosquito & Tick Repellent Spray
I live about 30 minutes from Lyme, Connecticut, so as you might imagine, the tick population around me is considerable. And I have a dog. And I love to walk in the woods. So every spring, when tick season kicks into high gear, I find myself faced with the same dilemma: To DEET or not to DEET? I have a veritable armamentarium of essential-oil-based sprays that promise to repel ticks and mosquitos without DEET. But invariably, by early April or so, I give up on the nontoxic strategies and end up reaching for my Deep Woods Off. So when this sky-blue bottle of Mimikai landed on my doorstep I was excited to try it, but (if I’m honest) not very optimistic.
But wow: This stuff really works. First of all, it’s not an essential-oil-based repellent. The active ingredients are both EPA-registered—meaning the agency has evaluated them and determined that they’re safe and (importantly) that they actually do what they’re supposed to: repel insects. There’s a botanical-derived compound called 2-undecanone, which certain plants (like wild tomatoes, bananas, cloves, ginger, and guava) use to protect themselves from insects. And there’s oil of lemon eucalyptus (not to be confused with lemon eucalyptus essential oil). OLE is an extract from the lemon eucalyptus tree that’s rich in a compound called PMD, which is also an effective insect repellent. These actives are combined with vitamin E, soybean oil, and a blend of natural fragrance oils—clove, frankincense, allspice, and star anise—to create a light, hydrating mist that smells genuinely lovely. So lovely that even after reading up on the ingredient science, I was skeptical that it would work. But after my first Mimikai-protected hike, I came home and ran my Tick Mitt over every inch of my body and clothes and, shockingly, it came away entirely tick-free (really unusual at this time of year, even when I do DEET). I’m officially a convert. Now I just need them to make a pet-approved version.
3Goldfaden MD LumiShield Broad Spectrum SPF 50
I’ve never worn foundation. I don’t love the way it feels on my skin. And (although this is most likely user error) I’ve also never loved the way it looks on me. My routine is basically: serums, moisturizers, sunscreens. And because I’ve never worn foundation, I’ve always been a little wary of tinted sunscreens. So when I first opened this bottle of mineral sunscreen, I was a little taken aback to find it was an ever so slightly pearlescent peachy beige. But when I smoothed it over my skin, it left no tint, just a subtle, natural-looking glow that seemed to smooth out my skin tone without masking it. The lotion is silky, liquidy, and featherlight—it feels like nothing at all when it sinks into skin. It’s boosted with antioxidant niacinamide to soothe, plus a cocktail of essential minerals to support the skin’s barrier function. It leaves my skin looking (and feeling) hydrated, but what I really love is that it is just enough to leave me looking radiant—but not made-up—even on days when I haven’t earned it.
1DUNE The Melt Stick
I was already a fan of Dune’s face sunscreen—which, as the name “Mineral Melt” suggests, is the only mineral sunscreen I’ve tried that really melts into the skin and disappears—so I was excited when I heard about the brand’s new SPF stick. I brought it with me on a recent trip to St. Barth’s, and it ended up being the MVP of the weekend, getting passed around between everyone’s beach bags. The sweat- and water-resistant formula came in particularly handy for touch-ups during a long day spent at Cheval Blanc spent bopping between the water, my beach day chair, and the spa. I applied it to my face without worrying about looking in a mirror—it glides on easily thanks to the nourishing blend of shea, jojoba, and grapeseed oils, and there’s somehow zero white cast. Because I forgot to pack my favorite Supergoop powder sunscreen, I also applied it on my part and successfully prevented a scalp sunburn—a pain I don’t wish on my worst enemy. (It does make your hair a bit greasy, but luckily mine was already covered in massage oil after a visit to said spa.) And you can use it on your lips: While other lip SPFs tend to taste well, gross, I can happily report this one tastes a bit sweet and did not make me gag. While I came home with a few unfortunate new tan lines, my nose and forehead didn’t have one new freckle—a first for me after a beach trip.
2Augustinus Bader The Overnight Restorative Cream
Despite living in New York City, my internal clock runs closer to goop’s Santa Monica HQ. My “in bed by 9” routine more often looks like midnight—I’m a night owl who loves an elaborate nighttime shower ritual—so when Augustinus Bader launched a new overnight cream promising visibly well-rested skin, I was immediately intrigued.
The formula features Bader’s proprietary TFC8 peptide, designed to support skin cell communication and accelerate renewal. It’s paired with a new peptide technology that further enhances cellular signaling to speed repair. There’s also a melatonin-mimicking Nordic rose hip extract to help calm tired, stressed skin. As sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins, MD, explained on a panel introducing the product, it works by supporting skin’s repair processes in alignment with our sleep cycle.
Since I started using it, I’ve been waking up with skin that looks brighter, plumper, and more hydrated—even on days when Eight Sleep gives me a less-than-ideal deep sleep percentage. It does all of that without any heaviness or greasiness—the texture is so silky I actually look forward to applying it every night.
I'm already excited for a travel-sized version. For now, the full bottle has earned its permanent spot on my nightstand.
3Maison Louis Marie Liane de Tomate Candle
The “signature scent” of my apartment is Maison Louis Marie No. 04, but in anticipation of the unofficial start of summer, I was looking for something a little lighter. I lit this herbaceous candle and immediately felt like I was eating fresh heirloom tomatoes in a garden in the Hamptons—even while stuck inside during a rainy Memorial Day Weekend. Still, it's not overly tomatoe-y. It’s bright and fresh, and grounded with notes of oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli. It would make the perfect hostess gift—I've already ordered another to have on hand this summer.
1BodyGuardz Red Light Converter for MacBook
Since March, I’ve been obsessed with the BodyGuardz Red Light Converter + Privacy Glass on my iPhone 14 Pro. Not to be dramatic, but this screen protector has changed my life, because, unfortunately, so much of my life is spent looking at my phone. The biggest impact it’s had on my routine is reducing my blue light exposure before bed, helping me fall asleep faster and wake up with smaller under-eye bags.
If you like to nerd out like me, you’ll find the science behind this super fascinating. BodyGuardz uses a specialized nano-semiconductor material to adjust the size of quantum dots—tiny semiconductors that emit specific colors of light when activated. By readjusting the size of these dots, the screen protector converts the blue light from your screen into therapeutic red light wavelengths.
I was excited when I received the Red Light Converter for my 13-inch MacBook Air because, second to my phone, my computer is what I spend most of my time looking at. The application process was seamless, leaving none of those all-too-well-known air bubbles and hair strands that get trapped beneath screen protectors. It comes with a cleaning kit and a dummy-proofed contraption that attaches to your computer as you apply the screen protector.
After a month with the screen protector on my laptop, my eyes feel less strained, and my headaches are close to nonexistent at the end of every workday. Sometimes I forget it’s on my screen because it maintains true-to-life colors; I only notice the red hue on the edges when my screen is at the dimmest setting or in direct sunlight.
2La Bonne Brosse N.04 The Small Massaging Detangling Brush
As the last person on the editorial team to try the cult-favorite La Bonne Brosse hairbrush, I can officially say I now understand the hype. When I first received this miniature version of the brush, I wasn't sure it would be strong enough to comb through my thick hair. But after using it in the evening on my damp post-shower hair and in the morning on my tangly bedhead, I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it left my hair.
Inspired by Japanese shiatsu massage brushes, the N.04 Petite Detangling Brush features flexible nylon bristles with ball-shaped tips. This makes each stroke feel like a mini-massage on my scalp.
Plus, I love how petite this brush is–it’s the perfect size to toss into all my on-the-go bags for the beach, a hike, or the gym. Although I am a pink girl, this limited-edition seafoam green color is on trend for the summer (the perfect gift for anyone in Gen Z) and looks too beautiful not to display on my dresser when it’s not buried in one of my bags.
3Tower28 ShineOn Plumping Lip Jelly
I’m always on the hunt for a good lip gloss. During the day, I need at least a few glosses and balms in whatever bag I’m carrying, whether it’s my work tote, travel bag, or grocery bag. But I typically avoided "lip plumpers" because I've yet to find one that doesn't burn. Until now.
Tower28 ShineOn Plumping Lip Jelly has become my latest obsession. It’s the first lip plumper I’ve used that doesn't turn my lips red from irritation. Rather than relying on irritating blood-flow stimulants like menthol and cinnamon, the product uses a proprietary plant-based ingredient that creates a subtle vibrating sensation to plump lips. And the shine lasts much longer than that of other lip plumpers I’ve used, thanks to the hydrating oils in the formula. The thick, doe-foot applicator (yes, it's actually shaped like a doe's foot) makes it easy to apply enough product in one sweep. It's also petite enough to toss into a small clutch, so it's perfect for evenings out.
My favorite shade is the clear one named Chill Heat. I love applying this over plain, unlined lips or on top of my favorite ILIA lip liner in Pink Door.