May Roundup

all my faves of may 2026

May I catch a break?

This is the slightly less dark, less formal part of my Substack that teenage me would scream about writing. All my faves of May are rounded up into a fun newsletter with graphics. Weeeee!!

I have been on the hunt for a signature scent since I started using a random Paul Frank hand sanitizer from Dollarama. It was floral, creamy coconut, and smelled like 2002 Hawaiian Tropic.
I won’t waste anyone’s time with the other coconut scents I pretended were it. I got tons of compliments… but I was still spraying this hand sanitizer like perfume and feeling at home. Then I found it. I wept.

Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 87 is that girl. Mix it with 48 if you want more of a floral vibe.

Despite the expensive body sprays, I went the cheaper route when it came to body butters. Giant Tiger has a fun line trying to mimic Sol De Janeiro. I only like one scent, though, Madrid Muse. But ohhh boy do I love it. Soft plum and musk. It’s that deep scent that transitions the creamy coconut of midday to evening. I am also bouncing between the Hawaiian Tropic tub of after-sun body butter and the Hempz coconut palm and gardenia lotion.

Body wash is Soap and Glory Coco-Clean.

At the beginning of the month, I got my hair done by my very cool best friend. We drove all the way to Ohio to teach a class she designed from the ground up, and I got a free blonde refresh. To get my rose gold to last and tone the yellow blonde, I use the Moroccan Oil Rose Gold Mask and leave it on for as long as humanly possible to get extra softness. I use this absurdly large bottle of Perk Up during the week to keep everything fresh. I ain’t got time to wash my hair every day. In this mental state/economy?

Skincare lineup.

Remember that price does not always equal quality when it comes to skincare. Work with your budget and your skin. Trending on Tik Tok does not always correlate to your lipid structure.

Something I learned, HA loves moisture, and will steal from your skin if you don’t have enough, drying you out even more.

It’s a catalyst, rather than an active ingredient. Apply it on a damp face, and it will lock that moisture in.

I’ve started using a barrier cream made with squalene, ectoin and avocado oil. Ectoin mimics your skin’s barrier and acts as a shield. While your serum travels deep down into your skin, barrier creams sit on top and replenish the cells on top for a smoother, bouncier look.
Final steps are my glow getters. An old Colourpop yellow shimmer under eye cream, loreal glotion in fair, and loreal glass skin stick. Although truthfully, I don’t need them anymore with this routine.

Lunches have been pretty simple, a Greek salad from Metro (no chicken tho) or cold spinach dip and pita crackers.

(almost) Every Tuesday, we order pizza from a local pizza chain, Oven 360. Nothing beats Windsor Pizza anyway, and this is arguably the best one.

Smoothie recipe is doing things, so I won’t be changing that anytime soon.

It’s basically Booster Juice’s Ocean Mist, but better!

Frozen passionfruit, mango, pineapple mix
Frozen strawberry and banana mix
Frozen Dragonfruit
Frozen avocado
Plain Greek yogurt
Plant-Based Collagen Booster
Greens Powder
Coconut Water
Guava Nectar

*Plant-Based collagen? Yeah, no… I know that doesn’t exist. What this is, is actually a booster, which makes your cells primed and ready to create the collagen needed. In order for it to work, it needs high doses of Vitamin C. This helps support skin from the inside, and is completely vegan!

Goodwill Pickups
Books, colouring books and an oracle deck.

And let me tell you, I have been drawn to that oracle deck every single day since buying it. The ghost hunter book too. I want to start exploring more haunted places and write about them. This book ends up on the shelf of the Goodwill by my parents, which Jordan just happened to agree to go to at the last minute. Ask, and you shall receive, etc., etc.

All I’ve been watching on TV is playoffs. Allons-y Habitant!

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I have a question for you… what song reminds you of grade 8? I made a whole playlist dedicated to my graduation 19 years ago. June-iper Berry is a very nostalgic, and distinct playlist. It would smell like Hawaiian Tropic, iced capps, and the old gradeschool gym.

If you liked this little roundup, please leave a like below. Leave a comment if there’s something you’d be dying to see/read about.

xo

Manda