If you’re into makeup, you’ve probably heard of the brand Glossier: cute-looking products packaged in pink bubble wrap bags, that claims to be the revolution of the skincare and makeup industry. They launched in 2014, and have since grown a cult-like following. Part of the brand’s virtuosity is that their products are not typically found in makeup stores such as Ulta or Sephora. They operate almost entirely online, only renting out small spaces in heavily populated cities (ie. LA, London, Chicago, New York) for small amounts of time, as “pop-up” stores. These stores, much like their product’s packaging, are small, sleek, often decorated minimally, and accented with pastel-colors.
A Glossier Pop-up store
A huge part of the brand’s marketing strategy is their rhetoric: not only are they cruelty-free, but they are also considered a body-positive brand. This is because they market their cosmetics to “enhance one’s natural beauty,” not as something to help cover one’s flaws (their catchphrase is even “beauty in real life”). Many pictures of their products feature models of all ages and a variety of different ethnicities, with natural skin flaws such as wrinkles, freckles, and large pores. Not many other makeup brands have shown this much appreciation for their customers’ natural appearance, preferring to airbrush their models’ skin in order to look flawless. Instead, Glossier embraces the natural flaws that make us all human, and reminds the audience that beauty standards featured in today’s media are often unattainable.
After buying my first two Glossier products over the summer, I’ve since become obsessed with their brand, and trying all they have to offer. So, without further ado, I will be reviewing every Glossier product I own, and sharing which ones I believe are worth the money.
Eye/Eyebrow Products
Boy Brow & Brow Flick: ⅘ Stars
My first Glossier purchases! The Boy Brow (left) is one of Glossier’s most popular, and most loved products: it’s a top-rated eyebrow pomade to help “shape, groom, and fluff” your brows, according to the website’s description. The Brow Flick (right) is basically a brush liquid eyeliner, but meant to fill in patchy areas of one’s brows, which is really nice for me because my brows are not very full. Glossier recommends you begin by filling in your brows with the Brow Flick, then fluff them with the Boy Brow. I like both of these products; they’re incredibly easy to use, even for someone who just started getting into makeup like me. My only complaint is that the Boy Brow’s applicator (the mascara-wand looking thing) is very dense, so it sometimes takes more product out of the tube than what you may want to apply. In retrospect, it would have probably been more beneficial to me to have bought the Boy Brow in clear, because when my brows are overfilled, it really shows. Hey, it’s a learning process.
Pro Tip: ⅕ Stars
Don’t even waste your money on this one. The Pro Tip is Glossier’s first attempt at a liquid eyeliner, and hopefully not their last, but at least they can only go up from here, right? It looks like a typical brush eyeliner with slightly fancier, pink packaging, but don’t let it fool you. This was one of my most recent Glossier purchases, and I’m extremely disappointed. I’ve used the Pro Tip maybe four times, and it’s already drying out. This morning when applying it, I had to shake it multiple times, and it on the back of my hand repeatedly in order for the product to even come out of the tube, only to get a smeary, cakey line. I will definitely not be buying this product again.
Face
Perfecting Skin Tint and Stretch Concealer: 5/5 Stars
Bow down, for this is the Holy Grail of foundation (left) and concealers (right). I am very picky when it comes to foundation; my skin is that weird combination between dry and oily, so it’s very difficult for me to find a product that provides a nice coverage while also not looking too thick, and allowing my skin to still breathe. I love trying foundation from different brands, and I’ve almost never bought the same foundation twice before. But these two are a complete game changer. It’s a common complaint for the Perfecting Skin Tint that they are extremely light coverage, so if you’re looking for something medium to full coverage, this is not the foundation for you. Yes, it’s a very light product not meant to provide full coverage (this ties back into the Glossier rhetoric: that one doesn’t need to cover their flaws in order to be considered beautiful), but it provides the wearer with a nice dewy finish, without looking too oily.
The Stretch Concealer is also an amazing product, a quick and easy fix for my dark circles. While it is extremely thick, and thus harder to blend into the skin (I use a brush, not a sponge), it’s super easy to use: you can apply with a finger and blend with the tool of your choice. I bought the foundation and concealer in the same shade: G8, but the concealer is slightly lighter, so I prefer to put it on first, then even my complexion out with the foundation.
Futuredew: ⅘ Stars
Another masterful Glossier product! This is a multi-purpose serum that can be used as a subtle highlighter, or as the final step in a skincare routine. I personally prefer to use this product at night to moisturize my face, after applying going through my Curology routine. However, I’ve also used it over my foundation to give it a glowy finish, and it’s worked amazingly! My only complaint is that the bottle says to use two pumps, however, if I use that amount, I will begin to look more oily and less glowy. I’ve found that, for combination skin like mine, just over one pump will do the trick for me.
Lips:
Generation G lipstick (Shade- berry): ⅗ Stars
Generation G Lipstick, in shades Zip (right) and Jam (left)
Imma be honest here; there’s nothing particularly special about Glossier lipstick besides the fact that it’s a Glossier product. This is a nice lipstick, but there’s nothing that really sets it apart from a drugstore equivalent. In fact, I’ve found that it dries out my lips very quickly, which is a pain. However, I did learn one very valuable lesson in buying this product. Initially, I bought this product in Zip, a poppy red. However, upon trying it on, I found it to be too orange-y with my complexion, and talked to customer service via email on how to exchange it. They asked me what color I’d like to exchange it for, but still let me keep the original shade, all while sending me the replacement shade with free shipping. So, although I wasn’t super thrilled with the product, I did learn that Glossier customer service is amazing, and that they really strive for customer satisfaction.
Other
Glossier You: ⅘ Stars
This is a complicated review to write. Glossier You is Glossier’s one and only perfume. To be honest, how you view this product ultimately comes down to personal preference. I’m not good at describing scents, so I’m going to pull from the Glossier website: “Unlike traditional fragrances, Glossier You is heavy on warm, creamy base notes (musk, ambrette, and ambrox) that transform and smell a little different on everyone. Top notes of earthy, green iris root and spicy, sparkling pink pepper are fresh and clean without being overpowering”. I personally love how subtle the scent is. Glossier gives free samples with purchases, and this perfume is one option. I would definitely recommend trying a sample before purchasing the full-sized bottle.
And with that, this concludes my review for all Glossier products I own. While the company is definitely over-hyped to a certain degree, you can’t help but admire their genius marketing strategies and rhetoric they spread: to love yourself, and your flaws. I’m honestly impressed if you’ve read this far. Have a beautiful day!