skincare

-updated February 2022 with more products and more opinions

I started using Glossier  several years ago, after seeing the brand on Instagram. I have since fallen in love with it, as both a skincare + makeup company and as a force of nature + empowerment in the beauty world. I love Glossier’s slogans, their branding, their packaging, and the fact they use a diverse range of models and real-life women in their campaigns. I visited their flagship store in NYC the week that it opened (previously-planned trip, promise) and was not disappointed. Their real-life vibe is just as cool and genuine as their online one. I am impressed that in a world of full-face and drawn-on and more is more, Glossier is planting its flag firmly in the camp of natural is beautiful; let’s just tidy it up a bit.

In this post, I’m going to review everything Glossier currently sells.* I’ve literally pulled up their site up in a different browser window and will simply work my way down their product offerings, giving you a little snippet of what the item is supposed to, and how I use and like it. Let’s get started!

SKINCARE

The Supers – “supplements for your face.” You can buy these three serums separately or in a trio at a discount. I bought the trio. I did not notice a huge difference, such as a crazy glow or plumped skin. However, adding these into my regimen was the turning point, when I began to notices the subtle changes in my skin overall. My face was smoother, my makeup went on easier, and everything just felt brighter and healthier. I also experienced drastically fewer breakouts. However, the bottles are deceivingly small and don’t last long. I have also since found other serums and oils that work just as well for me.

Will purchase again: NO

Priming Moisturizer – “light and buildable moisturizer for a dewy, smooth canvas.” This is marketed as a lightweight priming moisturizer. It goes on easily and does not irritate the skin. It is unscented, and I like the packaging – you don’t have to squeeze hard to get it out. I use it in the morning on top of the face mist. I actually bought this again after thinking I might not, so that’s saying something.

Will purchase again: YES

Milky Jelly Cleanser – “one face wash to rule them all.” I cannot disagree with this. I use it only in the morning after the gym, but I could easily use it multiple times a day. It’s so gentle! And it smells like heaven filled with roses. Sometimes I apply it on a dry face, and let the water suds it up. Other times I get my face wet first.  I plan to never run out of this stuff. I use it in the evening for makeup removal before a tougher cleanser, and as a morning cleanser at the gym after a workout. If I’m not exercising, though, I don’t wash my face in the morning.

Will purchase again: YES

Priming Moisturizer Rich – “a supremely lavish hydrating experience.” Yes, a thousand times yes. I’m so glad Glossier came out with a heavier option. This goes on like a night cream, but I’ve found myself using it in the morning, as well. It is packed with hydrating ingredients and my face feels soft hours after applying. However, I have found similar benefit from other moisturizers on the market at a similar price point, so I have not repurchased. I have not tried the matte version, called Priming Moisturizer Balance. I do not plan on it. I want skin so dewy you can almost see your reflection in my face. I have no desire for balance.

Will purchase again: NO 

Balm Dotcom – “cult favorite do-everything salve.” I first saw this product being applied in a video, on a girl’s lips and nose and even cheeks. It really does work that way! It’s like the new Vaseline, with better ingredients. I use it on my eyelids and lips. I’ve tried the unscented, rose flavor, cherry, coconut, and birthday. The flavored ones have a nice little tint, and the birthday has some shimmer!

Will purchase again: YES

Mega Greens Galaxy Pack – “a juice cleanse for your face.” That sounds about right! This mask goes on smooth and little chunky, with actual pieces of leafy greens and who-knows-what that never quite rub all the way in. It also never totally dries like a typical clay mask, but I have to grown to enjoy that feature. I can apply it more often without it feeling super harsh. I haven’t repurchased only because I have a seemingly endless supply of clay masks in sample or trial-sized form from various companies that I must get through first.

Will purchase again: YES

Moisturizing Moon Mask – “the most intensely hydrating treatment we could make.” Packed with hyaluronic acid and a bunch of other super-moisturizing ingredients, this has become much more than a mask for me. In fact, I haven’t washed it off once since purchase. I apply it at the end of my nighttime routine as a sleeping pack, and leave it on while I sleep. This is the juiciest, plumpest my face has ever felt. That’s a good thing.

Will purchase again: YES

Soothing Face Mist – “for fresh, glowy skin all day long.” I’ve used rosewater sprays before, and they’ve never really made me dewy or glowy. This one isn’t an exception, but it does have extra ingredients (aloe, for one) that make my face feel much softer and refreshed after use. I spritz in the middle of the day, as well as first thing most mornings beneath my moisturizer.

Update! There is a new formula, which I thought was only a packaging change at first. However, it makes me cough every time I spray it, and my kids and spouse have verified something is different.

Will purchase again: NO

Invisible Shield – “sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen.” I’m already borderline obsessed with sun protection, so I didn’t need to be convinced to add sunscreen to my routine. This stuff smells amazing and goes on very smoothly. A little really does go a long way. The only reason I don’t plan on purchasing again is because I prefer a higher SPF and a tinted moisturizer combination.

Will purchase again: NO

Solution – “exfoliating skin perfector.” There’s not much else to say other than that. I use it instead of a toner, after washing and before serums and moisturizer. It has AHA, BHA, and PHA in it, which is more than most chemical exfoliators include. Usually, brands only include one or two of those acids. For the price, you cannot beat it.

Will purchase again: YES

Milky oil – “tough on makeup, nice on skin.” I appreciated the effort here, and I really wanted to like it. A waterproof makeup remover oil? It sounds too good to be true. It worked fine, but it burnt my eyes no matter how I careful I was.

Will purchase again: NO

Zit stick – “your blemish emergency plan.” I don’t have an explanation for why I like this so much. It’s got all of the usual ingredients for blemish control. But it is the only thing I reach for when I have a bump, and they seem to go away faster when I use this twice or more per day.

Will purchase again: YES

Bubblewrap – “white glove treatment for skin’s most delicate areas.” I absolutely loved the idea of an eye cream that also serves as a lip balm. I find it incredibly convenient and I keep it in my gym bag toiletries, for the duality of purpose. However, I didn’t find it thick enough for my liking, for either the lips or the eyes.

Will purchase again: NO

Futuredew –  “an instant dewy glow that lasts.” This stuff came with a bit of a learning curve, only because people weren’t quite sure how to use it. Is it skincare? Is it makeup? Yes! It’s described as an oil serum hybrid, and it’s applied after SPF as the final skincare step. However, it gives a little glow and color to the skin, as well. I can honestly stay I only wear undereye concealer most days now, because this acts as a smoothing and dewy coverage for the rest of my face! I don’t go a day without it.

Will purchase again: YES

Hand cream – “always have hydration on hand.” It’s a sweet gesture, especially for Glossier to release this during the Covid-19 pandemic and encourage folks to give it to healthcare providers. It also smells like the You perfume, which is nice. But the packaging is anything but environmentally-friendly, and the amount just doesn’t justify the price.

Will purchase again: NO

Cleanser Concentrate – “exfoliates, clarifies, and re-energizes in 60 seconds.” Agree! It foams nicely and washes off completely. It gives much more a squeaky clean feel, and I usually use it as my second step of a dual cleanse. I follow Milky Jelly with this cleanser. It’s too large to travel with, though, and the price point is a bit high.

Will purchase again: NO

Universal Pro-Retinol – “a nightly retinoid made for just about everyone, that does just about everything.” This one has been a long time coming. It goes on creamy and soaks in nicely, but I prefer more medical-grade retinol. This one is Retinyl Sunflowearte. No complaints thus far; perhaps a great intro for someone wanting to try retinoids!

Will purchase again: NO

After Baume – “moisture barrier recovery cream, for very dry and/or sensitive skin.” Love it more than any other nighttime moisturizer Glossier has done yet. Love the packaging, as well as the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. The size is too small for the price, in my opinion, though, and they certainly need to work on their language regarding clinical trial claims. The brand performed a survey on users, not a legitimate trial, and that wording could certainly be misleading.

Will purchase again: MAYBE

MAKEUP

Cloud Paint – “a new way to blush.” This is Glossier’s newest product, a gel-cream that goes on in four vibrant shades that ease up into a natural tint when applied. I own Haze and Puff, and I am pleased with both. I particularly enjoy the little tutorials Glossier has released for each color, and I’ve tried to emulate those looks. However, I just don’t like getting messy. I’ve never been a “make a palette on the back of my hand” kind of girl, and my fingers get a little stained from this. Although, I could try a designated sponge blender for this. And I do really want to try Dusk. Maybe in another formula, someday.

Will purchase again: NO

Haloscope – “the galaxy’s first dewy effect highlighter.” Praise God for this baby! I have it in Moonlight and Topaz. Sometimes I stack one on top of the other. I love the ease of use, and they last all day long without looking too shimmery or sparkly. It has a moisturizing quality to it, too, which I adore. This product is one of my top two favorite products by Glossier.

Will purchase again: YES

Generation G – “lip color that gives the look and finish of just-blotted lipstick.” That is exactly how it looks. I own Like and Zip. The colors are vibrant but easy to wear wherever, with as much or as little makeup alongside it. I bought my second one after they modified the formula a bit, but I still find they lack staying power and tend to crease pretty quickly. They go on best with a little Balm Dotcom on top.

Will purchase again: NO

Boy Brow – “our all-in-one brow filler, fluffer, and shaper.” This is my absolute favorite product at Glossier. It does everything it says, and it stays in place for hours. I have tried all of the shades and they each do great for different purposes. I use Brown the most. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Will purchase again: YES

Perfecting Skin Tint – “more skin, less makeup.” This concept is a new one for a lot of us makeup and skincare connoisseurs. It’s not a tinted moisturizer. It’s not a foundation. It’s not a sunscreen. It’s literally the layer between moisturizer and whatever other skin-covering makeup you put on your face. It evens out the tone and adds a little dewy sheen to your face. I wear it on top of a tinted sunscreen, and these days those two things form my foundation step. Update! I’ve stopped wearing this only because I prefer the Futuredew alone or with a tinted sunscreen, leaving no room for this.

Will purchase again: NO

Stretch Concealer – “makeup that lets skin look like…skin!” I’d agree with this claim, and it’s why I cannot buy it again. It goes on smooth and lasts for hours. The color is a great fit, too. But it just doesn’t provide the full coverage I’m looking for under my eyes. That’s the only area on my entire face that I want a nice thick layer of help. This one also creases considerably on me, but maybe I’m not priming correctly. I’m wondering if maybe it does better with color correction around noses and on chins, instead of a heavy layer on my undereye circles. Update! I tried a darker color and am much happier.

Will purchase again: YES

Wowder – “cut shine, blur the appearance of pores, set makeup, look like skin.” Yep, it does all of those things. I don’t wear it every day because I like a dewy look and it provides more of a full-face, made-up look, but it also covers imperfections and smooths everything out. I have been just as impressed with this as any competing mineral makeup, even more with Wowder so than most of the other brands I’ve tried. I do wish it came in a compact, instead of a loose powder. The only reason I won’t repurchase is because I don’t wear powder enough. However, a friend taught me to wet a little bit and use it as concealer over blemishes, and it works great for that!

Will purchase again: NO

Lip Gloss – “cushiony, crystal clear shine.” So true! This stuff gives me a long-lasting glossy look, without any tacky or sticky feeling or residue. It originally came in a holiday collection, but now Glossier has added it to stock for good.

Will purchase again: YES

Lidstar – “less shadow, more glow.” I love the formula! It stays on for hours and hours, which includes my finger tips if I use it to apply. I never wear eye shadow and this has not convinced me to start, but I will keep it for special occasions. I like the shade range the shimmer vs. glitter factor.

Will purchase again: NO

Lash Slick – “what Boy Brow does for brows, but for lashes.” I have only used this mascara once and will definitely report back if it’s anything less than what’s promised. I got to sit in on a live call about the product before launch and I’m impressed with all of the details that went into it – fiber technology-infused and vegan, but with a mink lash extension vibe to it. So far, so great. It spreads and lengthens my lashes, without a single clump. The brush literally goes on like a comb. Also, the product comes off easily with warm water. However, I found that it flaked throughout the day.

Will purchase again: NO

Pro Tip – “get a smooth, precise line every time.” I have used this several times, and I have no complaints. I feel like for a liquid eyeliner, it goes on smooth and stays in place for hours. However, I don’t use eyeliner enough to justify a repurchase, and I can’t really compare it other brands. I have also used it to fill in my eyebrows in a pinch.

Will purchase again: NO

Brow Flick – “more brow for your brow.” I use this regularly with Boy Brow. They call it a microfine detailing pen for your eyebrows, and I couldn’t agree more. I use a few flicks in the areas I’m probably guilty of overplucking in the 90’s, and things looks full and even again.

Will purchase again: YES

Ultralip – “the rich moisture of a balm, the sheen of a gloss, and the buildable color of a lip tint.” Agree, agree, agree! Finally, Glossier gets it right in the lip department. Many a friend have loved the other offerings, but none of them Glossier’s lip products have ever gone on and/or stayed on the right way for me. This baby moisturizes and gives just the right amount shine and color. I have it in two shades, and I wear it more often than anything else in my lip color collection.

Will purchase again: YES

Solar Paint – “a weightless bronzer designed to capture the warm glow you get from spending a day in the sunshine.” I was surprised to see this product launch, because Haloscope does much of this already. Both bronzer products are a bit sparkly and shimmery, and this new one is much more pigmented than I’m used to. I don’t wear foundation, so it’s a little more obvious on my skin. Regardless, I’m enjoying learning how to use it!

Will purchase again: NO

OTHER

Body Hero Duo – “for the other 90% of you.” I am very pleased with Glossier’s first step onto the body skincare scene, although I don’t have a need per se. The wash goes on like an oil but foams up easily when wet, and the lotion starts out thick but also spreads very well. A nickel-sized amount of each product works for my whole body. I wasn’t crazy about the scent at first, but it’s grown on me. It sticks around most of the day, and the lotion really does produce a subtle shimmery glow. It’s a nice indulgence to keep in the bathroom, and I have restocked.

Will purchase again: YES

Glossier You – “creamy, sparkling, clean, warm. That’s You.” I only recently began wearing perfume and decided to go with one signature scent that my kids picked out, but I was happy to try out a sample of this fragrance. I am crazy about it! It’s actually similar to the one I already wear, but just different enough to keep things interesting. I agree with the claim that the base notes lead out – there’s nothing too overpowering about this scent but it fits pretty much any scenario. Available in spray and a cute little solid, a heavy metal disk that fits in your hand and seems to double as a fidget gadget.

Will purchase again: YES

Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist – “dry oil spray that moisturizes in a flash.” I love the scent. I love the scent. I love the scent! However, their claim regarding mess-free application is false. The bottle top never seems to stay screwed shut. It’s also difficult to spray more than once, as your hands become oily. Lastly, it takes more than 10 sprays just to get good coverage.

Will purchase again: NO

There you have it! If you choose to buy, I highly recommend trying the kits, so you can experience several products at once and save a little money. As far as new products go, I hope they release an eye cream soon. I hear SPF is already in the works. It happened! And I bought it, of course.

I assume by now that you can tell I am a fan. Been there, done that, bought the actual sweatshirt. Well, my best friend bought the sweatshirt for me for Christmas. But now my husband has one, too. We’re super fans; it’s fine. Overall, I’m just really into the Glossier message. I love that they have democratized beauty (founder Emily Weiss’ words) in a way that makes it both simpler and more accessible to women like me. Glossier is about beauty in real life. I can get down with that.

*As of February 2022, I own every product currently in production 
(except Skywash/monochromes; not crazy about eyeshadow) by Glossier. 
Because of my intense purchasing passion, Glossier brought me on 
as a brand rep several years ago and I occasionally receive free products or coupon codes. Shop through any of the links on this post to access my rep page 
and score 10% off of your first purchase.