At first I was skeptical.
Yes, all the Glossier people looked glowy and well-rested. But they were also more beautiful than the average person, and likely had good skin genes.
But then I started seeing more of my favorite bloggers use their products, and then I met Renee in person, and her skin looked flawless. So I took the plunge.
It started with Boy Brow and went on from there.
Glossier Review
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While my makeup routine is not exclusively comprised of Glossier products, there are a few items I always use, and some I like but don’t always have the patience for, especially on early mornings during the semester.
I have five Glossier products in my arsenal now, so I thought I’d break down the pros and cons of each product, and let you know which ones are definitely worth buying.
Full disclosure: Makeup is notoriously difficult to track in terms of ethics. Raw materials are often mined in regions that use child labor, and very few brands in the makeup industry control their supply chains well enough to know if their products are tied up in exploitation.
My Skin Type
I have combination skin that leans toward dry this time of year. I don’t have much acne anymore, apart from blackheads on my nose and chin, but I do suffer from extreme sensitivity. I have stayed away from eyeshadow and mascara over the past several years because the flecks get into my eyes and irritate them. I don’t use liquid foundations because they’re more likely to cause rashes and other skin reactions.
Because a lot of what people would find to be makeup essentials are irritating for me, I have focused on maintaining my eyebrows and finding nice, natural blush to lend a bit of structure and color to my face. I also curl my lashes for a bit of definition, but don’t use any product on them.
My Favorite Glossier Products
Boy Brow in Brown
Hands down my favorite product (I’ve been using it off and on since 2017), Boy Brow lends natural definition with reasonable hold. The small brush is great for structuring unruly eyebrows. A friend recently told me my eyebrows were “on fleek,” so I know this product is working.
I tried to find a cheaper alternative to Boy Brow last year, but ended up coming back to this product. The others either deposited too little color or had some other drawback (one made my eyebrows start falling out!).
Haloscope in Quartz
A new product in my arsenal, I like the subtle dewy finish this gives. I typically rub a bit onto my middle finger and dot it on my cheek and brow bone.
It’s such a good way to do the no-makeup makeup look, while brightening winter skin.
Other Products I’ve Tried
Cloud Paint in Beam
Glossier markets this as “blush you can’t mess up,” which is simply not true. Maybe it’s a consequence of my paleness, but I have a hard time not overdoing it with this gel blush. Still, the effect, when I balance it right, is a lovely, flushed look.
If you’re going to use this product, here are my tips:
- A little goes a long way. Dot the smallest amount possible onto a finger before applying gently to your cheeks.
- Make sure your skin is really moisturized, or add a bit of lotion to the dot of blush on your finger, to ensure that the blush smoothes onto your skin and stays wet long enough to blend it in.
Lidstar in Cub
A lovely, shimmery rose-gold (which has been my favorite color as of late), this really plays well with my skin tone and hazel eyes. I was hoping the liquid eyeshadow would stay put better than a powder, but I still find that little specks find their way into my eyes, so I don’t use this product often.
My tip for this product is the same as Cloud Paint: a little goes a long way.
Colorslide Eye Pencil in Hardcore Velvet
I found this pretty standard as far as eye pencils go, with the exception that it really stays put (which is a blessing and a curse since I no longer own makeup remover). It also offers good control if you want to thicken the line or do a cat eye. It doesn’t flake much, which is helpful, but I still think of it more as a special occasion product.
Have you tried Glossier? What do you think?
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Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.