My Guide to Glossier
Praise be. Glossier’s finally available in Mecca.
As a long time fan I think of myself as a somewhat connoisseur of all things Glossier. I’ve tried almost everything they have to offer and I’m still so excited to be able to shop the brand in person. Here’s my thoughts on what’s worth trying.
Let’s start with skin.
Milky Jelly Cleanser - When it comes to cleansers, Glossier really knows their stuff. Milky Jelly is one of their very first releases back in 2014! A lightweight conditioning face wash. Effective for removing makeup, as a second cleanse or a gentle morning cleanse. Lightly scented with soothing rose water, also formulated with the same cleansing agent for contact lenses so it is super safe and non stinging on the eyes.
Solution - Another top Glossier product for me. A chemical exfoliant formulated with a combination of AHA’s. BHA’s and PHA’s plus other hydrating and replenishing ingredients. It brightens, exfoliates and hydrates - a one stop shop for your skin. Gentle enough for daily use but don’t forget your SPF! I found I didn’t purge with this exfoliant at all, most likely due to the combo of acids and replenishing ingredients.
Futuredew - Skincare/makeup hybrid Futuredew is a product I never knew I needed. If you’re looking for glass skin, look no further. I love it on its own for a healthy glow on no makeup days and also for it’s hydrating and brightening benefits. I also love it as a mixing medium with other highlighters. Combining it with a liquid highlighter or as a base under a powder highlighter makes them blend more seamlessly into your skin providing a lit from within glow. A quintessential Glossier product worth trying AND unlike anything you have tried before.
Balm Dot Com - I will always have (at least) one Balm Dot Com on hand (these days you’ll find Birthday and Wild Fig in my bag). They’re back in the OG formula with a new applicator for easy on the go use. I don’t find these to be particularly hydrating on me, but the formula forms a nice protective barrier which helps lock in moisture (and prevent windburn!). They’re also very long lasting, I slather a good layer on at night and wake up with not an ounce of chapped lips. My picks are Rose, Wild Fig, Strawberry and Birthday. (Also Cherry, rip.)
Glossier’s approach to makeup is also something that resonates with me. Very natural and lowkey, your skin but better!
Lip Gloss - Another thing Glossier knows how to do WELL is a lip product. Their Lip Gloss is one of my very favourite gloss formulas, I go through them like nothing else. They’re thick and I find them to be quite occlusive and long lasting, sticky yes, but that’s how they last as long as they do on the lips. I do find them to be hydrating in a sense but I still like to layer a balm underneath, especially in the wintertime. My picks are Red and the Glossier classic, Clear (which has a very subtle pink tint to it).
Cloud Paint - My very first Glossier purchase was from their old New York showroom on Lafayette Street. The girls there were so lovely and took me through everything, I ended up walking home in a full Glossier face and I picked up my first Cloud Paint in Beam (among other things.) Cloud paint is creamy, pigmented and very easy to use liquid blush. Long wearing, never drying. You can’t go wrong. My picks are Beam - a soft peach, Puff - a cool pink, Storm - a warm rose and Dusk - a brownish nude.
A very hot tip for easy cloud paint use/application is to stick a pin into the foil seal instead of peeling it off. It gives you so much more control of how much comes out of the tube.
Lash Slick - Glossier’s ‘fill form’ mascara. It’s based on tubing mascara’s but it uses tiny fibres to ‘fill in’ the lash and lengthen whilst applying. It’s a simple mascara, it adds definition and subtle length to the lashes. Your lashes, but better. It comes in two shades, brown and black.
Haloscope - Another one of my first Glossier purchases in New York. I had it in the shade Quartz which was a nice light golden tone and I scraped everything I could out of that tube. That’s how you know it’s good. The outer shell of the product is a cream highlighter infused with crystals for a perfect lit from within glow and the core is a solid oil which leaves the dewiest finish on your skin whilst also keeping you hydrated throughout the day. It’s smooth to apply directly onto the skin or tap on with your fingers - I like to warm it up either on my fingers or back of my hand before I apply, it goes on smoother and shinier.
Stretch Balm Concealer - One of the biggest reasons I’m excited for Glossier to be at Mecca. Stretch Balm Concealer is a hydrating pot set concealer that I like to use all over my face as a skin tint of sorts à la Katie Jane Hughes. It’s great for evening out skin tone and providing lightweight coverage. Easily buildable and never looks cakey, dry or flaky on the skin.
My everyday fragrance that I would so love to keep gatekeeping is Glossier You. I always go back to this scent because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever smelt. Floral, peppery, musky. I slept well at night knowing that I was maybe 1 in 50 people wearing this around me, once this comes to Mecca you’ll be smelling this on almost every person you walk by I bet you. I’m also partial to the Glossier You Solid. I keep it in my handbag for on the go touch ups. Their Glossier You scent also comes in a candle (which I have and burn often, I genuinely cannot get enough of this scent) and a deodorant which I’m surprisingly yet to try. It’s next on the list. It is truly a scent unlike anything else.
I also would recommend their Precision Pencil Sharpener. Back in 2019 when Glossier Play was still a thing (rip) they released a sharpener alongside their Colourslide pencils. This one is german engineered, stainless steel blade and a neat little container to collect the shavings. Unlike any other sharpener I’ve used in the beauty scene. I was dreading the day it might break because I don’t think I could find anything as good as it but they’ve brought her back alongside their new lip liners!
Another Glossier tool I love and recommend is their Wowder Brush. The Wowder brush is made for their loose powder but I like it for a multitude of things. It’s really great for blushes, cream or powder and bronzers, cream or powder. It has enough width to perfectly place the creams or powders where you want them to be and enough density that it blends anything seamlessly onto the skin. I actually don’t really use this brush for setting powders oddly enough, but if I needed to set my whole face for any reason this would also be my go to.
That’s my guide to Glossier. So pleased I can now shop my favourites in store - patience is a virtue.