I came across Glossier by accident during my first year of university. I’d gone my whole life washing my face with only water (ugh!) and I was looking for a solution to the skincare issues that came about when I moved away for college. As I was doing my research, I came across the story of how Milky Jelly Cleanser was born. Glossier founder Emily Weiss was determined to create the “best darn cleanser the world has ever seen”, and first wrote about developing the cleanser in early 2015. After feedback from over 400 comments and a lot of trial and error, the cult-favourite cleanser was launched and in turn, started my Glossier obsession.
If you’ve been wanting to try Glossier out but don’t know where to start, here are a few options — all tried and tested by yours truly.
Skincare
Milky Jelly Cleanser
Like its name suggests, the hypoallergenic cleanser has a milky, jelly-like consistency. This was the first Glossier product I ever tried, and I have to admit I was pretty confused when I first used it. Rather than lathering up, the cleanser stays in a gel form while it’s being rubbed across the skin, but it somehow just works. Doubling as a makeup remover, the cleanser contains Poloxamer, a strong yet mild cleansing agent that is used in contact lens solution.
Milky Jelly Cleanser is also filled with five skin conditioners, including Comfrey Root Extract, which helps to heal dry skin, along with Pro-Vitamin B5, a natural moisturising agent found in cheese and mushrooms. Every wash leaves the skin feeling fresh and nourished — it’s always been kind to my skin. While I no longer use the cleanser daily, it’s my go-to when I’m travelling or having a bad skin day.
4/5 — handy and kind to the skin, but your regular cleanser may be more effective.
Milky Jelly Cleanser is available as a full-size (USD18) or a mini (USD9).
Balm Dotcom
Another cult-favourite, there are now 8 variations of the multi-purpose balm, of which I’ve tried Cherry, Birthday, Mango and Berry — I honestly purchased these four based on smell alone. Made with Beeswax and Lanollin, which are natural emollients, the dense formula provides hydration to the lips and can also be used as a skin salve. Moisture is locked in with the help of Castor Seed Oil and Cupuacu Fruit Extract, on top of antioxidant-rich Rosemary Leaf and Rice Bran extracts.
While the end result isn’t as goopy as some lip glosses can be, I found the Cherry and Mango formulas to be a bit more sticky than the other two. While they’re all designed to function as a moisturiser to all parts of the body, I personally find them to be a bit too sticky to be used anywhere else but the lips.
3/5 — hydrating and smells amazing, but a bit too sticky for a regular lip balm.
Balm Dotcom is available individually (USD12) or as a trio (USD30).
Zit Stick
While it’s labelled as “your blemish emergency plan”, I have to say that this is one product that might work for some, but not for all. Adorable packaging aside, the formula within the Zit Stick comprises of Tea Tree Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide, all of which are known acne killers, but are also majorly drying. If you have particularly sensitive skin, this isn’t the product for you.
The product claims to be usable even over makeup, but I personally have never tried it that way. It’s definitely a handy tool to have in your purse, but it’s not going to provide instant results. While it’s done the trick for me with smaller, newer pimples, those with bigger cases of acne are better off going with something more powerful.
5/5 — super effective for small zits, but not for anything more than a whitehead.
Zit Stick (USD14) is available here.
Makeup
Perfecting Skin Tint
When they say it provides lightweight coverage, they really do mean lightweight. Diamond Powder is used to provide a brightening, soft-focus effect, and while this does provide a natural airbrushed look, this isn’t the product for anyone who wants any kind of coverage.
The ultra-thin formula leaves a barely-there dewy finish, and while it’s certainly perfect for the no-makeup makeup look, it’s also a better product for those who already have close to perfect skin.
2/5 — lightweight but minimal coverage, only for those with good skin.
Perfecting Skin Tint (USD26) is available here.
Stretch Concealer
On the other hand, the Stretch Concealer is buildable, blendable, and gets the job done. Its elastic consistency comes from Beeswax and Microcrystalline Wax, and Cocoa Butter, Avocado Oil and Jojoba Oil help to nourish the skin and keep it supple.
I tend to use this concealer on days where I don’t feel like having a full face of makeup, but I still need to look presentable. No matter how many layers I use or how much I touch up throughout the day, it never feels cakey and allows my skin to breathe.
4/5 — buildable, offers light to medium coverage.
Stretch Concealer (USD18) is available here.
Boy Brow
Perfect for those who prefer a quick, low-maintenance makeup routine, a few brushes of this and your brows are set. The creamy pomade helps to groom brows into place, and lasts all day without stiffening your hairs.
Although it’s only available in four shades, I’ve found that they’re all pretty interchangeable — the colours aren’t super pigmented, but that’s what I like about them. I’ve tested all four out, and while I prefer the Clear and Black shades, both Blonde and Brown still did the trick.
5/5 — the only brow product you need, especially if you’re lazy.
Boy Brow (USD16) is available here.
Cloud Paint
I have nothing bad to say about Cloud Paint — it’s literally the first type of blush I ever used, and I now have every single shade available. The creamy formula blends into the skin effortlessly, and a tiny dab is enough to bring colour to your cheeks. While each shade looks flattering on all skin tones, I personally use a combination of Beam and Dusk to create a daily, natural flush. The formula can also be used on your eyes and lips, so having a tube of this in your purse can always come in handy.
10/5 — super pigmented, easy to work with, flattering on everyone.
Cloud Paint (USD18) is available here.
Skywash
I’d say Skywash is pretty much the Cloud Paint equivalent, but for the eyes. I was extremely cautious when I made my purchase without having tested any of them out, but I now regret only selecting three shades — Pebble, Pool and Terra. I chose Pebble and Terra because they seemed like “safe” shades — a dusty pink and a burnt orange. Pool, on the other hand, is a pastel blue, but I was surprised at how flattering the colour was once blended.
Upon initial application, the liquid formula does seem to be quite pigmented, but blending it out results in a silky finish. Like Cloud Paint, a little goes a long way, but it definitely builds very well. I was also surprised at how long-lasting the formula was — most of the liquid eyeshadows I’ve tried tend to crease by the end of the day, but Skywash remained pretty solid.
4/5 — easy to work with, durable and very pretty.
Skywash (USD18) is available here.
Unfortunately, Glossier doesn’t ship to Singapore and isn’t available in local retailers yet. However, you might still be able to make your purchases with the help of vPost! The service provides international shipping addresses that can be used with foreign sites like Glossier. More information on vPost can be found here.
All products are available at glossier.com.
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