The Painted Lip

Glossier.

As you already know, I am a makeup collector, a connoisseur if you will. So when a company is introduced into the sphere of makeup consciousness, I pay attention. Glossier is one such indie company From its minimalist packaging to its on trend ingredients, I piqued my interest. It also has to tick some of the right boxes - Easy, good price point,active ingredients and ships to Canada!

Into the Gloss....

The first step of Glossier's success was a successful blog, Into the Gloss. From there, Glossier culled, vetted and filtered the beauty ingredients and products that worked. This is handy when you are a beauty editor and have a plethora of free products to test. This led into the clean and "glossy" aesthetic that is now Glossier. You can see it in their advertisement,web page and packaging; it's not pretentious and it lets the product do the work.However, do not be fooled this is also a marketing strategy. More companies, such as Deciem,Glossier,and Milk realise that consumers are becoming more suscipicious and therefore more educated regarding ingredients and pushing for more "real"campaigns and less photo-shopped pictures,as Glossier's motto says "Skin and Beauty Products Inspired by Real Life" Instead they focus in on the buzz that influencers generate and the products' performance.

I equate Milk and Glossier occupying the same circle. Both are cool girl makeup, with next to nothing coverage and glossy skin. Again, the ambience is slick, the look and feel is of a chic girl [or boy]minimalist who could care less about spending hours on their makeup. I picture tall, waif-like girls with stunning skin and beautiful hair, they may have tattoos, cute freckles and piercings. Again, this is my vision. Its demographic is not mine with its focus, I feel, on teens to late twenties and that is pushing the outer limit. Its minimalist approach is beautiful and utterly appeals to my sensibilities. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for cute and pretty packaging too. Trust. Recently, it received kudos for featuring what appears to be an untouched photo of a plus size girl for their Body Hero range and they include diversity amongst skin tones in their advertising. Again, this is calculated and they are acutely aware of the its effect and how this generates attention and conversations. I applaud and encourage to show case more of this and diversity within the age groups please.

Into the Products...

I decided to order some its highly touted products - Boy Brow (one oftheir best sellers), Cloud Paints, Skin Perfecting Tint and Haloscope. I ordered the products February 10, shipped February 12 and it arrived February 16th. Shipping was free for orders over $40.

They break down their products into two different phases. Phase one being skin care includes the Milky Jelly Cleanser, Solution (Chemical Exfoliant with AHA and BHA),serums,masks,Bomb DotCom Skin Salve, sunscreen,and moisturisers. The bridge between phase one and two is the Priming Moisturiser. Phase two consists of makeup products. The Boy Brow, Perfecting Skin Tint,Haloscope (highligher) Cloud Paints and Lip Products (Generation G -blotted looking lipstick).

The offer packaged deals for less. For instance, Phase one package includes for $55 Cdn Milky Jelly Cleanser, Priming Moisturiser and your choice of flavour of the Balm Dotcom. Saving of $9 Cdn.Phase two includes Stretch Concealer, the Boy Brow and Generation G lip colour $50 Cdn. Cloud Paints can be bought in duo at $36 instead of $22 each.

There are other packaged goodies such as the Boy Brow and Haloscope, the mask duo, and serum super pack.

Okay,so my purchases.....

The Boy Brow $20 Cdn - creamy wax formula is inspired by traditional hair pomade for soft, flexible hold that doesn’t stiffen or flake. 4 colours -clear, blond, brown and black

Colour:- black.

small wand, I needed to wipe off the excess. The colour may be a little harsh for my colouring, but the brown looked too warm. It tinted my brows but there was not much adding to them. Not crusty nor flakey. The hold is very light.

Beeswax and Carnauba WaxNatural waxes that hold hairs in place without stiffness.

Oleic AcidAn emollient derived from olive oil that nourishes and moisturizes.

LecithinA natural fatty substance that adds a silky, smooth texture and a subtle sheen.

AtelocollagenA collagen derivative that helps condition and strengthen the hair fiber.

alcohol free, fragrance free, paraben free, cruelty free, appropriate for all skin types, hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist tested, dermatologist tested

Perfecting Skin Tint $32 Cdn 30ml -Evens out discoloration and leaves your face looking toned, smooth, and dewy. The breathable, ultra thin formula auto-fits to skin, making application as simple as throwing on moisturizer. What won’t it do? Hide your freckles, spackle your pores, or erase any other evidence that you are, in fact, a real human being. Adaptable

5 shades

Diamond PowderGives a brightening and blurring effect, while minimizing the appearance of pores.

GlycerinHelps skin attract and retain moisture.

Polymer XOur secret weapon; gives an ever-so-slight lifted look to the face.

Colour- light and Medium

It is definitely a "wash" of colour. Very sheer and light in texture. Evens complexion fairly well. I had to add a second layer to even out the area of discolouration around my nose and chin. Not sticky and felt light on the skin. Very dewy. A couple of hours in, my skin looked very shiny. Not cute.

hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, appropriate for all skin types, non-settling, non-creasing, non-poring, non-irritating, paraben free, alcohol free, fragrance free, cruelty free, vegan

Cloud Paint $22 each or 2 for $36 Cdn

The pillowy, gel-cream formula is designed to be the most user-friendly cheek color in existence.

4 shades - beam, dusk, puff, and haze

Colour - dusk, puff and haze

CollagenRetains a high amount of water to hydrate and visually plump skin up with moisture.

Smooth-Gel SystemOne-of-a-kind, lightweight gel-cream texture makes for silky, even application.

Blurring Powder PigmentsProvide a soft, diffused, seamless finish—no more streakiness.

They are smooth, non-staining and easy to blend. Almost too easy. You may blend them away into nothing and they do not stay on the cheek that long. Full of dimethicone and derivatives.

hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, paraben free, fragrance free, cruelty free

Haloscope $27 Cdn dew effect highlighter

It’s a dual-delivery formula: the outer halo is infused with genuine crystal extracts for all-day enlightenment, with a solid oil core of vitamin-rich moisturizers for a hydrated, dewy finish

3 colours - Topaz, Quartz, Moonstone

Colour - Quartz

Actual CrystalsOuter ring is enhanced with real Rose Quartz or Golden Topaz —pretty cool, even if you’re not a crystal person.

Coconut and Castor Seed OilRich in vitamin E, they give the solid oil core dewy sheen and easy glide.

Sweet Almond OilSuper moisturizer rich in fatty acids.

Gives a nice sheen to the skin, no glitter no sparkle. Great if you have texture. Not great if you are oily. Lasting time is okay.

hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, paraben free, fragrance free, cruelty free

Comes in a box with cute affirmation and stickers. Within the box is the ever present pink and the pink bubble ziplock bag.

Overall Thoughts

I liked the products but I do not love them and I will tell you why. Honestly, I do not feel cool enough to wear them nor do I feel young enough. This is not marketed to my demographic and its products are for those who want to look like they are makeup free. I like that aspect but I also need products that last and that do not make my skin look super oily within a couple of hours. I like the ease of these products. Not having to rely on brushes, which also might turn people off to it, is lovely. I am a firm believer of using fingers for makeup application, it gives the most natural result. Not having tried any of their skin care, I cannot speak to their efficacy nor the level of active ingredients in their product. I also feel there is a level of sophisticated marketing and gimmick to Glossier, that also could be my cynicism talking. Overall, I will recommend them as their ease, price points and quality is good.