What is Glossier?
Glossier specializes in makeup, skincare products, and even fragrances for people who want to let their true beauty shine through. With products like cheek stains and glowy, sheer foundations that even out skin tone without hiding your freckles.
Founded in 2014, Glossier was born from intothegloss.com, a blog where beauty-lovers raved about and reviewed their favorite products, shared tips and beauty routines, and learned from industry pros.
Why Choose Glossier?
Lots of us at Giving Assistant use and love Glossier! (This writer is wearing Cloud Paint, Lash Slick, and their priming moisturizer right now.) You might want to check out our other reviews of Brow Flick and Futurdew too!
Here are a few reasons people love Glossier:
- Light and airy; never cakey
- Captures light; glowy
- Pore-minimizing
- Natural looking; the best “no-makeup” look
- Great for sensitive skin
These are based on some of the online reviews we see the most consistently. There are also honest comments like these:
- “I have never gotten a Glossier product I didn’t like!”
- “This brand has been a game-changer for me.”
- “I have been battling with my skin for 33 years and finally I feel like I have some control!”
- “HOLY grail product found!”
Not to mention the fact that this makeup brand cares so much about its customers’ health and confidence, they’ve put together their own skincare philosophy…
What is Glossier’s Skincare Philosophy?
Glossier’s mission seems to be about helping you love you—just as you are. For that, they created a skincare philosophy to help people nurture, love, and enjoy the skin they’re in.
Glossier’s skincare philosophy involves 3 steps:
- Cleanse
- Moisturize
- Protect
After step 3, their philosophy states you should add in any skincare “extras” you want, such as products designed to brighten, tighten, or work on other skin-related areas you might want to change.
The first 3 steps are there to set a foundation and ensure great results, easy self-care, and the biggest boost of confidence, no matter how you choose to customize your skin-loving routine.
How to Build the Right Glossier Skincare Routine
It’s easy: Start with Glossier’s skincare routine quiz. (Wasn’t that nice of them to get you started like that?)
The quiz takes no time at all, and at the end, the product decisions are pretty much made for you.
If you order the products and for some reason aren’t satisfied, their return/exchange policy is super easy, and their customer service team is incredibly helpful.
Is Glossier Cruelty-Free?
Yes. Glossier is certified cruelty-free by the internationally recognized cruelty-free certification organization Leaping Bunny. According to Glossier’s website, Leaping Bunny, also conducts regular audits on their participating companies to ensure compliance.
Glossier’s cruelty-free certification means that their products are never tested on animals at any point in the product development or manufacturing process, from the moment they begin production to the moment your order hits your doorstep.
Glossier also works with cruelty-free vendors and partners, meaning all the ingredients you see on Glossier’s labels came from sources that likewise did not test on animals.
Is Glossier Good for Sensitive Skin?
Yes, Glossier is great for most sensitive skin types. There are tons of gentle-yet-powerful products to choose from, or even mix and match.
A few skincare product ingredients to look out for if you have sensitive skin:
- Parabens and sulfates (check the ingredients list)
- Fragrances and essential oils
- Chemical sunscreen (stick with sunscreens containing titanium dioxide and zinc, AKA mineral sunscreens)
- Alcohol
Some Glossier users with sensitive skin have reported issues with select Glossier products when that product was not the right fit for them.
The good news: According to a number of online beauty forums, users with sensitive skin report that if they do have a reaction to any Glossier products, simply switching products can help: for example, switching from Glossier’s rich moisturizer to their regular moisturizing primer.
Additionally, Glossier’s returns policy gets an A+ for being hassle-free, with super friendly customer service, so worst case, you can always return the product or swap it out.
Many sensitive skin folks swear by the Milky Jelly cleanser, the priming moisturizer, and the Solution, as well as all of Glossier’s makeup products.
The verdict: Glossier is great for sensitive skin—especially their makeup line—and has an excellent return policy if needed. The brand boasts products that are paraben-free (a common irritant), dermatologist tested, and hypoallergenic. Plus, they are constantly updating and working to create products that even the most sensitive skin can benefit from.
What are the Best Glossier Products?
Tip: Glossier’s site makes it so easy to pick the right shades of makeup for your skin tone. With each product, you’ll find tons of photos with models of varying skin shades so you can see how a color might look with your shade of skin.
Our top 5 Glossier product recommendations:
1. Cloud Paint
We love this blush. It’s more of a stain than a blush, so it looks incredibly natural, and you only need your finger to apply it. Cloud Paint comes in both natural and fun, “poppy” colors, which is great if you aren’t super interested in going completely au naturale, but also don’t want the harsh lines some powdered blushes and brushes can leave on your cheeks. It blends perfectly, and the product itself is not thick or cakey at all like some non-powered blushes.
2. Lash Slick
Lask Slick is amazing: It’s one of the few mascaras this writer has ever tried that lengthens without making your lashes cakey. (Are you noticing a non-cakey trend here?) It instantly makes you look more polished and awake, even if you don’t wear any other makeup at all—and it stays put all day. While it’s not as thick and sticky as waterproof makeup, it’s still a good idea to use proper eye makeup remover to get it off, otherwise it’ll stick around for while!
3. Solution
Review after review says this toner is the perfect exfoliating, deep-cleaning product that isn’t overly harsh on sensitive skin. It doesn’t have an overwhelming alcohol “feel” to it, but still makes pores appear smaller and tones without being over-drying.
Many report adding Solution to their cleansing routine and getting great results in the way of blemish prevention. Likewise, lots of folks report seeing skin discoloration reduced!
4. Priming Moisturizer
Priming Moisturizer makes you glow-glow-glow! It’s “buildable,” meaning if one layer of the product doesn’t give you that “blurring” primer effect you’re expecting, you can add another layer or two to increase that effect, without (again, here’s this word) caking up your face with moisturizer.
This also lasts all day, so no matter what season it is, you don’t have to worry about your skin feeling dry and uncomfortable again before the day is done. It’s definitely lighter than their rich moisturizer, and many with sensitive skin seem to prefer it.
5. Super Duo
Of course you can buy either Super Bounce or Super Glow, but we know you’re going to be hemming and hawing forever over which product would give you the results you want and need the most: so why choose? Get both with the Super Duo.
Super Bounce’s power is hyaluronic acid, which hydrates while keeping skin supple, and Super Glow’s power is Vitamin C, which brighten skin (bye-bye dark circles and splotches).
Neither of the serums are too watery, either: they’re a bit milky, so they can be rubbed in like a lotion without having the heaviness of a lotion. Oh, and the longer you use them, the better the results get!
How to Save at Glossier
Glossier makes it really easy to take advantage of their incredible line of products while still saving some dough.
1. Buy bundles and packs
Glossier offers dozens of “bundles,” such as the Super Duo mentioned above, and others like Lash Flick + Boy Brow. Buy products together rather than separately if you can.
2. Share with friends and get 10% off
After your purchase, you’ll get a special savings code you can share with friends. If they make a purchase, they’ll get 10% off, and then you’ll get a code to allow you to also get 10% off your next purchase.
3. Glossier Coupons and Promo Codes
Our #1 tip to be sure you always get a working Glossier coupon code is to download our browser extension. Like Honey, it’ll automatically check for the best coupons from our site when you’re about to checkout at Glossier. Be sure you’re a Giving Assistant member so you’ll also get email updates to know when Glossier has new codes, and be sure you’re signed up for Glossier’s email updates, to double-ensure you’ll never miss savings!
4. Cash Back
As of this writing, Giving Assistant offers up to 10% cash back for Glossier shoppers! That’s a whopping $10 back on a $100 purchase. You can even share that cash back with a nonprofit.
So, What is My Glossier Conclusion?
If your #1 beauty goal is to have skin so healthy you glow—and to let that glowiness shine through—Glossier is your brand. They really care about your happiness and health, above all, and encourage you to do you, love you, and nurture you.
Glossier cares about doing good in the world, too. That’s why they partner with Giving Assistant, so that their customers can do more than just earn cash back and save money, but so that their Glossier purchases can go to helping out the nonprofit of their choice.
So be sure to sign up for Giving Assistant and choose one of 1.5M nonprofits to support with your Glossier purchase! And download our extension to put it all on autopilot.
Written by Giving Assistant Communications Manager and Glossier girl: Melissa Glidden