Ah, Glossier. I feel like this brand has become so popular lately and for good reason. It was founded by New Yorker Emily Weiss in twenty fourteen. She is CEO of the cosmetics company and founder of the Into The Gloss blog. There’s lots of talk in the beauty world about wanting to enhance your natural features and get that makeup look without excessive product use. Paradigm shifting Glossier do all that and more. They even have a wedding edit and line of merch selling jumpers, duffel bags, water bottles and more. Before becoming a multi million dollar business owner, Weiss was originally an editorial assistant at Vogue. That was her humble beginning before her passion project and vision took over. Her dream of democratising beauty was born in existence.
Let’s dial things back though. Can we take a minute to talk about this packaging? What can I say, I’m a big fan! Their branding is so effective- minimal yet gorgeous and a little extra. It’s all in the finer details. I’m a sucker for the aesthetic stickers. So yes, I bought into the hype and purchased a few things with money I saved. All in all, I couldn’t be happier. As most of you would know, Glossier doesn’t ship to Australia. They do however ship across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, England, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and France.
This was a real pity to discover because we have the market here and there are gaps to fill. My search for a viable solution ended when I came across Post Mate, a freight forwarding service based in the United States. They have you checkout at your chosen store as normal and then the real magic happens. Your order is directed to an allocated warehouse in the country you’re purchasing the items from. Understandably, this process is somewhat costly. Post Mate are a middle man service and there’s a certain to and fro. It’s not as easy as ordering and having your parcel at your doorstep a few days later. The whole process took maybe a week and a half.
Milky Jelly Cleanser
I tried this cleanser out the other night and it was lovely and lightweight. It has a luxurious creamy texture that feels moisturising. It’s an off white gel that isn’t super thick or lotion like. There are no harsh additives and your skin isn’t stripped excessively of oil. While that squeaky clean feeling is satisfying, it damages skin barriers and leaves vulnerable layers exposed and potentially reactive to other products. This Milky Jelly Cleanser caused no irritation or redness and kept me free of breakouts.
I felt it was perfectly suited to my skin type. I’m fortunate to be within the normal range, neither dry nor oily. Just right. In my experience, using the wrong products can tip your skin into a different category and cause it to behave differently. I decided on the full size Milky Jelly Cleanser instead of the mini. There’s a difference of just over a hundred grams with the mini being eight dollars less expensive. I went with what was most economical.
The Milky Jelly Cleanser is a crowd pleaser with over three thousand five stars reviews. It’s pH balanced and formulated with skin conditioners like Allantoin and Vitamin B5. It’s also free of soap, instead formulated with Poloxamer, a mild cleansing agent typically found in contact lens cleaning solution. In this way it’s safe for your eyes and won’t cause stinging when you remove mascara!
The milky phase conditions skin to keep it fresh and glowing whilst the jelly works to dissolve dirt and build up. It’s soothing, purifying, nourishing, vegan, cruelty free and noncomedogenic. This means it won’t clog your pores or leave a sticky residue as some dense cleaners do. Furthermore, it’s Dermatologist and Ophthalmologist tested. You only need a pump or two. It has a slight rose fragrance but is otherwise unscented. Just bear in mind that the cleanser doesn’t foam or lather if that’s what you prefer.
Cloud Paints in colours Storm and Beam
These two hues are so warm and inviting and really liven up my cheeks. They remind me of the graduation of tones in the sky at the end of the day. Pastel sunsets in red, orange, pink and more. I went with Storm and Beam as they looked fairly natural to me and would highlight my features without seeming out of place.
On the Glossier site it was suggested you apply the cloud paints by mixing two shades, the darker up top and the lighter on the bottom. With this product a little dab goes a long way and the tubes should last you a while. If you have product that collects around the rim, use that. You won’t need much as the cloud paints are highly pigmented, very vibrant!
Glossier describes Cloud Paint as a seamless, buildable gel cream blush that’s enjoyable to apply and easy to wear. It comes in eight shades. Storm, a warm rose, Dawn, a sunny coral, Spark, a bright poppy, Puff, a light cool pink, Dusk, a brownish nude, Haze, a deep fuchsia, Eve, a rich mulberry and Beam, a soft peach.
It’s sheer enough upon initial application that it’s easy to work with and layer without making you look clownish. It gives you a flushed from within glow due to the special blurring pigments. This gives a soft focus effect that draws attention away from pores. You’ll look as if you’re constantly in golden hour lighting. It’s not streaky or chalky and blends seamlessly, just melting into skin. It even contains collagen, a really effective hydrator that boosts youthful appearance.
Wowder Powder in G5- G7 and Brush Duo Set
This loose power definitely lives up to its name. I have a few blemishes on my face, mostly by way of darker spots. Otherwise just freckles and beauty marks. This powder is great on days where I want lighter coverage and a more airy, feathery finish. The powder is matte with a subtle shimmer that is great for the colder months. In summer I like a more sunkissed dewy look. In autumn and winter however, you can look way too shiny and out of place.
The power isn’t flaky and doesn’t clump- I’d say it sits lightly on the skin. For that reason it’s best not to touch. As for the matching brush, it’s a cute metallic purple. The fibres are soft as butter and don’t feel overly synthetic, despite being so. A common problem you encounter with cheaply made brushes are the hairs falling out. That didn’t happen here. However, I would’ve preferred the brush strands be tougher and less flexible. I’m not a huge fan of the flimsiness. On the flip side, this brush picks up just the right amount of powder and is tapered yet nimble enough for targeted areas. The matching pouch makes it easy to store and travel with.
Glossier describes the Wowder Powder as cutting shine and instantly blotting. It doesn’t cake into fine line and accentuate wrinkles. It’s suitable for overall application. I purchased this powder in a medium to deep shade but there are four others to choose from. G1- G3 which is rich, G4 which is deep, G5-G7 which is medium to deep, G8-G10 which is light to medium and G11-G12 which is very light.
Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick in shade Crush
This is a simple lipstick and lip balm deal that does the job of two. It applies smoothly and is hydrating. The colour is a deep raspberry and suits my warm toned skin well. In my experience, richer shades prevent you from looking washed out, especially if you have olive skin. This lipstick doesn’t cling to dry spots like some do. I always feel most confident with a dark pink or red lip. It’s bold, daring and really increases my confidence. Such a boss gal move honestly. You end up looking effortlessly put together whether you wish to appear casual or dressy.
With the Generation G lipsticks you get that look and finish of just blotted lipstick, only without the blot. You don’t even need a mirror. A quick swipe on and you’re guaranteed to look just right. It comes in a variety of shades, six to be exact. Cake is a subtle peachy nude, Crush is a hot raspberry pink, Like is a light cool pink, Zip is a poppy red, Leo is a neutral cocoa brown and Jam is a deep berry. My only suggestion would be to wear lip liner underneath. This will stop the dreaded ombre look where your lipstick comes off in the middle but sticks around the top and bottom.
There are four core ingredients that, when combined, really make this lipstick. Wax matrix is a combination of sunflower and synthetic beeswax that creates a smooth, cushiony texture and feel on the lip. Meanwhile, Blue Agave binds water inside the lips for a full, plump pout. Safflower oil is high in linoleic acid which creates a barrier that prevents moisture loss. Finally, add Lychee Rose Scent for a bit of fun.
Lidstar Liquid Eyeshadow in the colour Cub
I’m going to be honest and admit that I never got the hang of applying eyeshadow. In ways, with a liquid alternative, you make less mistakes. This is definitely a statement maker but didn’t strike me as anything to write home about. However, on date night or a club scene, this would do the trick nicely. You just need the right setting.
This glistening eye colour lasts all day, creating a veil of colour that locks onto your lids without creasing. Ultra fine glittery pigments encased in a buttery base create a silky formula that swipes on easily. I got mine in rose gold. It has these beautiful pink tones. It gives a multidimensional finish. The angled doe foot applicator wand has a long edge that allows for even lid distribution. There’s a precision tip for detailing.
Lidstar comes in eight different shades. Herb, a smoky green with yellow gold pearls. Fawn is a smoky, cool taupe with hints of violet and neutral gold pearl. Cub is a rose gold with a warm shimmer effect. Slip is a sheer baby pink with a golden highlight effect. Moon is a sheer cream base with a blueish opalescent glimmer. Lily is a sheer lilac base with blue and violet pearls. There are two newer shades, Bun and Branch. The former is a soft champagne with a gold shimmer and the latter is a rich bronze with a gold pearl.
Balm Dotcom in Birthday
Ah, the most iconic of all Glossier products. The holy grail. Their universal salve and do everything lip balm. This tube of goodness is packed with antioxidants and natural emollients to nourish dry and chafed skin. You can choose from a range of flavoured formulas or go for something original and untinted. Balm dotcom is highly moisturising and contains castor oil, beeswax and lanolin. Your lips are left smooth and hydrated, not shiny or sticky. It is dermatologist tested and deeply soothing and conditioning. Other people have recommended rubbing the balm into your cuticles and using it to heal wounds faster.
There are eight funky flavours to choose from and something for everyone. The original, Rose, which has a barely there pink tint, birthday which has a subtle shimmer, Cherry which has a sheer red tint, Mint that has a cooling feel, Coconut which is a beachy and untinted, Mango, fresh and juicy with a peachy rose tint and Berry, luscious and jammy. Other present ingredients include Cupuacu fruit extract, an organic moisturiser with omega six and omega nine fatty acids. Rice bran and rosemary leaf extracts provide antioxidants that combat free radical skin damage.
Clear Lip Gloss
I am however on the fence about their clear lip gloss. It went on smoothly and gives you an incredible pout, almost a lip filler look without the work. However, the initial stickiness upon application didn’t go away for a while and made this gloss uncomfortable to wear. Another concern was the amount of product you get for your money being quite small. I also felt it wore off quickly during the day. That being said, the doe foot applicator gives you instant incredible shine with a single swipe and active ingredients vitamin E and jojoba oil give a full, rounded shape. There are four shades available at the moment. Red, Holographic, Clear and Gold. As a bonus, It’s formulated without alcohol.
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