FashionVideo

Glossier make-up: Is the natural look really worth it?

4 Mins read

When I first saw a campaign for Glossier make-up back in 2016, I was in awe. It had everything that could ever appeal to a make-up-obsessed teenager during the 2010s: effortlessly cute packaging adorned with a splash of millennial pink, a colour trend that was all the rage at the time.

Thanks to a very well-known family whose last name begins with K, the make-up world in 2016 was one in which Instagram-brows and super-high coverage make-up reigned supreme.

Glossier swooped in and offered something different – a more natural and effortless make-up route to take. This was a radical concept during the ‘insta-baddie’ era of the late 2010s, and one that truly flipped the narrative of what the purpose of make-up really was.

The ‘Glossier look’ was one that made an allowance for acne scars and skin texture, features usually demonised by the beauty industry.

The product range is small in comparison to other premium make-up brands like Charlotte Tilbury or Urban Decay, however, it still contains most of the key players. It has a skin-care range, two eyebrow products, cream blush, base make-up (foundation, concealer and powder) a small range of eye shadows, mascara and various lip products. The cheapest item starts at £10 and the most expensive is £30, which means Glossier falls snugly into the mid-to-high range of make-up.

I never got around to trying Glossier products out for myself during the height of their popularity, but I was always curious to find out whether their products really were as magical as they looked.

So, I went and ordered three of the best-selling products on their online store to find out for myself whether the natural look is really worth the money. I decided to go for Boy Brow to tame my VERY out-of-shape eyebrows (plus I have heard so many good things about this product in particular), the lash slick (which claims to be a completely clump-free mascara) and one of the ever-so-cute cloud paints, to add some colour back into my pale winter complexion.

Boy Brow

Glossier Boy Brow
Glossier Boy Brow

When you ask people what their favourite product is from Glossier, don’t be surprised if they say Boy Brow.

Many claim it really is one of the best brow products to ever be released and that they simply cannot live without it (a bit dramatic, but honestly with brows like mine, I kind of understand), so, of course, I had to give it a try.

I was very cautious when I first started to brush the product onto my brows, as I was worried it would deposit too much colour. However, this product really is fool-proof. As I continued to brush through my eyebrows, I was able to form my desired shape whilst the waxy pomade made them stay in place.

The colour is a perfect match and it really helped to thicken up my eyebrows without making them look like I had a lot of product on them. They stayed in place all day and did not budge. I can definitely see why people absolutely swear by this, it’s a real game-changer and quite unlike anything I have tried before. Overall 10/10.

Lash Slick

Glossier Lash Slick Mascara Wand
Glossier lash slick wand

Now, this was a product that I was particularly excited to try – a clump-free mascara!? Impossible surely. But what if I’m wrong? What if this is the mascara that we have all been waiting for? Let’s just say I had very high expectations for this one.

As you can see, the mascara really did help to separate every lash and create a natural-looking lengthened effect. According to Glossier, the Japanese fibre technology helps to give this result. The formula also contains biotin which is said to help strengthen the lashes with regular use.

I think this mascara would be great for everyday wear and the finish was unlike many other mascaras that I have tried, it really does not clump (like, at all).

For me personally, however, I’m not sure if I could justify the £16 price tag when there are so many great cheaper mascaras out there.

I would give it a miss if you are after a more dramatic look (which many would argue is the point of a mascara). However, it definitely fits into the Glossier brand with its subtlety. I rate this a 6/10. Seriously cute packaging though!

Cloud Paint

Ahhh Cloud Paint. Who wouldn’t want to try a product with such a dreamy name? When I first saw these cute little tubes of blush, I just had to try them out. Cloud paint is one of Glossier’s star products and it comes in eight shades. I just chose the one with the most adorable name, ‘Beam’, a soft peachy shade for £17.

The application is fool-proof, simply dab on a tiny dot with your finger onto the cheeks.

The effect is subtle and fresh looking, you really don’t need much and it blends into the skin seamlessly. However, beyond the packaging, I wasn’t sure if the formula was really that different to any other cream blush that I’ve used in the past.

I liked it, but again was it worth the price tag? I wasn’t sure, but it did make a very cute addition to my makeup bag. I’d be curious to try out some of the other shades to see if they are where the hype is at. Overall 6/10.

The Verdict

I like Glossier products, they are nice, they are pretty, and they are very user-friendly. If you are looking for easy make-up that you don’t have to worry about going overboard with, and you can afford it, then Glossier is for you.

However, if you are a make-up fanatic like myself and already have a large collection, you may struggle with the very subtle effect that Glossier products offer. It could be as simple as using less of your current make-up or applying it differently to achieve the same effect without having to invest in more beauty products.

However I must admit, the Boy Brow really did impress, I can’t think of another brow product that gives the same results, so props to Glossier for that!

You can shop for all Glossier products here.


All images and videos by Isabella Brooks
Edited by Mya Linden and Sophie Patrick

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