The Myth of the Glossier Girl: Emily Weiss's Wedding Black Book

I firmly believe that we don’t talk enough about Emily Weiss’s, founder of Glossier and #girlboss, 2015 pre-wedding routine beauty article. In Into the Gloss, Glossier’s blog, Weiss detailed her six-month pre-wedding journey through beauty treatments that were basically the equivalent of poking and prodding her limbs, skin, wanted hair, unwanted hair, nails, muscles, lashes, brows, and digestive tract. Yes, the digestive tract, something I had no idea we were supposed to be insecure about. And according to her, it was a success. She wrote that day that she was a whole 8/10 happy with how she looked. She spent six months, and maybe the average annual American salary, on grueling beauty treatments for an 8/10. 8/10. Not even an A or a high B. An 8/10.  

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Initially, when I read it, I couldn’t pinpoint where I felt the discomfort. Was it my gen-Z ‘eat the rich sensibilities’ that were perturbed by her frivolous recommendations to spend what’s probably my tuition on beauty treatments? Or the practical side of me that highly doubts a colonic will flush out the toxins in your body and is also slightly worried about Weiss’s misleading medical advice? Or the mom friend in me that wishes influencers would stop feeding into toxic diet culture and endorsing detox cleanses? (I really wish I understood what it is with millennials and ‘detoxing’) Yes to all of these, but also, her 8/10 ranking will forever haunt me. 

Weiss built her brand as a CEO and her company, Glossier, on the idea that minimalism and the natural look can also be beautiful. Her products are easy to use, beautifully packaged, and celebrate dewy skin. Glossier’s Instagram is carefully curated with images of models and actors in ‘natural’ makeup. And in the ten minutes it took me to read this article, the idea of the Glossier girl finally cracked.

The same person who sells us on a brand whose entire ethos is based on minimalism is also trying to sell us on colonics, cleanses, and microcurrent treatments. And if you practice what she preaches, maybe one day you too can feel like an 8/10. The glossier girl doesn’t spend ten minutes applying skin tint with a wash of color and maybe a smokey eye and then goes out the door. The glossier girl apparently spends thousands of dollars to emulate a faux minimalist aesthetic to then only feel 80% good about herself.

And I cannot emphasize enough how profoundly disappointing this was for me. Glossier was the brand that pushed me to accept my skin with and without foundation. I fell in love with the idea of a ‘no-makeup’ makeup brand that focused on skincare. Emily Weiss changed the beauty industry forever and turned a beauty blog into a beauty empire through the magic of genius marketing. Glossier has revolutionized the beauty industry. Despite initial blunders, it has made a concerted effort to support social causes and increase the diversity of its models. It’s refreshing to see models in something that isn’t full glam, especially at the time Glossier was founded. With this in mind, it’s so disappointing to see its CEO, who was heralded as revolutionary to changing our relationship to beauty, parroting archaic cliches about ‘toxins’ and cleanses. So much of the beauty industry relies on triggering insecurities or creating whole new ones. We are told to hate ourselves because it sells juice cleanses, colonics, and a million other procedures or products for an ideal that no one will ever be able to reach. Even the brand that marketed themselves as different has fallen into this trap.

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But I believe that self-love can coexist with loving beauty. Beauty can be more than creating insecurities and trying to sell a solution. Beauty can be about care and love for yourself. It can be about the final moments in the day when you unwind or in the morning when you prepare yourself to take on the day. Self-love is profoundly radical when we are constantly told to hate ourselves, our digestive tract, and our bodies. And the brands which capitalize on self-hatred should begin to take note because one day, hopefully, they will be obsolete.

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Glossier Drops a Reformulated Generation G–Is It Worth the Repurchase?

If there is one makeup item I cannot live without, whether I am late to my morning class or heading out for a nice dinner in the city, it’s my Generation G lipstick from Glossier. And when I heard that Glossier came out with a reformulated version of the original cult favorite product, I had to see how they could make this already amazing lipstick even better!

The redesign Gen G was prompted by complaints that the product’s existing packaging often cracked, making it easier for the cap to fall off and dry out the lipstick–or worse, get product all over the inside of your pocket/pencil case/makeup pouch! Gen G has also been reformulated to make it harder for the product to crack or fall out of the tube–a common problem with the older model.

While I was missing my family and wallowing in self-pity on Black Friday, I was immediately cured with the notification that my package had come in from Glossier. I immediately tore open my box and popped open my new Gen G lipstick.

The redesign is so sleek and compact–an effort on Glossier’s behalf to minimize the drying out of the product. It has such a luxurious essence; it feels like you’re not just putting on a tinted lip balm, but a special occasion lipstick. As for how it feels, it is just the same texture that we all know and love, but this time the actual bullet is chunkier for an easier, more effortless application.

For those who are not familiar with Gen G, it gives you that effortless, I woke up like this aesthetic. The buildable product has a matte yet moisturizing finish. If you’re just not feeling an ultra bold lip moment or makeup isn’t really you’re thing, Gen G is the perfect middle ground and allows you to determine just how much color you want to show and just how bold you want to be.

You will definitely catch me in the Quad using my new Gen G lipstick (in shade Crush) every single day until finals.

Use this code for 10% off your first online order! Happy shopping :)

All images via Glossier.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/yat5ooal

Please Come Back to Chicago, Glossier!

This past fall I was entering a new chapter in my life: college. However, on the plane ride over, my giddy butterfly feelings were not about the start of a new chapter in my life or leaving home, but rather that I would now be near a physical Glossier establishment…in 3D and not online!

The Glossier Chicago popup. Image via.

The Glossier Chicago popup. Image via.

For almost all of high school I rejected the idea of makeup, living in Florida, the idea of having makeup melt off my face the moment I stepped outside was not the move. I loved being able to walk out of the house with just SPF and my lip balm. Fast forward to seven months later and Glossier has revolutionized my life.

On one of those online retail therapy adventures that we all fall prey to, I happened to stumble upon Glossier’s simplistic, pink and bubbly website. After seemingly endless internal deliberation, I decided to go with the Phase 2 Set, which includes their bestselling Boy Brow, Stretch Concealer, and my personal favorite, their Generation G lipstick.

Since then, in a matter of a few months, my make up collection went from zilch to over ten items. I fell in love with and literally religiously stalked all of Glossier’s social media accounts, watched all related YouTube content, and dreamed about potentially being able to visit their showroom myself one day. So when I got the notification that Glossier would be opening a pop-up in Chicago, I literally left my second period class to book my tickets to Chicago early. Talk about brand loyalty!

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Image via.

As you can tell, I seriously hyped myself up for Glossier, and the moment I stepped foot in their temporary Chicago storefront, my already extremely high expectations were exceeded. Two beautiful women in pink jumpsuits with perfect glowing skin greeted me under a massive Glossier sign. And as soon as I walked inside I felt like a kid in a candy store, touching everything in sight, putting on every ounce of product I could. I did maybe ten Cloud Paint swatches… I was in paradise!

The pop-up almost seemed like museum according to its setup, with products displayed on cases and pedestals scattered throughout the space and framed product posters and Glossier-themed artwork adorning the walls. There were also tons of helpful associates on hand to give me the best advice on each product before taking my order.

Glossier Chicago was amazing while it lasted. My dream had come true, and spending over $100 on beauty products has never felt so good. While Glossier has not officially announced anything, I hope they will open up a permanent location at least in the four years that I am here. Keep your fingers crossed!

In the mean time, use this code for 10% off your first online order! Happy shopping :)

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Glossier Is Coming to Chi-Town!

Chicago: we're coming to town this summer!

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We know you guys are suckers for any and all things related to Glossier and it just so happens to be one of our go-to beauty brands–just check out one of our many product reviews!

As of this summer, the wait is over for Chicago-based Glossier fans to get an in-person experience of the brand. The company announced over Instagram that it's planning a pop-up in the city this summer. Subscribe to this link for the latest updates!

In the mean time, use this code for 10% off your first online order! Happy shopping :)

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Should I Really Buy Another Glossier Product?

If you are, like me, disgustingly susceptible to purchasing millennial pink themed products, then Glossier's newest mascara release is probably of little surprise to you. To be completely honest, I might not actually bite the bullet this time and buy it. Mascara dries out fast and at $16 plus time spent waiting for Lash Slick to arrive is not a very alluring prospect to me. Plus, photos and videos of the results don't seem quite as fun as, say, the photos for Lidstar did (which I have iffy thoughts on).

Images via here and here

Promising to be water resistant and to have the same effect as lash extensions, this little tube apparently spent years in R&D. I don't quite trust Emily Weiss to be an authority on cosmetics needed to push a mascara. Mascara requires a bit more drama than Glossier's products ever claim to promise. Maybe I'll cave. Keep an eye out on the blog for a potential Beauty Brand Review this summer. If you’re still curious, use this code for 10% off your first purchase.

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Beauty Brand Review: Glossier's Lidstar

The MODA Blog has had a long and storied past of reviewing Glossier products and at this point we're all kind of under the impression that the brand is relatively hit or miss (it's hard to ignore the "meh" quality of most of their products when the packaging is just so damn nice!). Being prone to dumping my hard earned cash on various millennial pink items, however, I of course purchased Glossier's new eyeshadow product, Lidstar, the second it came out. I purchased the shade "Cub," and was puzzled by what came in the mail.

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Lidstar arrives in a medicinal-like testtube with sleek pink packaging and a doe foot applicator. The instagram barrage of photos and videos about the product convey it as being able to evenly apply with the fingers, but when I did that, it sort of disappeared. I know Glossier is not meant to be used for a full beat. That being said, I was for sure expecting more pigment out of the product.

I finally figured out that the best way to apply Lidstar for SOME detectable color is to layer it on and then blend with a dome brush and wait to dry. It also works as a primer if you are doing a look that incorporates the color of the Lidstar in question. I am still on the fence about it is indeed worth $20, but it is an interesting little tube to play with.

Still a little unsure about trying out a Glossier product? Use this code for 10% off your first order! Happy shopping :)

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The Most Hyped Makeup Releases of 2018 (So Far)

2018 is the year for new makeup to drop, as evidenced by how much has already come out merely one month in. Below I have collected some of the most hyped releases of the year to date!

1. Tarte Shape Tape Foundation

This launch rocked the makeup world for two very different reasons- for the fact that Shape Tape is a cult item, and because the color array was not at all inclusive. Reviews are still going in the books, but from here, it already looks to be making waves.

 

2. Glossier's New Product (On Beyonce??)

Glossier is notoriously tight lipped about their releases, and they are playing especially coy with this one- for Beyonce's Grammys look, Glossier posted a photo of her teasing their newest product without saying what it is. The comments section was of course buzzing- and the general rumor is that it will be some sort of eye product. This will be a launch to look out for, as Glossier is not quite so into color cosmetics as they are into skincare.

Beyoncé wears ___ in ___ (coming soon)✨👀, Boy Brow in Brown, Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream, and Perfecting Skin Tint in Dark + Deep ✨ @sirjohnofficial

66.6k Likes, 1,689 Comments - Glossier (@glossier) on Instagram: "Beyoncé wears ___ in ___ (coming soon)✨👀, Boy Brow in Brown, Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream, and..."

Still a little unsure about trying out a Glossier product? Use this code for 10% off your first order! Happy shopping :)

3. Colourpop Lipsticks

Colourpop finally launched their lipsticks and they sold out immediately- not surprising to anyone who adores their huge array of products at almost too good to be true prices. Seeing as Kylie just launched her own collection, it follows that Colourpop would, as well- they are made in the same factory, after all.

L U X L I P S 💋 @makeupbytreenz

18k Likes, 105 Comments - ColourPop Cosmetics (@colourpopcosmetics) on Instagram: "L U X L I P S 💋 @makeupbytreenz"

 

4. Urban Decay Collagen Spray

On the opposite end of the coin as setting spray is priming spray, the former of which Urban Decay has already proved to be an authority on making. Their newest spray is a collagen infused priming spray, which appears to be jumping on the collagen trend that has been taking hold of the beauty industry as of late. This is a product that strays from Urban Decay's usual colorful cosmetics line and crosses into the skincare territory, making it a product to watch.

Image courtesy of urbandecay.com

Image courtesy of urbandecay.com

Images courtesy of the respective Instagram accounts of Tarte, Glossier and Colourpop; Feature image via

Visiting the Glossier Showroom

MODA has been documenting the rise of Glossier's digitally-borne beauty empire since the brand's early days. And while ordering online and choosing products purely based off of customer ratings and appealing packaging can be fun, I was intrigued by Glossier's relatively new showroom space in NYC. 

The showroom itself is located in the penthouse of the brand's official New York headquarters. Guests enter the building from the street and take the elevator up to an airy, brightly-lit space filled with cheeky Glossier posters, take-away post cards and artfully arranged magazines. Friendly employees dressed in cute, pastel pink work suits offer help or advice when needed.

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The displays change according to season and product launches. When I visited this past weekend, the brand was celebrating the debut of the birthday cake flavored Balm Dotcalm–a glittery collaboration with Milk Bar, a popular ice cream and dessert spot with multiple locations in the city. Confetti and colorful balloons adorned the space to accompany the product's birthday party-themed launch.

Podiums dedicated to each item display all of the brand's products, free for curious visitors and shoppers alike to test out and purchase in store. The space can get busy depending on the day, but testing out all the products doesn't take much time given Glossier's curated and fairly limited collection of so-called beauty essentials. Any in-store purchase is accompanied by the brand's signature pink pouch, a slew of stickers and other trademark swag. 

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I tried the new Invisible Shield SPF 35 sunscreen first, a recent launch for the brand that's part of a larger "Have Safe Sun" marketing campaign in coordination with Glossier's beauty blogging counterparts at Into The Gloss. The sunscreen really is transparent (and has a nice citrusy scent), with a consistency more in line with a light moisturizer or jelly cleanser than the thick, gloppy sunscreen you're used to slathering on. 

I've heard mixed reviews about Glossier's skincare products and their effect on people with more sensitive skin, so I didn't spend much time experimenting with their face masks, moisturizers, cleansers or serums. I can attest to how effective their balms are, however. Balm Dotcalm comes in six different flavors, but they all accomplish the same thing. The salve is incredibly moisturizing–whether I am incorporating the balm into my daily makeup routine or swiping some on before bed, the product lasts and leaves my lips feeling smooth and hydrated. In my opinion, the Rose and Mint flavors smell the best, and I ended up purchasing the Mint to join the Cherry balm I already own.

I'd already purchased a Generation G in Crush, but I was curious to see how the other shades compare. As I mentioned in my previous review of the product, I am somewhat disappointed by how little pigment the product boasts. Even after multiple swipes on my hand, most of the colors barely registered, and the application appeared pretty uneven.

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The Perfecting Skin Tint and Stretch Concealer definitely perform as advertised and the coverage is minimal at best. I was pretty disappointed by the Cloud Paint blushes. The product didn't blend as easily as I would have liked, perhaps because the consistency of the blush is very liquid-based, making it harder to control your application. Since the blush is very pigmented and builds fast, it can be hard to salvage your look if you decide you've put too much on.

I also wasn't a fan of the Haloscope highlighters–one of the products I initially intended on buying before my visit. Considering the price of the highlighter ($22 a pop), the application was messy and uneven when I swiped a couple swatches on my hand. I own similar products (a shimmery eye pencil from Sephora and a creamy gold eyeshadow from CVS) that get the job done better and cost half the price. 

I also purchased a Boy Brow (in color Brown) at the showroom. I've heard people gushing about this brow gel since Glossier first launched and I'm happy to say this product doesn't disappoint. I had my first trial run with the product when I borrowed my friend's Boy Brow a couple weeks ago and was impressed by how nicely the gel shapes and fills in your brows without altering their natural shape too drastically. If you're interested in trying out the product, I would recommend going a shade lighter than your natural brow color or even opting for the clear version. 

Overall, the Glossier showroom was a fun and easy way to finally acquaint myself with all of the products I've seen floating around social media and the Internet at some point or another. While the collection was pretty hit or miss in my opinion, it all comes down to what you're looking for in a product. For lighter coverage and barely there makeup–a look, mind you, that is very on-message with Glossier's whole brand ethos–these products might do the trick for you. I generally prefer more bang for my buck, however, and would prefer either more product or better results to accompany Glossier's price tag.

Still a little unsure about trying out a Glossier product? Use this code for 10% off your first order! Happy shopping :)

Glossier Showroom

Address: 123 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013

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Beauty Brand Review: Glossier Lip Products

If you haven't lusted over one of Glossier's overpriced albeit nicely packaged beauty or skincare products by now, I applaud you. I've been debating purchasing their products since the brand launched several years ago and finally caved earlier this month. I've received some of their skincare products in the past as gifts, but I've always wanted to try out their beauty options and lip products are usually pretty fool proof!

Balm Dotcom

I decided on the Cherry Balm Dotcom (which reportedly smells like "fun tangy cherry candies, the perfect playlist, and three-day weekends") because I figured if I was going to spend $12 on a lip balm, it might as well be tinted in order to double as a lip tint or lipgloss. The Balm Dotcom comes in five versions: rose (which is also slightly tinted according to the website), mint, cherry, coconut and the original flavorless and scentless balm. 

The site claims that this universal skin salve is a cult favorite "packed with antioxidants and natural emollients to nourish and repair dry, chafed skin." The product is advertised as providing a hydrating, dewy sheen packed with ingredients like beeswax, castor seed oil, rice bran and rosemary leaf extracts, and something called Cupuaçu fruit extract (for "an organic, long-lasting moisturizer with Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids that melts into skin on contact"). 

The packaging of this product is potentially it's biggest selling point. I was a little put off by how overwhelming the cherry smell is. It's not entirely unpleasant, but I would definitely recommend putting on as little as you need so the sickly sweet smell doesn't give you a headache. The formula itself is pretty waxy and doesn't dissolve or wipe off immediately like other balms do. I would probably recommend this as more of a moisturizing mask you wear on your lips before bed rather than a day-to-day lip product. It gave my lips a slight tint and glossy sheen. If I could select a different balm I would probably go for the mint flavor or the scentless/flavorless version. 

Generation G

I bought the Generation G matte lipstick in Crush because I wanted a shade that would be buildable off my lip's natural color. There are a ton of shades to choose from, however, whether you want something bright and cheery like Zip (a flirty red shade), a range of more subdued pink options like Jam, Crush or Like, or something more suited for day-to-day wear, such as the warm toned Leo and Cake. Regardless of the color you choose, the pigments are intended to be fairly strong and result in a buildable, matte-like effect. 

According to the website, these lip tints are also hypoallergenic and made with a range of cool sounding ingredients like triple coated mica, a "finely-milled mineral that gives matte finish and silky glide," or blue agave, which "binds water inside lips for comfortable wear".

Crush really is a nice, pinky neutral color and overall I am very pleased with the shade. I was definitely expecting more product for $18 since the tube itself is pretty small and I'm not sure how long it will last. The Glossier site definitely stresses how buildable the product is because you can't really tell the difference between your normal lip color and the actual product with only one or two swipes. I blend my Generation G with my favorite Burt's Bees chapstick, which makes application easier and seems to hold the pigment better. 

If you're interested in trying out a Generation G for yourself, definitely pick one of the darker or more vibrant colors. Neutral shades such as Like, Leo or Cake will barely register. It achieves a certain matte/natural finish as advertised, but definitely doesn't glide on as silkily as the site claims. Overall, I would have appreciated a more pigmented product that requires less layering. 

Still a little unsure about trying out a Glossier product? Use this code for 10% off your first order! Happy shopping :)

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Brands to Know: Glossier

Summer days are all about natural beauty and showing some skin. Especially with the intense humidity in Chicago, wearing foundation or heavy make-up is not exactly ideal when power walking to work under the hot sun. Enter Glossier, a beauty brand inspired by girls in real life. Their products are easy to use and meant to show off women's natural and unique beauty.

Here are some of their products that I have been loving:

Balm DotCom

Balm Dotcom is hydrating and smooth, and the best part is that it comes in different flavors as well as shades. If you're looking for a pop of color on your lips, try cherry balm dotcom! Just swipe it on, and you are ready to go.

Haloscope

I like this highlighter because it isn't too shiny. Instead, it's glossy so it gives your skin a refreshed look. Especially because we're constantly under the sun, make-up that is too shimmery tends to look exaggerated. So opt for something that's more dewy!

Boy Brow

Boy Brow is easy to use, especially at 7 am when you're in a rush to get ready for work! It makes your eyebrows look full and bushy, so you can skip the pencil and snooze for 5 extra minutes.

Still a little unsure about trying out a Glossier product? Use this code for 10% off your first order! Happy shopping :)

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