If you’ve ever walked into a Sephora bare-faced, you’ve probably had the experience of feeling (and look) bewildered and lost in a sea of foundations. Even the greatest of makeup pros can be flustered by the massive, glistening displays of Too Faced and Dior.
The Glossier pop-up is not that experience. I walked into their inaugural U.S. pop-up shop on a Saturday night, immediately drawn to the sleek white surfaces, sultry burning candles, mirrored walls etched with a message to “Make Dallas Glossier,” and a retro-chic furnished entryway — ideal for the avid Instagrammer. Black-and-white products were arranged sparingly atop the equally minimalistic tables, offering samples of each Glossier product in every shade, with mirrors, cotton swabs, and makeup wipes at your disposal.
I immediately dove towards a cosmetics station, bypassing the skincare products as I snatched onto the “Skin Tint” — something I’d been dying to try since its release. One of the Glossier “showroom editors” sporting a millennial-pink jumpsuit clearly noted my euphoria and quickly offered to help me test out products.
After evaluating my complexion, she started with the “Perfecting Skin Tint“($26). Noting that my pale skin still contained a large color range, she opted for the shade “Dark,” which matched flawlessly, and offered tips on other skincare products as she expertly blended the the tint on my face and nick. This product is by no means full coverage — Glossier supports the whole “no makeup makeup” concept after all — but it does even out your skin tone and give your face a smooth, dewey finish.
Next up, the “Wowder” ($22) in the shade “Light.” I was skeptical, as I currently own a more expensive setting and mattifying powder which does the job, but for anyone with oily or combination skin like mine, this powder is a must-have. It instantly rid my skin of excess shine and blurred imperfections like a real-life Instagram filter. I honestly don’t see myself returning to the higher-end powder in the near future.
Following a quasi-religious experience with my new favorite powder, we moved to the “Stretch Concealer“ ($18), which is the only Glossier product I tried that has received less than glowing reviews. The creme formula went on smoothly and blended well, but it may be as effective for those looking to cover acne scaring or current blemishes.
My mini-makeover got back on track with cult-favorite “Cloud Paint” ($18), a liquid blush that can double as a lip tint. Based on my undertones, the Glossier expert selected “Dusk” to add color to my complexion, gently patting a tiny amount creme (it went long way) into the apples of my cheeks and up my cheekbones. On my lips, she used “Haze,” a deep plum, and topped it off with another break-out star in the Glossier line, the atply named “Lip Gloss” ($14), which added just the right amount of shine.
“Haloscope” ($22) was up next. The highlighting stick comes in three versatile shades, opalescent “Moonstone,” sun-kissed “Topaz,” and a pearly “Quartz,” which was what we went with. My editor not only highlighted my cheekbones, down my nose, and on my cupid’s bow, but she also swiped the shimmery substance below my cheekbones, a trick she learned from a famed makeup artist.
Ah, “Boy Brow” ($16), how I love you. Combining two pinnacles of brow maintenance, “Boy Brow” volumizes the brows and keeps them in place. I already own two of these, and suggest you join the bandwagon too.
Though my makeup was finally complete, the Glossier experience was over yet. The employees at the pop-up quickly rang up my purchase on an iPad, delivering my new products in a large plastic bag, custom labeled with my name and a heart. But a trip to this limited-time spot isn’t fully complete without a mirror selfie in the back room, or an Instagram from the asymmetrical couches.
Drop in to Glossier at 3010 N. Henderson Avenue any time between 10am – 7pm through tomorrow. Soak in the perfectly curated aesthetic, and treat yourself to a couple new products — an optimal escape for this gloomy, doesn’t-feel-like-winter-at-all November week.
