Advertisement

'I Tried Glossier's Brand New Cleanser – and It Made My Skin Feel Amazing'

Between the shiny, millennial-centric brands delivering fresh drops through your letterbox, the more established, cult buys and the indie outfits selling a fine line in 'natural and organic' products, the beauty landscape has never felt more cluttered.

To help you to navigate this brave new world of retinol, AHAs, jade rollers and double cleansing, WH beauty editor, Perdita Nouril, is here to try and test the new drops that are making their way into her (very full) bathroom, via her new column, Beauty Dispatch.

Here, she'll share the freshly released heroes that she loves: ready to let you know where to spend your skin and hair care cash. This time around it's Glossier Cleanser Concentrate.


It's the digitally native beauty brand that has built a cult following since it launched in 2017, and it's pretty fair to say, you'd had to have been living on Mars or under a rock not to be au fait with Glossier.

Even if you don't own one of their products, you'd be hard pushed to not come across an IG selfie whereby a glowing complexion reflects back at you, along with a caption that professes: 'Glossier take my money'. Yep, there is a big old community that lives for the brand's millennial pink bubblewrap bags, zeitgeisty design, and functional beauty buys, and I'm definitely a fully-fledged member.

So when the brand revealed they were launching a new cleanser, I had to give it a go. Now, there is already a really brilliant cleanser that sits in the Glossier range. Jelly Cleanser is a big hit because it's super gentle, highly moisturising, and doesn't strip skin to within an inch of its life. It's also a steal at only £8.

However, because it's so gentle, I often found it wasn't the best at removing heavy make-up. So I tended to stick with it in the summer months, whereby it worked admirably enough to remove my SPF and some concealer at the end of each day.

So what's the deal with their latest cleansing drop? Well, the pull of the Glossier Cleanser Concentrate is that not only is it billed as giving a deep down thorough cleanse (aka, removing all make-up, sweat, and pollution) but it's also brimming with skin-loving acids, that offer a mild exfoliating effect. This means it helps to shift dead cells on the skin's surface that absorb (rather than reflect) light and effectively rob your complexion of its glow.

A cleanser that ups your glow game sounds great in principle, right? But does it actually work?

What is the Glossier Cleanser Concentrate?

Before we get into my review, here's the lowdown on the ingredients in the cleanser and how they work.

  • Grapes: The antioxidant-rich superfood is served two ways in Cleanser Concentrate. Grape Ferment and Grape Juice Extract exfoliate and brighten the look of skin.

  • Amino Acid Surfactants: A naturally derived substitute for sulfates, they give the formula its silky, soft lather (think frothed milk on top of a latte) that doesn’t strip the skin of too much moisture. They also help water mix with dirt and oil on the skin for a really effective cleanse.

  • AHA Blend: Lactic Acid and Malic Acid (a duo of exfoliators known for being friendly to sensitive skin types), that work to clear away dead skin so it healthy new cells are more visible.

  • Calendula + Chamomile: These two soothing flower extracts work their antioxidant-packed magic against free radicals (aka pollution, UV rays) and help maintain a delicate balance of moisture so skin is never left dry or tight.

  • Passion Fruit Extract: Brimming vitamins A and C, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids to help moisturise and nourish skin so it stays baby soft.

Is Glossier Cleanser Concentrate any good?

Yes. If you looking for a cleanser with a bit of added oomph then this product has it in spades. Acids in cleansers are a great way to try AHAs if you're new to them because they're not left on the skin for too long, meaning there is little risk of irritation.

These ingredients also make it a winner for skin types that are oily, acne-prone, or congested, because they help to clarify pores and stem the flow of sebum. Equally, skin that suffers with dullness will also reap the benefits of this cleanser because of its brightening abilities.

Glossier Cleanser Concentrate: The Verdict

I used the Glossier Cleanser Concerntrate for two weeks and I have to say I'm impressed. Firstly, a little of this product goes a long way, (which is great considering it costs 18 quid) and I only needed one pump mixed with water to make sure I got an even spead. The rich lather felt luxurious to massage in and I could feel it gently dissolving my make-up, which is always hugely satisfying.

I made sure I massaged it in for a good minute and half to ensure the acids had enough contact with my skin (this is important if you want to see results as a quick rub and go won't suffice with this type of product). Afterwards, my skin felt like it was on the right side of clean, i.e no feelings of tightness, and I didn't have that tell-tale shine which is sign your skin has been stripped.

I don't have majorly congested skin but I'm always on a quest for a glowing complexion and I do think this helped to banish dullness. Granted it won't do this alone, but used alongside my other acids and creams (Sunday Riley Good Geness & Filorga Time Filler Night) it slotted into my routine nicely. I'll certainly be sticking with it.


Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER

You Might Also Like