Initial Thoughts on Glossier Play

After weeks of vague clues and teasing, Glossier’s hotly-anticipated, much-hyped, mega-mysterious Glossier Play brand launched.

I have to say; I felt pretty smart when I saw that it was exactly what I had guessed, in a way.

With Glossier being minimal, no-makeup-makeup, I predicted Glossier Play to be more saturated makeup makeup. In a way, it is exactly this.

However, some things are really bothering me about this new sister brand and I wanted to share while it’s fresh in my mind.

I remain very biased until I try it, which I definitely plan to do and will update this review once I receive the products I ordered.

The 4 products + 2 tools in the Glossier Play lineup are nothing we haven’t seen before. I hope Glossier’s take on it is somehow unique and special, as so many things from them have been.

After all, I’d never used anything like Cloud Paint until Glossier.

Unfortunately, I see Glossier Play as Glossier’s take on various products that already exist, an unapologetic capitalization on their successes.

After building anticipation via smart marketing, complete with ominous clue dropping, I was disappointed to see borderline rip-offs of other brands’ already unique products.

I was dismayed to see that instead of filling the gaps in the beauty space, instead, Glossier just squeezed right alongside the others.

I thought they would consult the makeup artists who love and use their products, the people on the front lines, and create innovative formulas and products we’d never seen before.

Instead, Glossier created these.

Colorslide Technogel Eye Pencil

Billed as “not just another eye pencil,” I expected the Colorslide pencils in vivid on-trend neons. I was certain we’d see a fluorescent pink, an ultra tangerine and without a doubt, a super neon lime green. Not a one.

Compare to

Slide…glide, same thing. Urban Decay’s pencils are waterproof and come in way more colors. They’ve been around forever and if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Vinylic Lip High Shine Lip Lacquer

Glossier already has lip color in Generation G and shine in their Lipgloss, so they thought they’d combine forces with Vinylic? But why tho.

Compare to

Not only do both products clearly have the word vinyl in name, they even have similar shade ranges, both conveniently 6 shades too. Good lord.

Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate

Nightshine, a liquid highlighter, is puzzling to me. There are so many of these out there and people love the Glossier Haloscope for how different of a formula it is. Baby girl; what is you doing?

Compare to

Beyond Milk, there are similar products already on the market from Becca, CoverFX, Makeup Revolution, Benefit, and the list goes on and on.

Glitter Gelée

Though not the first rip-off, Glitter Gelée is certainly the most obvious “we’ve seen this before” product in the Glossier Play lineup.

Described as a glitter gel, Glitter Gelée is not safe for the lips and costs way more per gram than it’s clear inspiration, from indie brand, Lemonhead . Glossier’s version is $4.67 per gram compared to at $1.22 per gram.

Compare to

,
There are both direct shade duplicates and even similar names.
Glossier Play’s Phantasm to Lemonhead’s Phantom.

Hi. Are you kidding me?

Glossier has an eye pencil called Adult Swim.
Lemonhead has a Space Paste called Adult Film.

Glossier calls an eye pencil Pretty Penny.
Lemonhead has a Dirty Penny Space Paste.

The Blade and The Detailer

The 2 tools in the Glossier Play collection are nothing unique either.

The Blade is a sharpener for the Colorslide pencils and The Detailer is a silicone applicator for the Glitter Gelée. I do like the angled shape of The Detailer.

I actually already own similar tools to both. I don’t have much else to say about these because honestly, at this point, I’m just tired.

Ironic Sales

I’m not alone in my suspicions.
Both Urban Decay and Milk Makeup have marked only certain products down to half price, below their similar Glossier Play counterparts.

Milk Makeup Lip Vinyl, regularly $24, now $12
Milk Makeup Liquid Strobe, regularly $24, now $12
Milk Makeup Sharpener, regularly $4, now $3
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, regularly $20, now $12.60

Conclusion

Come on Glossier; you’re better than this.
Try harder. Do better. I was rooting for you.

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