Want to feel old? Glossier Universal Pro Retinol, the first-ever Glossier retinol, is finally here. That’s right, the millennial brand known for breezy, effortless makeup and preternaturally glowing skin is making the leap over to heavy-duty actives—and to be honest, I was a little skeptical when I heard the news. 

It’s not that I don’t love Glossier—many of the brand’s products have priority spots on my vanity—but as someone with serious adult acne, a brand known for barely there makeup isn’t usually my first choice for skin care (unless it’s the Milky Jelly cleanser; that shit absolutely slaps). 

That being said, Glossier has a hold on me, and even if I know in my heart that one of its products just isn’t right for me, I get sucked in by the pretty pink packaging and glowing models, and have to give it a try. That’s why I’m flat-out delighted to report that this time, I was wrong—and the new Glossier Retinol is a slam dunk. 

As the name suggests, Glossier wanted to create a retinol that would work for pretty much anyone, no matter their skin type or current experience level with retinol. The formula uses 0.5% retinyl sunflowerate, which is a mixture of pure retinol with sunflower-seed-derived fatty acids. This gives you the traditional benefits of a retinol—smoothing lines, fading dark spots, cutting down on blemishes, improving overall skin tone and texture—but is a newer innovation that is less irritating than what you may be used to. The formula also includes stevia extract, which adds an extra punch of skin-smoothing benefits, as well as plant-based humectants like glycerine and mondo grass root to lock in moisture and, most important, keep that notorious “retinol burn” at bay. 

The first thing that struck me about the Glossier Universal Pro Retinol was the texture. It’s almost a thicker balm, and feels as hydrating as a heavy-duty moisturizer on the skin—that’s those humectants at work. I went ahead and added a moisturizer on top, but if your skin tends to be extremely oily, you could probably get away with skipping one. 

I have a rocky history with retinol. I’ve tried my fair share of prescription and over-the-counter formulas, and almost every time I’m left with a red, flaky mess. However, I’ve been using Glossier Universal Pro Retinol twice a week—the brand recommends starting once a week and building up to nightly use if you can tolerate it—and I haven’t had a single flake, patch of redness, or random flare-up. 

In fact, my skin has looked great. With three weeks under my belt, I haven’t been using it nearly long enough to see serious results when it comes to acne and pigmentation, which usually kicks in anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks of use. However, it did flatten a red, inflamed pimple overnight. And although I’m currently dealing with my usual crop of zits, my skin generally looks healthier since I started incorporating the retinol into my routine; it’s overall glowing, dewy, and plump. It’s still my skin, just a lot better.

In fact, I might go as far as to say that it’s Glossier-model skin in a bottle, and for just $35, it can be yours too.

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty writer at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.

I’m not a heavy bronzer user but when when I have tried my hand at using it for sculpting, I’m often left with brown splotches all over. So I was curious if the Solar Paint could change my mind since Glossier did, after all, make its name on creating makeup that looks natural while being  easy to apply. I chose the shade Heat, which is a deep cinnamon that has just the faintest shimmer. After dabbing the bronzer along my cheekbones, forehead, and jawline with the doe foot applicator (game changer) I gently patted it in. In maybe 10 seconds, I was done. And to my surprise, I didn’t look like a middle-school art project. My cheeks seemed to radiate and my forehead suddenly had a soft tan. While the formula delivers on buildable coverage, it does dry down quickly so you’ll want to make sure you blend right away to get the most seamless finish. 

Bella Cacciatore, beauty writer

I’ve been wanting Glossier to create a bronzer version of its Cloud Paint formula for years, and I’m so glad they did. Solar Paint has the same fluffy gel texture as her blush counterpart, that’s somehow both creamy and weighless, adding no extra texture to my skin. Where the bronzer differs is a doe-foot applicator which is a welcome addition for targeted bronzing, and some shimmer. The shimmer scared me when swatched on my hand, but I actually love how it looks on my face—super-subtle and luminous, not glittery. I can comfortably use the lightest shade, Flare  or Ray, what I’m wearing in this photo for something a little deeper. Thankfully, it lives up to the hype in my head, and I’ll be using it all summer and beyond.

Janae Mckenzie, editorial intern

I tested the Solar Paint in Volt. The bronzer creme applies pretty easily with your fingers, which makes it a good product to take on the go. Volt is the deepest shade available in a “deep, red bronze with copper pearl for deep-rich skin tones.” It blends really well into my skin, provided I stick to the recommended few dots of product. I’m used to a powder bronzer, so this was a welcome change in terms of texture. As for how it showed on my skin, it looked less like a bronzer and more like a concealer with the teeniest bit of shine. I was disappointed to find it didn’t change much—until I stepped into the sun. That’s when I noticed the glow. So: this bronzer is great for a beach day or any time you’ll be outside for a while. Maybe not so great for office days or places with harsh artificial lighting.

Looking for more reviews of the latest Glossier drops along with cult-faves? Check out our review of the Ultralip.

Michella Oré is the beauty assistant at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @michellaor.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Glamour readers are buzzing about this product, so I was obviously here for a Glossier Cloud Paint review. The formula is spectacular and makes your skin glow in all the right ways. The cream-to-gel texture allows the product to apply smoothly with a streak-free look. And the biggest plus is how pigmented the colors are, so the formula holds super well—only a tiny drop/pea size is needed for both cheeks, and you can apply as needed to get more of a vibrant look. Even with a nice and natural finish, the product won’t come off like most powder-based blushes. My three favorites are Haze, Storm, and Eve (dark rosy shades), and the best part is you can mix and match. Although a little goes a long way since it’s so pigmented, the color options might not be for everyone. As someone with brown/milk chocolate skin, Dusk, Dawn, Puff, and Beam felt too light and pale on my skin tone. But overall, the vibe could be described as “makeup for girls who don’t feel they need makeup.”

Shanna Shipin, commerce editor

As someone with an incredibly minimalist makeup routine, I was afraid to use blush for the longest time…but then Cloud Paint reared its heavenly head. The creamy formula blends like a dream and is seriously buildable. You can dab the smallest bit to each cheek for a natural-looking flush, or you can add a few drops if you’re actually not going for Glossier’s signature no-makeup look. The range of shades is so pretty, and I was surprised by just how many hues I liked on my skin. (The only ones I’d skip are Puff and Eve—both pigments show up a bit too dramatic for my usual look.) My favorite has to be Dusk, which can actually be used as a bronzer—I use it on my cheeks, across my nose, and on my eyelids to give my face a convincing sun-kissed glow (despite having been cooped up in my house like a vampire this past year). After applying Dusk, I like to pop a more pigmented color over my cheeks; for something moody, I love Haze (a deep berry), for something cheery, I opt for Beam (a bright peach), and I love the juicy new color Dawn, which reminds me of mangoes. But really, all Cloud Paint colors are truly yum.

Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor

I’m obsessed with cool berry shades on my fair (pinkish undertoned) skin, and no one makes them better than Glossier. Haze gives off a gorgeous, soft berry flush that looks just as perfectly at home with my prairie dresses as it does my sweats on Zoom. A little goes a long way—I like to dab a few drops on with my fingertips then use a Beautyblender to sheer the color out. I dot the color left over on my eyes and lips to tie the whole look together. Elsewhere I was surprised by how much I loved Spark (never would have imagined a red blush would look good on me!), while Puff and Beam also gave a really pretty, natural-looking pop of color. Storm and Eve were slightly too dark for me, but I’d love them as a lip tint.  

Looking for more incredible product recommendations? Check out all 265 winners from the 2021 Glamour Beauty Awards. 

Erin Parker is a commerce writer at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @erinhaveadream.

Between Ella Emhoff’s coat and Bernie Sanders’s mittens, there was no shortage of memorable ’fits at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, but the most stylish person there was, duh, Michelle Obama. And while her maroon Sergio Hudson ensemble might have been eye-catching, what about her actual eyes? What about her makeup on the day, hmm? Well, it was Fenty Beauty. Naturally. Plus a little Pat McGrath and Glossier, which we can only imagine she shares with daughters Sasha and Malia.

Obama’s makeup artist, Carl Ray, shared all the details with Elle, including a step-by-step guide to achieving the look yourself, if you dare. First, start with Nars Creamy Concealer and Fenty Matchstix Contour, then set with Laura Mercier’s translucent powder. When your skin is perfectly matte but dewy, define your brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Dip Brow Gel, Brow Definer, and Clear Brow Gel. Then it’s time to move onto the eyes.

“I wanted her to have a powerful beauty look that would need to be achieved by playing up the top half of her face…since her whole face wouldn’t be visible, the eyes and lashes would be the star of this particular look,” Ray told Elle of beauty in the age of mask wearing. Since it looks like we’ll have to stay masked for the rest of the year, expect the dramatic eye to stick around. 

In this case, the perfect daytime smoky eye was achieved with the Taupe to Black shades from the Viseart 01 Eyeshadow Palette, plus a little Pat McGrath Eyedols Eye Shadow in Divine Mink in “the center of the lid.” And because only one eyeliner simply would not do for the occasion, he also added both Pat McGrath Labs’s Permagel Eyeliner in Xtreme Black and Fenty Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner.

For the final touches, Ray used Glossier Lash Slick mascara and Lilly Lashes. Perfection.

And if you’re coveting every aspect of the former FLOTUS’s glam, her hairstylist, Yene Damtew, revealed a few secrets too. “I keep my celebrity clients’ information confidential, so I won’t share specifics [on Michelle Obama].⁣⁣ However, I do have this video that shows how I achieve my signature bouncy curls,” she captioned an Instagram video showing her heat technique.

Taking notes for next time we get invited to an inauguration. Listen, it could happen!