Product Review: Glossier Generation G Lipstick

My introduction to the brand Glossier came much later than it should have. In fact, in prepping for this review, I was shocked to learn that the brand was founded in 2010 (that’s about 2 years earlier than I would have guessed). My first experiences with the brand date around 2014 or 15. For a long time, the only product I ever tried from them was the Milky Jelly Cleanser, which may go down in history as my most repurchased skincare item ever. Certainly over the last two years, though, and with the my best friend and soul sister also becoming very much a Glossier devotee, my love for the brand has expanded and strengthened. You would think because lipstick is my favorite piece of makeup to experiment with, that their Generation G lipstick would be one of the first products to have made it into my cart. But for whatever reason, it was only after my Glossier fan sister declared it her new go-to formula and generously gave me one for my birthday that I tried it.

Now, I'm hooked.

The Generation G lipstick is one that truly delivers what it promises in its product claims—a matte, "just blotted lipstick effect without the blot". This matte is truly matte to my eye but not at all drying. It is not emollient or creamy, but I find that it makes my lips look and feel really soft . While at first it seems sheer, the Generation G can be built up surprisingly far for a fuller, richer color. Can it ever be built up to be as dark or opaque as a matte longwear liquid lipstick type of formula? No. Is it a much more comfortable to wear, still mostly matte formula that is really beautiful on the lips? Yes.

This popsicle-stain quality makes this a perfect lipstick for the carefree summer days coming up. The slanted tip and buildable formula is great for mirrorless, hassle-free application ,and it provides the prettiest flush of color to the lips that can easily be layered for more intensity. Most surprisingly to me, for as sheer as they start out and as soft as they feel in texture, these colors stick around, even through your daily dose of eating and drinking, and it wears evenly when fading does start to occur.

I have the color Jam, which is the purple-grape berry tone. This shade is really good at being able to be worn both as a sultry flush or full-on for a more formal lip. Unconventional as this may be, I love berry lipsticks in the Spring and Summer as, especially with the stain-like coverage and finish of the Generation G, they offer me a livelier alternative to the more dramatic reds that I go for in the cooler months. I also think the smell of these lipsticks (a combination of the rosewater and lychee fruit) is nice. It is fresh scent that adds just a touch of extra prettiness to the application experience. To me, it does not translate into a taste and is very light, so even if you usually don't care for scents in your products, this one will at least fade quickly.

Other colors of the Generation G I have seen in person and swatched are Like (my Glossier-loving sister’s one of choice) and Crush. Like is a beautiful neutral light pink with no hint of beige but that is very natural looking and just enhances whatever liptone you may have with a pinker twinge. Crush is a bit of a chameleon color that vacillates between a watermelon pink and a sheer red. Similar to Jam, Crush is s a slightly bolder color and has the same stain like effect with relative building capability. I gave this one to my Mom for Mother’s Day, as she was curious to try the formula and looks great in brighter, fruit punch-esque color lipsticks. She also loves it.

So if you are like me and are late to the Glossier party or just the Generation G lipsticks, I highly recommend you give them a try. Or if you are market for any new makeup or skincare item, all products I've used from Glossier so far are really amazing and worthy of their fame. For my next purchase,, I am thinking of trying the Lidstar, their cream eyeshadow, which would make a great companion to the Generation G.