It has been a long time since I have tried a new Glossier launch. The last was their sunscreen years back. I caved after seeing all the raving reviews for their new After Baume cream. This is a super heavy duty moisturizer. I love the amount of barrier products coming out right now on the market compared to the number of barrier destroying ones. Five years ago I never ever would have used a cream this heavy on my skin, but with increased sensitivity due to masking combined with mild rosacea and peri-menopause--I'm really dry at times right now. So I saw a bunch of people talking about how nice and heavy this moisturizer was so I figured I would try it. At $28 it's not a cream that will break the bank for me. Details per Glossier:
What it is: A moisture barrier recovery cream for very dry and/or sensitive skin, especially after exposure to cold weather, harsh sun, mask wearing, acne treatments, over-exuberant exfoliation, and more.
WHY IT'S SPECIAL:
-
After skin is exposed to harsh environments, or if it’s sensitive on its own, it needs proper nourishment to bring it back from the brink. After Baume has been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™, is vegan, non-comedogenic, and formulated without fragrance, essential oils, dyes, or drying alcohols
-
The cocooning cream moisturizes for up to 24 hours, and gives you a lasting dewy finish. In a Clinical Corneometer Hydration Test (a way to measure the average hydration levels of the outer layers of skin), skin hydration increased 171% compared to baseline immediately after application, 157% after 12 hours, and 53% after 24 hours
-
Plant-based ingredients work in harmony to help skin bounce back, both literally and figuratively. Glycerin is a moisture magnet, Cupuaçu Butter seals it in, Babassu Oil and Linoleic Acid help reinforce the moisture barrier, and Post-Biotic Ferment and Green Microalgae Extract aid in replenishing essential nutrients
-
It’s our thickest, most occlusive moisturizer for daily use on very dry and/or sensitive skin, or as targeted care for persistently dry areas (like nose crevices, elbows, and knees). Since it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores, we also recommend it in combination with drying acne treatments
Sounds nice if you have dry skin right? The packaging is kinda fun too. It's a shallow aqua glass with a pink metal screw top. If you look at the texture of this cream it's thick, it's heavy. It's really more a barrier layer versus a typical moisturizer. It's got butters, oils and occlusives but it lacks some of the humectants typical moisturizers normally have minus glycerin. So it's best to use as a last step to seal it all in occlusive baume. It does have some moisturizing properties for me but it's really best over a moisturizer. I like it over a lighter moisturizer as that allows me to use my lighter moisturizer at night. Normally I can't use a lighter one at night as I'll be dry in the morning, but this helps just kind of make that moisturizer last longer--much like slugging. It's just slugging with a cream instead of Vaseline. So you can use little bits of this on dry areas (if you have patches or maybe dry cheeks) or you can use it all over. I've applied a thin layer and a thick layer, I like it both ways.
Do I think this has potential to be too heavy for combo to oily skin--yes. Does that mean I don't think you can use it if you have those skin types--nope. You might want to be careful and just use a smaller amount, thinner layers or not daily to avoid any congestion. You could also just apply it to dry areas. I think it's brilliant after irritation just like most barrier occlusive style products. Kind of think of it like Cicaplast Baume as well (Glossier is more creamy and more moisturizer feeling than Cicaplast) as an extra barrier healing product. It's a nice extra tool to have in your arsenal but it's not necessarily a moisturizer. It can function as a moisturizer for some but I really would apply it over some watery humectant layers first before you do that. This is unscented which is great for this type of product.
Glossier recommends you warm this up on your fingers and then massage it onto your skin. This actually reminds me a bit of La Mer the original cream. Very heavy and thick like that, same warm it up then apply method. La Mer has mineral oil and paraffin so it lasts a bit longer--like Vaseline as well. This won't be as occlusive nor as long lasting as those two, However the texture is much nicer and way less yucky feeling than Vaseline. So this is more than Cicaplast Baume but a hint less than the OG La Mer. It's thick, it's rich, it's actually not greasy just heavy feeling. I think those that don't like certain aspects of La Mer will love this one, it's cheaper for one and minus the paraffin/mineral oil. It also has no fragrance so that's a bonus versus La Mer, Glossier is a bit lighter in the oil feeling of the cream than La Mer so if you need that level from La Mer this might come up just a hint lighter for you.
I really enjoy it and would totally recommend it for dry skin or those who are sensitive and suffer from rosacea or eczema. Non sensitive skin can use this on days when they might have just screwed their barrier up for a few days for help with repair. I use this over a light moisturizer or I have used it in lieu of one but over many humectant layers like essences, serums and a gel cream. It does work both ways for me. It really lasts all night long but it's not one of those plumping kind of products. It helps reduce TEWL so it plumps from that but not from the ingredients in it necessarily. That's the best way for me to describe this product because it is really kind of different than many things on the market. Have you tried this one yet?
Key Ingredients
Cupuaçu Butter: A plant-based alternative to Lanolin that’s exceptionally effective at retaining moisture. It can support up to 440% its weight in water, is rich in Polyphenols to combat free radicals, and Fatty Acids to moisturize.
Babassu Oil: A non-comedogenic oil from the nut of the Babassu Palm that’s a moisturizing source of Vitamin E, Antioxidants, and Fatty Acids. It melts at body temperature for optimal absorption and minimal greasiness.
Post-Biotic Ferment: Our skin has a microbiome made up of tiny organisms—millions of good and bad bacteria coexist peacefully, but sometimes get out of balance. Post-biotics are made by fermenting skin-friendly probiotics, and help restore balance at a microscopic level.
Green Microalgae Extract: Green Algae is one of the oldest, most resilient plants on earth (the oldest lived about 1 billion years ago!). It’s full of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and other nutrients that help it survive in extreme conditions.
Linoleic Acid: Not an acid in the exfoliating sense, this Essential Fatty Acid is a building block of skin’s natural defenses (which keep water in, and the world out).
Ingredients
Water/Aqua/Eau, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethyl Linoleate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Arginine, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone.