Glossier
Glossier was founded in 2014 by Emily Weiss, who grew the brand out of her beauty blog Into The Gloss. The brand became a direct-to-consumer darling valued at $1.8 billion at its peak, known for its minimalist aesthetic and 'skin-first' philosophy. Glossier's lip products include Balm Dotcom (a universal balm), lip glosses, and lip tints. While the brand markets itself as a modern, clean-adjacent beauty brand, its formulas include petroleum-derived ingredients, synthetic fragrances, and conventional preservatives. Glossier represents a new generation of beauty brands that use millennial-friendly branding to cultivate an aura of ingredient consciousness that may not fully match the actual formulations.
Products Analyzed
Flagged Ingredients Found
Who Owns Glossier?
PE / VC BackedParent Company
Glossier, Inc.
Parent Industry
Beauty & Skincare
Glossier was founded by Emily Weiss in 2014 and has raised over $260 million in venture capital funding. The company was valued at $1.8 billion at its peak. While founder-started, its significant VC backing places it in the PE/VC-backed category.
Corporate ownership does not automatically mean a product is unsafe. It means ingredient and sourcing decisions are influenced by a parent company whose primary business is beauty & skincare. Consumers deserve to know who profits from their purchases.
Products by Glossier
Glossier Generation G
Glossier
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Organic Lip Balm
Glossier Ultralip
Glossier
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Organic Lip Balm
Glossier Glassy High Shine Lip Gloss
Glossier
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Organic Lip Balm
Glossier Balm Dotcom (Original)
Glossier
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Organic Lip Balm
Glossier Cherry Balm Dotcom
Glossier
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Organic Lip Balm
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Flagged Ingredients in Glossier Products
We found 8 different ingredients of concern across Glossier's product line. Each one links to a full safety analysis with details on health risks, regulatory status, and which other brands use the same ingredient.
Petroleum / Petrolatum
A semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum refining. Widely used as a moisture barrier in lip balms, lotions, and ointments. When inadequately refined, it can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to cancer.
Artificial Colors
Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors. Many are contaminated with heavy metals and have been linked to behavioral issues, allergies, and potential carcinogenicity.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)
A family of petroleum-derived compounds used as emulsifiers, thickeners, solvents, and penetration enhancers. PEGs themselves are relatively low-toxicity, but they are frequently contaminated with ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) and 1,4-dioxane.
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
A synthetic antioxidant closely related to BHA, used to prevent oxidation in cosmetics and food. Less studied than BHA but shares some endocrine disruption concerns.
Dimethicone
A silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetics and skincare for its smoothing, water-repellent properties. Not toxic in itself, but creates a synthetic barrier that can trap impurities, clog pores, and is not biodegradable.
Phenoxyethanol
A glycol ether used as a preservative in cosmetics, often marketed as a 'safer' alternative to parabens. At regulated concentrations (up to 1%), it is generally well tolerated, but higher concentrations can cause irritation and are toxic to infants.
Lanolin
A natural waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to waterproof their wool. Lanolin is an excellent emollient used in lip balms, nipple creams, and moisturizers, but it is a common allergen and may contain pesticide residues from sheep dipping.
Polybutene
A synthetic polymer derived from petroleum, used as a thickener, binder, and viscosity-increasing agent in lip glosses, lipsticks, and other cosmetics. Polybutene has low direct toxicity but is a petroleum-derived synthetic with environmental persistence concerns.
