It started as a footnote on a beauty blog. Into The Gloss readers kept asking for a perfect lip balm — so Emily Weiss decided to make it.
The real genius? Packaging Vaseline-level utility in a cool, minimalist tube you’d actually want to pull out on the subway. That tiny shift built Glossier.
A $16 lip balm-slash-skin-salve. The claim was universal utility — lips, cuticles, dry patches. I was skeptical. A glorified petroleum jelly?
The Tube
Squeezes out a perfect, tiny bead — no messy fingers.
The Flavors
Wild Fig smells like a synthetic candle, but the original is pure nostalgia.
The Sheen
Gives a glassy, wet look — not a waxy matte finish.
Photo: Tato Lopez / Unsplash
It’s basically fancy Vaseline. The base is petroleum jelly and beeswax — they seal moisture in, but don’t add any.
- Petroleum Jelly: Occlusive barrier that locks existing moisture in
- Beeswax: Adds body and a thicker texture
- Lanolin: Emollient that softens and smooths
- Castor Seed Oil: Provides that glossy, shiny finish
Photo: Kornchanok Chanwaro / Unsplash
Texture is thick — like softened candle wax. It sits on top of your lips. You feel it. Absorbs? It doesn’t. It’s a sealant.
After two weeks, I used it more on my cuticles than my lips. The shine is undeniable, but it doesn’t heal chronically chapped lips — it just coats them.
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
My lips were shinier but not fundamentally softer. It’s the best glossy top coat for pre-moisturized lips. For healing, look elsewhere.
Photo: Andres Herrera / Unsplash
It’s a cultural icon, not a skincare miracle. I keep one in every bag — but I use a treatment balm first.