I Tried Glossier's Futuredew—And I Have Thoughts

Whenever Glossier hints at a new product, the ears of every beauty editor in the industry perk up. It's not that all of us use every product, or even write about every launch, but Glossier is one of those brands that will always stir up excitement. And so when I found myself at Glossier HQ—swatching and smoothing their newest formula, I took notes. "Futuredew was originally developed as a facial oil, something our community had been asking us for," Kym Davis, the head of product development told me. "We wanted to be able to bottle up 'Glossier skin,'" Emily Weiss, the brand's founder and CEO, added. 

We all know the kind of skin she's talking about. We've seen the sun-drenched, shiny, practically glazed skin emblazoned across the brand's Instagram (I'd go so far as to say Glossier has a lot to do with the industry's movement towards a "skin first" ethos in the last few years). "After working on several iterations, we realized that we weren’t able to make the glowy effect from a traditional oil last on the skin the way that we wanted to. By switching to an oil-in-water emulsion, we were able to create an oil-serum hybrid with a light-yet-rich texture, and a new kind of 'aesthetic skincare' that delivers the benefits of skincare with the instant payoff of a makeup product," Davis explains.

So, yes, I'm not immune to coveting that ever-elusive glow. And, if this product delivers, I'd shout it from the rooftops. To get a better idea of the results, I enlisted myself (duh) and two other Byrdie editors to give the formula a try. Below, find our honest review of Glossier's Futuredew ($24), as well as every single thing you need to know about its ingredients, formula, application, and results.

About My Skin: Fair, combination skin

While we all want our skin to look glowy, even, clear, and plump, the means by which we get there is entirely different. My skin, while mostly unproblematic, has a few characteristics that can pose a challenge. It's combination (meaning I don't break out often but have consistent congestion along my nose and chin), as well as fair and damaged from years of sun-worshipping. 

Daily, I use a cleansing oil to melt away dirt or makeup, apply an exfoliating toner to balance and smooth, layer on a whole host of serums depending on the day (vitamin C for protection and antioxidants, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and sometimes retinol), and top it all off with a moisturizer and facial oil to seal it all in.

That's where Futuredew comes in—I use it to replace my usual facial oil, but only in the places I want shine. That means everywhere I'd apply traditional highlighter including cheekbones, brow bones, and wherever else the light hits (forehead, nose, what have you).

Glossier Futuredew $24.00

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Ingredients: Lots of oils

The ingredients include a lot of good stuff for me, but the effect it may have on your specific skin depends entirely on your skin type. Evodia rutaecarpa extract is a fruit extract meant to visibly increase brightness, which gets the thumbs up from me (as this product plumps you up immediately and then brightens your skin over time, and the same goes for sugarcane squalane, which is a lightweight and non-comedogenic oil that's great for when others tend to break you out. Then there's a mix of jojoba, grape seed, evening Primrose, and rosehip oils, among others. For dryer skin types, the mix of tons of oils including olive, jojoba, and castor, will be a thirst-quenching dose of moisture. But, if you're more prone to breakouts, I'd test it out a bit before committing to incorporating it into your daily routine.

The Feel: Donut glaze

The very first thing I noticed about the formula was its texture. The brand is right in that it's a true hybrid—not an oil, not a serum, but really more of a melted jelly or glaze with light-reflecting minerals. It's thicker than an oil or serum would be, a little tacky (that's where the dew comes from), and Glossier pink in color. It's unscented, which is a definite plus for me.

The Results: Dew that doesn't dry down

I rubbed one pump of the formula between my fingertips and pressed it into my skin (slightly damp, as instructed by Weiss). Believe me, it does glow. It left a really nice sheen across my face, so I tapped on a bit more along the high-points (cheekbones, brow brone, etc). It's lightweight despite it's glaze-y feel, doesn't dry down, but also doesn't feel sticky or gooey. My skin looked great. After a few uses, I think I'll use this product as a way to top off my skin when I don't feel like wearing makeup, but also didn't want to look sallow or tired. Or, as a primer to add some glow below my foundation.

The Value: A little goes a long way

Glossier consistently launches products at accessible price points, and this one is no different. If you're using it as a facial oil, the value is clear (many others are tagged at $70 and up). If you're using it as a primer or a highlighter, it's still a great price. And, because of the texture and finish, it lasts forever. A little goes a very long way.

Other Editors' Thoughts: They're into it

Lindsey Metrus, senior editor: "Face oil isn't really my thing. I'm more of a serum-layering kind of gal and finish with a barrier-repairing moisturizer to seal in all the hydration and keep redness at bay. Needless to say, I was a bit wary of trying Glossier's new oil-serum, nervous a mix of dense oils like olive, grape seed, and castor would serve as a pore-clogging cocktail. Though, after hearing from Hallie that the oil-serum is being marketed as "Glossier skin in a bottle" (and doing my best to carry out my beauty editor testing duty) I gave it a whirl.

"But here's the thing: Knowing my skin is reactive, I opted out of applying it all over clean skin and decided to use it in place of my favorite Bodyography Inner Glow Stick. To get a subtle glow, I rubbed the product between my fingers before tapping it on the high points of my cheeks and down the bridge of my nose post-foundation. I was surprised by the texture—it's more of a creamy glaze than an oil, but this actually made for a better highlight-replacement than the consistency I'd imagined. The result was sheer luminescence that lasted all day long. It's certainly not as apparent as a classic highlighting product, but for those who like just a hint of shine, it's the perfect tool."

Star Donaldson, associate social media editor: "The Futuredew glow is real! It's kind of thick and has more of a moisturizer-type texture than of a serum or oil. It also comes out pink, which I was a bit apprehensive (I already have pinky undertones), but after applying it, I looked like I had just come from the beach. Then, I walked into the sunlight and the full effect came through. I had that dreamy, glowy look that only comes from freshly-applied serums—until now. My boyfriend also mentioned I looked like I was going to an awards show, which works for me. In the future, I will likely use it more as a highlighter on the high points on my face rather than all over for a more subdued look. But, if I really want to glow up, I'll definitely be reaching for this."

Our Verdict:

We're keeping it in the cabinet for future use and when we really want to glow. I'd call it more of an aesthetic product than one just solely for the purpose of skincare—but it does that too. It's like a moisturizing highlighter, but without the shimmer.