The Best of Glossier Cloud Paints

Glossier Haze Cloud Paint

Glossier Cloud Paint ($18.00 for 0.33 oz.) is supposed to have a “pillowy, gel-cream” texture that is “seamless, sheer, and buildable” that is designed to be applied with fingertips to the cheeks for a “healthy, flushed-from-within-glow.” Their strength is in their airy, gel-like texture that’s ultra-lightweight but more substantial than a runnier, watery cheek color, so I felt like it was a bit easier to spread the color onto my cheek area and get an even application of color early on. They were easy to work with on bare skin, and the texture worked well without any makeup as it sat naturally on the skin and let my natural skin texture and finish come through.

They worked fairly well over foundation but creamier foundations that don’t set as well did not seem to play as well with it as some (I had great results layering the formula over Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea but less stellar results over ColourPop’s No Filter Foundation). I liked application with fingertips or a stippling brush, but I tend to prefer fingertip application as it seems to allow me to cover a greater area with less possibility of disturbing my base products, though for blending more dried down color, a brush is better.

The coverage was as described–sheer and buildable–but they’re going to be best suited for someone who prefers the look of a cheek stain over more opaque or pigmented color. They absolutely had a natural finish; they did not feel tacky after application, but they never looked flat or matte to me. They’re buildable with the respect of getting slightly more coverage and a deeper, less watercolor-esque application with two to three layers. I preferred to build up in layers for best improvement in coverage as applying more seemed to end up with product across a larger area than more intense coverage. The blushes lasted between seven and nine hours on me.

I didn’t love the packaging, because I felt like too often a small squeeze pushed out more product than necessary and often seemed to squeeze a little more out even after I had released pressure.