Glossier

History

Emily Weiss began her career in the fashion industry and gained recognition through her blog Into the Gloss while working at Vogue. She founded Glossier in 2014 and initially launched four products: an all-purpose balm, a facial mist, a sheer skin tint, and a moisturizer. The company later expanded its product line to include serums, masks, shower gels, body lotions, fragrances, lip balms, and lipsticks.

Glossier raised $2 million in seed funding from Forerunner Ventures and later raised an additional $150 million in 2018 and 2019, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. In 2018, Glossier opened its first permanent in-person retail location in New York. In 2019, Glossier introduced a clothing and accessories line called GlossiWEAR, with limited edition items. A more colorful line of cosmetics called Glossier Play launched in 2019, but was discontinued a year later.

Emily Weiss stepped down as CEO in May 2022 but remained on the board as executive chairwoman. Kyle Leahy, the former chief commercial officer, became CEO, and as of October 2025, Colin Walsh is CEO.

In February 2026, Glossier laid off approximately 54 employees, representing about one-third of its workforce, as part of a strategic reset under new leadership to improve profitability. These cuts aimed to streamline operations and refocus the brand on its core business, following previous major restructuring efforts in 2022 and 2020.

The company, once valued at over $1 billion, has transitioned from a direct-to-consumer-only model to a more hybrid, wholesale-friendly approach.