Glossier and Starface Teamed Up for the Most Gen Z Collab Ever

You[r zits] look good.

If "what to get your favorite teen" gift guides are any indication, Starface has been cool. In October 2022, the brand's star-shaped pimple patches became the first accessory of their kind to grace the New York Fashion Week runway. Justin and Hailey Bieber are fans, as is Florence Pugh. And now? Starface is becoming even cooler. How, you may ask? How anyone—bar soap, lip balm, Olivia Rodrigo—becomes cooler: with a Glossier collab.

To mark Starface's first-ever collaboration with a fellow beauty and skincare brand (they've previously worked with the likes of Hello Kitty, SpongeBob, and Sesame Street), the company chose to revive Glossier’s original sticker sheets. The playful and nostalgic designs plucked from Glossier's past include the famous three-eyed smiley face, cherries, and side-eye emojis, to name but a few. Naturally, there are also Glossier-pink Hydro-Stars.

Available two ways—in a mirrored compact filled with 32 patches ($19) and a separate refill pack ($15)—the collaboration will be available to shop on starface.world and glossier.com beginning Tuesday, December 5.

So, how did this perfectly nostalgic yet zeitgeist-y collaboration come to be? We got all the answers from Starface's Chief Marketing Officer, Erika Priestley. Read on to patch things up.

The Inspiration

Back in 2019, acne care marketing was mostly focused on "before and after" results, with not-so-cutely packaged products sentenced to the back cupboard until directions called for another application. Then came Starface, a first-of-its-kind product that, while doing its blemish-fighting job, also made a fashion statement. With the new brand in the picture, both selfies and shelfies were improved. That yellow compact (perhaps even covered in Glossier stickers) looked very cute in a what's-in-my-beauty-bag flatlay.

"Over the years, Starface has continued to infuse fun into the category with many iterations of our beloved Hydro-Stars, from new colors and shapes to limited-edition collaborations with iconic and nostalgic characters," Priestley told Byrdie. "We have become one of the first and only skincare brands to drop products that are treated as true collector’s items (some of which are even listed on resale sites like Depop and eBay), a behavior that’s unheard of for acne products and more commonly seen with toys like Beanie Babies and Squishmallows."

Collectible.. displayable... hmm. Does that sound like another brand you know? Don't pretend some of you aren't still holding on to your original formula Balm Dotcom.

"The same can be said for Glossier’s community members, who have coveted the brand’s iconic sticker sheets since 2014," the CMO added. (Glossier stopped sending sticker sheets with each order for environmental reasons a few years ago). "We loved the idea of bringing back Glossier’s original designs as Starface pimple patches in a collection that’s highly cute and highly collectible; something we know both of our communities will get excited about."

The Formula

The new patches feature the same award-winning 100% hydrocolloid formula you know and love, all wrapped up in a Glossier-pink package. There's even a perfect little "You Look Good" mirror engraving on the inside of the compact.

"We collaborated seamlessly with the Glossier team on patch, compact, and packaging designs. It was a fun process to integrate Glossier branding with our compact and star patch shapes," added Priestley. "As with all Starface collabs, this collection was created using our bestselling and award-winning hydrocolloid formula that helps absorb fluid, reduce the appearance of inflammation, and shrink spots while looking cute."

How to Use Them

Before stickering, make sure your canvas is prepped and empty. Wash your face, pat it dry, and then apply your Starface patches to any spots in need of blemish-busting or accessorizing.

"Make sure you complete the rest of your routine (like moisturizer or SPF) after you’ve applied your patches," shared Priestley. "Since our patches are made with gentle, 100% hydrocolloid, they can also be worn as decorative accessories when you aren’t breaking out but still want to feel cute. We’re excited to see how our community mixes and matches these fun new designs."

Shop the Starface x Glossier patches at starface.world and glossier.com starting December 5.

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Read the original article on Byrdie.