Glossier has laid off more than 50 employees across various functions, representing around one-third of its total workforce, the company confirmed to The Business of Beauty on Wednesday. The news was originally reported in Puck.
In a statement, the line said the reorganisation was part of a fresh leadership chapter ushered in by new chief executive Colin Walsh, who joined the company from hair brand Ouai in Sep. 2025, replacing Kyle Leahy.
“There is no version of this decision that feels easy, because behind every role is a person who has helped build the company,” read the statement, adding employees were not being let go because of individual performance.
One of the beauty industry’s disruptive companies, Glossier soared to a $1.8 billion valuation in 2021 as it rode the crest of the direct-to-consumer wave. Its tongue-in-cheek products like the eyebrow pomade Boy Brow, $22, and perfume, You, $82, were catnip for cosmopolitan beauty shoppers.
While the brand remains popular, it has faced increased competition and ceded market share to new entrants. Glossier abandoned its DTC-only model when it entered Sephora in 2023, upon realising its direct-to-consumer model was no longer financially attainable.
In the statement, Glossier said it was being “reshaped” to improve agility and help it become a brand leader again. “This means smaller, more agile teams that can move with the speed of culture and allow investment where it drives the business most,” it said.
Glossier Needs More Than ‘You’ to Grow
The 11 year-old beauty brand has seen success with its fragrance franchise — which adds a new scent, Fleur, this month — but is focused on building multiple categories to broaden its appeal.v
