Glitter is gold when it comes to your party look. We can’t get enough of shimmering dresses, shoes and jewelry, but we especially love some shine as part of a beauty look. All it takes is a pinch of glitter to take your look from ordinary to dazzling. There’s no need for complicated smoky eyes or fussy ombre lips.
As festive as sparkle may be, it’s something that intimidates many people. If you do it wrong, it can look like a glitter bomb exploded all over. Plus, those shimmering pots of color can remind us of the questionable beauty looks we wore to middle school dances that we’d rather not remember.
If the last time you used glitter makeup was when you were still wearing butterfly clips and fuzzy hair accessories, it’s time to add it back into your makeup bag. Not only are today’s glitter formulas easier to pull off, there are also so many different ways you can wear them. Add a sprinkling of glitter to your hair, nails or face. Be bold and play around with different shades and types.
Get inspired by checking out these 25 grown-up ways to pull off glitter makeup.
25 Easy Ways to Wear Glitter IRL
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Golden Eyes
Eye glitter doesn't need to be overpowering if you use a light touch. Focus the sparkle on your lids near the lash line, then gradually lessen the glitter as you move up toward your crease for an ombre effect.
Image: Imaxtree
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Line Up
Are you intimidated by the idea of wearing glitter? Start off with a streak of colored glitter liner. Try a thick line on your upper lash line that extends across three quarters of your eye. It gives you shine, but it won't look like you're drowning in glitter.
Image: Imaxtree
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Shards of Shimmer
You can skip the rings when you're rocking a dazzling manicure like this. Ditch the colored polish and go straight to the top coat. Select one with chunky pieces of glitter for maximum impact.
Image: Imaxtree
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Not Just for Eyes
Matte lipstick addicts can sometimes find shimmer to be too much of a change. Break out of your comfort zone because this statement pout is so worth it.
Image: Imaxtree
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Less Is More
A little glitter pot will last you a long time. It isn't necessary to apply handfuls of glitter — just a pinch will do. For a futuristic vibe, apply a dot of sparkle on the center of the lower lash lines.
Image: Imaxtree
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Beyond Basic Black
Switch up your go-to black eyeliner with glitter. You can use an eye pencil with a shimmering finish or you can dip a fine brush in loose glitter, then run it over your usual eyeliner.
Image: Imaxtree
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Going Down
This is one time when you want to have smudged product under your eyes. Add some flecks of dark glitter underneath your eyes. Tie the look together with coordinating eyeliner on your lower lash line.
Image: Imaxtree
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Lustrous Lips
Don't have a sparkly lipstick in your makeup bag? No problem. Simply add a bit of loose glitter on top of your favorite lip color. Voilà, you have yourself a new lipstick look.
Image: @malaysiainthecity
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Center Point
It's fun to play around with different shades, but don't forget about placement. Use your finger to dab a bit of glitter in the center of your lids. It doesn't have to be perfect. The look takes all of five seconds and it will make your eyes pop.
Image: Imaxtree
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Silver Shimmer
Looking for something to balance out all of that glitter? Enter black liner. A thick black cat eye adds some edge to a glimmering silver lower lash line.
Image: Imaxtree
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Just a Hint
The perfect way to finish a black smoky eye isn't with more gray shadow, it is with a spot of gold glitter on the inner corners of the eyes. It adds dimension to the look and it will stop you from looking like you just have two black eyes.
Image: Imaxtree
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Enchanting Eyebrows
Forget about bold brows with lots of powder and gel. These are statement brows. Define your natural arch by sweeping on a prismatic pencil directly under your brows. Don't blend the line in, you want a graphic shape.
Image: Imaxtree
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Gleam, Glow and Glisten
We've seen glitter tears on the runway and red carpet, but this is a more relaxed approach. Start your glitter at the outer corner of your eyes and have it cascade down and out along your cheekbones. Use multicolored sparkles to up the shimmer factor.
Image: Imaxtree
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Root of It
There is a reason why glitter roots have remained a favorite of beauty girls long after festival season is over. It's a super simple idea and it looks amazing. It also conceals visible roots and not-so-straight parts. Embrace the trend by mixing different kinds of glitter along your part.
Image: @cerysbhair
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Spun Gold
This is the light version of glitter roots. Note that it is no less dazzling than the usual style. Pretend that you are highlighting your hair, but add sparkles to different sections instead of hair dye.
Image: @sarahbybeehair
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Luster Locks
Glitter roots may be the most popular sparkly hairstyle at the moment, but this all-over sparkle is stunning. Grab that pot of glitter and shake it over your updo. Keep the sparkles in place with hairspray.
Image: @southernarrond
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Festive Flick
Glitter and black eyeliner are an unbeatable combination. Just see this makeup for proof. Almost any combination will work, but the dusting of silver glitter over the flicked eyeliner slays.
Image: Imaxtree
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Icy Stare
Channel your inner ice queen with a dash of silver glitter on your lids and just above your creases. Resist the urge to add any other products to your face. The shining silver is enough on its own. Trust us.
Image: Imaxtree
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Golden Touch
Good news: You don't have to be a master artist to pull off this nail art. Literally anyone can do it. Apply a neutral base color, then add a dusting of gold glitter on top, focusing more of the sparkle on the tips. Don't worry if your nails don't look the same, it's meant to look like the glitter was just sprinkled on.
Image: @enicovska
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Up Your Glitter Game
Grab a pot of glitter with thick flecks and apply it so it covers your entire lids like your regular eyeshadow. When you're craving more drama, add a slash of black eyeliner on your lower lash line.
Image: Imaxtree
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Wash of Sparkle
Making glitter look effortless isn't easy to do. The secret is to forget about creating precise shapes and to leave the rest of your face au naturel. Don't believe us? Just see this fine dark blue glitter loosely scattered over the lids.
Image: Imaxtree
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Twinkling Tips
Give the classic French manicure a party vibe by swapping your white tips for sparkly turquoise ones. You can keep your base color the classic pink or totally break the rules with a different shade.
Image: @beautynailsbysara
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Inside Out
We know that adding an iridescent shade on the inner corners of the eyes makes us look wide awake, so imagine what a wash of silver sparkle along the entire inner part of the eyes will do to your peepers. You won't even need mascara.
Image: Imaxtree
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Inky Wink
Sultry black shadow has no shortage of edge. If you're still searching for something else, swipe on some silver sparkle on your lower lash line.
Image: Imaxtree
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Twinkle in the Eye
Using glitter can be an exercise in restraint. Dust your upper and lower lash lines with a few flecks of micro glitter to perk up your eyes.
Image: Imaxtree
