Putting on the glitz

21/12/2015 / Don't try this at home

Too much and you risk looking like a drag queen. Too little and you fall into fairy princess territory. Here’s how to stay on the right side of glitter make-up this Christmas.

Glitter and sequins. Two things that rarely seem like a good idea either side of Christmas. With the festive season upon us we know you’ll be wearing both by the truckload and while we can’t help you with the latter, we can guide you on your mission to perfect the former. ‘I have two main rules when it comes to glitter make-up,’ says Facebar founder and makeup artist Nicola Fiveash.

Go lightly, apply a small amount to begin with – you can always add more but once you’ve have it on your skin it’s very hard to remove.
Planning on using your favourite brushes? Don’t do it! They will forever have specs of glitter on them. I use my fingers, disposable brushes or a cotton bud.’

Here’s three other top tips from Nicola.

Get makeup now

Glitter is impactful enough without trying to pull off an entire new make-up look as well!

Add to your existing look. Don’t create a whole new one.

Glitter is impactful enough without trying to pull off an entire new make-up look as well. ‘I find it best to use glitter to amp up a persons signature ‘party face’ rather than trying to transform them,’ says Nicola. ‘I’ve given our most popular Facebar looks; Hollywood, Feline Flick, Metallic Smoke and Smokin a hit of glitter this December to make them even more party season appropriate for regular clients.’ Think a light-catching glimmer on the corner of your winged eyeliner or subtle sprinkling of glitter over the top of your signature smoky eye rather than an elaborate design. The same also applies to the colours you use. If you love black eye shadow. Stick to black glitter, if you suit a rich bronze then go with it or if you like to play with confident jewel tones like emerald and Amethyst these can work so well in glitter textures.

It’s as much about the prep as it is the glitter...

Think about it, glitter isn’t just going to stick to your face. You need to give it something to adhere to and blend with. ‘My go to pro product is MAC Pro Eyeliner Mixing Medium, which is a clear gel I apply to the area I want to add glitter to. Once the glitter has fused with the Mixing Medium it stays put without the need for any harsh makeup setting sprays,’ explains Nicola. Another pro tip is to build up a rich base of a cream or liquid eyeshadow before applying glitter. ‘I love using Ellis Faas Lights underneath any glitter looks I create. This product is like liquid metal, in fact we call it jewellery for the face at the Facebar because of the luxe metallic finish it gives to the skin.’

Removal requires as much of a professional touch as application...

If you’ve had a DIY dabble with glitter then you’ll know how difficult it is to take off. Even the most potent of make -up removers won’t seem to touch the sides. ‘I always tell my clients to stock up on my tried and tested glitter-taker-offer,’ says Nicola. ‘ Just a dab of Sister & Co Organic Coconut Oil warmed up in the hand and massaged onto the skin will loosen glitter instantly. I then suggest soaking some large cotton wool pads in warm water and sweeping them over the eyes to remove every last trace. It's a fast, gentle and effective removal method.’

Nicola’s Pro Glitter Kit

Nicola’s Pro Glitter Kit:

Mac Pro Eyeliner Mixing Medium, £13
Mac Pro Glitter Pots, £16
Ellis Faas Lights, £26
Sister & Co Organic Coconut Oil, £5.99

Book your glitter make-over at The Facebar Now.

Image credits: rex features, stocksy

Editor's picks

Why (and how) you should clean your makeup brushes 24/05/2018

What would you do if we told you there could be more bacteria on your makeup brushes than your toilet seat? Yep, for real. Dirty brushes accumulate oil, dust and dirt, so each time you use them, you’re spreading microbes straight across your skin. You’re not alone in blissful brush ignorance: 72% of us aren’t cleaning our tools regularly. But if the thought of microbe colonies breeding in your brush kit isn’t enough to crack the soap out, we’ve got more bad news. Here’s the truth about what happens to your skin when you don’t wash your makeup brushes and…

Beauty board

Ah, Festival season; one of the only times you can just about get away with wearing glitter as a grown-up. It's shiny, it's versatile, and boy is it fun to apply, and this year people have been finding even more creative ways to bedazzle their bods. From glitter roots to glitter tears (and freckles!), we thought we had seen it all, until our Instas started blowing up with glistening images of bedazzled bottoms emblazoned with eye catching shimmer - a look we predict many a millennial will be rocking once festival season is in full swing. And did we mention #glittertits? Yes, they're officially a thing…

View the board

Putting on the glitz

Add to your existing look. Don’t create a whole new one.

It’s as much about the prep as it is the glitter...

Removal requires as much of a professional touch as application...

Nicola’s Pro Glitter Kit

Book your next (and every) beauty treatment on Treatwell.