We’d be lying if we said the word ‘glitter’ didn’t send a little shudder down our spines. Yes, rubbing Barry M glitter pots all over our face worked when we were eight years old, but surely you can't pull it off when your age reaches double figures?! That said, with so much of it on the SS17 catwalks, glitter is having a grown up moment. Forget its association with school girl arts and crafts, it has now blossomed into an actual expert-approved makeup trend.
Let’s just get one thing straight – glitter is never going to be low maintenance, especially now that it’s ‘in’ with the big guns, being applied on top models and practically demanding its own rider. Put any dreams you had of doing a super speedy ‘desk-to-disco’ makeup look to one side and read on to find out how to apply it this party season, without a bottle of PVA glue in sight.
The Victoria Beckham Eye
It’s amazing what a simple smudge of cobalt blue can do for your look but add in a bit of sparkle a la VB and you’ve got yourself a statement party eye that doesn’t require much else to go with it. “Apply a chunky cobalt eyeshadow pencil all over your eyelid in your desired shape – be as bold as you like,” explains backstage makeup artist Lois Moorcroft.
Try: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Electric Blue, £5, available at Boots.
“Next, use a smudging brush to soften the edges of the shape you’ve created then hold a tissue under your eye with your finger while you press your glitter on top.”
Try: Stargazer Glitter Eye Dust in 102, £4
“The trick is to apply a thin layer otherwise excess glitter will get everywhere,” says Lois. For a pared down version of the Victoria Beckham look, swap the blue shadow for a bright blue sparkly liner drawn along your top lash line.
Try: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Liquid Liner in Baltic Blue Sparkle, £23.50
Photo: Estrop/Getty Images.
The Fendi Lip
From Peter Phillips’ sugary statement lips at Fendi to Pat McGrath’s burgundy flecks at DKNY, these pouts were the talk of fashion week. “You need to start by using a good lip balm to soften the lip,” explains Lois. “Leave it on for a few minutes and tissue off the excess then take a browny-red lip pencil and draw a solid block of colour all over your lips.”
Try: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Foxy Brown, £16
Keep the next bit as mess-free as possible; “Hold a tissue under your bottom lip and apply a thin layer of glitter over the lip colour with your finger,” she says.
Try: MAC Glitter in Reflects Rust, £16
“Before you move the tissue, blow outwards to get rid of any loose glitter that hasn’t stuck to your lips.” And because no application is perfect, “keep sticky tape with you at all times – you’re going to need it throughout the night,” warns Lois. “It removes unwanted glitter strays without taking the rest of your makeup off.”
If you’re not feeling brave enough to go all the way with glitter lips, go for the subtle option. “Apply lip liner all over the lip as usual, then a creamy lipstick on top,” advises Yasmina ElChammaa, head of UK training at Kiko Milano. “Using your finger, press some metallic or glitter eyeshadow either all over the lip or just in the middle for a pop.”
Try: Kiko Water Eyeshadow in Burgundy, £8.90
Photo: Estrop/Getty Images.
The Rodarte Nail
A simple nude nail surrounded by a thin trail of sparkle was all it took for us to jump on the glitter bandwagon and claim “we’ve always loved glitter, where have you been?” It’s the new twist on glitter nails – not too much but still making a statement. “This very delicate glitter look would look very classy with an LBD this party season,” says Lynn Gray, nail expert at Mavala. “Wash and dry your hands thoroughly then paint your nails and dry them completely,” she explains. “Next, take a very small paint brush, or even an eye or lip liner brush, dip it into your selected glitter polish and draw it around each side of your nail. Don’t overload the brush as it could get messy!”
Try: Mavala Nail Polish in Magic Spice, £4.95, available at John Lewis.
If you fancy trying something a little more daring, go for Lynn’s favourite glitter look. “Black or classic red nails with silver glitter tips,” she says.
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