I love glitter, but I get that it’s not something that everybody loves.
I mean, I wish that everybody loved glitter. How could you not love glitter? OK, anyways, sidetracked…
Sometimes, like in palettes like the Tom Ford Winter Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette in Warm, there’s one glitter shadow that you just don’t know what the heck to do with, so you just kind of leave it there…but c’mon! You gotta show that glitter some love.
Repeat after me: “I can wear glitter!” You can wear glitter. You can! I know I say this all the time and must sound like a broken record, but I really do believe that everyone can wear glitter.
The thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to go all out. You don’t have to load up your lids with it. You can use just a little.
Instead of a brush, use your finger. Just run it across the pan, or make little circles in it, then lightly pat that on top of another eyeshadow.
You can also apply a little on bare lids, too, but the easiest way to use a glittery shadow that I can’t find another use for is to pat it on top of another eyeshadow I’m wearing.
Patting with a finger works well for this. It gets the little glitter bits evenly distributed, like a glittery galaxy, and you’ll get a gorgeous, subtle sparkle.
Glitter doesn’t have to become “this thing,” like this full-on, orchestrated THING, where you have to wet your brush, then pack ALL OF TEH GLITTER on your lids.
It doesn’t! It doesn’t have to look super blingy or go over the top, and when you use your finger to pat it on your lids (instead of a brush), it’s very subtle.
How high you take it up is totally up to you, but generally, the higher you take it up the lid, the more dramatic the glittery look. If you want subtle glitter, start at your lash line, and stop right before you go into the crease.
In these pics, I went all out (because that’s how I roll). I went from my lash line all the way up to my brow bone — which you might think would turn out cray, but I think it’s still pretty subtle.
Try it sometime! Use your finger and pat, pat, pat. Give that glitter shadow you’ve been ignoring some love.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. OK, truth? One of the reasons I’m so into glitter at the moment is because I’m hoping that it distracts people from the hardcore dark circles I’m rockin’.
The Coywolf is teething! The poor thing was up all night long, which means that I was up all night, too.
It’s been a very interesting few days. It’s taking me back to her itty-bitty baby-hood when we weren’t getting any sleep.
This is exactly what I needed today. I have all kinds of glitter shadows piling up in my makeup basket but I always think, “Geez, do I really want to draw attention to all these eye wrinkles?”
But, your method sounds do-able. And I have a work Christmas party coming up, for which I would like to attempt to look festive. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Also, Connor Claire seems to grow more beautiful with every photo you post! What skin care regime is she following?
This method is seriously the fastest way to get ready for a party. Just pat the glitter on top of the eye makeup you already have on! If you’re feeling ambitious you could also add a darker liner to your lash and waterlines and smudge the edges. You know I’m all about easy makeup hacks these days.
I think Connor’s secret is youth, LOL! Sometimes I look at her cheeks and I can’t believe that mine were that smooth and poreless at one time. Seriously hers looks like porcelain. I think I need to go blow some raspberries on them right meow…
Are you all recovered from Thanksgiving? I think I need a few more days, LOL!
You look GORGEOUS! I always tell people not to be scared of glitter – it’s wearable on EVERY ONE!
Totally with you! I have a penchant for the smaller glitter flecks, but sometimes bigger glitter is fun too. 🙂
Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! I’m still recovering, LOL!
I LOVE ALL THE GLITTER!!
and yep fingers work best over primer.
Me too!
It’s funny that you write about glitter shadow. I keep reading the “beauty experts” saying not to wear anything glittery or shimmery after a certain age. While I do find metallic and some shimmer shadows too much for me, the sparkle shadows are more subtle and fun to play with, especially for a special occasion. I like to dab a sparkle shadow over a cream shadow just a little beyond my crease. I tend to Regarding Connor’s teething, just go with it! Trust me there will many moments your child will keep you up at night. Zack get’s his driver’s permit in a few months. I thought my hair was grey now!!!!!
Hi Jane,
Those self-proclaimed experts and gurus who pontificate on what you can and cannot wear after a certain age are full of you know what. It’s not about an age. It’s about the condition of one’s features. At 73, I can still wear shimmer and Tom Ford’s magical fairy dust because I have a large moveable eyelid that is relatively smooth. If the condition of my skin is such that I can look good with some sparkle, why should I stop just because I’m a septuagenarian? I do avoid the chunky glitter that is in some cosmetics because I think it looks rather juvenile (too much like arts ‘n crafts), but that ultra fine sparkle TF is famous for is beautiful. I pat my finger on the glitter and then press it over the moveable eyelid up to the crease. You can go as light or as heavy as you want, but every time you blink, you get a lovely sparkle. Moral to the story: No matter your age, if it looks good on you and makes you happy, wear it!
Eileen, I love that you’re 73 and working it. I can’t wait to be in my 70s and rockin’ the glitter!
Eileen,
Thanks for the feedback. It’s good to hear from someone over 55. It’s hard to be a makeup lover at a certain age when everything is geared to a much younger woman. What is helpful is that I know what works best for me and tend to stick with it.
I was thinking about this last week… and did exactly what you said, with my fingers and courage I added some glitter on my life hahaha… but my choice wasn’t very smart, it was the midnight cowboy from UD… oh girl… I went to give my class literally sparkling because I have glitter all around my face! Bad color choice! hahaha 😉
I love this look! I also just pat it over my lid or wet a brush.
I do not see these dark circles of which you speak. You look beautiful to me. Love that eye look. Did you use the darkest shadow as a liner or something else?
Bought both of these palettes, but the minute I opened the cool one, I knew I was returning it. Didn’t even bother to try it. Should have listened to my local Tom Ford gal, she said the warm one would look better on me.
Teething. Sigh. Not fun. The good news is, it doesn’t last forever and then you end up with a baby with a cute toothy smile. Connor Claire grows ever more adorable!
They’re cleverly hidden by the power of concealer! Or maybe you’re so entranced by the glitter that you can’t see them. ?
What do you think of the Warm Palette? Have you worn it yet? Do you like it? And yes, I did use the darkest shadow as a liner. It’s layered on top of Chanel Agape Stylo Yeux (my eyeliner crush at the moment… It’s looks great with this palette, too).
Thank you again for the suggestion to use a cold wash cloth. We use it all the time and it helps a lot!
Ha ha! Have I worn it yet? I wore it three days in a row when I first got it. I love it. Only wish it had the same shadow formula as Nude Dip. You know, the ones that are embossed with the TF initials. Had a break out from a skin cream I was trying, so I took a break from makeup for a few days, but I will be getting back to it. That is, if I find the time. Right now, my to-do list is three miles long and growing.
Oooh! Thanks for letting me know you used Agape with this. I also own Agape, so I’ll be trying it with this palette the next time I use it. I only wish I had ordered a backup of Agape. Lol.
I hope Connor Claire finishes this round of teething soon. I’d love to see a pic of her new tooth when it shows up.
For all your fellow readers, if you feel like wearing glitter, wear glitter. If someone else doesn’t like the way it looks on you they don’t need to stare. I’m older than all of you and when I want to wear shimmer and glitter, I do. I’ve earned every gosh darn wrinkle on this face, so I try to take good care of my skin, but if it isn’t perfect it isn’t. Nothing in life is. But I do try to find kindness and happiness where I can.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season whatever they celebrate!!
Tom Ford does glitter the right way, at least for my late 30’s eyes. Jesus, late 30’s 🙁
Late 30’s? LOL Try early 70’s! I love TF’s glitter and always get compliments on my “beautiful” eyes whenever I wear a bit of it. It brings light to the eyes and a subtle, now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t kind of sparkle. Love TF!
Glitter is the best! This Tom Ford Palette looks to die for!
Connor Claire is a beautiful little lady! Love her smile.
I LOVE GLITTER. But, in a subtle way, just like you have done it here.
You look lovely and so beautiful! <3
Oh now that is smart! I’m not too keen on glitter either so those colors often stay (almost) untouched.
I like a little bit of glitter on an everyday basis. And I would like to get some sleep again… Baby boy has been either teething or down with a cold for the last two weeks. Or both.
I am sooo tired!
That glitter eyeshadow shade is so pretty! It almost looks like a rose gold. And my, does Connor have long legs!
I love and wear my bobbi brown glitter eyeshadows a lot, I have a palette that has a pink and taupe glitter, plus mattes in approximately the same shades. But what I can’t understand is why MAC put glitter into the Show Gold highlighter, glitter on my cheekbones is just a step too much, and if it were just a duochrome sheen it’d be the prettiest shade ever.
I love to use my fingertip (sometimes, carefully, my nail) to sort of scoop out a fat layer of glitter eyeshadow and then I mix it with a primer on the back of my hand. Helps control placement and fallout, and stays all day! I really like this for Dust in the Naked 3 palette, since it’s so flaky and doesn’t hold together well on its own.