As far as makeup goes, glitter eyeshadow undoubtedly create some of the most fun and irresistible looks. The shimmer and shine glitter picks up on every time it catches the light is universally alluring—it's nearly impossible to avoid looking at. It's no wonder glitter makeup is such a staple in the queer community, and we love its more-recent renaissance in light of the Euphoria effect. In short: we love glitter makeup, so we had to learn how to apply glitter eyeshadow.
First things first: there are different types of glitter eyeshadow. There's pressed glitter (which looks like your traditional eyeshadow compact), liquid glitter (basically just a liquid eyeshadow and typically comes with its own applicator which makes it easy to use), and loose glitter (the messiest type—it's glitter in dry form and really delivers on the pigment). Each type of eyeshadow creates a different type of look—from subtle to bold—and has slightly different application methods.
To understand how to best apply all types of glitter eyeshadow, we tapped two celebrity makeup artists and asked them for their step-by-step tips. So, even if you're a experimenting with glitter for the first time and/or are a makeup newbie, the application process only take a few minutes. Keep reading for their tips—you'll be shining in no time.
Meet the Expert
2:35
Click Play to Watch MUA Matin's Glitter Eyeshadow Tutorial
I love a good glitter eyeshadow look, but I’m less than fond of the fallout that comes with it. I prime the eye and delicately place the pigment, yet somehow more glitter lands on my cheek than my actual eyelid. Sigh. To find out how to get even the shimmeriest of shadows to stick to and stay on my eyelid, I turned to makeup artist Dominique Lerma. Ahead, she’s giving us some tips on how to prevent glitter eyeshadow fallout once and for all.
Tip #1: Start With the Eyes
When it comes to dealing with glitter eyeshadow, it’s best to finish your eyeshadow before starting your complexion. “The clean up will be so much better,” says Lerma. “You can brush off excess shadow easier and apply your product with a heavy hand.”
Tip #2: Pick Your Primer
Lerma says the key to long-lasting and fallout-free glitter eyeshadow comes down to picking a primer specifically formulated for glitter shadows. “I apply the primer directly where I am going to focus the glitter application,” says Lerma. “If I want to do a smoky eye, for example, I will carve out the crease using matte shadow and then finish with the glitter primer and glitter application, so it’s impactful and aides with fallout.” Not sure which primer to choose? One of Lerma’s faves is the NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer