Loose glitter is one of those things that looks magical… right up until it ends up on your chest, your car seat, your friends/strangers, and somehow still on your collarbone three days later.
The good news? Glitter staying power has very little to do with the glitter itself.
It’s all about what you stick it down with.
And once you understand your options, you can build your own custom glitter gels, festival mixes, hair glitters, body glitter blends, and little pots of sparkle that feel completely your own.
And honestly? That’s where the fun starts.
My favourite part of glitter isn’t even wearing it…
It’s mixing it.
Picking your favourite colours, throwing in a few stars, mixing iridescent finishes with metallics, watching colours blend together almost like a Monet painting - where blue and yellow start reading green from a distance, but up close you can still see every colour doing its own thing.
There’s no magic recipe.
Just… mix until it makes you happy.
If you’ve ever bought a ready-made glitter gel, chances are aloe vera gel is doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
It’s one of the easiest ways to work with loose glitter because:
Aloe vera isn’t technically designed for glitter…
…it just happens to work brilliantly.
If you’re experimenting, it’s a great place to start.
A proper cosmetic glitter gel usually starts with aloe vera or another water-based gel…
…but it’s designed specifically for glitter.
That means:
If you’re making something to use regularly, or building your own little glitter kit, proper glitter gel usually gives you more staying power than plain aloe.
Glitter cream bases are a completely different beast.
They’re oil-based rather than water-based, which means:
You melt the base, mix in your glitters, let it cool…
…and suddenly you’ve got your own custom glitter balm.
They’re honestly almost too good.
If you put one on at the start of a festival…
…it may still be there when you wake up the next morning.
Because they’re oil-based:
❌ wipes won’t do much
❌ water won’t do much
Instead:
✔ gently scrape off the top layer
✔ use tape to lift the leftover sparkle
✔ finish with an oil cleanser
This one surprises people.
But when I spent a summer body painting in Ibiza, working with ravers heading to places like Zoo Project, this was standard practice.
Big tubs of cheap, strong-hold hair gel.
Massive chunky glitter.
Done.
The staying power is ridiculous.
Hair gel gives you:
If you’re painting lots of people quickly, or applying body glitter with a big brush, hair gel is incredibly effective.
Would I personally use it on my face? Not with my eczema-prone skin.
But for body work? It’s a brilliant trick.
*DISCLAIMER* The type of hair gel you use is critical here to make sure it won't irritate the skin. Not all hair gel is created equal!
These often behave more like latex-or latex alternatives.
They can be amazing.
Seriously amazing.
But…
They can also be much harsher on skin.
Even people with no known sensitivities can sometimes react, I have seen it personally, and had to deal with it on jobs before.
So if you’ve got sensitive skin, or you’re working professionally, it’s worth patch testing and knowing exactly what’s in your products.
If you need glitter to survive:
Liquid latex is hard to beat. It dries waterproof and grips like mad.
And when it works - it really works.
But:
This is more theatrical than festival.
But for the right job? Brilliant.
Honestly?
One of the handiest things in your kit.
Perfect for:
You probably already own it.
Which makes it even better.
Yes…
It works.
For about five minutes.
Then:
Fun. But not ideal.
Please use cosmetic-grade glitter on skin.
Cosmetic glitter is cut more finely, with smoother edges, making it far safer for face and body work.
Craft glitter? Great for paper.
Not your eyelids. Especially not around the eyes.
One important thing:
Don’t pre-mix biodegradable glitter into gels or creams.
Most bio glitters start breaking down as soon as they sit in water-based products.
So:
✔ mix fresh
✔ use on the day
❌ don’t premake
Pick your favourites.
Mix them.
Throw in:
Honestly…
Very few glitter mixes aren’t improved by a few little stars.
And if you’re building your own personal glitter kit…
Start with one colour you love.
Then add stars.
Always add stars ✨
Here’s something a lot of beginners don’t realise:
If you’re working with very fine loose glitter, you may not need a separate glitter glue at all.
Fine glitter is incredibly light, so if you’re face painting or working with water-based makeup, you can often apply it directly onto:
This is exactly how many professional face painters apply that final soft sparkle at the end of a design.
Those little glitter pump sprays apply a fine mist of loose glitter. It can completely lift a design - and every face painter should have one in their kit.
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