By Tricia Y. Petrinovich
About ten years ago my husband said, “Aren’t you getting a little old to wear glitter makeup?” Um, the answer was a resounding NO. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that “wrinkle” and “sparkle” are practically the same word. And isn’t the fact that a submarine can hone in on my iridescent aura and register my location with its sonar a good thing? Just think how handy I am when the power is out. The fact is that if you don’t put the “Gee!” in glitter, we’re just really talking trash. Most of us have learned the truth that real beauty comes from within, but I like to glitterize the outside to match my sparkle within. The fact is that I don’t believe in hiding my talents – or my sparkly shine, for that matter. And I reflect that inner beauty by glittering up on a daily basis.
So, with no further gloating over my status as glamour gladiator, I give you my top 5 go-to glitters:
MAC Silver Dusk Iridescent Loose Powder: I find it’s best to put body lotion on my arms and legs and then dust this on with a larger powder brush. It also comes in a Golden Bronze color and you can reportedly either apply it directly as I do, or use a brush to mix it in with other makeup types such as blushes or foundations. (If I find a way to siphon it directly into my showerhead for a complete body dump, you’ll be the first to know.)
Buxom Oh-La-La Baby Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss: This item is a two-fer. It is overloaded with glitter for your lips (when you talk they’ll resemble a flashing neon sign), while doubling as a limp plumper that makes it feel as if your lips are on a massage table getting a deep tissue (in a good way). It comes in other colors, but this one is my current list topper.
MAC Nocturnals Pigments and Glitter: A great collection, of which my favorites are the gray and pink. The best part about pigments is that you can create what MAC calls a “subtle wash of color or an intense effect.”(This is where I’d like to point out that we are talking about glitter and if you want “subtle” you should skip this article entirely.) Of course, without the proper method to apply said pigment, you are in for a bitter glitterpointment (which is when your hopes are dashed in the glitter world). So to get that “intense effect,” read on to number 4.
MAC Bare Canvas Paint: Technically, I am cheating here. This is not really a glitter product, but it is a glitter-enabler to the nth degree, the wind beneath glitter’s wings. Applying a layer of this on your eyelid is like backing up the cement truck for all of the glorious glitter to put its handprints in; it’s the super glue for the press-on nail, makeup’s version of duct tape. So after the layer of paint is on – I apply it with a small, firm makeup brush – use a fluffier brush to dip into the pigment and make that “subtle” (who are we kidding?) glitter effect and a pair of gorgeous eyes.
MAC Nocturnal Superslick Eyeliner: This is the crayon and your eye is the coloring book. It is so sparkly that it is probably known in parts of the world as the “Glitter Ninja” of which less twinkly eyeliners should 
be sorely afraid. Make a thin line or thick as the Great Wall of China. Whatever you do, just have fun making the outline of your eyes the absolute sparkliest.Guard yourself against suffering from a condition I call Glitter Anemia, and remember the importance of maintaining adequate beauty and sparkle on the inside as much as out. I hope these products can help in some way. You can always come to me for moral support and submersion in a pool of Brocato Shimmer Pearlescent Body Spray. Just keep this in mind: I don’t ever listen when you say “when.”
Oh, and If you have a go-to glitter product of your own that you think I am missing out on, please don’t let a glitter-sister down, and share.
