November 12, 2019

What’s Your Stance On Glitter Eyeshadow?

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If you haven’t noticed glitter has taken over the cosmetic industry! From Colourpop to big wig brands like NARS everyone is going gaga for glitter eyeshadow.

I recently picked up Tati’s new eyeshadow palette and was not surprised at all to find out it included a few glitter eyeshadows. If I were an influencer and I was creating an eyeshadow palette I would not get involved with glitter simply because I do NOT want to be held liable for any issues that might arise when using it.

Some brands are going so far as to not even offer up a warning about glitter shades being eye safe. I contacted NARS when I purchased the Inferno Eyeshadow Palette and was told all the shades were completely eye safe. I mean, they didn’t offer to say “hey, listen be careful and use glitter glue!”

I’m not saying you can’t use glitter but you should know that using it can cause potential problems and it should be used with glitter glue to prevent it from getting into your eyes and causing a host of problems and a potential trip to the nearest eye doctor.

I do wonder if glitter cheaper to produce than a sparkly eyeshadow? I’d say yes because out of nine shades you’ll find that Colourpop will include three to four pressed glitters in a palette. I’d like to see them replace all that glitter with actual eyeshadows in the future. It’s safer, I’ll use it way more often (because really I’m not running around with glitter on my eyes in the day anymore!), and it’s easier to apply versus glitter which gets everywhere.

What are your thoughts on glitter eyeshadows?

Do they make you feel like a pretty pony or do you just wish brands would ditch them already?

Is glitter a yay or a nay for you?

46 Comments

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kimkats

    I hate them with the fire of a thousand suns. And I’m not too keen on them either… 😀

    Yeah, they look clownish to me, regardless who they’re on. they get a big ol’ BLEAH from me.

  • Mary

    I really like the hourglass scattered lights and marc jacobs topaz flash but that’s it.

    • Isabella Muse

      I believe both are sparkle shades so completely good to go! Thankfully no glitter!

  • Elise

    LOL! Nay & Yay!

    Nay! -Full on loose glitter or glitter only is a no no! Just too much of a hassle. Really it should be reserved for Halloween and face painting!

    Yay! – Sparkling micro glitter formulas from stila, Hourglass, and Marc Jacobs are the bomb! Applied the right way they can be beautiful and sophisticated.

    • Isabella Muse

      Agreed! I can totally dig those formulas too! I don’t even classify the stila ones as glitter, it’s more a refined sparkle ;-D Good reply Elise 😀

  • Kimmwc03

    Sparkle, yes! Glitter, HECK No!

    I haven’t heard much about Tati’s palette yet. Interested to hear your thoughts on that.

  • auntymaim

    My spouse once got a chunk of my cosmetic glitter stuck in their cornea! It didn’t cause visual problems but they had to go to an eye dr and speed a good chunk of change to get it dislodged. Since then we have had a zero-glitter household policy lol – I can’t deal with eye stuff!
    The eye dr said they frequently see people with face scrub particles stuck in their eyes, too, so I’ve stuck with brush exfoliators since then!

    • Isabella Muse

      eep! scary! I sometimes get face scrub particles in my eyes and freak the hell out! It’s irritating but thankfully nothing bad has every happened but still, def need to pay attention to avoid my eyes as much as possible when scrubbing!

  • Nanners

    I have sensitive eyes, which means whatever I put on my lids NEED to stay put or else any fallout will irritate the eyeballs. Glitter is sadly a big no no. As I learned this weekend, not even your favorite Stila glitter formula works for me, Muse :'(

    • Isabella Muse

      oh no 🙁 sorry my dear! It’s ok there are plenty of really nice eyeshadows in the sea!

    • kjh

      Hungry ghost is the one glitter that attracted me, because it is heavily reminiscent of one of my favorite stones, Medusa quartz, with watery blue suspended particles. Omg. I think this glitter thing is definitely an IG outgrowth. There has to be s.t. new, and it has to be a finish, as colors are grossly finite. Yes, they are potentially dangerous, and a warning should be included. Especially for kids, as they aren’t known for gentle m/u habits. Everyone should know that they are using them at their own risk. (Until the litigation….) As Isabella has noted THEY LIE ABOUT IT. I hate that they are forced down our throats, like having to buy cloud space, etc. Tough to get a budget palette without them. It’s a wonder that there have not been a slew of damage-to-eye stories in the press. Until some serious coverage about the dangers of glitter to eyes hits the press, we will continue to be barraged with glitter that we don’t want. Trends and Profit are evil twins.

  • Christina

    I like sparkle, but I’m against glitter in general. In addition to not being eye safe, I know they’re not good for the environment because they don’t break down and can leak into our oceans, etc. I’ve been trying really hard to avoid not only cosmetics but things with glitter in them that I know get disposed of after a single use.

    My hope is that brands, like Fyrinnae, will start using environmentally safe glitter. Will I use them on my eyes? Probably not, but at least they’re be better for the environment overall, and I can always use them on my nails. Also, super reflective shimmers like calcium borosilicate look so pretty, so I don’t know why brands don’t use more of it. I love my reflect shadows/pigments more than I like glitter.

    • Isabella Muse

      is it weird I’m texting you right now and replying to your comment at the same time? LOL! ;-D I wish I was a better person because I def have glitter eyeshadows but I’m not super keen on them and rarely use them if that helps at all haha! I don’t understand why brands just migrate more towards sparkly shades versus glitter. Who asked for glitter anything in eyeshadow anyway!? It’s an instagram thing I think!

        • Isabella Muse

          LOL! We just need to pull in instagram dms and we’ll come full circle haha…! Multitasking chat here!

  • Kish

    I feel like glitter is another one of those things designed for IG, it looks good in pics, but I don’t know anyone walking around wearing it. I also don’t want to risk my eyes for something so pointless, so I tend to avoid palettes that contain glitters. I was happy to see that ColourPop’s new coconut nine pan palette has no pressed glitters! I think the fact that they listen to their customers and create on demand is amazing. Oh, one reason why I’m really over the whole glitter thing is that I asked on a trendmood post if Tati’s glitters were eye safe and I was attacked lol. “She would never release something that wasn’t eye safe, etc etc your mom.”� And I was shocked at how many people didn’t even realize that glitter particles aren’t eye safe.

    • Isabella Muse

      THANK GOD! I was happy about that too! because I’m really like those taupes in that palette! Weird because she readily admits on her video that they aren’t eye safe! People are idiots!

  • MarinaDee

    Glitter shadows look like the ultimate eye candy, in the pan only. However, I was always told that I’m wearing too much makeup every time I wore one IRL. Even with glitter glue, a few flakes manage to migrate to my under eye area. Removing them… is a nightmare on its own. Regardless of what makeup remover I use, I have to wash my face several times to completely get it off from my face. I’m glad I only bought 3 single glitter shadows from an affordable brand. When I decided to toss them, I didn’t feel so bad.

    • Isabella Muse

      I did that last night when testing a new glitter eyeshadow lol! I washed my face like fifty times because I didn’t want to smash my face in the pillow that night and end up having stray glitter end up somewhere it shouldn’t be!

  • Sarah

    Nay because 1. shimmer shadows are already a glittery mess that’s a pain to clean up and 2. I’m not a teenager anymore and glitter just feels too juvenile.

    I am curious to know if these modern pressed glitters are plastic based or more eco friendly and thus eye friendly?

    as for maybe being cheeper and being included more in palettes because of that: If your buying from someone like Colour Pop, their pressed glitter singles are more expensive then their standard shadow singles. So I think it’s just a trend thing.

    It wasn’t too long ago when most eyeshadows you could find were satin finish and matts and metallic like shimmers were unheard of. Now any modern palette isn’t complete if it doesn’t have a nice balance of matts, shimmers and metallics. Glitter is just the new kid on the block.

  • Andie Vecchione

    Back in 1980, I was 7 years old, I was playing with my mom’s makeup that was several years old. It was old 70’s blues and pinks. It wasn’t glittery, but it wasn’t as finely milled as the shadow is these days. I kept putting it on and washing it off and eventually I scratched up my corneas a bit. It was bad enough that they hurt and my parents took me to the ER. It was extremely unpleasant and I was freaking out. It didn’t cause any lasting damage, but it made me super wary about glitter in eye products. I will probably never use a glitter liner or shadow, but the more fine shimmer shadows I might be ok with trying, as long as I was extra careful with removal.

    • Isabella Muse

      That’s scary especially when you’re that young! You were prob freaking out!

  • Agona

    I love glitter…but not in the suspended gel inside a palette form. I like the liquid tube glitters like tarte sea glass liquid eye shadow or any other Stila Glitter & Glow type products. I’m about to try Holika Holika’s version in my next Ulta haul!

    • Isabella Muse

      Holika Holika’s version is pretty nice if you want me to review before you buy lmk!

      • Agona

        Wouldn’t ever say no to a review from you, Muse!! Maybe you could do a post on all K-Beauty dupes of Stila’s Glitter & Glows? I feel like there’s a few! I feel like K-Beauty brands do really good dupes. Also, randomly, Ulta and Sephora branded products sometimes dupe popular products too.

    • Elise J Bohn

      The Holika totally reminded me, I also have some really nice Touch In Soil metallic foil shades I love. Not quite glitter formula but very sparkly. I do use a primer or glitter glue when using those as well. 😉

      • Christina

        You just reminded me I have these as well. I love them! They’re super shiny.

        • Agona

          I should try them!! I was worried because they had good reviews at Ulta but mixed at Sephora.

  • Dee

    Not a fan of glitter eye shadow. In fact I intensely dislike it! I don’t mind a little shimmer but hope glitter leaves the scene soon.

  • Katie Reynolds

    I’ll be 60 next month. Can’t imagine in what setting I would use glitter eye shadow. Definitely not to my office.

  • Sharon

    Glitter is for Carnival and stage performances. Sparkle is for parties. Everything has its place. It’s left up to the user to use in appropriate settings

  • Stacy

    Glitter is great if you are 13 or Lady Gaga. I am a 51 year old accountant. I love my sparkle and all (usually mixed with mattes for work) but glitter no way. There is certainly a place for glitters in certain palettes, but when you get a really nice palette and there are three or four glitters it just drives me to drink. Sure I could just ignore them, but they are normally very pretty colors that would look great and would be more usable as shimmers or another sparkly shade.

    • Stacy

      May I add to my comment? The “hungry ghost” glitter from the palette pictured would be a stunning duochrome sparkle color- why tart it up with the glitter- Ugh!!

    • Kel Berg

      i’m 47 and i just don’t care if i’m too old for it. i work in a professional office and i always have glittery eyeshadow on at work. well i also have pink hair but as far as i know no one has complained LOL

  • Kel Berg

    i love glitter eyeshadow. loveeeee it. my fav are the stila glitter and glows. i also love the UD moondust and the glitter bomb palette from too faced. i’ve really learned to curb myself from going too out of control but there are still some products that i want to try, like the ciate lipsticks and the patrick ta oil lotions. i really love it all.

    muse they need to make pumpkin lotions that are highly fragranced with glitter. can you imagine?

  • Judy

    A little glitter for a special evening from time to time…yay. A palette with 3 or 4 glitters? Nay!

  • Jennifer Ting

    Nay. Would rather buy glitter in singles in a good formula with a cream base like Stila. glitter & glow

  • FrugalCat

    Hate any eye cosmetic with glitter, shimmer or sparkle. Will allow shimmer or sparkle for a lip product. I don’t even like the shimmer body lotions. My eyes are too vital to have a freak glitter/cornea meeting.

  • genevieve

    Glitter eyeshadows are definitely a nay for me. I wear glasses and my eyes are precious to me. There is no way that I would risk getting glitter in them. I think glitter is quite dangerous, particularly if you wear contacts. It can easily cause problems if it gets into your eyes – irritation at best and infections at the worst. There is no excuse for having this product in an eye palette. Completely irresponsible by brands.

  • Chris

    Nay! Glitter belongs on greeting cards, not your eyelids. Scratching your cornea can be very painful or feel like sand in your eye.

  • charlotte lo

    it is a nay for me. I still don’t know how to work glitter. It is usually the last thing I put on my lid for a look and alwys ruined the look. Plus it get everywhere. I’m not a fan.

  • Susan

    Hate it. Hate. It.

    Besides thinking it looks, shall we say, less than classy, I shudder to think of the potential for injuries and infections. Have you ever had a scratched cornea? No fun. Will be glad when it’s not faddish any more.

  • M.

    I love that you wrote this because I loathe glitter. Metallics, shimmers and even sparkle shades are gorgeous, but I loathe glitter. I hated it in the 90’s and I’m still hate it. I’ve skipped buying so, SO many palettes because I will simply never use the glitter shades. I sincerely hope that this trend dies as soon as possible.