Our Honest Guide to Cosmetic Glitter
What cosmetic glitter is, why it matters, and how to use it on your face, body, lips and nails, and in soap, wax melts and crafts.
Why Choose Cosmetic-Grade Glitter?
Cosmetic glitter is made to go on skin. Craft glitter isn't. Every glitter in our range is cosmetic grade and suitable for the face, body and lips, so the same glitter works for a glitter tattoo at a school fair, a festival look, a sparkly lip or a batch of handmade soap.
One Glitter, Multiple Product Uses
Nail bars, soap makers and wax melt makers buy our cosmetic glitter regularly. If you're buying for your business, you can open a Business Customer Account with us.
Cosmetic Glitter vs Craft Glitter
Cosmetic glitter is made specifically for use on skin. The film it's cut from, the colourants and the way each particle is cut are all chosen with skin contact in mind, not just how it looks in the pot.
Craft glitter is a different product. It's made for cards and decorations, can use colourants that were never meant for skin, and is often cut roughly, leaving jagged edges. It has no place on a face, and certainly not near eyes or lips.
Our Cosmetic Glitter Range
- Cosmetic Glitter Trios: three coordinating colours in 3 x 5g pots. Great for mixing and layering, and for topping up a glitter tattoo kit.
- Round Multi-Pack: 15 colours in 15 x 5g pots. Loads of colour in one go, ideal for parties and glitter tattoo stations.
- Heart and Star Multi-Packs: 16 colours in 16 x 2.5g heart-shaped or star-shaped pots. Compact, easy to store and a lovely gift.
Every pot is fine cosmetic glitter, suitable for face, body and lips.
Moving Away From Plastic, the Honest Way
We're moving The Glitter Tree away from plastic, and we want to be upfront about how we're doing it.
Our cosmetic glitter is still in plastic pots, and here's why. We won't throw away stock we already have. Sending perfectly good glitter to landfill just to look greener would do far more harm than using it. So we're using it up, and as each line runs out we're replacing it with a better version: tins instead of plastic pots.
We're also switching the packaging for our cosmetic glitter from plastic to cardboard. It's better for the environment, and it makes a handy box to keep your glitter in.
We've already made the switch where we can. Our biodegradable glitter comes in recyclable aluminium tins, with lids we UV print ourselves here in the UK, so there are no stickers and no plastic. It costs us more in time and postage, and we're happy to take that on.
Plastic glitter is already being phased out across the EU. There's no ban in the UK yet, but we'd rather get there on our own terms, sensibly, without waste.
How to Use Cosmetic Glitter
Glitter tattoos
- Place a stencil on clean, dry skin.
- Apply Body Art Adhesive inside the stencil.
- Wait until the adhesive turns from white to clear but still feels tacky, usually 30 to 60 seconds.
- Apply the glitter with a small brush, then dab it into place with a larger brush.
- Brush away the excess and peel off the stencil.
For the full step-by-step, see our Glitter Tattoo Guide.
Face and body
Brush a thin layer of Body Art Adhesive where you want the sparkle. Once it's clear but tacky, press the glitter on with a brush or fingertip. Pat rather than rub, and build up in thin layers for a cleaner finish. Keep glitter to the brow bone and outwards, never on the eyelid or waterline.
Lips
Apply a thin layer of lip balm or clear gloss, then press the glitter on with a fingertip or small brush. You can also stir a pinch of glitter into a clear gloss. Use balm or gloss rather than Body Art Adhesive on your lips.
Nails
Paint on a clear top coat or a colour, and while it's still wet, sprinkle or dip the nail into the glitter and press it down gently. Let it dry, tap off the excess, then seal it with another clear top coat.
Using Cosmetic Glitter in Soap, Wax Melts and Crafts
Because it's cosmetic grade, our glitter is just as at home in handmade products that end up on skin.
Soap
In melt and pour soap, stir the glitter in as the soap starts to cool and thicken slightly, so it stays suspended instead of sinking, or sprinkle it on top straight after pouring. A light spritz of rubbing alcohol helps it stick. In cold process soap, you can stir it in at trace or use it on top. A little goes a long way, so start with about a quarter of a teaspoon per 450g of soap and build up.
Wax melts
Sprinkle glitter into the mould before pouring, stir it into the wax as it cools, or dust it over the top. Give it a good stir as you pour so the glitter spreads through the melt instead of sinking. Glitter is for wax melts only. Never add glitter to candles with a wick. It can block the wick and stop the candle burning safely.
Crafts
Cosmetic glitter works anywhere craft glitter does, on cards, decorations and school projects, and it's the safer choice when little hands are involved. Craft glitter doesn't work the other way round.
Safety: What to Know
- Suitable for face, body and lips when used as directed.
- Keep glitter away from the eyes. Never apply it to the eyelid, lash line or waterline.
- Don't apply to broken, irritated or sensitive skin, and patch test first if you're unsure.
- Adult supervision is recommended for children.
- If glitter gets in an eye, don't rub it. Rinse gently with clean water, and seek medical advice if irritation continues.
Full Safety Data Sheets are in our Safety & Compliance Centre.
How to Remove Cosmetic Glitter
Warm water and a gentle cleanser or soap will shift most glitter. For glitter tattoos or stubborn areas, massage in a little baby oil or coconut oil first, leave it for a minute, then wash off. Avoid scrubbing, especially near the eyes. For glitter on lips, a lip balm and a soft tissue does the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cosmetic glitter safe for children?
Yes, when used as directed with adult supervision. Keep it away from the eyes, and patch test first on sensitive skin.
Can I put glitter on my lips?
Yes. All our cosmetic glitter is suitable for lips. Use a lip balm or clear gloss to hold it, not Body Art Adhesive.
Can I use glitter around my eyes?
Keep it to the brow bone and outwards. Never put loose glitter on the eyelid, lash line or waterline.
How long does cosmetic glitter last on skin?
A glitter tattoo made with our Body Art Adhesive typically lasts 3 to 5 days, and it's swimming and shower safe. Glitter held with balm or gloss lasts until it's washed or wiped off.
Can I use cosmetic glitter in soap?
Yes, in both melt and pour and cold process soap. Stir it in or sprinkle it on top.
Can I put glitter in candles?
Wax melts, yes. Candles with a wick, no, as glitter can block the wick.
Can I mix colours?
Absolutely. Mixing colours is one of the best ways to create your own custom shade, and our trios are put together with that in mind.
Why do you still sell glitter in plastic pots?
Because throwing away good stock would be worse for the planet than using it. We're using up what we have, then replacing each line with a better version in tins, and we're switching our packaging from plastic to cardboard.
Where can I find the Safety Data Sheets?
All of them are in our Safety & Compliance Centre.
Looking for Biodegradable Glitter?
Our biodegradable glitter has a guide of its own, covering what it's made from, how it compares and what happens after use.