Archived Post
Rant & Rave: Glitter Eyeshadow
This Week’s Topic: GLITTER EYESHADOW!
Your Mission: Tell us what you love, hate, or are otherwise indifferent to about glitter eyeshadows and all that those entail.
Explore Temptalia
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Compare Any Two
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
75 Comments
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
Comments on this post are closed.
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I hate the fall out.
I don’t like glitter at all, esp if it is chunky.
I don’t go out to night clubs, though. 😉
in theory sparkles are nice but obnoxious fallout-prone glitter a la urban decay is annoying!
it kind of makes me mad because i see it as filler instead of good quality
Glitter eyesadows are definitively NSFW! You also need to foil those suckers on.
I love the look of glitter eyeshadow. It’s fun and great for a night out. I have some brands that the glitter doesn’t transfer well onto the eye and some products that end up all over my face instead of my eye. My favorite drugstore brand of glitter eyeshadow would be Milani Runway eyeshadows: the glitter isn’t chunky but its more than shimmer. My favorite high end pick would be NARS Night series: incredible color payoff and gorgeous silver glitter.
Milani Runway eyeshadows I have the green one and to me it’s more metalic then glitter.
Love the look but the fallout makes it look like a fairy blew its nose on me. 🙁
hahaha!
Baaaahahahahahaa! Hilarious, and so true.
I don’t like that it ends up all over your face but it doesn’t stop me from using them! 😉 My favorite are the MUFE Diamond Powders!! <3
I love love love glitter eyeshadows and often use them on the lid to help brighten things up and pair with some matte shadows to help keep things from being overwhelming. I even wear them to work, though my work isn’t ultra conservative.
I find that Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy is a miracle worker to help with chunky glitter eyeshadows (like Urban Decay MCRA). Just put it on, wait 10-20 seconds, and use a brush or sponge applicator to pat on the eyeshadow or glitter (like MAC 239). Another thing that works well is a cream eyeshadow (like Benefit Creaseless Cream, MUFE Aqua Cream, MAC Paint Pot) to help adhere the glitter to the lid. One of my favorite looks of all time is a look done by Pixiwoo using MUFE Aqua Cream #12 and MUFE Diamond Powder #1. It’s so gorgeous!!!
Pixiwoo tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo#p/u/61/E6Y2M6QRA-8
Once you’re all done, just use a bit of scotch tape (with some of the stickiness taken off on the hand) to pick up any stray glitter particles.
It’s a little bit of extra work, but it’s so worth it! =)
I don’t like them, it makes me look like I’m trying to be 13. I’ve worn it layered with other colors and in slight form- for going out and such. I only have glitter eyeshadows from stuff I’ve bought in palettes like UD BOS III.
I love glitter eyeshadow. And if you’re using a good stiff paddle brush (like MAC’s 239) you won’t have any fall out. I’ve heard tons of people complain about Sidecar from UD’s Naked palette, but I’ve honestly NEVER had fall out with it! And if you do get a bit of fall out, it’s as simple as dabbing with a bit of scotch tape =]
Glitter e/s is fun and gives a sexy sultry look if it’s applied correctly. What I like less about it is the fallout.
Glitter eyeshadow can be fun for special occasions. However, between the fall out getting all over my cheeks and making me look like I was going for a Ziggy Stardust look and the large pieces falling into my eye and causing enormous amounts of pain, 90% of the time I opt for a nice shimmery shadow instead.
I think that glitter has its place in makeup. I don’t like when the eyes are all crazy glitter like but some suble glitter is great for a night out!
I think that the NYX glitter liners are great because they are cheap. Years ago I bought a MAC glitter liner for like 18$ and well it wasn’t worth it lol…
I hate glitter. All you get out of is fallout on your cheeks and under your eyes. blah.
If I want a little sparkle, I just use shimmery eyeshadow 🙂
I don’t like super huge chunks of glitter or fall-out. That’s why I haven’t gotten the Naked palette. I don’t own any Urban Decay shadows because I find the glitter in them to be too huge.
The UD Naked palette does not contain any eyeshadows with glitter. So your safe to buy it 🙂
I’m not a fan of glitter anywhere, even though I like vibrant colors for some reason. I do stage makeup and it’s just too much of a hassle to keep the shimmers and glitters separate from all the different mattes for use on their faces, even the littlest bit of shimmer highlight makes the actors look sweaty on stage! So I typically stick to mattes (or metallics, when I can find them, but it’s rare to find a really good, true metal shadow with no obvious glitter!)
Glitter is pretty and beautiful but if one can’t pull it off, then don’t even try
I think its great for special occasions but not for an everyday look. It does tend to have some serious fall out (all over your face when you apply it) but I do love it. I do like the shadows that have a little bit of shimmer in it for an everyday look though.
glitter eyeshadow: NO. too messy and middle-schoolish.
shimmer eyeshadow: YES. much less messy and not childish looking.
HATE glitter shadow. Hate the look on *anyone* (looks cheap and screams “LOOK AT ME:) hate the feel (gritty,grainy, choppy) hate the fact that glitter has ruined what would have been many a good shadow or shadow set
I hate Midnight Cowboy Rides Again from UD. It’s the most useless and ugly eyeshadow ever. Inglot has AMC eyeshadows with multicolor glitter in it. It applies like it’s a cream e/s, but it’s actually powder, and it has no fall-out. I only wear glitter e/s on special occasions.
I just tried glittery stuff from Milani. It was just for fun. I would probably wear it out for a special occasion like a night at the opera. Powder eyeshadow with glitter is nicer in the pan than on the lids because it doesn’t last.
I love glitter…especially ever since discovering Pixie Epoxy. So fun, but I don’t do it too often.
Hmmmm, I pretty much hate everything about them these days. Hate the fallout, hate the way the glitter gets EVERYWHERE. I also feel like I’m too old to wear them (I’m 31). I had WAY more patience for glitter when I was 15!
I like glitter eyeshadow, and application is definitely half the battle. If you swipe it on heavily like regular shadow you will get fallout. If you pat it on lightly and gently and use a primer it should stay in place. I have no fallout issues with Illamasqua’s pigments and they are super glittery. Urban Decay’s are a little trickier, therefore I don’t use them all over my lids. I love using Midnight Cowgirl as a browbone highlighter!
Huge 2nd about Midnight Cowboy! All it takes is a couple light taps from your brush to get the glitter off and you have a nice shimmery highlight!
Shimmer=pretty!
Glitter=a definite no-go for me! In my opinion, it can look very tacky and juvenile 😐
I’m addicted to glitter everywhere, all day everyday. Life is too short for boring mattes and fading into the background.
I don’t mind fall out because it’s just less glitter that I have to add to my face. =D
Not at all a glitter eyeshadow fan…if its suble and light and very very fine i dont mind…the fall out just makes a big mess..i find that the shine from shimmer eyeshadows is much more sophisticated as compared to glitter eyeshadows.
I really don’t like fall out but I love how glitter eyeshadow looks!!! 🙂
I prefer shimmery eyeshadows as opposed to just the glitter itself. glitter has fallout, you have to be careful not to get it in your eye, and i do have MUFE’s eyeseal (its made for glitter or to waterproof your eyeshadows) and it does work. I can wipe my eyes and the mufe glitter does not come off.
I love glitter but it reflects in my glasses and I end up not being able to see properly.
Glitter and sensitive eyes/contacts are not friends…
I LOVE GLITTER! MAC reflects glitters really inspired me to get more into makeup, and I love how they adhere to the skin without getting anywhere and come off easily. I also love super glittery lips sans gloss, because it makes lips look huge and really cool without hair getting stuck all over your lips.
I like using glitter(with some sort of adhesive). But I hate glitter eyeshadows. In theory its good, because its the best of both worlds. But none of the glitter e/s i have used work. All of the glitter is usually on my face before i walk out the door.
I really like glitter eyeshadows because I’m naturally drawn to sparkly things 🙂 I feel like if you just use one glittery shadow in a look it can add a little something extra, but using more than one can be a disaster!
I hate the fall out!
don’t like the fallout and try to use stuff to prevent it but if it’s too sticky I get creasing. Also annoying when it gets in my eye…
i love glitter. its worth the fallout.
Has anyone tried this rubber glitter brush from Sephora? I think about getting it every time I pass by the brush section, but wonder how well it works.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P247243&categoryId=C12741&shouldPaginate=true
Also, has anyone used it with MAC pigments?
Love it sooooo much! You just have to use it in moderation.
I don’t use glitter eyeshadow, full stop.
Thought I slowly began liking them recently when so many youtubers and bloggers started doing tutorials involving glitter.
I want to try it for a night out/clubbing.
I scream and run away from any kind of eyeshadow with chunky glitter. Finely milled sparkly isn’t bad, but if I want glitter, I’d rather use a glitter eyeliner.
not a fan at all and I only own glitter eyeshadows because urban decay seems to love to put chunky monkey glitter eyeshadows in all of their palettes: midnight cowboy rides again and Uzi coughcough (except the naked palette doesn’t have any chunky ones)
It depends. I hate fallout but since I’ve found Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy to glue those suckers on my eyelids, I’ve had a lot less fallout. Some days I want full blown sparkle but other times I wish there were less. I dunno. just depends on my mood and how much time I can spend wiping glitter off my forehead. Yup, it floats up there too!
I have done looks using eyesafe glitter as an eyeshadow and it looked awesome. I think if you do it right, and blend it in well with the rest of your eyeshadows it can look amazing!
LOVE LOVE LOVE GLITTER . It cant have enough glitter for me 😀
But sometimes it can be very irritating when taking it off and Im usually cleaning glitter forever whenever I clean my eyes.
Well, when using cosmetic glitter (the straight glitter, non-eyeshadow kind), I like to line my eyes with black liquid liner. Then I take lash glue and line just above the eyeliner with the glue. Then simply press on the glitter. Just a twist on everyday black liner! And the lash glue really keeps it on all day.
I love glitter even though it can be messy and there can be fallout. I don’t think I’ve ever worn a matte face with glitter eye products- usually if my eyes are sparkly then so is the rest of my face, so the fallout doesn’t matter so much then.
love them on my eyelid but I hate the fallout
Love glitter, but I hate the fallout all over my face. I’m a liquid glitter liner gal now. (Too Faced Starry Eyed and UD Heavy Metal are great) Subtle sparkle and it stays put!
I like a little shimmer. But not huge glitter,especially the fall out. Ever had glitter fall in your eye?! Not fun.
you are eventually too old for sparkles and glitter…you will know when you’ve reached that age by looking at yourself in the mirror and realize that you have glitter on your face. A little shimmer can add a nice touch.
as a mature age-although it is attractive in a way…no way for me….
Back when I first got into makeup, I thought glitter eyeshadow was amazing. In 8th grade, I went to an NSYNC concert and used this ESPRIT glitter shadow gel, and it did not wash off. My friend and I called it the 2-day glitter.
I tried it again when I got into Urban Decay a few years back. This time, staying on was not the problem. Every time I use glitter eyeshadow, it’s a glitter explosion on my cheeks. Really embarrassing when I use a glitter neutral and go to work, not realizing the glitter mess on my face.
I hate the fall out
I dislike the way of applying them
I don’t use them often
I do not like chunky glitter (any that will give you a noticeable fall out). I am past my age and glitter does not fit my life style simply put … but tasteful specks of fined milled glitter can be gorgeous. Bobbi Brown shimmer wash, Trish McEvoy Demure Eyeshadow, Shu Uemura, these brands have developed very tasteful versions.
HATE IT!!! HATE IT!!! HATE IT!!! But I don’t have an opinion. LOL.
I hate glitter e/s. Nothing good comes from it: It ends up all over my face -even when I foil it, it looks a hot mess -even when applied with the Mac 239, it’s uncomfortable, it gets in my eyes, and it looks childish.
I absolutely luvvv the glitter. Somehow it doesnt fall out very much…I adore Urban Decay’s glitter line and have Minx, Kiddie Pool, Uzi, Snatch and others.
I still haven’t found a glitter that isn’t a pain in the butt to use. I mean, you always have to fix it with something and it gets everywhere, and it’s just way too much work. Blah!
I think I like the idea of glitter eyeshadow more than the actual product. I was disheartened after using Urban Decay’s eyeshadows. I have ton of them from the all the UD palettes I have. I am trying to figure out a way to use them though without all the fallout. Does anyone know if a sealer or a mixing medium would work in keeping them in place?
It depends on what you are doing with them. If it is a look for going out then glitter is appropriate. For daytime looks glitter eyeshadow is fine in moderation, and is a really good accent to any look; however, there is a point at which there is tooooo much. I am also not in love with the fall out epically since it seems to gravitate towards lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
Nope. Not even in my younger days.
I am a slight shimmer kind of girl.
Too matt or too glittery are both a no-no for me.
I love glitter and depending on the texture and amount of glitter I’m very willing to use it. I don’t mind using even colors from UD like Grifter and Uzi as long as I tap some chunks out and cover under my eye during application.
I love glitter eyeliner but I can’t use them because my eyes are very sensitive. Whenever the glitter falls into my eyes, my eyes get all red and watery….
I dont really like glitter eyeshadow since they crease a lot more on me
I hate fallout! As well as removal. The other day I wore glitter I cannot get it out of my brush or my liner:( I should have done liner first. That was like 4 days ago and I still find glitter on my pillow even though I used eye makeup remover! Sad day
Hate it!
Not school appropriate either, girls!
I like glitter eyeshadows. I have some sephora shadows and some stila that I really like.
The fallout. Ugh its so pretty when you put it on and then five minutes later its on your face…
I’m old (hah, 36) and I’m finding I like it. I just started using UD eye shadows and have been using just a little of the glitter ones for highlighting. I haven’t had much trouble with fallout either (some, but not a ton). I like the look and don’t feel I’m “too old” for it … maybe I’m delusional haha.
I was on about a 10 year hiatus from wearing makeup — I just never took the time for it. In the last couple of months I’ve started wearing it again regularly and I’m having fun with it. I do wear it to work but I’m not in a super-conservative environment and I haven’t gotten negative feedback about it so I’m sticking with it because it makes me happy.
What is MUFE?