Festival Glitter Makeup and Hair Guide

Festivals are a great excuse to try a little more sparkle than usual. A sweep of glitter across your cheekbones, a shimmering parting or a few bright strands in your hair can bring the whole look together. Whether you’re heading to a music festival, a summer party or a city event, you can create your festival glitter look at home with a few products and simple techniques.

How to Create a Festival Glitter Makeup Look

Start with whatever makeup you feel like wearing. You can also apply glitter directly to clean skin for a simpler look. The cheekbones, temples and brow bones are easy places to start. If you want sparkle on your eyelids or lips, choose a glitter and base whose instructions specify that they’re suitable for that area. 

Try a small star on your cheek, a glitter tear below the outer corner of your eye or a wide sweep of colour from your cheekbone to your temple. Keep it simple with one shade or blend two colours where they meet.

What Do You Need for Festival Glitter Makeup?

• Cosmetic glitter in your favourite colours and particle sizes.
• Glitter Primer or another suitable base, such as petroleum jelly for a cheekbone look.
• A small makeup brush or applicator to press the glitter into place.
• Makeup remover wipes or cotton pads for easy removal after the festival.

Chunky glitter catches the light and gives cheekbone and temple looks more texture. Fine glitter gives a smoother finish and makes it easier to add precise details. Try starting with a fine shade and adding a few larger flecks where you want the most sparkle. 

How to Keep Glitter Makeup in Place

Glitter Primer gives the particles a base to grip and helps you control exactly where the sparkle goes. You can apply it over makeup or directly to clean skin.

1. Finish your base makeup if you’re wearing any.
2. Dab a thin layer of primer only where you want the glitter to go.
3. Gently press the glitter onto the primer with your fingertip or a small brush.
4. Let it set before touching the area. Build up the sparkle a little at a time if you want a bolder finish.

How to Add Glitter to Your Hair

A glitter parting, a few sparkling curls or a bright streak through a braid can work on its own or pick up the colours in your makeup. For a subtle finish, start with a narrow line of glitter. Chunky glitter catches more light and stands out from farther away.

• Glitter gel. Mix a little chunky glitter with hair gel, then smooth it over your parting, through short hair or onto the ends.
• Sleek ponytail. Use a small amount of gel to add a line of glitter along your parting or around the base of your ponytail. For sparkle that moves with your hair, try Glitternisti hair tinsel.
• Festival braids. Dab glitter gel onto the tops of the braids or between sections to highlight the pattern.

Start with a small amount of gel, especially if your hair is fine. On thick or curly hair, try dabbing it onto individual sections or curls so the sparkle stays visible. 

How to Remove Glitter After the Festival

1. Dampen a cotton pad with cleansing oil or micellar water, or use a makeup remover wipe.
2. Hold the pad against the glitter briefly to help loosen the base, then gently wipe it away.
3. Repeat with a fresh pad if needed. Put the used pads or wipes in the bin before rinsing your face to keep loose glitter out of the drain.
4. Wash your face with your usual cleanser and moisturise as you normally would.

For hair glitter, gently brush out the loose particles before washing your hair. Collect any glitter that falls and put it in the bin.