Glitter is a great way to add some sparkle and shine to your look. However, when it comes to using glitter on your skin, you need to be careful, especially when applying it around your eyes and on your face. There are two types of glitter: craft glitter and cosmetic glitter. While craft glitter is suitable for crafting, it is not recommended for use on the skin because of its harsh material and processing. In contrast, cosmetic glitter is specifically designed to be safe for use on the skin, especially the face. Here are some of the things you need to look for in cosmetic glitter:
Is the material non-toxic?
Cosmetic-grade glitter is often made from acrylic or polyester, usually polyurethane terephthalate (PET), a plastic which is non-toxic. It may or may not contain aluminum, which catches light to give ‘sparkle’. Craft glitter, on the other hand, can be made from materials such as glass or metal, which can be harsh on the skin.
Is the packaging process good enough to avoid contamination?
A good-quality cosmetic grade glitter will be handled and processed in such a way that contaminants can’t enter the mix until it reaches you, or after opening. High-quality cosmetic glitters are processed by workers who are required to follow proper sanitary conduct to avoid hygiene issues. All jars should have safety seals.
Are the cuts suitable for use near eyes and sensitive skin?
Any glitter with larger flake sizes or cuts in geometric shapes with sharp angles could hurt your skin due to their pointy edges. High-quality ultra-fine cosmetic-grade glitters are finer particle sizes and are usually perfect hexagons, which won’t hurt your skin. You’ll often see cosmetic glitters labeled with particle measurements as small as .004″. Some may have more visible particles for an intended chunkier look.
Solvent resistant and harmful additives or dyes?
Craft glitter is tinted with dyes – some of which are harmful chemicals. These dyes may even leach out and stain your skin. High-quality cosmetic glitter is made with more care. FDA-approved colors are used so that it doesn’t harm you even if you ingest.
Is it certified cosmetic grade?
Cosmetic grade glitter is best because it has been certified for use on skin and around eyes after testing and lab experiments. Don’t be fooled with a ‘cosmetic grade’ headline or bullet point. Many companies use this marketing tactic without any extra measures to ensure your safety.
It is worth noting that cosmetic-grade glitter offers far more coverage than craft glitter, with one pound covering 100 square feet as opposed to the mere 14 square feet by a pound of craft glitter. This is due to the smaller flake size of the glitter. While it might be tricky to find a high-quality glitter that passes all the tests mentioned above, all glitter in Glitties Cosmetic-Grade and Solvent Resistant collections pass this test!
In summary, if you want to use glitter as makeup, you just need to be extra careful when picking your brand. Don’t be fooled by the generally cheaper priced craft glitters because the risks of using non-cosmetic glitter on your skin are not worth the cheaper price. Cosmetic-grade glitter is your best bet to ensure your safety, especially around your eyes and face.
