Festival Glitter for Face Painting: Essential Guide 🎨✨

🎯 What Is Festival Glitter?

Festival glitter is a mix of:

• Different sizes and shapes of cosmetic‑grade glitter
• Often combined with the fine cosmetic glitter face painters already use

Face painters use festival glitter to:

• Add instant “wow” to designs
• Create simple, fast festival looks on:
  • Cheeks
  • Temples
  • Hair roots
  • Chest
  • Beards and more

It works beautifully at:

• Outdoor festivals
• Parties
• Events where clients want to sparkle even without a full face paint design

🛡️ Is Glitter Safe for Face Painting?

Cosmetic‑Grade vs Craft Glitter ⚠️

• Only use cosmetic‑grade glitter on faces and bodies.
• Craft glitter is not made for skin.

Craft glitter can:

• Scratch the cornea if it gets into the eyes
• Cause corneal ulcers and even blindness in extreme cases
• Stain the skin
• Trigger allergic reactions

Cosmetic‑grade glitter is:

• Formulated for use on the body
• Much safer for the eye area when used with care

So your safety rule is simple:

• ✅ Cosmetic‑grade glitter only
• ❌ Never use craft glitter on faces or bodies

Allergies & Sensitive Skin 🌸

We also remind face painters to:

• Be aware of sensitive skin
• Consider latex and paraben allergies
• Know what’s in:
  • Your glitters
  • Your gels
  • Your adhesives

Tip from the shopping guide:

• A clear caution note/sign about products at your set‑up can help protect you and your clients.

✨ Types of Festival Glitter & Related Products

1. Pre‑Mixed Chunky Glitter Gels

Examples :

• Pixie Paint from Amerikan Body Art
• Festival Glitter by Art Factory

Features:

• Ready‑to‑use gel with chunky and fine glitter mixed in
• Great for:
  • Cheek swipes
  • Festival “highlight” areas
  • Hair and body

Application:

• With a flat brush
• With a silicone spatula
• Can be boosted by poofing extra loose glitter on top before the gel dries

2. Loose Festival Glitter (Chunky & Fine Mixes)

Loose glitter:

• Comes in jars
• Often contains:
  • Chunky cosmetic glitter
  • Fine cosmetic glitter

Use it:

• On fresh, slightly damp paint
• With a smoothie blender
• With mixing mediums (see adhesive section below)

3. Glitter Gel / Liquid Bling

Also called:

• Glitter gel
• Liquid bling

What it looks like:

• Translucent gel with powder glitter
• Sold in little squeeze bottles with narrow tips

Best for:

• Thin glittery lines
• Dots
• Outlines
• Glittery patterns

Behaviour:

• Smudges easily while wet
• Once dry, sticks very well and is quite resistant

Tips:

• Choose plastic tips, not metal (metal tips can clog)
• Small bottles are easier to hold and give more control

Important:

• Use cosmetic‑grade glitter gels only
• Acrylic glitter contours can look similar, but contain ingredients that can cause allergic reactions

4. Festival Glitter Glaze

Gels such as Pixie Paint from Amerikan Body Art, or Festival Glitter by Art Factory

Characteristics:

• A gel‑based glitter that can be used like paint
• Can be used for:
  • Decorative applications
  • Linework

Features:

• Comes in several sparkly colours
• Described as somewhat water-resistant
• Can be used:
  • On its own
  • Together with face paints and powders

Artists have been snapping it up fast, and it’s presented as a big innovation in festival glitter.

🖌️ How to Apply Glitter to Face Paint (7 Core Techniques)

1. Fingertip Method 👆

• Artist’s favourite, very versatile.

How:

1. Moisten fingertip on a wet wipe
2. Dip into glitter
3. Press gently onto the skin

Works on:

• Small and large areas
• Even on dry paint, thanks to the moisture on your fingertip

2. Applicator Brush (Smoothie‑Style) 🎨

• Special applicator brush similar to a smoothie blender.

How:

1. Do not pre‑moisten
2. Dip applicator into glitter
3. Press onto the skin

3. Standard Brush 🖌️

Best for:

• Small areas
• Areas where the surface is slightly wet

How:

1. Make sure the paint or skin is a little damp
2. Lightly dampen the brush (not soaking)
3. Dip into glitter
4. Press or roll onto the skin

Notes:

• Too much water = ruined paint
• Too little water = glitter won’t stick

For larger areas:

• Dip the brush handle in water, then glitter
• Lay flat on the skin and roll to transfer glitter

4. Puffer Bottle 💨

Great for:

• Quickly covering large areas
• Adding a light dusting of glitter without touching the skin

How:

1. Take a puffer bottle and pierce the sealed tip with a sharp needle
2. Fill the bottle about halfway with glitter
3. Tilt it horizontally
4. Gently squeeze to puff glitter onto the design

Tips:

• If nothing comes out:
  • Too much glitter inside, or
  • The hole is too small
• To enlarge the hole:
  • Rotate the needle gently inside
  • Avoid scissors — they make the hole too big and hard to control

Important:

• Works best while paint is still damp
• If paint has dried:
  • Lightly spritz from a distance with a fine mist water bottle
  • Avoid heavy spraying that can reactivate and spoil the design

5. Stenciled Glitter Patterns ⭐

Perfect for:

• Snowflakes
• Stars
• Decorative stencil patterns

How:

1. Apply stencil design with sponge and paint as usual
2. Hold stencil in place
3. While the paint is still damp:
   • Use the same sponge dipped in glitter or
   • Use your moistened fingertip dipped in glitter
4. Press glitter over the pattern

Note:

• Sponges with large pores tend to trap glitter forever
• In that case, fingertip application works better

6. Chunky Glitter with Gel or Adhesive 💎

Used when:

• You want bold, chunky glitter pieces to stay in place

Needs something sticky, such as:

• Water or gel‑based moisturiser
• Cosmetic glitter adhesive
• Cosmetic gels like:
  • Hair gel
  • Glitter gel
  • Lubricant

Important reminders:

• Cosmetic glitter adhesive is not the same as glitter tattoo glue
• Check that:
  • It’s allowed on lips and eyelids if you plan to use it there
  • It can be washed off with soapy water as directed

How:

1. Spread a thin layer of gel or adhesive on the area
2. Dab chunky glitter particles on top with your fingertip

You can also:

• Buy ready‑mixed gel + chunky glitter products
• Make your own by mixing glitter with cosmetic gel (e.g. aloe vera gel)

7. Glitter Gel / Liquid Bling Details 🌟

For:

• Thin, sparkly lines
• Dots
• Detailed accents

How:

1. Squeeze gently from the fine tip
2. Draw lines, dots, or patterns
3. Let dry completely

Behaviour:

• Easy to smudge while still wet
• Very durable once fully dry

Recomandations:

• Plastic tips over metal (less clogging)
• Smaller bottles for easier control

Again: keep to cosmetic‑grade products only.

🧴 What to Use to Make Glitter Stick

Simple Adhesive Options

• Water or gel‑based moisturiser
• Aloe vera gel
• Cosmetic hair or body gels (for appropriate areas)

Good for:

• Casual festival looks
• Shorter‑term wear

Cosmetic Glitter Adhesives

Used when:

• You want glitter to stay in a more defined area
• You’re working around eyes or lips (check the label)

Check:

• That it’s approved for the area (eyes, lips, face)
• That it can be washed off with soap and water as directed

Ben Nye & Graftobian Glitter Glues

• Come with a nail polish‑style brush
• Designed for concentrated, precise glitter placement

How:

1. Paint the glue in the areas you want glitter
2. Allow it to go tacky
3. Spritz a smoothie blender lightly with water
4. Dip blender into loose glitter
5. Press onto tacky glue

Benefit:

• Can be used on top of face paint without smudging the design

ProsAide (Original, ProsAide 2, Cream ProsAide)

• Mentioned as medical‑grade adhesives

ProsAide Original:

• Very strong hold
• Needs ProsAide remover for best removal

ProsAide 2:

• Good holding power
• Commonly used for glitter tattoos
• Can be removed with:
  • Oils
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Plus scrubbing in the shower

Cream ProsAide:

• Recommended by artist Michelle Pulsifer for all‑day applications
• Needs correct application for best result

Warnings:

• Do not apply over body hair — the removal is like waxing.

Primers & Setting Sprays

From Michelle Pulsifer:

• Use products like Mehron Barrier Spray or a dedicated festival glitter makeup setting spray to help designs last all day.

For eyelids and lips:

• She recommends a glitter primer instead of gel.

🌱 Eco‑Friendly Biodegradable Glitter

Why it matters:

• Traditional glitter contributes to microplastic pollution
• Can harm plant life and marine animals

Biodegradable glitter:

• Usually made from plant‑based cellulose
• Often comes from eucalyptus
• Still sparkles beautifully

Trend:

• More companies are adding biodegradable ranges
• As demand grows, variety and availability improve

Mentioned sources and brands:

• Larger shops like Silly Farm have started to carry biodegradable glitter
• Dedicated bio‑glitter brands include:
  • Universal Soul Glitter
  • Mermaid Magic Glitter
  • All That Glitters
  • Eco Stardust
  • BioGlitz
  • Eco Glitter Fun
  • Glitter Girl (founded by a 10‑year‑old Australian girl)

🛍️ Where to Buy Festival Glitter & Bling

Most major face painting shops now:

• Sell festival glitter
• Offer their own glitter mixes

If you’re already buying:

• Face paints
• Brushes

…adding glitter usually doesn’t change shipping much.

Named suppliers and brands:

• Glitterballs by LG London
• Vivid Glitter (stackable pots that screw together)

• Sugar Cosmetic Glitter (by Shawna Del Real and Ronnie Mena)

• A Spoonful of Gliterrr
• The Gypsy Shrine
• Gem’s Snazzy Sparkles
• Wild at Heart Glitters
• Treasure House of Makeup

For deeper training:

• We recommend the International Face Painting School, where glitter is covered in detail in the curriculum.

🎁 Extra Festival Products That Work Beautifully with Glitter

Bling Clusters 💎

What they are:

• Pre‑arranged clusters of flat‑back gems and similar elements

Where to get them:

• Make your own from flat‑back gems
• Buy from:
  • Silly Farm
  • JestPaint
  • LG London
  • Acacia Tanner
  • Anita Lyn

Community:

• Facebook group “Jewel Junkie Face Painters” (by Lily Schermerhorn)
  • Tips and templates for making your own bling
  • Buying premade pieces

Adhesives for bling mentioned:

• Eyelash glue
• Mehron AdGem
• Glimmer Tattoo Glue
• ProsAide (for very strong hold, not recommended for children)

Face Paint Powders

Described as:

• Like “eyesahdows on steroids”

Used for:

• Hot climates where parents worry about paint melting
• Full designs (butterflies, pirates, superheroes)
• Stencilling

With primer:

• Powders become:
  • More pigmented
  • Longer‑lasting
  • Better at resisting sweat and some water

Brand mentioned:

• Starblend powders from Mehron

Used:

• With smoothie blenders
• With dense sponges (sometimes slightly dampened)

They’re especially handy for:

• White‑based designs:
  • Harley Quinn
  • The Joker
  • Skulls

ProAiir DIPS & Solids / Airbrush‑Type Paints

These products:

• Are alcohol‑based
• Originally linked to airbrush use
• Now sold for brush and sponge work too

Key points :

• Not recommended for use around the eyes
• Activated with:
  • 99% isopropyl alcohol
  • Or ProLong by ProAiir

Technique from Aubrie Jean Goodnoe:

• Prep the skin with ProLong
• Use powders for base colours
• Use black and white DIPS for outlines and highlights
• Finish with:
  • Shimmer GLAM Powders
  • Aurora GLAM festival‑style Glitter Blings

They:

• Create a water‑resistant effect
• Are waterproof but not soap‑proof

Removal instructions:

1. Apply soap directly to the design
2. Massage in
3. Use a wet wipe or washcloth to remove

Brush cleaning:

• Use 99% isopropyl alcohol
• Consider a separate brush set for these paints

Glitter Tattoos

Why they’re recommended:

• Great in hot weather
• Work well at:
  • Pool parties
  • Events with jumpers and water play

Features:

• With body glue, they can last for several days
• Quite water resistant

How:

1. Apply stencil
2. Paint body glue inside stencil
3. Sprinkle cosmetic glitter
4. Peel stencil away

‍

You can also:

• Create freehand glitter tattoos
• With a little practice, even children could do simple glitter tattoos.

🎪 When to Use Which Products (Events & Conditions)

Use mainly:

• Festival glitter gels, loose glitters, and bling:
  • At outdoor festivals
  • At adult events for bold sparkle
  • As quick add‑ons on cheeks and temples

Use more:

• Powders, DIPS, Solids:
  • In hot climates
  • When families worry that regular paint will melt

Use:

• Glitter tattoos:
  • At pool parties
  • With water play
  • In very hot climates where long‑wear is important

Use:

• Biodegradable glitter:
  • At eco‑conscious events
  • Any time you or the client cares about environmental impact

Festival glitter is no longer a bonus — it’s part of a modern pro kit.

As long as you:

• Use cosmetic‑grade products
• Choose the right glitter and adhesive for the job
• Apply with clean, simple techniques

…you’ll get designs that are safer, more durable, and far more eye‑catching.

Start with one or two methods from this guide, test them at your next event, and build from there. A few smart glitter choices can quietly upgrade your whole face painting business.