How to Wear Sparkly Makeup

Beauty

Avon eyeshadows, lipstick, nail enamel and makeup brushes

Glittery makeup looks enticing in the package (and many of us rocked it at prom back in the day!), but is the sparkly stuff really wearable once you’re years past graduation? Yes, says Avon celebrity makeup artist Lauren Andersen, provided you do it the right way. Here’s how to shine, like a grownup.

Think shimmer, not glitter.

“Glitter feels very young — shimmer is more sophisticated,” says Andersen. “Shimmers are a little more refined, but they still catch and reflect light.” Avoid eye shadows, lipsticks, and blushes with visible chunks of glitter, which are too juvenile. Instead, you want something with a more subdued luminosity that softly twinkles when the light hits it. Two to try: Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Inks, which comes in half a dozen shades with a gorgeous sheen, and the Avon For The Love of Makeup Artist Palette, which is stocked with 30 eyeshadows, including several shimmery colours that have the perfect amount of subtle sparkle. The mark. Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes All Over Face Palette is another great option to add a bit of shimmer to the face.

There’s a time and a place for it.

Remember that sparkle isn’t going to work for any old occasion. “Something like glitter eyes can be fun for New Year’s, but they’re definitely not for every day,” says Andersen. For the office, a softly shimmery beige eye shadow will add just enough of a luminous glow, but anything more overt is probably best saved for special (evening) occasions.

Use it in small doses.

Wearing full-on sparkle everywhere will make you look like the Tin Man! To avoid overkill, wear it sparingly, focusing on just one feature at a time. “Wearing glitter or shimmer on nails looks really cool,” says Andersen. “I also love a pop of glitter in eyeliner.” These little hints of sparkle add a dose of fun for a holiday party or evening out, but allow the rest of your makeup to stay polished. On nails, try Avon Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel, which includes shades that have a shimmer finish; for eyes, we love the flash of twinkle you get from Avon True Color Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner.

It’s sexy on skin.

One can’t-go-wrong way to wear shimmer is highlighter. “I love putting shimmer where the light hits your face: the tops of cheekbones, the bridge of nose, and the browbones,” says Andersen. The effect is super flattering, and still totally sophisticated. We like mark. That’s Brilliant Face & Eye Luminizer, a beautiful golden liquid in an easy-to-use brush-on tube. Or try the Avon For The Love of Makeup Artist Palette, which comes with two pretty highlighting powders tucked inside.

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