Grown Up Glitter

This holiday season, wear sparkle the sophisticated way  

If you’ve written off glitter as something that’s just for teens and tweens, then you’re seriously mistaken. Shimmer can give your makeup a glam boost, just so long as you don’t go overboard. To help you draw the line between dazzling and disco ball, here are four foolproof ways to add shine to your look. (Just don’t wear them all at once!)

Lips

One of the easiest places to wear shiny makeup is on your lips. Even minimalists can pull off a slightly shimmering gloss. Our best tip is to look for something with a subtle sparkle, rather than full on glitter. Plus, amping up your shine will make your lips look fuller and more noticeable.

Our pick: Jouer Moisturizing Gloss in Rose Glisten.  It’s not the least bit stick, the color is universally flattering, and it has itsy bitsy flecks of real gold that catch the light.

Eyes

We adore matte shadows, but when you really want to draw attention to your peepers, wear a metallic. A shimmery color will make your eyes look bigger and wide-awake. If you’re timid, opt for a neutral shade that packs some shine.  

Our pick: stila Eyeshadow in Sparkle. The golden bronze color is understated yet still gorgeous and eye-catching.

Body

Using a body cream with shimmer is a fantastic way to make your skin look luminous and healthy.  The key is to steer clear of products that contain sizeable pieces of glitter and opt for ones that will give you more of a subtle radiance.

Our pick: LaRocca Champagne and Shimmer Supreme Crème. We adore this super-hydrating formula because it has teeny flecks of 24-karat colloidal gold that literally make skin glow.

Nails

When it comes to nails, all of the aforementioned rules need not apply: the more glitter, the better! Our favorite way to wear glitzy polish is to go for a semi-sheer shade and layer it over a similar color so that the flecks can really project.

Our pick: Zoya’s Rina, Kissy, and Twila. Each is a bright jewel-toned glaze that’s littered with fun confetti-like glitter. Pair them with their corresponding metallic colors from the Gems & Jewels collection for dazzling fingers and toes.

Photo: Paper Crown Holiday 2011 Lookbook

- By Meredith Stebbins