Nail glitter, foil, sequins, sparkles, polishes with shimmer - with all this you can create a festive manicure in a matter of minutes. But sometimes you can overdo it with glitter, or it won’t match the base color of the varnish. Militta decided to figure out what types of glitter there are, how to use it correctly in manicure, and what are the latest trends in using glitter for nails.
Glitter and its types
By the word “glitter” many people mean different things. Let's figure out what it is. In a general sense, this is a nail coating with glitter. But then opinions differ. In order not to get confused in different concepts, let's consider the types of glitter:
- Dry glitter for nails. Yes, they may well be called glitter. This is a crumbly coating that is applied to the base color of the varnish or to a transparent base. There can be many sizes of sparkles, as well as shapes: round, square, diamonds, rectangles, triangles and polygons. Large glitters are usually applied one at a time, while small ones can be used to cover the nail.
- Liquid glitter. It is the same dry glitter, but already mixed with a base of varnish or gel polish. It is more convenient to use, but does not contain large particles. Liquid or gel glitter can be applied to the entire nail plate, or you can use a thin brush to draw a design. It comes in gold, silver, multi-colored or other shades.
- Varnish or gel polish with shimmer. The smallest sparkles, barely noticeable, like the milky way, are called shimmer. As a rule, they are applied completely to the entire nail plate. The fine shimmer is completely unobtrusive and can also be found in a variety of shades. Transparent varnishes with shimmer can be applied to any solid base color of the nail.
Current trends in the use of glitter for manicure
Minimalism is the main trend of this year. This means that there should not be a lot of glitter and glitter. The abundance of rhinestones, sparkles, and sequins is already a thing of the past. If you use them, then only to a minimum. So, here are the main trends this season regarding how to use glitter and glitter in nail designs.
What is shimmer?
Glitter has captured fashionistas all over the world. Manicure with a metallic effect, holographic hair tinting, wardrobe items made as if from aluminum, and, of course, shining makeup. If previously only eye shadow and sometimes blush shimmered, now the whole face can shine. But this shine can be different: appearing at a certain angle of light rays, specifically highlighting areas of the face, or deliberately created by a skillful hand.
The process of placing light accents on the face has received an elegant name - strobing. This type of makeup is carried out with four main cosmetic products: highlighter, illuminator, shimmer and glitter. As a rule, they all differ in the degree of concentration of shiny particles. But in reality, all cosmetic brands imagine shiners differently, so the line between them is very arbitrary.
Gradation of shiners according to the degree of gloss:
- Illuminizer (luminizer) has a more shiny consistency compared to highlighter, but its use is also appropriate both during the day and in the evening.
- Shimmer contains relatively large shiny particles, which is why it is deservedly given third place.
- Glitter is the champion of shimmer. Most often, this cosmetic product consists of glitter in combination with some kind of liquid or dry base. Naturally, makeup with glitter is an option for special occasions.
Highlighter is the weakest product in terms of light reflection. This product can be used for everyday and festive makeup. At the same time, there are many application options: covering the entire face with highlighter, placing accents, mixing its liquid version with regular foundation, etc.
You can learn more about illuminizers and highlighters here. In this story we will talk about the shimmer - the “king” of parties.
Pros of the Shimmer:
- Shine, shine and more shine. This skincare product glows in almost any light.
- It's easy to transform everyday makeup into a festive one with just a couple of strokes of a shimmer brush.
- Economical use. One palette of this highlighter lasts for a long time.
- Availability. On store shelves you can find shimmers for every budget.
Disadvantages of shimmer:
- Most shimmers are not suitable for everyday makeup, again because of the deliberate shine.
- Enhances imperfections on the skin. Peeling areas, pimples, wrinkles, acne - the shimmer will mercilessly reveal everything that you would like to hide.
- This shiner is not suitable for oily skin, as it adds excessive shine to the skin, creating the effect of an “oily pancake” on the face.
It's very easy to go overboard with the intensity of the shine, especially if you apply this product all over your face.
How and where to apply shimmer?
Most often, shimmer is applied to the cheekbones and under the eyebrow. Sometimes the entire face is covered with this cosmetic product, but this is done only in special cases.
The universal scheme for applying all shiners looks like this:
At the same time, you can apply a thin layer of shimmer on.
The method for applying shimmer depends on the type of product you choose. Liquid ones are distributed on the skin using sponges or fingers; for loose and compact ones, brushes are needed, preferably specially designed for them (in extreme cases, an angled or fan-shaped powder brush of small diameter will do).
Important! Shimmer needs to be carefully shaded, otherwise instead of an attractive, radiant makeup you can end up with a shiny, blotchy misunderstanding.
Skin glow is always the highlight of the overall look. Thanks to modern beauty products, it’s easy to achieve on your face that same “Photoshop” effect that people love to talk about in advertising of shiny cosmetic products. The main thing is that the flicker is strictly dosed both according to the situation and your mood.
French manicure with glitter
This is for fans of the classics, but if you are already tired of the traditional French jacket or want to add some festivity for some occasion.
A French manicure can be decorated with glitter in any way you like, the main thing, again, is not to overdo it too much with the abundance of sparkling decor. A good option is a classic French coat with a nude or transparent base, with a white “smile” and light shimmer on top. For this, choose transparent coatings with silver shimmer - it will look best on white. Large sequins and sparkles can be used to decorate the nail near the cuticle. In this case, you should apply them only to one or two fingers on your hand, carefully placing them at the base of the nail plate. An option for the bold and bright is a “smile” at the tip of the nail, completely made with glitter. It can be with a clear outline drawn with a thin brush, or in the form of an ombre. In the second case, the glitter will create a gradient, smoothly moving onto the base of the nail plate.
Using sequins
Large sequins (also called kamifubuki or confetti) can be used with any base shade of nail polish or gel polish.
As we said above, they are usually laid out one at a time, depending on the design you want to get. This nail art looks very festive and attracts enough attention. Therefore, there should not be a lot of sequins. Large flat dry glitter can be of any geometric shape, as well as in the shape of hearts, stars and other shapes, and of any color. Sequins of any shade look good on light varnishes, but for dark ones it is better to choose contrasting, light ones so that they are noticeable. The most popular option today is to place glitter at the base of the nail, near the cuticle. You can lay them out one at a time, or several, stretching them towards the tip of the nail. Remember that when using gold or silver, the glitter should match the color of the jewelry you are wearing on your hands.
Sprinkle with dry glitter
Small dry glitters, sold in jars, are very popular among manicurists and manicurists. The easiest way is to cover the entire surface of the nail with shining particles. This can be done in several ways.
The easiest option: dip your nail, covered with an undried base, directly into a container of glitter. To shake off excess glitter, tap your finger, for example, on a table, and apply top coat on top. If you use gel polish, after this you need to dry the coating thoroughly in a lamp.
You can also apply glitter to the nail using a thick brush. In this case, you no longer need to apply a topcoat.
What to buy
- Silver-beige glitter for nails from ruNail, 24 rubles →
- Glitter of different colors from AliExpress, from 19 rubles →
- Sets of glitter in different colors from AliExpress, from 135 rubles →
- Pink glitter from Patrisa Nail, 50 rubles →
Glitter painting
Another very discreet, sophisticated and elegant manicure option is glitter painting.
In this case, you will definitely need liquid gel glitter of a fairly fine fraction, as well as a thin brush for drawings. What to draw? It doesn’t matter at all, the main thing is that it is done very subtly and carefully. Therefore, it is better to perform such a manicure by an experienced manicurist in a salon so that it does not look like it was done by a schoolgirl. A beautiful painting will suit business ladies if it is done on a nude or light base. The simplest option is geometry in the form of stripes and lines on the nails, parallel or intersecting in any direction. But geometry will also be the most trendy this season, so be sure to try this nail design. Floral motifs and floral designs require some drawing skills. Here you can paint not only with glitter, but also with some contrasting shade. Another option is to use glitter for the hole in the moon design. Very interesting and relevant, attracts attention, but at the same time not vulgar.
Matte manicure with glitter
Shine, sequins, and glitter designs look brightest and most contrasting, of course, on a matte finish.
The glossy sparkle of the varnish itself does not distract from the shine of the glitter. This option is perfect for a holiday or gala evening. The base color of the varnish can be any. Light nude or pastel shades look best, as well as more saturated ones: blue, green, fuchsia, purple and even matte black. How to use gloss for a matte finish? Any of the above methods. These can be laid out single sequins and confetti, or maybe small glitter in the form of some kind of designs and ornaments. Again, it is worth showing restraint in the abundance of sparkle, since it is most visible on a matte base. The “smile” of a French manicure and the hole of a moon manicure look good on a matte nail, so it’s worth trying these options.
Milky manicure with design: popular ideas at 21-22
The trend for 2021-2022 was colored French on a milk base. Business women prefer matte, ombre and gradient options.
French on a milk base
Nail designs with a milky color include several design options. The creamy finish looks equally good on both long and short fingers. A popular option is a bright French coat with a milk base. A beige coating is applied to the nail in 2-3 layers, then lines, geometric shapes, and ornaments are drawn on the dried varnish. You can complement the design with sparkles or rhinestones.
Matte milky manicure
Milky matte finish is a trend for 2022. The design looks deep and elegant. To make your manicure last as long as possible, you need to wipe your nails regularly (at least once every 2 days) with a cloth soaked in micellar water. The matte shade can be combined with others, for example, lilac, pink, light green, yellow. Geometric shapes and lines are best depicted in black.
Milky translucent manicure
The translucent coating on the nails looks quite unusual and unusual. This option is suitable for girls with olive, tanned skin. You can complement the design with rhinestones, sparkles, silver, gold foil, rubbing or a pattern. It’s quite easy to play with contrast by depicting a complex composition (for example, animal, floral print with ethnic patterns).
Gradient and ombre on a milk base
A gradient with sparkles under the milky base can be made with regular varnish. The main condition is the presence of smooth transitions from color to color. The ombre technique involves the use of several colors. It is advisable to combine at least 2 shades with each other.
The transition can be positioned vertically or horizontally. A new technique is also popular: a smooth transition is made from finger to finger. Milky-colored varnish is applied to the little finger, a lighter shade to the ring finger, and an even lighter shade to the middle finger. The thumbnail is coated with translucent white varnish.
Milky manicure with glitter
Milky manicure with glitter stretching is popular among young girls. The design is varied: you can rub it on your nails or depict an ethnic pattern with shiny varnish. You need to focus on 1-2 fingers, the rest are simply covered with a milk base. This design is suitable for daily wear. On nails, a milky base with shiny splashes looks stylish.
Milky manicure with rhinestones
A gradient manicure with a milky base can be decorated with rhinestones of different sizes. Shiny stones will look great on long oval or almond-shaped nails.
Experienced nail artists create entire compositions depicting flowers, animal figures, the moon, the sun, and leaves. You can decorate one or more fingers with stones. This version of milky manicure is suitable for special occasions.
Milky manicure with stickers
The color of milk chocolate on nails looks sophisticated. The design can be different - arrows, lines, shapes, dots. It’s easy to do a manicure with stickers yourself by purchasing sliders in advance from a specialized store.
The milky base can be combined with bright art stickers:
- floral ornament;
- "lace";
- animal print.
The mini-composition is complemented by a gradient and a French pattern.
Stamping on a dairy base
Stamping is performed on nails of different lengths. The design is carefully transferred to the plate using a stamp from the stencil. To create an art manicure, several colors are used. You can apply a stencil design of any shade to the milk base.
Please note: if you plan to apply a large design on your nails, then the stamp is transferred only to 1-2 fingers. This manicure option will not look flashy or “overloaded.”
Manicure with foil
Silver or gold color goes well with milky. Nude shades will add completeness and sophistication to the look. It's easy to do a manicure yourself.
To create the design you will need:
- gel polish;
- base;
- foil.
The metallized material is usually applied to one side (right, left) of the nail. This way the foil will emphasize the length and shape. The design can be complemented with a gradient or any simple pattern.
Milk manicure with rubbing
The rub is used to create a mirror or matte manicure. It gives the nail plate a metallic shine. Violet, green, pink, silver or golden tints will look good on a milk base.
You can shade several nails, for example, the middle and ring nails. The rub also looks good on short square-shaped plates. This manicure visually lengthens the nail. The design is complemented with rhinestones and small ornaments.
"Different Hands"
This technique is relevant in spring and summer. The “different hands” manicure is quite simple to perform: a milky base is applied to the nails of one hand (for example, the right hand). If you need to get a darker shade, then the plate is covered with several layers of varnish. Any other color is applied to the second hand, preferably combined with cream (for example, pink, orange, lavender, light green).
Fine shimmer in different shades
Well, finally, we moved on to that very fine shimmer that we mentioned above.
A universal option is clear varnish or gel polish with small glitter. It can be used with any base color - from the lightest to black. But there are also options that already have color. In this case, the sparkles in the shimmer also match the shade of the polish itself. It looks very gentle and discreet, but the nail shines and shimmers. There are options with a shine that contrasts with the base color of the varnish. Dark shades look best: black, purple, dark blue, dark green, burgundy. Small sparkles shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow create a “milky way” effect. The finer the shimmer, the more you can use it, even applying it to all your fingers. If the glitter is larger, apply it to one or two fingers, and make sure that the base polish on the other nails matches the color.
Author: Tatyana Maltseva
What is face shimmer?
In advertisements for cosmetic products and on store shelves, the inscriptions on some jars and their names make you wonder - what is it and how to use it? The variety of cosmetics, on the one hand, is a big plus, since it is possible to fully satisfy your needs and realize the desired image, but the presence of too large an assortment is not always for the benefit of an ordinary woman, not a professional makeup artist. There are a lot of useful and truly irreplaceable products that, due to unknown names, simply do not catch the eye. We recommend that you get acquainted with such a product as shimmer and start using it correctly to improve your makeup skills.
Why do you need shimmer in cosmetics?
Shimmer is a product that is designed to give the skin a slightly moist, slight shimmer. This effect cannot be compared with the usual application of some decorative glitter; in products with shimmer, the shimmering elements are very small, and when applied to the skin, they enhance the pigments, saturating the color of the product itself, even out the tone and visually hide existing skin unevenness and other imperfections. The most accurate description of the result can be the words “illuminates from within” - this is exactly the effect that shimmer has.
Depending on the intensity, shimmer can be used both on the entire face (to give it a rested, fresh look) and on individual areas (to draw relief or for decorative purposes). The most important thing is that the shimmer shade was harmoniously combined with the overall color scheme used in the makeup.
Types of shimmers and how to use them correctly?
Shimmer is the general name for products that contain shimmering particles. There are quite a few varieties of them; such sparkles can be included in almost all cosmetic products. Depending on the color of the particles themselves, they can give a different effect - moist, satin, pearlescent, etc. Let's look at the main types of cosmetics that may contain shimmer.
Shimmer shadows
Shimmer shadows or shadows with shimmer are a group of shiny, iridescent shadows that, when applied to the skin, beautifully sparkle with small reflective particles. This type of decorative eye cosmetics is usually used for some events, for evening outings, since in the daytime iridescent shades can look too heavy. To lighten the look, you can use shadows with shimmer in light tones, combining them with regular, matte ones - this way you can achieve an almost imperceptible, but radiant shine. White pearlescent shades are often applied to the inner corner of the eye to make the look more open. But rich, dark shades with glitter are exclusively an evening option.
Powder
Shimmer powders can be used both on the entire face and on individual areas - it depends on the specific tone and the degree of saturation and intensity of shine. To obtain a delicate shimmer, this powder is mixed with regular powder, or the least shining option is selected and applied directly to the foundation. The shimmering coating makes the skin more fresh, well-groomed and healthy-looking. Saturated options with pronounced shine can be used in sections to highlight light areas and visually correct the face. Girls with enlarged pores and oily skin should be careful when applying.
Pomade
Lipsticks with sparkling elements are the most common. They highlight the lips favorably, making them more attractive. Light shades have a visual enhancement effect, while shimmer adds a feeling of moisture to the skin.
Review of the best products with shimmer
Products with shimmer are presented in almost all popular cosmetics lines, as they have a certain popularity. For those who are in search of the perfect radiant cosmetics, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the best products in this category.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact
The professional cosmetics brand offers to try powder blush with shimmer in a compact form. The packaging is simple and stylish - the corporate laconic black color of the case, which opens with a light press of the button. The total weight of the product is a little more than 10 grams, and the selected color scheme is represented by five shades of varying degrees of saturation, arranged alternately in one container. The composition is easily applied to the brush and transferred to the skin, giving it a light, neat shine and radiance, which is perfect for going out and photo shoots. The cost can be classified as high.
Dior / Dior DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer
Shimmering powder from Dior is presented in a compact package with a small mirror, weighing 10 grams. The consistency of the product is very light, it is applied to the brush carefully, making it quite easy to regulate the intensity of application to the skin. Depending on the chosen shade and initial skin tone, you can use the powder as a light blush or bronzer - it gives a delicate shimmering shine. One tablet contains 5 shades placed together, so you can either mix them all together when applying or carefully scoop out only individual ones. This powder does not dry out the skin and creates a long-lasting coating.
Mac / MAC Mineralize Skinfinish
The packaging is standard for powder - a round case with a mirror inside and compactly compressed contents. There is no sponge or disc for application included in the kit, since the product is positioned as professional and therefore requires application with a special brush. The texture of the powder is very delicate, silky; when applied to the skin, it seems to dissolve, leaving no unpleasant sensations. It is easy to apply to the brush and is also easy to apply to the skin. The product hides facial imperfections and oily shine well, making the face not only even in tone, but also giving it a natural, healthy glow.
The application of shimmer shadows has its own characteristics due to the specifics of the result obtained. The most important thing is not to overdo it and choose the right shades. This video presents a step-by-step master class of one of the makeup options using a similar product.
Yana: I use Dior powder with shimmer as eyeshadow and sometimes as a bronzer on my cheeks. It’s a very convenient and functional thing, it lasts a long time, so I don’t regret buying it at all!
Christina: I just recently discovered all the delights of powder with light shimmer. I advise everyone to buy a product from Nyx, even if the price is quite high, but the coverage created is simply perfect, and the shine is so light and delicate that the face immediately begins to shine.
Margarita: I don’t like it when my face shines, so I don’t use such powders and shadows. But lipstick is another matter. With shimmer, lips become juicier and more attractive.
