Craft Glitter vs. Cosmetic Glitter
We get how tempting it is to randomly use your stash of glitter to add some sparkle to any look. After all, who doesn’t love some extra bling?
But have you ever heard the saying "all that glitter is not gold’?
While you don’t need to think twice before using glitter for crafting, your body is a whole other story. The area around your eyes is especially sensitive, and facial skin also needs extra care.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use glitter as makeup, though- you just need to be extra careful when picking your brand.
Glitter suitable for use on the face should come marked as ‘cosmetic grade’. But not all glitters that claim to be cosmetic grade actually are! You need to watch out, check the ingredients, packaging, and FDA-certification of these products. Or, you can always buy a professional high-quality, certified and tested cosmetic glitter like Glitties.
The risks of using non-cosmetic glitter on your skin are not worth the cheaper price. Don’t be fooled by the generally cheaper priced craft glitters! Not all glitter is created equal.
In fact, 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 due to the smaller flake size of the glitter.
Things to Look for in Cosmetic Glitter
Five questions to answer before you can start using any form of glitter around your eyes and face area:
Is the Material Non-Toxic?
Among other differences, cosmetic-grade glitter and regular craft glitter are made of different materials. 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. It can be especially hazardous if it gets in your eyes where it could scratch your cornea, or damage the sensitive skin under your eye lid.
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. Careless processing may result in the inclusion of rust from machinery, dust, or other byproducts among the flecks of glitter.
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. Cheap craft glitter is not held to the same production standards since it is not meant to be used on your body- however on Amazon that's all you see.
Are the Cuts Suitable for Use Near Eyes and Sensitive Skin?
Any glitter especially chunky 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. Glitter that you do not wish to have dissolve are called Solvent Resistant Glitter.
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 BUT (we don't recommend you to eat glitter!).
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.
Look for safe brands and do your own research before using anything on your skin. Glitter is awesome, but your wellness comes first! While it might be tricky to find a high-quality glitter that passes all the tests mentioned above, all glitter in our Glitties Cosmetic-Grade and Solvent Resistant collections pass this test!