Glitter Lipstick for the Party Season

Glitter Lipstick for the Party Season

Glitter lipstick is the fastest way to look dressed up with almost no effort at the mirror. These are the sparkly lipsticks, glitter glosses and shimmer lip oils I would pack for every party between now and New Year's.

When Studio 54 opened in Manhattan on April 26, 1977, it set the template for what party makeup could be. For one New Year's Eve, the event designer Robert Isabell reportedly had four tons of glitter spread across the dance floor, so deep that guests said it felt like standing on stardust. Glitter lipstick is a much smaller version of that idea, and a lot easier to clean up. One swipe and you look like you made an effort, even if you got ready in the back of a cab.

The first row is sparkle in a lipstick bullet, which is the neatest way to wear it. Dior Addict Glass Lipstick in Gem Dior is a pink with fine sparkle, and Sparkly Dice from the same line is a sheer pink with purple flecks. One MAC Lustreglass shade is a taupe pink with silver pearl, and Party Trick is a pearly champagne that works on almost anyone. KJH.brand Prism Lite crayons come in Enigma, a shimmery peach nude, and Phantom, a moody plum. Westman Atelier HydroBalm in Nectar is a sheer peach with a quiet shimmer. Anastasia Beverly Hills Kiss Theory in Magnetica is a shimmering amethyst for the boldest night.

A quick check before you leave: look at your lips under a phone flashlight. If the sparkle reads as texture instead of shine, blot and add a thin layer of balm on top.

Tear-off flyer collage over a close-up beauty photo, reading Take a little sparkle, with Dior Addict Glass Lipstick in Gem Dior, PAT McGRATH LABS LUST Gloss in Blitz Gold, MAC Lustreglass in Party Trick, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Oil in Miss Jellyfish and ISAMAYA Lips Metal in Guilded
Glitter Lipstick

Sparkle and metallic lipsticks

Glitter glosses that catch the light

A glitter gloss gives more light than a lipstick and moves when you talk, which is why it looks so good in photos. The trick is picking one that is smooth, not gritty.

PAT McGRATH LABS LUST Gloss in Blitz Gold is a glistening gold pearl, and Aliengelic from the same line is a pink duochrome that shifts as you turn your head. HUDA BEAUTY Faux Filler in She Glitzy is a clear iridescent gloss that goes over any lipstick. Tower 28 ShineOn in Magic is clear with gold shimmer and is gentle on sensitive lips. Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Cocoa Macchiato is a glittery brown with that classic cushiony texture. NARS Afterglow Lip Shine in Orgasm is the peachy pink with gold shimmer that suits almost everyone. Sarah Creal On Top is a nude sparkle with peptides, and Anastasia Beverly Hills Diamond Lip Gloss in Honey Diamond is the most sparkle you can fit in a tube.

Pairing tip: with a glitter gloss, keep your eyes simple. A little mascara and a soft brown liner let the lips carry the whole look.

What I would skip: glitter gloss with a long, loose hairstyle on a windy night. Hair sticks to it every time. Tie it back or switch to a sparkly lipstick from the first row.

Glitter and sparkle glosses

Shimmer oils and balms for softer sparkle

If you want sparkle that feels like lip care, a shimmer oil or metallic balm is the softest way in. These are the ones I would put on at a desk before going straight out.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Oil in Miss Jellyfish is a sparkling icy lilac that feels like an oil. Dior Lip Glow Oil in Mocha has a sparkly finish and cherry oil. Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil in Pineapple Pout gives a sheer golden shimmer, and YSL Loveshine in Lucky Moonstone is a soft pink shimmer that also plumps. ISAMAYA Lips Metal comes in Shaded Rose and Guilded, which are the most metallic balms I have seen, a rose and a true gold. tarte maracuja juicy lip plumping oil in shimmering berry adds a flush of color, and MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist ColorGlow in Festival Lilac is a shimmery lilac balm with violet and blue sparkles.

How to use them: apply over a matching lip liner if you want the color to last past the first drink. The liner stays when the oil wears off.

What I would skip: a metallic balm on chapped lips. Metallic shine shows every flake. Use a gentle lip scrub the night before instead of the morning of.

Shimmer lip oils and balms

Picking your sparkle

For one party, pick a sparkly lipstick from the first row, because it is the neatest and lasts longest. If you have several nights out, add a clear glitter gloss that can go over anything you already own. Keep a shimmer oil for the nights you are going straight from work. Glitter lipstick is supposed to be fun, so do not overthink it. Blot, reapply once and enjoy the fact that your lips are catching the light. Keep a small mirror and a cotton swab in your bag to tidy any stray sparkle after dinner.