Components for Glitter Eyeshadow

To create glitter eyeshadow, you need several key components to provide sparkle, color, binding, and adherence to the skin. Here are the main types of ingredients and examples:

• Glitter/Shimmer Pigments: These are the core ingredients for the sparkle effect. They are often mica-based with special coatings or particle sizes to reflect light. Examples include Gold Glitter Mica, Silver Super Sparkle Mica, and Red White Sparkle Mica.

• Binder/Base: This component holds the glitter and other pigments together and helps the eyeshadow adhere to the eyelid. The type of binder depends on whether you are making a pressed powder, cream, or liquid eyeshadow.

  • For cream or liquid formulas, gelling agents like Hectorite Gel™ (for oil bases) or film formers are used.
  • Film formers create a layer on the skin that helps the glitter stay put and improves wear time. Examples include Comfort Film (water-based), Silicone Film (silicone/oil-based), and Polyacrylate-21 (water-based).

• Color Pigments (Optional): While glitter provides sparkle, regular cosmetic pigments add the base color to the eyeshadow. These can be inorganic pigments like iron oxides or organic pigments.

• Emollients/Oils (for cream/liquid): Ingredients that provide a smooth texture and help the product spread easily on the skin.

• Fillers/Texturizers (for pressed powder): Ingredients like talc or smaller particle size mica can be used to give bulk and texture to pressed powder formulations.

• Preservatives: Necessary for formulations containing water to prevent microbial growth.

By combining these components in appropriate ratios, you can create glitter eyeshadow with the desired texture, color payoff, and longevity.