Halloween is the perfect excuse to rock dramatic makeup— and in this case, an ultra bold lip— if you aren’t quite brave enough otherwise. Read on to learn all the tips & tricks on how to wear black glitter lips for Halloween, what products to use (hint: only 3!) and how to make them last.
Always wanted to wear bold glitter lips but didn’t know how to achieve the look? Here’s a step-by-step guide with everything you need to know– and it’s easier to do than you think!
Prep your lips
First, you’ll want to prep your lips by exfoliating. This will get rid of dead skin, revealing smooth, soft lips, ready for color. You can do this using a DIY lip scrub with olive oil & brown sugar. You don’t need to do exact measurements, just grab a little of each in the palm of your hand and use your fingers to rub it gently over your lips. Not only will your lips look better when applying the color, it will actually be easier to apply since you have a smooth canvas.
Apply lip color
For the base of your glitter lips, use your favorite lip product in the color you want your lips to be. For Halloween, black is a fun, festive color, but you can use any color you like. Try NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Oh, Put it On for a smooth application. The color is a deep (almost black) purple, which adds some dimension to the lips while still providing the bold base color, perfect for the season. For an accurate application, use a tiny precision brush to line the lips first. Even a craft or paint brush from any craft store will work— no one said you needed fancy, expensive brushes for this!
Keep in mind that dark colors will show every mistake & wobble. If you happen to mess up, you can easily erase it with makeup remover and a small flat brush, or go in with concealer when you’re finished.
Start by making an X over your Cupid’s Bow for a symmetrical look, then line the rest of your lips. You can go back and forth over your lines to get a nice smooth edge. Once your lips are lined, you can apply the color with the wand or a larger brush. Be sure to fill in all the areas of your lips and take it all the way to the corners of your mouth.
Set with Powder
When you feel that you have even, opaque coverage on your lips, it’s time to set them with a powder. The L’Oreal 24 hr Infallible Eyeshadow in Eternal Black is the perfect product for this step. It has a nice shimmer to it, adding more dimension to the lips. Once your lips are set with powder, this will lock in the color and it won’t go anywhere! If you want an ombre effect, consider using a lighter shade of eyeshadow, like L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Silver Sky in the center of your lips. Whatever your preference!
Apply Glitter
Once your lips are set with powder, it’s time to go in with glitter. Be sure you’re using a cosmetic grade glitter, not glitter from the craft store! The RUIMIO Glitter Powder is a super fine glitter and it comes in a set with 6 colors: pink, green, black, silver, holographic silver, and gold. To get a galaxy effect on the lips, use the holographic silver glitter. It adds even more dimension to the lips and will sparkle like a disco ball! That’s the goal here after all, right?
Apply Gloss
To seal in the glitter, use a clear gloss over top. Be sure to go in with a heavy hand, so as not to remove the glitter. If your brush is dry, you’re just going to be scraping off the glitter, ya feel? For a plumping effect, use the Too Faced Lip Injection Lip Gloss. Beware, it will sting your lips for 5-10 minutes while it stimulates your lips to make them plump up. If you’re not into that kind of thing, MAC Lip Glass is the perfect product for this look. Both of these glosses have intense shine, and once the gloss is on you won’t have any glitter fall off; it should stay in place for a substantial amount of time. If you’re wearing this look all night, doing a lot of eating and drinking, the gloss will help protect your lips but it will wear out over time. You can reapply the glitter and/or gloss throughout the night if you need, to keep it looking fresh.
Whether you’re doing a black, galaxy lip like this one, or you just want “Dorothy Ruby Slippers” lips, the application is the same — lip product, eyeshadow/powder, glitter, gloss. That’s all there is to it! Glitter lips are so fun and you can wear them on any holiday to step up your festivity. For a full video tutorial, check out this one to see all the products mentioned above in action:
For more Halloween inspiration, check out our post, “Not Your Mother’s Halloween Makeup.“
Photo Credit: Kristen Love
