Over recent years glitter has stormed back into festival season, with consumers looking for the perfect Instagram photo at the Coachella festival.The problem is glitter is having detrimental effects on our environment.
So what can we do?
As always, the best option is not to use it (sorry), but if you do, make sure you find a biodegradable glitter. Below I’m going to explain why you should use biodegradable glitter and which ones you should go for.
Check it out:
Contents
What To look for When Buying Biodegradable Glitter
No matter what you purchase in life, there are always things that you need to look out for, although this can vary between products.
Here are a few things I think you should be looking for:
Price
A lot of peoples buying decision comes down to the cost of the product. But this can mean people overpay thinking they’re getting the best outcome, which isn’t always the case. Make sure you do some research before purchasing.
Size
Glitter comes in all shapes and sizes, so it’s worth thinking about what you require from the glitter. If you can’t decide, some packets mixed sizes.
Colors
Glitter doesn’t just come in different shapes and sizes; you also have a massive range of colors to bring sparkle to any party. Try to find colors that compliment your skin, or your cosmetic range for maximum effect.
FDA-Approved
If you’re putting anything on your skin, it’s nice to know it’s FDA-approved, no one want’s to turn up in rashes due to harsh chemicals.
Knowing how much glitter you’re going to receive for your money is an important thing to factor in, especially if you’re looking for value for money.
The Best Biodegradable Glitter
You may have already been looking for eco glitter. But with the vast selection available, it can make choosing the right glitter very difficult.
If you’re struggling, or maybe you need a push in the right direction? If this sounds like you, then you should check out some of these glitter products you have available:
Minke Glitter
Their glitter is widely used in bath bombs and other DIY cosmetics around the world. Their cosmetic glitter is soft enough to use on your skin and safe for the face.
If you’re looking for an all-natural application, it can be mixed with aloe gel. The pack comes with four small jars with nine grams of bio glitter in each tub.
Each one of the containers holds different colors, including Pink, Silver, Gold, and Black. The cellulose-based glitter is shaped in beautiful hexagons at a size of 0.008 inches.
The company claims to be the best biodegradable glitters on the market and outperforms other brands. To make sure they stay ethical, the glitter is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, which is excellent.
Another significant factor is they donate a percentage of there profits to the Greenpeace charity.
Key Features
- Fine size (0.008 Hex)
- Four colors
- Four 9g jars
- Manufactured in the USA
- Vegan-friendly
- FDA cosmetic grade
It worked really well, looked beautiful, and stayed on the skin with no issues. It even worked well when making homemade bath bombs. The biggest problem from me was the black color; it didn’t stick very well and had very little shine. Luckily they donate to charity, so it was a small price to pay.
Pros
- Looks Great
- Donates to Greenpeace
- FDA-Approved
Cons
- Black color not very shiny
- Dissolved in homemade soaps
EcoStardust
The medium size glitter is perfect for the body, face, and nails and will biodegrade naturally, making them great for the eco-friendly festival-goer.
Unlike regular plastic glitter, this is made from plants or eucalyptus trees in particular.
Ecostar offers various ranges of glitter throughout their website and amazon, overall they have well over 150 brands.
This specific pack comes in a 6-gram pot which can last dozens of uses, but they all so a wide range of weights to choose from.
The glitter is made and designed in the UK by licensed bio glitter sellers, which brings you peace of mind that glitter is safe.
You can also guarantee no animals were harmed; they don’t agree with animal testing, which is why this glitter is vegan-friendly.
Key Features
- Made from eucalyptus trees
- Lasts for dozens uses
- Softer than other brands
- Course with mixed sizes
- Vegan-Friendly
- Huge selection of products
It was great to see different sizes mixed into one bag. It gave you more flexibility with designs. One thing to note is the vial is pretty small, but it did go a long way. It was nice to see a highly reflective glitter even when you’re in a dark area, or with low light.
Pros
- 100’s of colors to choose from
- Softer than most vrands
- Made with eucalyptus
Cons
- Small container
TEOYALL Cosmetic Glitter
TEOYALL focuses on creating biodegradable glitters while sticking to a 100% cosmetic grade, which is safe for the skin.
Unlike most glitter, TEOYALL was designed to remove with ease a wet cloth or makeup remover. Inside, they have three different sizes: Chunky, Small, and fine glitter.
The pack comes with a selection of 16 colors, 13 of which are mixed with two colors; the other three bottles are single colors.
Each container is 10 ml full of beautifully colored glitter; some of the colors include white, pink, rose red, lavender, and silver.
Their glitter is excellent for the body or hair, add some sparkle and glamour to parties, weddings, or festivals. Become the focus of any crowd with this biodegradable glitter.
Key Features
- 10 ml containers
- 16 colors (3 Single 13 Mixed)
- Safe on the skin
- Biodegradable
- Mixed sizes
- Three sizes
The glitters were gorgeous, easy to apply, and it worked great in the hair, you didn’t even need glue. One thing to note, some of the chunky glitters did not feel as soft as other brands. I also felt the range of colors was pretty exceptional, and the pots could be reused for homemade beauty products.
Pros
- 16 colors in the box
- Mixed sizes
- Quick delivery
Cons
- Not very soft
Alternative Imagination
You have three different weights to choose from 1 oz, 1/2 oz, or 1/4 oz bags. And That’s not the only choice you get.
You have the selection of seven colors, including Gold, Bronze, Pink, and more. They also have a multi-pack available, which includes three colors Amethyst, Emerald, and Sapphire.
The particles are sized at 0.008 inches, which is made using plant-based cellulose, so it remains environmentally friendly.
The cosmetic grade works well with lotions, gels, and oils for easy application, or DIY beauty products. The glitter can be used for craft projects, decorations, and more. To ensure high quality, the bioglitter is made in the USA and packaged with barries-sealed pouches to protect from moisture.
They made sure their glitter passed rigorous tests that pasted national and international standards; they claim it will biodegrade by 91.77% in 100 days.
Key Features
- Three weights to choose from
- Made using plant cellulose
- Works with homemade beauty products
- FDA-approved materials
- Seven colors
- Multi-pack options
Overall the glitter was lovely and had a great selection of colors to bring sparkle to your day. It was nice to see the plant-based plastic would biodegrade quickly, although it would be nice if they could get higher. Once broken down, it left no harmfull product in its environment.
Pros
- Multi-pack Options
- Seven Colors
- Great for soaps
Cons
- No ingredients list
Hemway Eco Glitter
Hemway claims to be the number one biodegradable glitter on the market with grade quality. It can be used on glass, art, body, and nails.
Due to the non-toxic materials, the glitter is child-friendly, and as a bonus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free.
For your peace of mind, Hemway puts their bio-degradable glitter through extensive independent tests, which found no harmful materials.
With each bag, they include personal CI numbers + CAS number to ensures you get the best quality.
They have a choice of 42+ colors and five sizes to choose from, all of which should biodegrade with 90-days in soil, compost, or the ocean. If you’re not happy with the product they offer a 100% money-back guarantee, you’ll get every penny back or replacement.
Key Features
- 100% Vegan
- 42 colors
- Six sizes
- Biodegrades in 90-days
- Particle sizes: 0.008
- 100g bags
The glitter was excellent, and also had one of the largest selection of colors I found, including Mermaid, Silver, Gold, and Black. As for the biodegradability, I’ve yet to test it, but if it does biodegrade in 90 days, it’s pretty good going.
Summary
To wrap up, it’s important to remember that glitter is terrible for the environment and water sources. Which is why we need to switch to plant-based materials if we want to help save the planet. Plastic is doing far too much, and it’s time for a change.
Make sure you check out the shapes and sizes you require for your design, and it should be said about the colour. Finally, make sure the glitter has been tested and holds up to FDA standards, especially if you plan to put it on your face.
If you liked this article don’t forget to comment below, and while you’re at why not find out more about biodegradable sunscreen while you’re in the festival mood.