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What is Shimmer Lipstick?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Shimmer lipstick is a kind of lipstick that creates a shimmery finish on the lips when it is applied. This kind of lipstick can be deep in color but have a shimmering finish, or it can be a rather nude color that uses the shimmer alone to play up the lips. The difference between shimmer lipstick and lipstick that simply has a shiny finish is that shimmer lipstick often has flecks of cosmetic-grade glitter or even mica mixed in that reflect light and give a shimmering look to the lips.

Almost any kind of lipstick, with the right finish, can be a shimmer lipstick. The only exception is matte lipstick. Matte lipstick is defined by an even finish that has no shine, which is much different than the kind of finish that is standard for a shimmer lipstick.

A woman applying shimmer lipstick.
A woman applying shimmer lipstick.

A product that is similar to shimmer lipstick is shimmer gloss. Instead of coming in a solid form like lipstick, gloss comes in the form of a viscous liquid. It is applied using a wand that has a soft, felt-like tip. In some cases, but not many, shimmer gloss comes in a tube that is applied to the lips by being squeezed on to them or rolled on to them with a roller ball applicator. Shimmer gloss may or may not have a tint to it. However, it can be formulated in a way so that it creates a shimmering finish on the lips.

Shimmer lipstick makes the lips shiny, usually using glitter or mica.
Shimmer lipstick makes the lips shiny, usually using glitter or mica.

Shimmer lipstick can be used to create a number of looks with cosmetics. It can be used to create dramatic, even vampy evening looks when it is paired with smokey eye makeup, lashes that have been lengthened with dark mascara, and rouge. It can be used for light, natural day looks when it is paired with a light foundation or powder, just a touch of color on the cheeks, and eyes that are just barely accented with mascara and eyeliner. It is a very versatile product that can be used in many ways.

Depending on the finish of shimmer lipstick, it may need regular reapplication. Highly glossy varieties of the lipstick often have a wetter finish and wear down or rub off more easily. Less glossy varieties are often better at staying on the lips and therefore require less regular reapplication. Choice between finishes has to do with aesthetic preferences and whether one is willing to be bothered with regular reapplication.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for BeautyAnswered, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for BeautyAnswered, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Discussion Comments

OeKc05

@wavy58 – I suppose it depends on the shade of each. I would keep it in the same color family, at least.

I have worn both together before, but I only wear matching warm shades or cool shades. I would never pair a pink lipstick with a reddish gloss.

If you really love shimmer, then the extra sparkle will be a good thing. I have always been drawn to glitter, so I love the added shine of combining the two.

I have to wear gloss over all my lipsticks, because my lips tend to dry out rather quickly. Gloss moisturizes them even through the lipstick. A matte gloss would tone down the shimmer of the lipstick, so I think it's best to wear two shimmery products together.

wavy58

I find matte lipstick to be boring. I own only one tube of it, and I use it for serious occasions only. I have about seven shimmer lipsticks in my collection, and I wear them everywhere from work to the grocery store.

Sometimes, shimmer lipstick that appears to be bright or dark in the tube looks much paler once you apply it. I correct this situation by using a lip liner in a matching shade. This gives the lipstick a punch of color to do its thing on top of, and it is kind of like wearing a sheer top over an undershirt.

One thing I have never tried is wearing shimmer gloss over shimmer lipstick. Has anyone tried this, and does it look good, or is it just too much?

shell4life

@lighth0se33 – I always loved sparkly makeup as a child, too. I still love shimmer lipstick, though I have grown out of using glitter eyeshadow.

Your sister's magenta lipstick reminds me of my favorite kind. When you look at it in the tube, it resembles a galaxy of shiny stars. When you apply it to your lips, it's as though the universe appeared there.

This particular shimmer lipstick is formulated to moisturize my lips for hours. All I have to do when my lips start to feel dry is rub them together, and this activates and releases the moisture beads.

lighth0se33

Kids love to experiment with makeup. My sister's daughter just turned ten, and she puts on her mother's makeup for fun. Her favorite thing in the cosmetic case is the shimmer lipstick.

Naturally, a young girl would be attracted to makeup with flecks of glitter in it. She uses one that is a bright shade of magenta. The sparkly flecks are large enough to see, and it looks like something a fairytale princess would wear.

Little cosmetic kits for kids come with shimmer lipstick, as well as sparkly eyeshadow and nail polish. The more glitter present in the makeup, the more the girls will go wild for it.

animegal

@manykitties2 - There are lots of kits being sold which allow you to make lipstick in your own home. I imagine that if you have a good eye you could buy one of these kits and recreate your Rimmel shimmer lipstick without too much hassle.

A few years a good they discontinued my favorite Loreal lipstick and I was able to recreate the color perfectly with a bit of trial and error. It can actually be a lot of fun to make your own lipstick as you can get really creative with colors. I have even heard of people making lipstick out of things like crayons to get really wild colors. While that isn't for me I can certainly see the appeal.

manykitties2

One of my favorite shimmer lipsticks now falls into the discontinued lipstick category which makes me really sad. I haven't been able to find anything that matches my old Rimmel lipstick perfectly. I am wondering if there is a way you can make your own lipstick so that you can get a perfect shade and the right amount of shimmer.

I am willing to pay whatever I need to. It may seem a bit strange but the shimmer lipstick I am now missing was a signature color of mine and it feels so strange being without it. I already have a custom perfume I wear so I don't think it would be too odd to have a lipstick recreated.

John57

I don't wear lipstick very often, but like a soft, shimmer lipstick once in awhile.

My only complaint with shimmer lipstick is that it doesn't seem to last very long. When I wear something on my lips I don't want to feel like I have to keep reapplying it all the time.

If I want something to last a long time, I will usually wear matte lipstick because I have found that to be long lasting lipstick. Anytime I try to add some gloss and shimmer, it never stays on as long as the matte lipstick.

Has anybody found some good shimmer lipstick that does not have to be reapplied so often?

andee

I love wearing lipstick and if I could only choose one cosmetic, that would be the one I would not go without.

No matter how bad I might look or feel, I always feel a little bit better by just applying a touch of lipstick.

I usually only wear shimmer lipstick for special occasions. If I am going to a wedding, a party or out to dinner, I like to wear a shimmer lipstick.

Sometimes I will just apply a gloss over my regular lipstick for a nice effect. For everyday use, I just wear a light colored lipstick with just a touch of shine to it.

I like to wear the darker colors and those with more glitter and glam when I am dressed up for something special.

sunshined

@anamur - I use beeswax to make my own lip balm, lipstick and lotion bars. This is a very versatile product that is beneficial for the skin as well.

I have been able to find it at many online companies that sell soap making supplies. Making your own lipstick is a great way to use up tubes of old lipstick shades and shimmer eyeshadow that is almost gone.

You never know exactly what color you are going to get, but that is part of the fun of it. No two batches are completely the same.

You can make this without adding the shimmer, but I always like a little bit of shimmer and shine in my lipstick.

serenesurface

@tigers88-- You could make your own natural shimmer lipstick and lip gloss if you want. All you need is beeswax, used lipsticks or an old blush and shimmery eye shadow. I do this all the time and it saves me a lot of money. All you really need to invest in is beeswax. You could also use petroleum jelly but I don't recommend that because it's a petroleum byproduct. Beeswax is natural.

I put some beeswax in a small container and melt it a little bit in the microwave if I need to. Then I add a bit of lipstick from ones I've used up before but still have lipsticks inside. Finally I use a shimmer eyeshadow to add shimmer to it. You can skip the lipstick if the eyeshadow has color. You could also add a drop or two of essence to make it smell good. I use vanilla for example. Mix everything and keep it in a small container with a lid.

These ingredients will last you a long time and you can mix and match colors and shimmers to make different kinds. I think it's a lot of fun and it's very affordable.

ddljohn

@truman12-- Wow! I had no idea that men find shimmer lipstick attractive. I wear them all the time but never paid attention to how men react to it. But what you said makes sense. I guess the shimmers on the lips catch the eye like diamond jewelry would.

I personally wear shimmery lipsticks because it makes my lips look fuller as you mentioned. When the shimmers reflect light, they make lips look larger than they really are. This is the best lipstick for me because I have pretty thin lips that really bother me.

I also like to match the shimmer in my lipstick with a little bit of shimmer on my eyes, especially close to the water line. I feel like this completes the look and my face looks more even.

burcidi

The only kind of shimmer I can wear on my lips is sheer lipstick or lip gloss with shimmers in them.

I've tried darker colors with shimmer but I feel like these make my lips look much smaller than they are. The clear lip glosses with shimmer on the other hand make my lips look big.

I also think that shimmery lipstick makes my face look bright and fresh. My makeup never looks overdone if I use a clear lip gloss with shimmer, even if I wear a lot of black on my eyes. I like that contrast as well, when my eyes have more emphasis with lots of eyeliner and mascara and my lips with just a shiny shimmery lip gloss.

tigers88

I love to wear lipstick and really all kinds of makeup, but I end up spending so much money on it! I just don't have enough in my bank account to get all the make up I need to pull off all the looks I want.

So I am wondering if anyone knows a place where I can get cheap makeup? Maybe there is a discount chain or someplace online? I know that I am going to buy makeup whether it is in my budget or not. I might as well try to save some money while I'm at it.

truman12

As a man I can say that I find shimmer lipstick to be really sexy. I am not crazy about make up in general and I think a lot of women wear way too much of it. But there is just something almost hypnotic about shimmer lipstick. I love the way it makes the lips look full and moist. You feel like you can see them from across the room.

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    • A woman applying shimmer lipstick.
      By: bst2012
      A woman applying shimmer lipstick.
    • Shimmer lipstick makes the lips shiny, usually using glitter or mica.
      By: Nicola_Del_Mutolo
      Shimmer lipstick makes the lips shiny, usually using glitter or mica.