Alternatives to glitter?

[bad-and-ugly]

Has anyone ever been able to come up with some sort of alternative to glitter or glittery makeup?

[Savannah]

This is how I bring light to my face without loose glitter:

* Strongly pigmented makeup, like Maybelline's 24 Color Tattoo (about the cheapest highly-pigmented stuff I know, but MAC and similar are likely even better).
* Lip gloss.
* Chains draped across my forehead either horizontally (alone/multiples) or down from a center part, with a pendant.
* Earrings with good strong backs. Careless or indifferent fasteners probably result in a lot of those "lost jewelry" posts.
* Metallic ribbons, well-tied, for hair and body.

I am not much of a face painter in terms of designs, but those would be cool and you could try very homogenous, well-mixed metallic pants.

Bindis can be hard to keep on and I will generally not try, unless I have a container of spirit gum and the ability to get my skin really dry and unsweaty first.

[Eric]

I can completely vouch for the MAC "pigments", but they are incredibly expensive. I'm not sure if I would bring a whole jar to the playa, but you could scoop some into a smaller container to bring. They're incredibly intense colors, and if you go with there metallics you can get great shine without glitter. Nothing is going to give you the same sparkle as glitter, but, like Savannah's options above, there are ways to get a similar feel.

[The Rod]

Glitter Camp does some sort of oily lotion with really fine glitter mixed that they rub all over passerbys. I don't know how effective this approach actually is at eliminating glitter moop. Maybe since it's so fine you wont notice it after it falls off? They seem to be getting away with it year after year...

[bad-and-ugly]

I wonder if there'll ever be a solution for this. I read somewhere that even off playa glitter is considered moop =P It's too small to do anything responsible with it after it's been used, and it's one of those things that kind of never decomposes... I think it's beautiful to blow giltter on people's faces. Oh well...

[unjonharley]

I just stay bare face and ugly.. Even the sun screen gets in my eyes when I sweat..

[theCryptofishist]

I think that a lot of us are purging, or have purged, our Gary Glitter--face it, rapists of underage girls are creepy.
There are several ways you might replace him in your music collection.
1--The Glitter Band. Yes, his back up band did record music without him. This is probably not a very satisfying option, as they are a bit lost without Gary.
2--Other frothy bands of the glitter era. Mud would be perfect. The songs are about as senseless. The Sweet is a step up from that.
3--Upgrade. T. Rex has always blown Gary out of the water. And Marc Bolan's dead young in a car crash status is so much more romantic, and so much less sleazy.
4--Slade. Again, a much better starting place. Some great songs, real nice play loud on your stereo music. Boot stompin' they might say.
5--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts cover several of his songs, including "I Didn't Know I Loved You, Till I Saw You Rock'n'Roll" and "Do You Want to Touch Me" (bonus, most of us would like to touch Joan--Gary just exudes slime).
6--The New York Dolls--I don't know if there's much of an actual connection, but I file them as of the same era.
7--If you're looking for a stadium anthem to replace Rock and Roll Part 2, I'm no help.

[Milayna]

Snazaroo face paints make a glitter gel that looks like glitter but absolutely does not shed any glitter. I tested it several times before taking it to the playa. The gel is very sticky and even when it dries the glitter sticks really well. Only downside is you may need makeup remover to get it off.

[Joeln]

Fish!

[kittyrodriguez]

Those glittery lotions, if they are of decent quality, usually contain minerals like mica to create the glittery look. They adhere very well and actually settle in the fine lines and topography of the skin.

Quality lotions and makeup that contains mineral sparkle are no more moopy than traditional makeup. There are many iridescent eyeshadows and face paints that contain minerals for shine. I think the key is to use products that do not contain metallic glitter, which consequently is not safe to use on your face anyway.

Using glittery makeup is just the same as regular makeup. It will slowly wear away. If we are taking moop responsibility down to that level, we're looking at full body containment because we shed oils and skin constantly.

So, if you're looking for glitter, look for quality mineral makeup and micro glitter made from things like mica.

[trilobyte]

+1 to good makeup. No loose glitter, and nothing along the craft store/cheap halloween costume surplus stuff.

[theCryptofishist]

Thanks, Joeln. It means something to me...

[PurpleKoosh]

My first comment on this damn board in over a year, and it's to tell Fishy that she rocks out loud in stereo. Have some glam to go with your not-Glitter.

[video][/video]

[theCryptofishist]

Thanks, Koosh.

[Simon of the Playa]

BLOOD IS THE NEW GLITTER™

[media]

[TomServo]

Uranium?

[ygmir]

Uranium?

you don't need no stinking makup, Tom. not with your sparkling personality!

[theCryptofishist]

Uranium?

you don't need no stinking makup, Tom. not with your sparkling personality!

It might be radium, actually. But Tom was sufficiently terse, that I'm not sure.

[GreyCoyote]

Uranium?

Mmmmm.... not so much.

Uranium metal quickly corrodes to a charcoal-grey or black. Lousy reflector of light, but the cool thing is we could pick you out of a crowd with a Geiger Counter!

[bad-and-ugly]

Snazaroo face paints make a glitter gel that looks like glitter but absolutely does not shed any glitter. I tested it several times before taking it to the playa. The gel is very sticky and even when it dries the glitter sticks really well. Only downside is you may need makeup remover to get it off.

Milayna and kittyrodriguez, that sounds pretty good! I should try that in my day to day life too, as actual glitter wears out too fast.

Now if anyone has an interest or curiosity in Brazilian glitter, you should check out Secos & Molhados and their old lead singer Ney Matogrosso.

[media]

[AntiM]

The edible baking glitter might do. I have some for cookies, I could try it out.

[theCryptofishist]

That way, when someone says "You look good enough to eat" you can say, "Yes. Yes, I do."