You have the ingredients in the kitchen and you can’t even imagine how easy it is to replace microplastic with pure glamour.
Did you know that that little pot of cheap glitter is, in fact, one of the great villains of the oceans? It is serious! Most conventional glitters are made from microplastics that never break down and end up being ingested by marine life. But don’t worry, you don’t need to cancel out the shine of your fantasy. There is an ingenious, cheap and completely biodegradable way to solve this, and the internet has just rediscovered this technique that promises to be the big star of this year’s festivities.
The end of the era of microplastics in makeup
Imagine enjoying the blocks knowing that, when you get in the shower, all that shine will melt and become food for plants or simply disappear without leaving a toxic trace. The “Eco-Glitter” movement stopped being a niche and became the talk of the town. The scene that is going viral is not of an expensive store product, but of ordinary people showing how to make ecological glitter at home to shine at Carnival without polluting the environment using things you probably already have in your closet. It’s the height of sustainability meeting vanity, and the visual result is identical to the original, with the advantage of not scratching your skin!
The gelatin trick that no one told you about
Here’s the trick that quick tutorials often hide. The base of this shine is nothing chemical or complex: it is colorless gelatin (or agar-agar for the vegan version). The magic happens in the drying process.
To achieve that laminated and shiny effect, you will need to follow this step-by-step guide:
- The base: Mix one tablespoon of colorless gelatin with three tablespoons of ice water. Let it hydrate and then microwave for 10 seconds until dissolved.
- Color: This is where art happens. Add food coloring (for the base color) and mica powder or pearlescent powder coloring (for the metallic effect). Mica powder is a natural mineral that gives that incredible reflection.
- The drying secret: Brush this mixture onto an acetate sheet or silicone mat. The layer needs to be very thin.
- The cut: Let it dry for at least 24 hours until it becomes a rigid sheet. Then, just blend it in a blender or processor until it reaches the grain size you want.
Behind the scenes tip: if you want a specific shape, use paper punches before shredding everything!
The internet only talks about conscious ‘glow up’
Social networks were invaded by glass jars filled with homemade colored powder. On TikTok and Instagram, the hashtag #BioGlitter is trending with influencers testing its durability on sweaty skin and approving the result. The general consensus is: in addition to being “eco-friendly”, it is much more comfortable. People are loving the fact that they can create personalized tones, mixing gold with pink or blue with silver, creating a unique identity for the costume that no one will be able to copy at the corner store. It’s the ultimate Carnival personalization.
And you, will you continue using plastic or will you throw yourself into kitchen alchemy to create your own exclusive shine? Let us know which color you’ll try first!
