The holidays are fast approaching and naturally everyone wants to look their most radiant for family, friends and holiday festivities. With all the glitz and glamour of the holiday season to begin with, shimmer and glitter are natural choices for holiday beauty. When it’s done right, sparkle can be an elegant and beautiful addition to any ensemble.

While most people seem to think the terms shimmer and glitter are interchangeable, they're actually quite the opposite.

Shimmer implies a finer particle of the mica or other reflective surface used. Shimmer provides a far more subtle glow, which works well for anyone who is nervous about wearing sparkle, who doesn't want to draw as much attention to their makeup or who plans to wear glitter or shimmer in more than one place. Even if you're wearing glitter on your face, shimmer is still elegant and dainty on your shoulders, décolletage, legs or cheeks. Several companies like Victoria’s Secret make great shimmer lotions while other manufacturers, such as Nars, make fabulous shimmering body powders (which can be purchased at Sephora.com).

Something else to keep in mind if you plan to glitter and glow this holiday season is to make sure any shimmer or glitter you’re using on your face is FDA cosmetic grade and safe for use around the eyes or lips (depending on where you plan to sprinkle or shake).

Some glitters (especially), like the ones that can be purchased at craft stores, are made of metal and other harsh materials that can not only irritate sensitive facial skin, but can cause corneal abrasions and other serious issues when used around the eyes or when they are digested. The best way to ensure that any glitter you’re using on your face, especially around the eyes, is cosmetic grade is to purchase it in a medium designed for the area of intended use (i.e., you can be pretty darn sure a glitter eyeliner is safe for use on your eyes). Companies like Sally Beauty Supply and Jerome Russell also produce loose glitters that are cosmetic grade, and can be used for anything from eyeliner to hair gel.

Not sure how to add a touch of sparkle to your holiday beauty routine?

• Glitter nail polish is always hot around the holidays. China Glaze has recently introduced a line called Sleigh Ride, which features glittery shades in green, red and silver. While red and green are the universal shades of Christmas, gold, silver and even blues and whites are fantastically festive colors. If a whole hand of glittery green nails are a little too much bling for you, consider a French manicure with a glittery polish or airbrushing instead of the traditional white tip (or over it) or even sparkly holiday decals and rhinestones.
• Glittery eyeliners are an easy way to make a statement with sparkle. Several companies manufacture both pencil and liquid liners with glitter or shimmer in them, but you might consider using a loose glitter and applying it with a liner brush. Line your eyes with a pencil of the same or a similar color first to add depth and dimension, and follow with your loose glitter over the top. Many companies make an adhesive to use with loose glitter so that it properly adheres, but in a pinch, the adhesive for false eyelashes works just as well. You can also use lash adhesive to apply rhinestones and jewels to the eyes or other areas of the face, if bling is your thing. 
• If you like luscious lips, don’t despair! Applying a glittery or shimmery gloss is a sure-fire way to get noticed. If you really want to up the wattage, apply your favorite gloss and then a loose glitter over the top. You can apply loose glitter to the lips with adhesive and a brush, but if it’s a similar color to the gloss or lipstick you’re sporting, an easier way to do it is to pour out the glitter onto a plate or piece of cardboard and pucker up! Planting your pout in the middle of the glitter pile will ensure that you get a perfectly glamorous pout.
• Sprinkling a little glitter into your body lotion or hair gel before applying to your skin will give you an angelic glow. Don’t use hair gel? Don’t fret! Sprinkle onto your hair once it’s been styled and set with hairspray for a similar effect      
•   Try dusting shimmer powder over your neck, chest, legs and shoulders with a big, fluffy brush. For extra staying power, use a shimmer lotion first, let dry 90% of the way, and then buff on your shimmer powder over the top.
• Products like She-Lac will help keep your glitter where you want it. In a pinch, hairspray will do the same thing. Just make sure you have your makeup set and ready to go, and remember -- a fine mist is enough.
• If you’re really feeling bold, try body painting with glitter! Draw a design on your face or body with liners in a similar color, and then color over them with your glitter. Not an artist? Try tracing temporary tattoos or checking out tattoo flash websites for designs you can print and trace. Depending on your design, coloring books, henna stencils and even craft stencils available at craft stores offer a whole world of possibilities.

No matter the season, glitter is always in fashion – assuming it’s done right. Ribbons and bows, even snowflakes and holiday lights will be no match for the glitzy girl who is comfortable rocking the glam, so feel free to grab the glitter this winter.