Glitter

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For other uses, see Glitter (disambiguation).

Glitter is the word used to describe an assortment of very small (roughly 1 mm²) pieces of paper, glass or plastic, used for various functions in art, craft, and design. These are painted in various colours, including metallic, neon and iridescent varieties. Glitter is usually stored in canisters somewhat similar to salt shakers, which have several openings that control the flow of glitter. These canisters may contain one, or many colours, and it is not at all uncommon for these to be reused, or for glitter from other containers to be combined into a larger one.

Glitter is commonly used in craft projects for small children, often as an alternative to a project involving crayons, perhaps because glitter, which is most commonly applied to objects with glue, is somewhat more time-consuming. Glitter is commonly used as an element of design with Christmas decorations. It is not to be confused with confetti.

Furthermore, glitter is often combined into other products: it can be added to rubbers and plastics, and often into cosmetic products like lipgloss and eyeshadow. This sort of product is most popular among teenage girls, but is also worn by older females.

Glitter was invented by Mr. Ruschman on his hereford cattle farm in Bernardsville, NJ shortly after World War II. Today the company he founded Meadowbrook Inventions is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of glitter and has been for over fifty years.