The Bolt Balm Basics

You are ready to wear Bolt Balm! But where to wear it? How to wear it? And of course, how to apply it?

Next in the Bolt Balm video series, Katie answers all your questions and shares a simple application tip that’ll make your glitter last all day (and night!). Learn why thinner is always better (when it comes to Bolt Balm) and how to “listen” to your hair part to decide where to apply glitter.

Spoiler: We are PRO side part!

Don’t forget—watch for quick tip pop‑ups in the video that will save you hours of time.

Scroll down to Get the Look to see what products Katie is wearing in this video!

Video Transcription

Hey, hey! So we are ready to wear Bolt Balm now. You might have seen our Instagram before and thought, “Wow! Bolt Balm looks amazing on models and drag queens.” But guess what, the majority of people who wear Bolt Balm are just like you.

They wear it to tailgate. They wear it to happy hour. They wear it to Zoom meetings. They wear it to festivals. They wear it to concerts. They wear it anywhere they want to have a bold look to bring a little bit of shine and a little bit of fun.

Wearing glitter doesn’t just make you happy, it makes the people around you happy. So let’s get to it now.

Everyone finds their own little way to put on Bolt Balm. Some people like to use the back of their hand as a palette. Some people like to go straight onto the face—and that’s how I like to do it.

If you’re trying to decide how to wear Bolt Balm, look at your face, look at your hairline, and let that decide what part really needs to shine. My hair tends to slide over this side of my eye, so I like an asymmetrical look.

You can do Bolt Balm on both sides for a symmetrical feel or just on one side to make that side really pop. I take just a little bit of product and start spreading it on. If I don’t have enough, I can always come back for a little more. It’s a lot easier than putting too much on and having it slip around your face.

I follow my cheekbone and lay it as flat to the skin as possible. I’ll go back over vertically to keep it flat. If I want a more specific shape, I’ll use the side of my applicator to “scoop” edges into place. Today I’m keeping it organic and spreading thin.

Want it thicker and more opaque? Start with a thin layer, let it dry ~30 seconds, then fill “holes” by laying product with the tip of the applicator. You can also layer two different Bolt Balms for an ombré effect.

After a quick check in the mirror, I’m feeling a bolder shape—so I extend the points and evolve the highlight into a soft crescent around the eye. Crescent can be sharp or soft; today I’m keeping it organic and asymmetrical.

This crescent is just one way to wear Bolt Balm on the face. For more inspo, check our Inspiration Sheet and additional tutorials.

Get the Look