Is there a glitter shortage? If so, where is all the glitter going? TikTok and Reddit users shared conspiracy theories on all issues associated with the glossy stuff.
Never in a million years did we expect TikTokers could be losing their minds over glitter shortage conspiracy theories, but here we're. And when we did a bit of digging, we are also invested in the sparkly subject. Who knew the glitter trade would be so cryptic?
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TikToker Rae — aka @maxedoutmommy — posted a viral TikTok about the puzzling alleged glitter shortage. With over 1.4 million perspectives, her video highlights suppliers, the trade's bizarrely secretive nature, and conspiracy theories surrounding the place all the glitter is going. Hilariously, in the TikTok video, Rae enthusiastically explains the situation to her husband by means of an informative PowerPoint presentation.
Her major supply is a 2018 New York Times article titled “What Is Glitter?” Though the unusually juicy piece is 4 years old, TikTok and Reddit are blowing up the story in 2022. Let's get accustomed to all issues glitter.
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What is glitter?
In brief, glitter is "aluminum metalized polyethylene terephthalate," as detailed through The New York Times. "Most of the glitter that adorns America’s name brand products" comes from considered one of two facilities. Both of them are positioned in New Jersey of all places. While one nameless corporate refused to respond to any questions (totally sketchy, however okay), Glitterex used to be glad to speak to The New York Times' Caity Weaver.
Glitterex's CEO and president, Babu Shetty, in brief defined what glitter is. Showing Caity a piece of polyester movie, he said that “other people may know [it] as mylar."
"It’s the same polymer as used in a water bottle, so FDA-approved. If you cut this you’d get a transparent glitter.” Clear film is then metalized by evaporating aluminum.
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The process is advanced and contains many steps, however we're going to go away it at that for the sake of conciseness. Not best that, but Glitterex is extraordinarily secretive in regards to the nitty-gritty main points of the glitter-making process.
Caity wasn't allowed to peer or listen glitter being made (?), let on my own "be in the same wing of the building as the room in which glitter was being made under any circumstance." Apparently, Glitterex's shoppers are also stored in the dark.
Out of the countless multinational companies which might be Glitterex clients, just Revlon, Inc. gave consent to be named.
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Where is all the glitter going?
Though the NYT article does not point out a shortage, the internet is swirling with rumors relating to a shortage of the glossy microplastics.
First, what products use glitter? Obvious ones come with make-up and nail polish, however for those who look intently, glitter is EVERYWHERE. The NYT article mentions that glitter is used to decorate credit cards, soccer helmets, and jet ski paint. The reflective stuff is even used to track animals like polar bears and elephants (glitter poop!) and save you plywood counterfeiting. (Hidden layers of coloured glitter are frequently inserted into plywood.)
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But Glitterex manager Lauren Dyer refused to expose the industry that serves as Glitterex’s largest marketplace. We aren't even talking about naming a specific client, we're talking about an entire business. When requested if she knew which industry it used to be, she replied "Oh, God, yes." Before giggling, she endured, pronouncing "And you would never guess it. Let’s just leave it at that.”
As for why she wouldn't reveal the industry, she relayed it's "as a result of they don’t need anyone to know that it’s glitter.” Okay, we wish to know.
Upon inspection, Lauren stated it could be tough to tell that this product includes glitter. “Oh, you’d be capable of see something. But it’s — yeah, I can’t," she said. What does it mean?
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TikTok and Reddit boast conspiracy theories about the mysterious glitter-purchasing industry.
TikToker Rae — who is seemingly very invested in the strange glitter conundrum — shared that the leading theory on TikTok and Reddit surrounds boat paint. However, considering jet ski paint and "automobile grade pigments" are brought up in the article, Rae doesn't believe that this industry/product is to blame. We like the way she thinks.
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Other theories point to beaches, as some people believe fine glitter is being mixed with sand to make the landscapes more attractive. Interesting. Another theory targets the toothpaste industry. Rae even mentioned a 2014 article by DentalBuzz titled "Crest toothpaste embeds plastic in our gums." Oh the scandal that would be.
Yes, Crest toothpaste does include plastic, but its use of aluminum oxide (a buffering agent) is seemingly not the same as the aluminum used in glitter. According to Cosmetic Dental Associates, the sparkly beads in many toothpastes are made of polypropylene.
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TikToker Sean — aka @seansvv — theorized that high quantities of glitter are being used for military applications. "There's in truth a lot of military applications — especially when you talk about explosives and tracing explosives with very small microplastics," Sean said. "Meaning you can ID particular explosives simply by the usage of a microscope at blast locations."
So, what are your theories? (Could the perpetrator possibly make edible products?)
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