Which Edible Glitters Should I Use? Tinker Dust vs Luster Dust

Edible glitters can add a bit of shimmer to drinks, baked goods, food, and even nails — but not all shimmers are made the same. Depending on your project, Bakell's Luster Dust and Tinker Dust bring life to your creation but in different ways.

As we all know, there are many types of "edible glitter". But there are a few questions everyone seems to ask. Don't fret, we got you covered!

Before we can get into which product you want to use for your projects, we should discuss the difference between our glitters/dusts. While they have virtually the same ingredients, they are worlds different in texture, application, and visual appearance.

Luster Dust vs Tinker Dust

Edible Glitters, like Bakell's Tinker Dust, covers the entire spectrum of shimmers you'd want for food to give the finished product a proper pop. Luster Dust, while still an edible glitter, has a more refined texture which adds a beautiful satin sheen for a vibrant yet subtle gloss.

Bakell products carry a large reach of colors and textures to complete your project's every need. Our Tinker Dust is great for big, bright colors while Luster Dust tones down the dazzle for a more polished finish.

What is the best edible glitter for your project?

Edible Luster Dust is a smooth textured pearlescent powder that applies best wet or dry. Glitters like Tinker Dust are best applied dry with a brush or pump for a more vibrant contrast.

Reach for Tinker when you want your project to look more glittery and think of Luster Dust when you want a glossy look.

How to apply Luster Dust?

Luster Dust is an incredibly versatile tool that can be used for both wet and dry stages in your project. The best ways to apply Luster Dust can vary depending on your needs.

For wet applications, use a small dish to add bits of alcohol with an eye dropper. Next add in your luster dust of choice and mix until it reaches your desired consistency. It might take you a few times to get it "just right", but the key is to add the alcohol very slowly and only a small amount at a time so it doesn't end up too watery.

When you've reached your desired consistency, you'll want to use a small condensed bristle paint brush to apply the "paint". It will take a few minutes to dry once applied, so make sure your work space is set up for that type of project. 

Using luster dust with a dry brush technique is a very popular way to apply it as well. You'll still use a brush for this application, but this time you'll want to use a fluffy one - small or big just depends on the surface area you're trying to cover.

For this application I like to dip my brush directly into the luster dust jar. Be gentle and careful not to pack your brush with too much product at once or it will quite literally get everywhere. Some users even suggest covering the workspace with plastic wrap before dry dusting to make clean-up much easier.

Once you've got some of the product on your brush, dust it directly onto the surface you're working on. Whether its chocolate, buttercream, fondant, or candy - you're sure to get a beautiful layer every time!

If you want to completely cover something like a cake pop, you'll want to add some nonpareil sprinkles to a cup or bowl. Add some of your glitter, and then dip your chocolate-dipped, dried cake pop in the sprinkles and then twist! You'll start to see the pearls act as ball bearings and they'll evenly distribute the edible glitter all over the cake pop in a seamless way. It really is beautiful coverage!

Mixing Luster Dust with alcohol to decorate

Luster Dust can be mixed with almost any clear alcohol that has a high alcohol percentage or lemon extract. You can even use water, in some instances, to create a paint-like consistency for decorating fondant pieces, chocolate, or cakes.

Get a feel for the mix as you're creating it. If it's too chunky, you may need more alcohol. But add a little at a time to avoid soupy messes.

Now, where do you buy Luster Dust?

You can find it on Bakell's website in a variety of colors! Feel free to click here and shop the entire Luster Dust collection. It comes in every color you could imagine - from basic colors like gold and silver, to purple and pink, or even blue and red! Whether you want plain colors, more of a pearl dust color, or a matte finish, all of those are available on our website.

How to use Tinker Dust

Tinker Dust® is the best big sister to Luster Dust. It is the potent, sparkle dust, version of edible glitter that is best applied dry, with a brush or a spray pump.

It adds sparkle and shine to whatever you're working on! Whether you're cake decorating, adding it to cupcakes, covering strawberries or chocolate, Tinker Dust is multifaceted and will add any amount of shimmer you desire.

For cupcakes we recommend using a spray pump applicator, it offers a much more even distribution of the product. For something like decorating a cake, using a stencil is a nice way to add the edible glitter for uniform coverage around the surface. Make sure your cake is cold and dust the glitter on gently so as not to dent or disrupt the buttercream. You can also use a pray pump applicator for cakes as well!

If you want to sprinkle some on top of cookies, we have shaker bottles just for that purpose! If a shaker bottle isn't your jam, you can always use a small brush. Dip it in the Tinker Dust® and then sprinkle it over top of the area you want to make glittery.

One of my favorite ways to add this glitter to strawberries or meringues, is using the nonpareils like we did with the luster dust! Insert a small toothpick to the bottom of your meringue, or the top of your strawberry, and slowly swirl it in the tinker dust/sprinkles mix! The coverage is absolutely beautiful.

If you want to add some glitter AND flavor, don't forget that we have Flavored Tinker Dust as well! It comes in the most fun sweet or sweet and sour flavors, perfect for adding to fruit, baked goods, or even on the rim of a drink. Flavors range from sour apple and sour orange, to sweet cotton candy and blue raspberry!

Our edible glitter is the only one on the market currently that uses all FDA compliant ingredients. It is 100% edible and food grade, and is also vegan, dairy and nut free, as well as non GMO and made right here in the USA! Our edible glitters are made with sustainably sourced edible mica based pearlescent, dextrose, and various food grade dyes for different color blends. If you want to learn more about our ingredients you're welcome to click here and see a detailed list for each product. 

If you'd like to shop our Tinker Dust® collection, you can find that here. If Flavored Tinker Dust® is something you'd like to try out, click here to shop.