Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Lauren Adhav
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If you think your skin still looks a little tired or dull even after your meticulous beauty routine, a highlighter can help in the makeup department. Whether it comes in the form of a powder compact, a liquid gel, or a creamy stick, a highlighter’s job is to instantly brighten skin by attracting light, creating the illusion of being well rested.
FAQs
In addition to the glow it gives, a highlighter can make your skin look plump and hydrated, says makeup artist Shaena Baddour. She prefers products that enhance your skin’s natural shine and don’t have too much shimmer, and makeup artist Robert Rumsey agrees. He gravitates toward formulas that aren’t overly pigmented and explains that you can always build up the product if you want a more striking effect. Texture is another important parameter for Rumsey: “I like a very smooth texture with powders, liquids, and cream highlighters. I find it the most flattering and natural.”
Skin type can also help narrow down your product search. Baddour says if your skin is on the dry side or more textured, a balm or cream-based highlighter is what she recommends. For dry or normal skin, Rumsey prefers cream or a liquid formula applied with your fingertips. Both agree that oily skin is best for powders since they do double duty by helping set your makeup underneath. You can still use a cream or liquid highlighter sparingly if you have oily skin, but just be warned that the formulas could slide around on your face.
Since everyone loves a good beauty hack, we tested all of the most popular highlighters, taking notes on everything from their blending abilities to their texture (no glitter, please). In the end, we’ve pinpointed the 29 best highlighters for erasing dark shadows around the eyes, accenting high points on your face, and producing a (much-needed) “lit from within” glow.
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Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight
$37
now 8% off
$37
A little goes a long way with this bold highlighter. Trust us. The dropper top means you can dot some into your moisturizer or foundation or right onto your skin. Or you can dab this formula onto the high points of your face, like cheek and brow bones. It comes in several shades and looks like molten shine. “This is the ultimate ‘glow to the gods’ highlighter and there’s nothing else like it,” one reviewer wrote. “I dab it on my cheeks, I add it to body moisturizer. I would drown in it if I could!” We love a dramatic review.
$37
at Amazon$40
at SephoraLilah B Glisten and Glow Skin Illuminator
$90
$90
This product is also in the running for best packaging. It has a certain heft to it that feels like magic in your hands. You simply slide the top over with your thumb and the size makes it convenient to carry on the go. But back to the actual formula! This is a buildable balm that feels soft on your fingers, doesn’t accentuate fine lines, and provides a glow that’s also free of any synthetics like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. A cream is ideal for those with dry skin, and your complexion will look replenished with natural ingredients like black-currant-seed-oil extract and sunflower oil to enhance your radiance, and brown sea algae to improve skin texture.
$90
at Amazon$90
at AmazonSupergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 PA++++
$26
$26
You’ll want to bring this compact Glow Stick everywhere as the temperatures heat up. It is oil-based (i.e., it may not be the best for those with naturally oily skin) and has a slick texture when applied, but it dries nicely. Most importantly, it has the added bonus of SPF. It melts on your skin and leaves a pretty but nongreasy sheen. The stick applicator has a convenient twist-up feature, so you can easily swipe across your cheekbones or collarbones for a dewy, sun-protected finish.
$26
at Sephora$26
at Ulta BeautyHourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
$69
$69
tBrand founder Carisa Janes created this product to mimic the soft glow produced by pink-tinged light bulbs. This palette is a favorite of makeup artists because it functions as a dewy-looking setting powder. Rumsey recommends a powder highlight like this one for those with more oily skin, and says to apply it with a small fluffy brush for precision to give areas like your cheeks and brow bones more radiance. “The texture and color range is spot on, and it has more of a subtle finish,” he says. Emphasis on subtle, so if you want a strong-looking highlighter, many people choose to apply an additional creamy one over top.
$69
at Nordstrom$69
at SephoraOther Options
M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit
$34
$34
“I’m still drawn to this OG highlighter because it was among the first products that truly complemented my skin tone, and it remains a staple for me today,” says Beauty Director-at-Large Maya Allen. Described by the brand as a “slow-baked” powder, it delicately imparts copper-toned, radiant flecks of gold onto the skin, creating a stunning reflective effect in the light.
$34
at NordstromElizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
$29
$29
Honestly, the smell of this cream is divisive, but if you want to give it a whirl and find that it doesn’t bother you, Baddour swears by it and calls it an essential in her makeup kit. It gives the “perfect plump to the skin for a natural dew, and you can put it virtually anywhere.” She puts it on eyelids for summer and says the lanolin base soothes and hydrates your skin while highlighting it. If you prefer something that’s a little more skin care than highlighter but still gives you a natural glow, you may want to try this formula. Fun fact: Prince Harry detailed in his memoir, Spare, that his late mother, Princess Diana, used this cream and the smell reminds him of her. (He also wrote that he once used this cream on his frostbitten penis. He loves to overshare.)
$29
at Ulta BeautyLisa Eldridge Beauty Elevated Glow Highlighter
$30
$30
Rumsey says he’s in “LOVE” with this highlighter. All capital letters. “The color range and the texture are perfection, and it works on all skin tones and textures.” It comes in five shades that complement your unique skin color, and you get all the hydrating benefits of glycerin, tamarin indica seed, and oat-kernel extract.
$30
at SelfridgesCHANEL Baume Essential Multi-Use Glow Stick
$47
$47
In a stick form with absolutely no shimmer at all, this is one of the easiest highlighters to use. The reviewers, especially those with 50-plus-year aged skin, love that this gives a natural and moisturized not-greasy look to skin that doesn’t settle into pores or lines. This stick is also one of Rumsey’s favorites to use on clients. “The color range is so good, and it really looks correct.”
$47
at Nordstrom$47
at Ulta BeautyGLOSSIER Haloscope
$22
$22
The Glossier hype might have died down, but the brand’s highlighter is still a favorite. Moonstone is an opalescent shade allegedly infused with rose-quartz crystals and a moisturizing-oil core. It glides onto skin for a dewy sheen with a very slight iridescence. Whereas the other sticks tested here were creamy, this one had a wet quality that felt super-hydrating and produced a serious glow. (If you prefer a highlighter and skin-care hybrid, Baddour also recommends Glossier’s Futuredew, a serum that creates a naturally hydrated glow.)
$22
at Glossier
Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face Liquid Highlighter
$24
now 8% off
$24
If you want the surface of your skin to resemble a “glazed donut,” this high-shine highlighter will get you that glass skin you desire. Its formula is 50 percent gloss, 50 percent pearlescent sheen, which ensures your skin looks 100 percent reflective. It comes in five shades ranging from Crystal Clear (your go-to if you want to be glazed) to more bronze-y rose-gold options if you want to look more sun kissed or fresh faced and flushed.
$24
at AmazonCharlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
$42
$42
There are plenty of viral TikTok beauty products that have not lived up to their promised hype. This is not one of them. After going viral as a way to mimic Bella Hadid’s glow-y jawline, this highlighter became a fan favorite because it’s super-easy to apply and provides a glow that will last all day.
$42
at Sephora
Uoma Beauty Double Take Contour Stick
$40
$40
You get two great things in this one stick. On the one end is a creamy contour stick, the other a highlighter in a complementary shade. It comes in six shades for various skin tones, and it’s a Black-owned businesses created by entrepreneur and activist Sharon Chuter.
$40
at Nordstrom
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Tan
$49
$49
Most highlighters are very concentrated in pigment and are meant to be used more as an accent. But this liquid one from Charlotte Tilbury is so light and effective it can be used alone or mixed into moisturizer, foundation, or concealer to amp up dewiness. As it comes in several skin-tone shades, it works very well at minimizing redness and concealing. The only con is that, after it went viral on TikTok, it’s always out of stock.
$49
at Nordstrom$49
at Charlotte Tilbury
Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
$48
$48
This highlighter looks expensive with its gilded packaging, and it feels that way too. It glides onto the skin like silk and leaves a soft, dewy look that lasts for hours. If you want something a little more obvious than the Chanel or Glossier and has a creamy formula, this is the one for you. Rumsey is a big fan of this formula, and it’s also a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow’s.
$48
at Nordstrom$48
at Sephora
Dior BACKSTAGE Glow Face Palette
$48
$48
Featuring four shimmering shades that can be used all over the face, this Dior palette takes away the guesswork when it comes to which color will best suit your skin tone.
$48
at SephoraLYS Beauty Aim High Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter
$19
$19
When you want something between Fenty Beauty’s Trophy Wife and Chanel’s Baume Essentiel, consider LYS Beauty’s liquid highlighter. Available in three shades, the radiant highlighter has an almost foil-like finish — depending on how much you layer on. Rumsey is obsessed with the rose-gold color “Genuine,” and his tip is to mix the formula with body moisturizer for an all-over shimmer.
$19
at Sephora$19
at LYS BeautyREFY Gloss Highlighter
$26
$26
This highlighter from Refy truly lives up to its name. The ultra-glossy formula is perfect for a natural but high-shine finish. With just a hint of shimmer, the real star here is the cream formula that dries down to a glasslike finish.
$26
at Sephora$30
at Net-A-PorterA stylish weekly guide to help you make good choices about what to spend your money on.
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When it comes to makeup, sometimes going back to basics is best, and you can always rely on a powder highlighter to deliver the best looks. Ideal for beginners and MUAs alike, the best highlighter powders deliver a glow like no other. If you’re wondering whether to go for a powder highlighter or a liquid, you can never go wrong with the ease and seamless application of a powder, even when used with fingers.
So, let’s get to it — here are our best highlighters of all time, for every shade preference, glow level, and budget.