19 Best Highlighters for Radiant, Glowing Skin: Tested and Loved
Discover the ultimate highlighters for every skin type and desired effect—shine, shimmer, or glow—with expert tips on application.
19 Best Highlighter Makeup Products for Your Face
If you crave dewy skin or dramatic shimmer, a great highlighter can elevate your makeup look from basic to breathtaking. Whether you prefer a soft, natural glow or a bold, blinding highlight, the beauty world offers powders, creams, liquids, and palettes for every complexion and desire. We’ve compiled the 19 best highlighters—tested by experts, beauty editors, and makeup enthusiasts alike—so you can find your perfect match.
What Is Highlighter & Why Use It?
Highlighter is a makeup staple designed to accentuate the high points of your face, where light naturally catches—think cheekbones, brow bones, nose bridge, and beyond. The result: A luminous, sculpted look that’s become a feature of faces everywhere, from the runway to your Instagram feed.
Benefits of using highlighter include:
- Adding dimension and radiance
- Enhancing bone structure
- Making skin appear fresher and healthier
The 19 Best Highlighters for Every Need
Read on for the best picks, including powders, sticks, liquids, and palettes, plus their standout qualities, pros and cons, and expert reviews.
1. Essence Cosmetics Pure Nude Highlighter
- Type: Baked Powder
- Price: Affordable
- Best for: Natural, everyday glow
- Finish: Sheer, non-glittery
- Shade Range: Only one light shade
This cult-favorite delivers a subtle sheen without chunky glitter. Its weightless formula is suitable for dusting over the whole face for an understated luminosity or for a targeted highlight. Testers rave, “Looks natural but not dull—it’s a sheen, not glitter—beautiful and glowy!”
2. LYS Beauty Aim High Pressed Highlighter Powder
- Type: Pressed Powder
- Best for: Weightless, buildable shine
- Key Ingredient: Ultra-fine mica flecks
- Shade Range: Some fair users wish for lighter options
This clean highlighter blends seamlessly without feeling heavy or caking into pores. Ideal for those who want a strong glow with a lightweight touch. One reviewer says, “It packs a punch for the price. Can’t beat the clean formula and luxe feel—10/10 recommend!”
3. Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork Highlighting Palette
- Type: Palette (Powder)
- Best for: Customizable looks, multiple undertones
- Contains: Six shades for mixing and matching
- Shade Range: Two palettes for light and deep skin tones
- Drawback: May be patchy on textured skin
Whether you want to go subtle or full-on strobe, this palette has hues from icy white to chocolate brown that flatter all undertones. Reviewers describe the formula as “smooth and glistening, not glittery.” Excellent for experimenting with new highlight combinations.
4. Kaleidos Space Age Highlighter
- Type: Powder (Metallic, Duochrome, Glitter)
- Best for: Statement, editorial, or festival looks
- Shade Range: Transparent, shimmery, and color-shifting
Bored of basic? These unique, duochrome powders can be swept on for an intergalactic effect. The two formulas (intense metallic and sparkly glitter) are perfect for attention-grabbing shines. Users report getting “hella compliments” on the reflective and artistic finish. Apply with a brush for diffuse shimmer or fingers for concentrated impact.
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5. Misslyn Cosmo Glow Highlighting Palette
- Type: Powder Palette
- Number of Shades: Six
- Finish: Ultra-light texture, intense glow
- Ideal For: Layering and customizing your highlight
This palette makes it simple to design your own glow—use single shades for subtlety or blend for amplified shine. Each color is packed with light-reflective particles, enhancing everything from cheekbones to eye corners.
6. RÓEN RÓGlow Skin Stick
- Type: Cream Stick
- Finish: Glossy, skin-like
- Best for: Dewy, glassy finishes
This highlighter’s creamy formula is easily dabbed on for a natural, healthy glow—no brush needed. The result is a glass-like sheen, not sparkle, earning compliments for a “just like skin but better” finish.
7. Jones Road Miracle Balm
- Type: Balm
- Finish: Subtle dewiness, not high-shine
- Use: Multi-purpose—layer or sweep wherever you want radiance
This balm adds a soft, fresh glow and can be blended over foundation or worn bare. Ideal for minimalist makeup routines seeking natural radiance without a strobing effect.
8. Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
- Type: Stick
- Finish: Iridescent, stay-put sheen
- Best for: Filter-like, luminous skin
This stick claims to give you a long-lasting, radiant finish—even after a busy day—making it a go-to for subtle yet noticeable dimension in candid photos.
9. Saie Glowy Super Gel
- Type: Liquid Gel
- Finish: “Lit from within”, natural luminosity
- How to Use: Mix with foundation or use as a targeted highlight
This versatile, super-light gel gives your skin a healthy sheen—even on no-makeup days. The formula is beloved for being totally weightless and adaptable to any complexion.
10. Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow
- Type: Serum Highlighter
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, sea kelp
- How to Use: Mix into BB cream or moisturizer for all-over radiance
This serum-based highlighter is known for a natural finish, delivering a soft, luminous effect thanks to hydrating and light-reflective ingredients. It’s great for a “your skin but better” result.
Other Standout Highlighters
- Vieve Skin Dew: Best for a barely-there sheen with a weightless, honey-tinted formula.
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter: Celebrity-loved, gives a soft-focus, filtered glow when used under or over foundation.
- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish: Makeup artist favorite for a classic, buildable glow.
- NARS Highlighting Powder: Offers a subtle, refined shine across a wide range of shades.
- Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer: Lightweight liquid with high-impact shimmer for a seamless highlight.
- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (still available in some regions): Renowned for its creamy powder that flatters every skin tone.
- Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter: Delivers intense pigment and comes in unique, edgy shades.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter: Coveted for its blinding, yet blendable effect.
- Milk Makeup Flex Highlighter: Stick format, bouncy formula, and subtle soft-shimmer finish.
- Glossier Haloscope: Dewy stick, infused with skin-loving oils for a hydrated finish.
- Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter + Balm Duo: Dual-ended for choosing between refined powder and natural dew.
How to Choose the Right Highlighter for Your Skin
To get the best out of your highlighter, consider these factors:
- Skin Type: Powders suit oily skin, while liquids and creams work well for dry or mature skin.
- Finish Preferences: Choose a subtle sheen for natural looks or intense shimmer for nightlife and photography.
- Shade Selection: Fair skin often glows best with champagne or pearl, medium with gold and peach, and deep skin with bronze or rose gold.
- Occasion: Mix-and-match for work, date nights, or festivals—there’s a formula for every mood.
Comparison Table: Best Highlighters by Finish, Shade Range, and Best For
| Product | Type | Finish | Shade Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence Pure Nude | Baked Powder | Sheer, non-glitter | 1 light shade | Everyday, subtle glow |
| Danessa Myricks Lightwork Palette | Powder Palette | Shimmery, glistening | Light & deep options | Mixing shades, pro looks |
| Kaleidos Space Age | Powder | Duochrome, intense glitter | Multiple | Editorial, statement makeup |
| Jones Road Miracle Balm | Balm | Dewy, natural | Varied | Minimalist, lit-from-within |
| Saie Glowy Super Gel | Liquid Gel | Natural radiance | Universal | All-over or targeted glow |
Pro Tips: How to Apply Highlighter Like a Makeup Artist
- Focus on high points: cheekbones, brow bone, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and inner eye corners.
- Use a fluffy brush for powders and palettes, and fingers or a beauty blender for creams and sticks.
- Layer cream beneath powder for a dramatic, long-wearing effect.
- For a glass-skin look, mix liquid highlighter with foundation or moisturizer.
- To avoid emphasizing texture, use finely milled or subtle formulas on areas prone to pores or bumps.
FAQs: Highlighter Makeup
Q: Where should I put highlighter?
A: Apply to the high points of your face—cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow, temples, and inner corners of the eyes. Stand in front of a mirror and see where the light naturally hits for best placement.
Q: What’s the difference between powder, cream, and liquid highlighter?
A: Powder highlighters provide intense shimmer and are easy to layer. Creams and balms blend for a natural, dewy finish—excellent for dry skin. Liquids offer flexibility; mix with base products for all-over glow or dot on for radiance.
Q: How do I keep highlighter from accentuating pores or textured skin?
A: Use finely milled, non-glittery formulas and avoid heavy application. Applying a hydrating primer or gentle exfoliation before can also help create a smooth base.
Q: Can I use highlighter as eyeshadow?
A: Yes! Most highlighters double up excellently as shimmery eyeshadows or brow bone accents, making them versatile additions to your makeup kit.
Q: What’s the best way to make highlighter last all day?
A: Consider layering a cream or liquid highlighter beneath a powder for extra staying power or setting your highlight with a light spritz of setting spray.
Editor’s Note: Final Glow Thoughts
Whether you prefer softly radiant skin or a dazzling, out-of-this-world highlight, there’s a perfect formula on this list for your preferences and complexion. The options above have been vetted by makeup artists and beauty editors, guaranteeing expert-approved, luminous results. Find your favorite, experiment with application, and let your natural beauty shine through!
References
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g8655202/best-highlighter-makeup-for-face/
- https://stralabeauty.com/product/misslyn-cosmo-glow-highlighting-palette/
- https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/skin/g42318299/best-highlighter/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/makeup/g60988464/best-luminisers-for-black-skin/
- https://www.cosmopolitanme.com/beauty/22814-face-contour-highlight-makeup-tips
- https://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-hu/p/juicy-fizz-all-that-glam-face-stick-01-46797/
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