Beauty
Highlighters Are the Final Make-up Finisher for a Radiant, Wholesome Glow
Nov
With just some simple swipes, the very best highlighters lend instantaneous radiance and a wholesome glow to any look—and the flexibility is top-notch, too. We love dabbing them straight from compact to cheekbones, mixing a liquid spotlight into basis for all-over radiance, or utilizing a doe-foot applicator to intensify our nostril bridges, internal corners of our eyes, or Cupid’s bows. They’re all about providing you with simply the correct contact of dew or sparkle precisely the place you want it. This record covers each highlighter system—powders, sticks, lotions, and liquids—so your choose comes right down to the end you need: gentle, lit-from-within glow, or disco-ball shine. After testing numerous choices, we have rounded up the highlighters we instinctively attain for to high off our make-up seems to be.
Our High Highlighters
Continuously Requested Questions
Greatest General: Uncommon Magnificence Constructive Gentle Silky Contact Highlighter
Why we like it: Uncommon Magnificence’s Constructive Gentle Silky Contact Highlighter is principally candlelight you possibly can swipe on. This 2025 Better of Magnificence Award winner is powered by artificial fluorphlogopite, a lab-made mica that seamlessly blends into pores and skin whereas abandoning an ideal microshimmer. Because of its silky, semi-sheer system, you possibly can maintain issues delicate or construct it up for a pronounced assertion. And it is available in six completely different shades, so if you’d like one thing gentle and pearlescent, go together with a lighter, pearl-toned choice like Enlighten, or if you’d like a peachier choice to go hand-in-hand along with your bronzer, Replicate is a tan-toned magnificence. In testing, our editors seen the end shifts relying in your instrument: A brush provides you that mirror-like sheen, whereas a moist sponge softens every little thing right into a extra subtle, skin-like glow.
“This highlighter (I’ve shade Flaunt) is gorgeous. It’s so gentle and high quality that it feels such as you’re making use of air. You solely want somewhat bit to get a glimmery, shimmery—however not too shimmery—payoff.” —Ingrid Fowler, senior artwork director
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“I put this system in shade Exhilarate to the check in lots of situations: to the workplace on busy work days (it regarded simply pretty much as good because it did once I first put it on), Solidcore exercise lessons the place I inevitably neglect to take away my make-up beforehand (it regarded much more subtle and skin-like), and date nights with my fiancé (the place I, *wink*, confirmed with confidence that the system is transfer-proof). It is a dreamy highlighter, made much more otherworldly with its value level. Highlighters with an identical impact vary from $9 to $42, and this one, with its distinctive texture and system, falls proper within the center.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior magnificence editor
Most Sparkly: Fenty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil
Why we like it: Some folks like a gentle, dewy sheen; others need full-on disco-ball power. If you happen to’re within the latter camp, Fenty’s Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil is your lady. This superfine powder shines brilliant (sure, like a diamond) and wraps pores and skin in a 3D, light-catching veil that virtually ricochets off each floor. Regardless of the high-wattage payoff, the feel is something however gritty. It’s a jelly-like powder that feels cool to the contact and melts into the pores and skin (on the face or physique) immediately. And as soon as it units, it stays—so your sparkle received’t budge regardless of how lengthy the night time runs.
Tester suggestions from affiliate supervisor of viewers improvement Melanie Curry
“I am not an enormous fan of highlighters—a pair swatches of pink blush is sufficient to give me a pleasant, shimmery glow—however I purchased this highlighter in shade How Many Carats?! on a good friend’s advice, and it has been one in all my favourite purchases this 12 months, largely as a result of it’s multi-purpose. I put on it in all places, from my eyelids to the bridge of my nostril, and even on my collarbones and neck. It is easy to use and would not make a large number. Plus, it comes on this cute diamond-shaped compact you could simply match into any of your purses.” —Melanie Curry, affiliate supervisor of viewers improvement
Greatest All-Over: Saie Glowy Tremendous Gel
Why we like it: The Saie Glowy Tremendous Gel isn’t your typical top-of-the-cheekbones highlighter, and that’s the great thing about it. Made with 75% water, this light-weight gel is designed to be blended with basis or skincare, or used as a base for all-over, glass-skin radiance. It’s additionally full of glycerin to maintain pores and skin plump and glowy, Connecticut-based dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, beforehand advised Attract. As soon as the product dries down, you don’t have to fret about sliding, creasing, or flaking all through the day. Our editors love utilizing an angled or buffing brush to mix the gel throughout bigger areas for a fair sheen, however fingers are nice for a fast tap-and-go utility whenever you’re brief on time.
Tester suggestions from Fowler
“This primer in shade Roseglow provides a beautiful, dewy glow, but it surely’s sufficiently subtle that you need to use it throughout your face. It is an awesome base and mixes effectively with different make-up, which is usually difficult with illuminating merchandise. Once I simply need a bronzy, glow-from-within look with out doing a full face of make-up, I put on this by itself.” —Ingrid Fowler, senior artwork director
Greatest Pearlescent: Victoria Beckham Magnificence Replicate Highlighter Stick
Why we like it: Toss it in your bag, maintain it in your vainness, or stash it within the automobile—Victoria Beckham Magnificence’s Replicate Highlighter Stick is the type of do-it-all glow you’ll need in all places. It glides onto pores and skin like a nourishing oil (thanks, strawberry seed oil and shea butter) however someway by no means seems to be greasy. As an alternative, it leaves behind that silky, pearly sheen you often can’t get from powder for a real, your-skin-but-glossier end our editors attain for when they need radiance that also seems to be like pores and skin. With two shades, the colour vary is small however nonetheless mighty: Pearl melts seamlessly into gentle and medium tones, whereas Amber brings a heat, luminous glow to deeper complexions.
“I’m not massive on heavy powder highlighters for my on a regular basis glam, so this light-weight cream in shade Pearl is my candy spot. It provides that your-skin-but-better sheen that really seems to be like pores and skin. I simply faucet it in with my fingers over blush and bronzer, and each time it leaves probably the most pure, streak-free glow. Plus, it’s so compact and simple to throw in your bag for touchups on the cheekbones and even the lids all through the day.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce author
Greatest Brightening: Armani Magnificence Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter
Why we like it: You’ve most likely heard of Armani’s Luminous Silk Basis, however the Luminous Silk Aqua Highlighter deserves simply as a lot hype. It doesn’t cowl like a concealer, but it surely does brighten in a method that makes your complete face look extra awake. The system is full of micropearls that give an ethereal, lit-from-within glow wherever you faucet it. The doe-foot applicator makes it simple to swipe any of the 5 colours alongside the cheekbones or dot into the T-zone beneath basis for further radiance. You’ll be able to even dab product onto your Cupid’s bow and internal corners of the eyes—principally wherever you need {that a} brightening impact is truthful recreation.
“Highlighting my face is all the time a tightrope act. I would like my pores and skin to look moist—no seen glitter, please—however I do not need it to really be moist, lest my hair drive me bananas when it is sticking to my face. Few formulation can do each, however Armani’s Highlighter in shade Halo does it effortlessly. It could look very sparkly in its tube, however when it spreads throughout pores and skin, its microfine shimmer creates a light-catching sheen fairly than sparkle streaks—then it dries all the best way down with out shedding any of its shine. Miraculous.” —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior information editor
Greatest Multipurpose: Haus Labs Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm
Why we like it: There’s simply one thing deeply satisfying a few good multi-stick, and Haus Labs nails it with the Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm. This chunky crayon glides over lids, cheeks, lips, and even collarbones with zero tug, abandoning a juicy, hydrated sheen. The system reads like skincare, due to sea fennel extract, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and wakame extract (a mineral-rich marine algae), so it melts in like a strong serum and leaves a glassy, light-catching end. If you happen to want a shine with out shimmer, Clear Glass is your minimalist match. Need a contact extra sparkle? Glassy Pink Opal provides a gentle, rosy-gold twinkle.
“Based mostly on the sheer quantity of shimmery base merchandise in the marketplace this 12 months, it seems that 2016 known as—and is giving us our highlighters again. Again then, I most well-liked a extra iridescent gleam with a purple, pearlescent base, however after attempting all six shades of the Haus Labs Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm, Glassy Pink Opal appears to be extra my velocity in 2025. I really like how simple it’s to use, too. I skip a brush and immediately coloration it onto my cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, and down my nostril for a delicate sheen that hits the sunshine juuuust proper.” —Sarah Kinonen, affiliate magnificence director
“Highlighter is again, child! I merely love how this balm accentuates the pores and skin, whether or not you need a delicate or intense quantity of radiance. For my low-maintenance days, I’ll attain for the shade Clear as a result of it provides that pure dew on recent pores and skin, and if I’m sporting a little bit of make-up, the Topaz shade provides that golden hue to the excessive factors of my cheek for a sun-kissed look.” —Bianca Richards, social media supervisor
Continuously Requested Questions
How we check and evaluate merchandise
When Attract assessments a product, our editors take a look at it from each angle in an effort to finest serve you. We evaluate elements, scrutinize model claims, and, when obligatory, study peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Along with testing every product that is included in every evaluate, we depend on consultants who form their fields, together with dermatology, beauty chemistry, and medication, to assist us vet the elements and formulation.
For our record of the very best highlighters, we thought-about every product’s efficiency throughout 5 main classes: product elements and efficacy, packaging, perfume, texture, and product put on. Each product was decided to have excelled in every class by our editorial group of in-house writers and editors, in addition to contributors, together with particular consideration from dermatologists. To study extra about our reporting and testing processes, learn our full critiques course of and methodology web page.
Our employees and testers
A magnificence product is a private buy. You may be trying to find a face cream to deal with persistent dryness or a brand new nail product so as to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you could merely be looking round for the newest launches to hit the hair market. It doesn’t matter what you search or your particular person wants and considerations, Attract desires to make sure that you’re keen on something we suggest in our tales. We consider that having a various group of writers and editors—along with the wide selection of outdoor testers and trade consultants we recurrently name upon—is important to reaching that aim.
In spite of everything, can we actually say a skin-care product is the “finest” for folks over 50 if the one testers we have solicited opinions from are of us who’ve but to hit 30? Can we actually deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned money if it is by no means been examined on curls? We’re proud that our employees spans a variety of ages, pores and skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which signifies that we’re capable of pretty assess any magnificence product that comes into the wonder closet.
Prepared, set, glow! Dig into our dewy pores and skin necessities:
