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With just some straightforward swipes, the very best highlighters lend immediate 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 appropriate contact of dew or sparkle precisely the place you want it. This record covers each highlighter formulation—powders, sticks, lotions, and liquids—so your choose comes right down to the end you need: comfortable, lit-from-within glow, or disco-ball shine. After testing numerous choices, we have rounded up the highlighters we instinctively attain for to prime off our make-up appears.
Our High Highlighters
Incessantly Requested Questions
Greatest Total: Uncommon Magnificence Optimistic Gentle Silky Contact Highlighter
Why we adore it: Uncommon Magnificence’s Optimistic Gentle Silky Contact Highlighter is principally candlelight you’ll be able to 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 forsaking an ideal microshimmer. Due to its silky, semi-sheer formulation, you’ll be able to hold issues refined or construct it up for a pronounced assertion. And it is available in six completely different shades, so in order for you one thing gentle and pearlescent, go along with a lighter, pearl-toned choice like Enlighten, or in order for you a peachier choice to go hand-in-hand together with your bronzer, Mirror is a tan-toned magnificence. In testing, our editors observed 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 nice 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 formulation in shade Exhilarate to the take a look at in lots of situations: to the workplace on busy work days (it seemed simply nearly as good because it did after I first put it on), Solidcore exercise lessons the place I inevitably overlook to take away my make-up beforehand (it seemed much more subtle and skin-like), and date nights with my fiancé (the place I, *wink*, confirmed with confidence that the formulation is transfer-proof). It is a dreamy highlighter, made much more otherworldly with its worth level. Highlighters with an analogous impact vary from $9 to $42, and this one, with its distinctive texture and formulation, falls proper within the center.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior magnificence editor
Most Sparkly: Fenty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil
Why we adore it: Some folks like a comfortable, dewy sheen; others need full-on disco-ball vitality. For those who’re within the latter camp, Fenty’s Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil is your woman. This superfine powder shines vibrant (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 gained’t budge regardless of how lengthy the evening runs.
Tester suggestions from affiliate supervisor of viewers growth 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 suggestion, and it has been certainly one of my favourite purchases this 12 months, principally as a result of it’s multi-purpose. I put on it all over the place, from my eyelids to the bridge of my nostril, and even on my collarbones and neck. It is clean to use and does not make a multitude. Plus, it comes on this cute diamond-shaped compact you could simply match into any of your purses.” —Melanie Curry, affiliate supervisor of viewers growth
Greatest All-Over: Saie Glowy Tremendous Gel
Why we adore 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 filled with glycerin to maintain pores and skin plump and glowy, Connecticut-based dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, beforehand instructed 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 good sheen, however fingers are nice for a fast tap-and-go software while you’re brief on time.
Tester suggestions from Fowler
“This primer in shade Roseglow provides a beautiful, dewy glow, but it surely’s adequately subtle that you should utilize it throughout your face. It is a fantastic base and mixes nicely with different make-up, which is commonly tough with illuminating merchandise. Once I simply desire 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 Mirror Highlighter Stick
Why we adore it: Toss it in your bag, hold it in your self-importance, or stash it within the automotive—Victoria Beckham Magnificence’s Mirror Highlighter Stick is the type of do-it-all glow you’ll need all over the place. It glides onto pores and skin like a nourishing oil (thanks, strawberry seed oil and shea butter) however someway by no means appears 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 appears 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 huge 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 truly appears like pores and skin. I simply faucet it in with my fingers over blush and bronzer, and each time it leaves essentially 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 adore it: You’ve in all probability 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 entire face look extra awake. The formulation is filled with micropearls that give an ethereal, lit-from-within glow wherever you faucet it. The doe-foot applicator makes it straightforward to swipe any of the 5 colours alongside the cheekbones or dot into the T-zone underneath basis for additional 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 honest sport.
“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 truly 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 might look very sparkly in its tube, however when it spreads throughout pores and skin, its microfine shimmer creates a light-catching sheen quite than sparkle streaks—then it dries all the way in which 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 adore 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, forsaking a juicy, hydrated sheen. The formulation reads like skincare, because of sea fennel extract, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and wakame extract (a mineral-rich marine algae), so it melts in like a stable serum and leaves a glassy, light-catching end. For those who choose a shine with out shimmer, Clear Glass is your minimalist match. Need a contact extra sparkle? Glassy Pink Opal provides a comfortable, rosy-gold twinkle.
“Based mostly on the sheer quantity of shimmery base merchandise in the marketplace this 12 months, it seems that 2016 referred to 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 making an attempt all six shades of the Haus Labs Bio-Radiant Glassy Highlighter Balm, Glassy Pink Opal appears to be extra my pace in 2025. I like how straightforward it’s to use, too. I skip a brush and instantly coloration it onto my cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, and down my nostril for a refined 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 desire a refined 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 carrying 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
Incessantly Requested Questions
How we take a look at and assessment merchandise
When Attract assessments a product, our editors take a look at it from each angle in an effort to greatest serve you. We assessment components, scrutinize model claims, and, when mandatory, look at peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Along with testing each product that is included in each assessment, we depend on consultants who form their fields, together with dermatology, beauty chemistry, and medication, to assist us vet the components and formulation.
For our record of the very best highlighters, we thought-about every product’s efficiency throughout 5 main classes: product components and efficacy, packaging, perfume, texture, and product put on. Each product was decided to have excelled in every class by our editorial workforce of in-house writers and editors, in addition to contributors, together with particular consideration from dermatologists. To be taught extra about our reporting and testing processes, learn our full evaluations course of and methodology web page.
Our employees and testers
A magnificence product is a private buy. You may be looking for a face cream to deal with persistent dryness or a brand new nail product so as to add to your Sunday self-care routine; it’s possible you’ll merely be shopping round for the most recent 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 like something we suggest in our tales. We consider that having a various workforce of writers and editors—along with the big selection of out of doors 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 “greatest” for folks over 50 if the one testers we have solicited opinions from are of us who’ve but to hit 30? Can we truthfully 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 in a position to pretty assess any magnificence product that comes into the sweetness closet.
Prepared, set, glow! Dig into our dewy pores and skin necessities:
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