As someone with skin that leans on the drier side and the sleep hygiene of an owl, I’ve always been on the hunt for creamy-textured products that can brighten up the face in a jiffy. That’s where my journey of cherrypicking the best cream highlighters began — and trust me on this — I’ve truly found some gems in the process! In a nutshell, I would describe such a product as a combination of a strobe cream and a traditional powder illuminator, as they are more concentrated than the former and more blendable than the latter. Notwithstanding that, there’s a lot more I found about cream highlighters in the process of trying and testing them, and I’d like to share the same with you! 

People who lack the skill of blending their makeup seamlessly often struggle with powder highlighters, as they end up with a blotchy, artificial finish. That’s exactly what we avoid with cream-based illuminators, as they go on smoothly and are dreamily blendable! This exact feature also enables you to get a subtle glow by using a very small amount of the product, on the entire face and neck — something I believe is kind of difficult with their powder-based counterparts. 

Furthermore, many cream highlighters are infused with rich emollients and skin-loving ingredients, which comfort and moisturize the skin while also brightening it. And the consistency this gives these products makes one drool over them (at least that’s what they do to me)! Hence, I am really excited to share with you my recommendations for the same, as my makeup game has truly improved with the inclusion of cream highlighters! Scroll away to learn more!

• 1
  Best for a Cooling Sensation

  e.l.f. Cosmetics Daily Dew Stick

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Soaring to the top of my list is this godsend cream highlighter from e.l.f. Cosmetics, because the finish this product offers is simply incomparable! The cream formula delivers a soft-focused dewy finish, which looks as natural as it gets! Another major USP of this product — it is infused with skincare ingredients such as shea butter and cocoa butter, which comforts and pampers your skin while sprucing its appearance. The shades this product is available in, such as Iridescent, Cool Berry, Acai Glow, and Tangerine Kiss work fantastically for all skin tones and undertones. Besides, owing to its hygienic stick dispenser, you can easily keep this little gem handy!

Shades: 4

Size: 0.52 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

2

Easiest Application

Julep Skip The Brush Cream to Powder Blush Stick - Sheer Glow

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I know you’re thinking that this product by Julep is supposed to be a blush stick, but its shade Sheer Glow works sublimely as a highlighter cream stick. It has a soft, champagne color that somehow goes perfectly well with warm, cool, and (of course) neutral undertones. While the stick and the formula themselves help dispense only so much that’s required, you can smooth out the product further with just a few dabs of your fingertips — no brush required. Besides, the formula is adequately buildable, so you can apply it according to how color-intense or soft-focused you want the finish to be.  

Shades: 1

Size: 0.06 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

3

Best Natural Formula

BaeBlu Organic Cream Highlighter Stick

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Nothing can compare to the certified-organic formulation of this cream illuminator from BaeBlu, as its ingredients do wonders for the skin! The product is as moisturizing as any makeup product can get, bursting with the properties of castor oil, glycerine, lavender oil, goldenseal oil, etc. — a lot that indulges the senses. This is the kind of highlighter I would use on days when I’m not in a mood to wear makeup, but simply want to add some luminosity to my skin for a healthy, lit-from-within look! 

Shades: 10

Size: 0.32 Ounces

Cruelty-free: No information

4

Best for Inner Eye Corners

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Jumbo Multi-use Face Stick

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To highlight finer areas on your face, such as the brow bone, bridge of the nose, or the inner corners of your eyes, I’d highly recommend this cream highlighter stick from Nyx Professional Makeup for its fine tip. And, it comes in a twist-up stick, so you don’t need a sharpener to fix the blunting. The product is infused with finely milled pearl pigments to illuminate your face as well as emollients such as jojoba oil to enhance the application and lightly nourish your skin. Besides, its sleek design and easy application make it ideal to travel with.

Quick Tip:

You can use a deeply-colored variant of this highlighter stick — such as the shades Flan or Blueberry Muffin — as makeshift eyeshadows.

Shades: 6

Size: 0.54 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

 

5

Award-winning Product

RMS Beauty Luminizer

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Having tried out this cream illuminator from RMS, I deduced that its infused pigments have been blended really well with each other. Hence, when you apply this product, you’ll notice an even, rippleless finish, which doesn’t look like cheap glitter pigments standing off. For this, one can count on this product to get a smooth, incandescent look that appears natural. Moreover, the formula of the product is rather skin-loving, infused with nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, castor oil, and vitamin E. With this, the product feels comfortable on your skin and doesn’t let it get dry.

Shades: 3

Size: 0.17 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

6

Best Makeup Combo

evpct Makeup Cream Highlighter

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The formula of this cream highlighter is super delectable, silky, and buttery, which not only makes the product easy to use but also indulges the senses during application. And the shade options are many, including soft-focused iridescent shades such as Pearl White and Gold, as well as color-rich shades such as Almond, catering to different needs. These highlighters come in combination with concealers, bronzers, or blushers, so you can pick a product that caters to your needs. The best part — they are all very moisturizing and blendable.

Quick Tip:

Use in combination with evpct’s bronzer and blush sticks to sculpt your face and add some color to it.

Shades: Multiple (No information on the number)

Size: 0.42 Ounces

Cruelty-free: No information

 

7

Best Luxury Product

Tata Harper Flashy Cream Highlighter

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The sublime blendability of this cream-based highlighter is its USP, a feature that makes it really indulgent to use. Hence, on using it, the shimmer doesn’t pile up on specific zones on the face while looking artificial but instead covers the whole area for a more soft-focussed and natural look. I also love that despite being rich and concentrated, the product is super weightless on the skin. Formulated with botanical superheroes such as green tea oil, rosehip seed oil, camellia oil, and jojoba esters, the product nourishes the skin really well — another reason why you should invest in it!

Shades: 1

Size: 4.5 g

Cruelty-free: No information

8

Best for Oily Skin

Lancer Skincare Dani Glowing Skin Perfector

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Taking the standards of skincare-infused makeup up a notch, this illuminator by Lancer is like a yummy treat for your skin. Of many products I tried out, I actually found the consistency of this one to be “perfect” — just what one would expect from a cream-based highlighter. While by leveraging the properties of infused oat extracts, the cream formula is nourishing enough, you can still choose to blend this in your daily moisturizer or foundation when using. The USP of this product — it smoothes out imperfections such as dullness or enlarged pores on the skin, making your skin look luminous and healthy.

Shades: 1

Size: 1 Fluid ounce

Cruelty-free: Yes

9

Skin-loving Texture

Milk Makeup Cream Highlighter Stick

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Among my favorite brands for clean and skincare-infused makeup solutions, this highlighter stick from Milk Makeup works like a charm in boosting skin radiance. I was truly excited to try this one out, and the results didn’t disappoint at all! The product has a delectable and silky texture that went on really smoothly over my skin. And, it’s not hard to blend, as just a few dabs with my fingertips did the job. 

It is bursting with the goodness of emollients such as mango seed butter and avocado oil, which keeps your skin comforted and prevents drying. I’d recommend this product to people who want to go a step ahead of drugstore products but don’t want to splurge on a luxury product either.

Shades: 2

Size: 0.21 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

10

L.A. Girl Luminous Glow Skin Illuminator

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This creamy highlighter from L.A. Girl is as pigmented as it gets, so you can trust that a really small quantity will go a long way in illuminating your entire face. And to support the same, the formula of this product is adequately blendable, so massaging it onto your skin isn’t going to be a hassle! In my experience, I tried mixing this product with a moisturizer, a primer, and a foundation separately and the results didn’t disappoint, so I’ll recommend the same! Looking at the shade options available in the range, I’ll recommend this strobe cream to people with warmer undertones. 

Shades: 3 

Size: 16 Fluid ounces

Cruelty-free: No information

11

Most Cost-effective

TINTARK Chubby Cream Highlighter Stick

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Priced less than $6, this little cream illuminator stick comes with a sublime quantity to glow up your face. With color-rich shade options, this product gives an incandescent finish to your skin — so much so that you might be wearing a very basic dress and minimal jewelry, but would still look ready to attend a gala! The formula is highly pigmented, hence, a small quantity goes a long way. I like how versatile the usage of this product is, and its emollient properties enhance this feature.  

Shades: 4

Size: 1.63 Ounces

Cruelty-free: No information

12

VIDIVICI Millennial Glow Cream Illumination

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Another member of the natural-finish club is this goodie from VIDIVICI. Concentrated in a transparent jar, the product gives a soft-focused look to your face, brightening it up to hide any dullness or lack of sleep from the previous night. Speaking of the shimmer pigments infused in this formula, the term “ultra” doesn’t do justice to how finely milled they are. Hence, despite this product sprucing up your appearance, one cannot point out whether you’re wearing a highlighter or not! Besides, the product is enriched with the nourishing properties of flower oil, panthenol, and vitamin E, which replenish your skin in the process. 

Shades: 3

Size: O.21 Ounces

Cruelty-free: No information

13

Paminify Soft Creamy Highlighter Stick

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An affordable dupe of Pixi’s On-the-Glow stick, this creamy highlighter stick comes in an ergonomic dispenser for easy, on-the-go application. And, the formula itself aids in the same, as it is silky-smooth and melts onto the skin. Adding to that, the product comes in fantastic shade options, including subtle and incandescent ones such as Pearl White as well as deeply colored ones such as Golden Brown and Rose Gold. Besides, you get a really good quantity for the price.

Shades: 3

Size: 0.67 Ounces

Cruelty-free: Yes

Now that you’ve seen our recommendations for the best cream highlighters, scroll away to learn how to pick a suitable product for your needs and apply it in the best way.

The following are a few parameters to consider:

• Shimmer And Color Pigments

Good quality highlighters are infused with finely milled shimmer particles whereas cheaper ones are infused with coarser particles that don’t blend well with each other. Hence, it is important to invest in the former kind, as such highlighters give a smoother finish and make the makeup look less artificial on your skin. 

Another factor you need to consider with respect to pigments is the color intensity you’re going for. Some highlighters give a sheer glow whereas others may either give a warm-toned or a cool-toned look, depending on the shades you choose as per your skin’s natural undertone. I’d recommend going for a sheer finish product if you’re going for an understated, everyday look, and a color-rich formula for special occasions. The tones you choose for the highlighter — such as gold, rose gold, champagne, lilac, white, mauve, etc. — can also depend upon the outfit or jewelry you’re wearing with the look.

• Texture And Overall Formulation

Texture is one of the main reasons why people opt for cream highlighters over powder-based ones. Cream highlighters should have a smooth and silky texture, which makes them easy to apply even without using a brush. The consistency also determines the blendability of the product — avoid ones that look patchy, cakey, or too artificial. You’re in luck if the product you choose melts onto the skin, thereby making it easier to smooth out for the finished look. Adding on, look for lightweight and layerable formulations as they are suitable to apply on top of your makeup, without messing it up. 

• Moisturizing Benefits

Compared to other highlighter formulations, cream highlighters have more scope of being infused with skincare ingredients. Hence, actively look for and prioritize products infused with emollients and humectants such as shea butter, panthenol, vitamin E, green tea extracts, etc. This helps keep your skin comforted and prevents over-drying.

• Lasting Power

Like any other makeup product, longevity is an important element to look for in a highlighter. You want that healthy, incandescent glow to last, which is why it is essential to look for products that aid in the same. Nonetheless, I’d recommend going easy on this feature if you like the product overall and have a good setting spray to do the job!

1. With a Primer

If you’re not wearing foundation, then mixing the cream highlighter in your primer itself may be a good idea. Start by taking a pea-sized amount of the highlighter and a button-sized amount of the primer onto your palm. Mix them well. Then, dot your face and neck and smooth it out. If you wish, use some concealer on areas of imperfection on your face (dark circles, blemishes, pigmentation, etc.) and blend it out with a damp sponge. Set the look with a setting spray. 

2. With a Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer

Start by prepping your skin with a moisturizer, followed by a primer. Allow it to settle for 5 minutes. Then, Take a coin-sized amount of the foundation/tinter moisturizer on your palm and mix a small quantity of the highlighter with it. Mix well with your finger. Then, dot the mixture on your face and neck, and blend them all with a damp makeup sponge. Using a powder to top this up is optional, but if you do so, use a sheer compact or loose powder and go in with very little product. Top it all up with a setting spray. 

3. With a Moisturizer

I’d recommend this technique only if you don’t have any active breakouts, and both your moisturizer and highlighter are not likely to clog pores. Rest, the method is simple — mix a coin-sized amount of your moisturizer with a pea-sized amount of the highlighter. Dot your face and neck and massage it out in upward, circular motions. 

4. Over a Face Full of Makeup

This technique works only if your cream highlighter is really lightweight and blendable, which is an important criterion to consider when buying (refer to the buying guide). After you have applied your basic makeup — foundation, eye shadow, blusher, etc. — keep the loose powder/compact on hold for a bit. Take a pea-sized amount of the highlighter and lightly dot it on specific areas of your face. Here, consider blending it out with a damp sponge applicator instead of using your fingers, so that you don’t mess up your makeup base. Top it up with a setting spray.