A lit-from-within makeup look is no longer a far-fetched goal for me, all thanks to the best highlighters available in the market, featuring different formulations — powder, liquid, and cream-based. A highlighter is truly a game-changing makeup product that attracts light to your best features and enhances your skin tone, for the radiant glow that you have always desired. They are the underdogs of my vanity that deliver a healthy and youthful complexion even on days when I don’t feel like the best version of myself.

Drawing from my experience, they are also infused with skin-benefitting ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, etc. to not only make your makeup look fresher and brighter but also nourish your skin from within. These little genies unveil your skin's inner radiance by offering a multi-dimensional effect, acting as the savior for dull, lifeless skin. But with so many options available, it can be daunting to pick the right highlighter for yourself. To ease the process for you, I have enlisted the best ones for all skin types and tones. Take a look -

• 1
  Editor’s Pick

  wet n wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder - Golden Flower Crown

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My doorway to youthful-looking, gorgeous skin, the wet n wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in the shade Golden Flower Crown works like a charm to not only hide my imperfections but also provide a radiant glow. Enriched with vitamin E, murumuru seed butter, shea butter, and argan oil, it nourishes my skin to the core and creates a multi-dimensional, light-catching effect that turns heads. It also takes the upper hand at accentuating my facial features without being harsh on the skin. What more does it offer? High blendability and buildability along with a buttery formula that melts like a dream on my skin. 

Type: Powder

Shades: 9

2

Best for All Skin Types

Milani Baked Highlighter - Dolce Perla

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If like me, you too have a soft corner for luxurious packaging when it comes to makeup products, the Milani Baked Highlighter will blow your mind. Baked on Italian terracotta tiles, as the brand claims, the highlighter with its multi-tonal, micro-fine luminescent powders, and velvety-soft formula blends so seamlessly that you can hardly see any imperfections peeking from inside. Addedly, it’s a cruelty-free product that is formulated without any oils to keep acne and breakouts at bay, further making it suitable for oily skin types. It is also free of any nasty chemicals, to only offer the best to your skin. 

Type: Powder

Shades: 4

3

Best Cruelty-free Highlighter

Physicians Formula Bronze Booster - Shimmer Strobing

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A cult product in the realm of clean makeup, the Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in the shade Shimmer Strobing is one of my favorites for all the right reasons. Firstly, it features shades that are universally flattering and supremely blendable and buildable. On top of that, the product glides like butter on my skin, making the application process a breeze. It also comes with an angled brush to make touch-ups an easy task while traveling. I also love how it provides a subtle shimmery finish that illuminates my complexion, making me party-ready at any given time of the day or night. The plus point? The product is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free.

Quick Tip:

Use the darker shades in the palette to define your facial contours and sweep lighter ones to highlight the high points of your face, for a multidimensional effect.

Type: Powder

Shades: 2

4

Best for All Skin Tones

Lamora Glam Glow Palette

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True to its claims, the Lamora Glam Glow Palette is a gem of a product for beginners and experts alike to achieve the coveted sun-kissed look. Featuring a magnification mirror, it not only fits well in your purse to ease out your on-the-go makeup sessions but also offers a long-lasting natural finish that brings your facial features to the spotlight. Besides, being suitable for all ages and skin types, it adds dimension to your face and offers a slimming effect. It is also vegan and cruelty-free, making it popular among makeup artists who prefer clean beauty products over the ones tested on animals. 

Type: Powder

Shade: 1

5

Best Travel-friendly

PAQIMAN Magic Color Shiner - White Moonbeam

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Chunky, heavy-weight makeup products are a big no-no for me. If it's the same case with you, you must get your hands on the PAQIMAN Magic Color Shiner. Easy to use and as light as air, the highlighter works wonders on every skin type and tone to accentuate your facial features. It glides and blends like a dream to further provide a natural finish that fetches compliments wherever you go. It is also waterproof, highly moisturizing, and comes with a smooth texture to help you achieve the envy-worthy makeup look you have always dreamt of. 

Type: Powder

Shades: 3

6

Most Long Lasting

ELLESY Know You Better Highlighter - Sun Glow

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A 10 on 10 in terms of packaging, formula, and quantity, the ELLESY Know You Better Highlighter in the shade Sun Glow is a savior for special occasions when you wish to look your best. Apply it on the high points of your face — browbones, forehead, bridge of the nose, cheekbones, cupid’s bow, and chin to look as radiant as your favorite celebrity. It is best for personal usage and gifting purposes as well, making it a must-buy piece from my list. Addedly, it suits all skin tones and helps create a three-dimensional effect, perfect for a glam look. The most impressive part — it is vegan, cruelty-free, and BPA-free.  

Type: Powder

Shades: 4

7

My Favorite

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Baked Original Highlighter Quad - French Vanilla

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Mature skin types, like my mother, usually have a hard time finding makeup products that don’t highlight their imperfections. Enter the Laura Geller New York Baked Original Highlighter Quad in the shade of French Vanilla! The product offers a luminous natural-looking lift to your skin, minus any shimmery fallout. At the same time, it offers a plethora of benefits to your skin like intense hydration, deep moisturization, and nourishment with antioxidants like Centella asiatica and white tea extracts. Well, there’s more to the product — it helps fight against environmental stressors and free radicals to keep your skin forever youthful. 

Type: Powder

Shades: 4

8

Best Vegan Formula

e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand - Champagne Campaign

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Glow like a Greek goddess with the e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand in the shade Champagne Campaign. The highlighter adds natural luminescence to your cheeks, temples, and brow bones for a youthful glow that you have always yearned for. Infused with skin-loving ingredients, it nourishes your skin while providing instant illumination. The product also comes with a cushion tip applicator for precise application on the go. Addedly, it is cruelty-free and vegan, minus the toxins to only offer the best to your skin. What’s more, is that it is highly buildable, lightweight, and suitable for all skin types.  

Type: Powder

Shades: 3

9

Most Cost-effective

essence Pure NUDE Highlighter - #D3A996

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Stay a step ahead in the makeup game as you include the essence Pure NUDE Highlighter in your kit. Like me, if you too are a fan of highlighters and never go a day without applying them to bring your beautiful facial features into focus, this product is truly a must-have. Cost-effective yet vegan and cruelty-free, the lightweight highlighter provides a natural finish and stays on for an entire day. Addedly, it offers a rich color payoff along with high blendability and buildability for the coveted radiant glow. The best part — the product is free from gluten, silicones, parabens, fragrance, and microplastic particles. 

Type: Powder

Shades: 4

10

UCANBE Liquid Highlighter Makeup

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I have always been a fan of liquid highlighters due to their highly blendable and lightweight formula that lends you the desired finish. This highlighter in particular, by UCANBE has been on my vanity for years due to several reasons. Firstly, it is hypoallergenic, making it perfect for my sensitive skin. Secondly, it is vegan, cruelty-free, and made of natural ingredients that benefit my skin with their smooth embrace. Adding to that, the packaging is so travel-friendly that I can just toss it in my bag for on-the-go touch-ups wherever I head – parties, office events, or vacations. Well, I don’t think you need more reasons to add it to your cart. 

Type: Liquid

Shades: 3

11

Most Versatile

SELESTIA BEAUTY Divine V Highlighter Powder - Pink

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Let your inner happiness shine through your makeup as you apply the Selestia Beauty Divine V Highlighter Powder in the shade Pink. With its versatile shade and buildable coverage, the highlighter is your true companion to take your LOTD up by several notches. Not only is the product cruelty-free but also vegan and lightweight to offer a natural finish that doesn’t look made up. Adding to that, it blends like a dream using a fluffy brush as you apply it on the high points of your face. In a nutshell, this is truly a must-have for your vanity. 

Type: Powder

Shade: 1

Now that you have seen my product recommendations for the best highlighters, glance through my buying guide to make an informed purchasing decision.

Here are the factors to consider before getting your hands on a highlighter - 

Skin Type: It is of utmost importance to consider your skin type before buying a highlighter. Powder highlighters are a perfect pick for oily skin beauties, whereas liquid and creamy formulas work wonders for dry to combination skin types. Last but not least, sensitive skin types must go for hypoallergic formulas that don’t cause any allergic reactions or irritations. 

Undertone: Determining your skin’s undertone is a vital step in finding the right highlighter shade for yourself. For cool undertones, you can opt for silver, icy, or pearl highlighters. On the other hand, if you have warm undertones, champagne, and golden shades can be a savior. 

To find your skin's undertone, take a look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear blue, you have cool undertones, and if they appear green, you have warm undertones. 

Formula: Highlighters are available in three types — powder, liquid, and cream, to help add dimension to your face. Choose the formula as per the finish you require. While powder highlighters offer a matte finish, liquid and cream-based are great for a dewy finish, making them perfect for special occasions. 

Ingredients: Before getting your hands on a highlighter, check the ingredients list on the packaging. The product should be infused with skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, etc. At the same time, it should be devoid of harsh chemicals like mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, etc., and be cruelty-free.

Here are easy and simple tricks to apply a highlighter properly - 

Step 1: Cleanse and moisturize your face before beginning the makeup process. 

Step 2: Prime your face and then apply your foundation. 

Step 3: Blend well using a beauty blender.

Step 4: Apply contour and blush to define your facial features using a fluffy brush. 

Step 5: Take your highlighter and lightly stipple it on the high points of your face — browbones, forehead, bridge of the nose, cheekbones, cupid’s bow, and chin. 

Step 6: Set your makeup with a setting spray for a long-lasting natural finish. 

Tada! You are done!