12 Best Highlighters for Fair Skin to Enhance Your Facial Features

Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty Writer
Updated on Feb 07, 2024
Best Highlighters for Fair Skin to Enhance Your Facial Features
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As fair-skinned beauties, you possess a unique canvas, ready to be beautified with the most enchanting shimmers. Here, the best highlighters for fair skin can work magically as your holy grail to bestow ultimate radiance. It's the secret weapon that helps you accentuate your facial features, giving you that sought-after, luminous glow.

As the light dances on your skin, a good highlighter can act upon it by adding sheen to your complexion. This makeup must-have has become a staple in vanities, breathing life into your skin, and leaving it looking nothing short of mesmerizing. Whether it's a subtle glow or a high-impact finish, a few strokes of a highlighter can change the game.

For those blessed with fair skin, the choice of highlighter becomes even more critical. An expertly chosen highlighter not only illuminates your complexion but also complements your fair skin, enhancing its natural beauty. Meanwhile, each one promising to outshine the other, it might seem a tad bit overwhelming to find the one that sings in perfect harmony with your skin tone. Fear not, as we're here to guide you through the journey.

Irrespective of your expertise in makeup, whether you're a seasoned artist or a budding professional, let's explore the best highlighters for fair skin tone.

13 Best Highlighters for Fair Skin

Unleash your inner glow with the Wet n Wild MegaGlo highlighting powder. This formula, infused with micro-fine pearls, provides medium coverage for a luminous, multi-dimensional effect. Its buttery texture effortlessly melts onto the skin while offering an easy application. Besides, the highlighter for light skin is not only about lending a shimmery finish, but it's also dedicated to skin nourishment, boasting off ingredients, such as vitamin E, Murumuru seed butter, shea butter, and argan oil. So, why wait? Celebrate your makeup journey with this 100% cruelty-free and vegan-friendly product, suitable for all skin tones, and ages.

Available shade: 6

Pros
  • Pigmented
  • Weightless feel
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan-friendly
  • Micro-fine pearl infusion
  • Skin-nourishing ingredients
Cons
  • Limited shades
  • wet n wild Megaglo hello HALO Liquid Highlighter

    wet n wild Megaglo hello HALO Liquid Highlighter
  • Lend multi-dimensional radiance to your face with the Wet n Wild Megaglo liquid highlighter. Formulated with high pearl pigments, this intensely pigmented liquid illuminates your skin with a shimmering glow. The blend of murumuru seed butter, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E further ensures a smooth and even application, offering more than just a stunning highlight; it's a skincare treat! This buildable highlighter also offers medium coverage, enabling you to customize your shine from subtle to intense. Addedly, this is the best liquid highlighter for fair skin, which keeps your skin radiant, even if you did not have a good night's sleep.

    Available shade: 5

    Pros
    • Pearl pigments
    • Budget-friendly
    • Smooth application
    • Customizable coverage
    • Long-lasting radiance
    • Intense pigmentation
    Cons
    • Not suitable for oily skin
  • Best Travel-friendly Highlighter

    MAYBELLINE NEW YORK NEW MASTER Strobing Stick BY FACESTUDIO

     MAYBELLINE NEW YORK NEW MASTER Strobing Stick BY FACESTUDIO
  • Redefine your natural glow with the Facestudio master strobing stick from Maybelline New York. A sublime combination of a lightweight, creamy texture and micro-fine pearls amplifies your skin's natural glow. Also, it is easy to apply for beginners, and with a few strokes, it will add depth and dimension to your facial features. To note, as the best highlighter stick for fair skin, this illuminating cream highlighter stands out ensuring a flawless and dewy finish every time. So, why wait? Unleash the power of a precisely targeted highlight with this portable, user-friendly stick that has revolutionized makeup application.

    Available shades: 3

    Pros
    • Subtle illumination
    • Creamy consistency
    • Lightweight coverage
    • Easy application
    • Travel-friendly design
    • Enhances facial features
    Cons
    • No powdery finish
  • Budget-friendly

    COSMETICS Highlighter DREAM by LUCOSS

    COSMETICS Highlighter DREAM by LUCOSS
  • The brand, Lucoss steps up your makeup game with its shimmery highlighter palette. This thoughtfully curated collection of four white-tone shimmers ensures a dazzling gloss finish to enhance your natural features. Moreover, this is one of the best powder highlighters for fair skin, with its formulation effortlessly elevating your skin's radiance. Whether highlighting cheekbones, brow bones, inner eye corners, or lips, this versatile palette is an ideal choice. Beyond ordinary makeup, it's a tool to brighten up your skin for parties, performances, weddings, music festivals, and daily use. Light, compact, and giftable, this palette truly has all that you need.

    Available shades: 2

    Pros
    • Versatile use
    • Shimmery finish
    • Long-lasting
    • Waterproof
    • Oil controlling formula
    • Compact design
    Cons
    • Light coverage
  • Best for Sensitive Skin

    PHYSICIANS FORMULA Highlighter Makeup Powder

    PHYSICIANS FORMULA Highlighter Makeup Powder
  • A flawless complexion is no more a myth with Physicians Formula highlighter makeup powder. This unique palette features multi-colored mineral pearls that blend seamlessly to create an instant glowing effect and even out your skin tone. Thanks to its real pearl extracts, this face highlighter for fair skin also delivers a luxurious skin-perfecting finish and a natural blushing glow. To note more, the compact packaging includes a convenient mirror and a brush for effortless application. Addedly, this highlighter is specially formulated for sensitive skin, and over the years, it has received recognition from dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and experts alike.

    Available shades: 6

    Pros
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Non-sticky
    • Skin-perfecting effect
    • Natural glow
    • Suitable for sensitive skin
    • Free from harsh ingredients
    Cons
    • Maybe a bit sparkly
  • Professional-grade

    KYDA Face Highlighter Palette

    KYDA Face Highlighter Palette
  • Dazzle with the 3D flash texture of KYDA face highlighter palette. Featuring a unique Italian baking powder technology, this product gives your face a luminous, three-dimensional effect. The silky glitter highlighter for fair skin also adds a natural, enchanting glow, when applied correctly for a powder-free finish. Meanwhile, its natural, long-lasting formula doesn't just brighten your complexion but also conceals blemishes. With a professional brush, this lightweight, high-coverage palette further resists fading and blends flawlessly. Last but not the least, perfect for various makeup looks and events, it is conveniently portable, making it an ideal gift option due to its exquisite packaging.

    Available shades: 7

    Pros
    • 3D-effect
    • Conceals blemishes
    • Long-lasting
    • Versatile usage
    • Portable
    • Smooth finish
    Cons
    • May not suit sensitive skin
  • Best Pigmentation

    FOCALLURE Blush and Highlighter Palette

     FOCALLURE Blush and Highlighter Palette
  • It's time to redefine your radiant self with Focallure's versatile 3-in-1 blush and highlighter palette. Comprising matte and shimmer shades, this is one of the best highlighters for fair skin that allows you to craft distinct makeup looks. Its highly pigmented powders are resilient to sweat and water, and hence, stay put on your face for extended durations. The palette's smooth texture further assures easy application. Once you apply this highlighter, it feels light on your skin while providing an even finish. Plus, this palette incorporates vegan, micro-milled powders for a smooth application that makes your face glow. It's also beautifully packaged and portable, making it a delightful gift for your loved ones.

    Available shades: 5

    Pros
    • Travel-friendly
    • Waterproof
    • Long-lasting
    • Easy Application
    • Cruelty-free
    • Vegan-friendly
    Cons
    • Matte finish
  • Ease to use

    REVLON Skin Lights

     REVLON Skin Lights
  • Get a glamorous makeover with Revlon’s prismatic highlighter's saturated pigments that capture light, delivering multi-dimensional highlights in true-to-life color. Its refined pearls further ensure easy application, bringing about a translucent, buildable effect for that perfect radiance. By far, this is one of the best highlighters for fair skin, thoughtfully formulated without fragrance or parabens, keeping your skin’s safety in mind. To note more, this sheer, textured powder allows for subtle to dramatic looks, and available in three diverse shades, it aims to cater to varied beauty preferences.

    Available shades: 3

    Pros
    • Easy application
    • Fragrance-free
    • Paraben-free
    • Buildable coverage
    • Several shades to choose from
    • Light-capturing pigments
    Cons
    • Lots of glitter particles
  • Best for Mature Skin

    LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Small Baked Highlighter

    LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Small Baked Highlighter
  • With Laura Geller New York's baked highlighter, you can achieve a natural-looking, radiant glow without any glitter fallout. Its sheer, full-coverage formulation helps to illuminate and contour your face subtly. Moreover, perfect for mature skin, it creates an illusion of an instant lift. Besides, richly infused with antioxidants like Centella Asiatica and white tea extracts, this highlighter for fair to medium skin defends your skin against environmental stressors and free radicals, providing more than just surface beauty.

    Available shades: 5

    Pros
    • Natural radiance
    • Anti-aging benefits
    • Antioxidant-rich
    • Full coverage
    • Versatile use
    • Allows for multiple layers
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Natural Ingredients

    ELLESY Highlighter Makeup Palette

    ELLESY Highlighter Makeup Palette
  • Illuminate your best features effortlessly with Ellesy's highlighter palette. It's designed for easy application to your collar bones, corners of eyes, bridges of nose, cheekbones, and brows bones to create a naturally glamorous look. The palette features four diverse shades catering to different skin tones. Also, its soft texture assures a natural makeup look while providing excellent coverage without clogging pores. To note more, this highlighter for fair skin has a lightweight texture, and its fancy packaging is easy to carry, making it ideal for various occasions. 

    Available shades: 6

    Pros
    • Portable
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-Free
    • Non-toxic elements
    • Easy application
    • Caters to various skin tones
    Cons
    • Light coverage
  • Best Creamy Texture

    Paminify Hello Kiss Multifunctional Cream Makeup

     Paminify Hello Kiss Multifunctional Cream Makeup
  • Amplify your beauty with a Paminify Hello Kiss Multifunctional cream makeup set of a highlighter, contour, and blusher. These versatile tools house a cushioned applicator, ensuring easy and controlled application. Whether it's the Fair to Medium Contour Wand with its creamy texture and incredible staying power, the Natural Lightweight Blush Wand for an easy-to-apply, smudge-free, and hydrating finish, or the Shine Pearl White Wand that absorbs excess oil and lends a 24-hour shine effect, this set has got you covered for all your needs. Plus, ideal for deep skin tones as well, these wands help you create three-dimensional makeup looks with ease. Also, the brand values ethical beauty, hence its vegan and cruelty-free approach to these products.

    Available shades: 3

    Pros
    • Cushioned applicator
    • Versatile wands
    • Long-lasting
    • Cruelty-free
    • Highly pigmented
    • Combats skin imperfections
    Cons
    • Patch test advised
  • Editor’s Pick

    LSxia Highlighter Makeup Palette

    LSxia Highlighter Makeup Palette
  • With its combination of Italian baking powder technology and light-diffusing pigments, LSxia highlighter makeup palette gives you a naturally brilliant, three-dimensional highlight. As a preferred highlighter for fair skin tone, this product also offers a silky soft texture that guarantees seamless coverage without appearing overdone. Besides, it effortlessly brightens the skin, camouflages imperfections, and suits all skin tones. Whether it's your cheekbones, eyelids, brow bones, or lips, this highlighter accentuates your features beautifully. To be noted, the product’s compact design includes a mirror for on-the-go touch-ups, making this your favorite beauty companion for any occasion.

    Available shades: 4

    Pros
    • Portable design
    • Natural glow
    • Long-lasting
    • Seamless coverage
    • Light-diffusing pigments
    • Ideal for brightening features
    Cons
    • May look like glitter

    Choosing the right highlighter for fair skin is hard, and these 12 best picks cater brilliantly to that need. With a variety of textures and finishes, these highlighters illuminate your complexion, ensuring a glow that is both radiant and natural. Add these to your makeup vanity for a stunning glow right away.

    How to Select the Best Highlighter for Fair Skin?

    Here are a few aspects to consider before vouching for the best highlighter for fair skin - 

    Identifying Your Skin Undertone

    First and foremost, determine your skin undertone. Even if you have fair skin, your undertone could be cool, warm, or neutral. For cool undertones, a highlighter with pink or silver hues works best. For warm undertones, opt for champagne or gold shades. Neutral undertones are versatile and can pull off both.

    Deciding on the Perfect Shade

    Highlighters for fair skin often come in shades like pearl, champagne, or light pink. Depending on your undertone, choose the shade that will best enhance your complexion, not overpower it.

    Choosing the Right Formula

    Highlighters come in various forms - liquid, cream, powder. Powdery formulas are great for oily skin types or a more subtle glow, while cream and liquid ones provide a more intense, dewy radiance. Stick highlighters are perfect for precise application and are often travel-friendly.

    Testing Before Purchasing

    Always test the highlighter on your skin before buying. Apply a small amount on the high points of your face under natural light. The correct highlighter should blend seamlessly and give a natural glow.

    Considering Your Lifestyle And Preferences

    If you prefer a more natural look or need something easy for daily use, go for a subtle stick highlighter. If you love a dramatic, full-glam look, a more pigmented, sparkling highlighter might be your best bet.

    Selecting the best highlighter for fair skin doesn't have to be a daunting task. It's about embracing your skin's unique qualities, reflecting on your daily routine, and selecting a product that amplifies your innate beauty. The right highlighter has the power to transcend your appearance and bestow a luminous radiance upon your complexion. Begin your journey with confidence, and watch as your light illuminates every room you enter. Go forth, and let your light shine!

    How to Apply the Best Highlighter for Fair Skin?

    Here are a few ways to apply a highlighter for fair skin correctly - 

    Choosing Your Highlighter

    The first step is to select a highlighter for fair skin tone. Opt for shades like pearl, champagne, or light pink. When you choose a liquid highlighter or a creamy one, it will give you a more dewy finish, while a powder highlighter will result in a subtle, shimmery glow.

    Preparing Your Skin

    Before applying the highlighter, it’s crucial to prep your skin. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize to ensure a smooth, hydrated base. This preparation will help the highlighter blend seamlessly into your skin.

    Finding Your High Points

    Next, identify the high points of your face, where light naturally hits. These usually include the tops of your cheekbones, nose bridge, brow bone, inner corner of your eyes, and your cupid's bow.

    Applying the Highlighter

    For a precise application, use a small, fluffy brush for powder highlighters, or your fingers or a sponge for cream or liquid highlighters. Lightly dab the product onto your high points. Remember, less is more - you can always add more if you need to.

    Blending for a Natural Glow

    To avoid harsh lines and achieve a natural, radiant glow, blend the highlighter well. Use upward strokes on your cheekbones and a small circular motion on other areas.

    Setting Your Makeup

    Finally, set your makeup with a setting spray. This will ensure your glow lasts all day and helps to blend the highlighter even more seamlessly into your skin.

    Highlighting transcends mere luminosity, elevating your innate allure and accentuating your distinct features by harmonizing with your unique skin tone. With the right fair skin highlighter and the right application techniques, you can truly add a radiant finish to your makeup look. Since makeup is an art, you are free to experiment with shades to bring out the best.

    Conclusion

    As we conclude this luminous journey through the 12 best highlighters for fair skin, we hope you've found the perfect product to amp up your makeup routine. The best highlighter for fair skin is not merely a makeup product. It's a tool that allows your natural radiance to shine through, complementing and enhancing your beauty.

    Makeup is more connected with self-expression that makes you feel confident. And choosing the right highlighter is a critical step in this journey. We believe that this curated list will serve as your guiding light. So whether it's for an everyday look or a glamorous evening event, these highlighters promise to illuminate your fair skin and let you shine from within. Keep glowing!

    FAQ's

    Which highlighter is the best for fair skin?
    For fair skin, a highlighter with a pearl, champagne, or light pink undertone is typically the best choice.
    Which color of highlighter is used on fair skin?
    Fair-skinned individuals often look best with highlighters that have a cool or neutral undertone, such as pearl, silver, champagne, or light pink. These shades help to enhance the skin's natural glow without appearing contrasting.
    Should highlighters be darker or lighter than skin tone?
    Highlighters should generally be lighter than your skin tone. They're meant to reflect light and draw attention to your facial high points, like your cheekbones, brow bones, and cupid's bow, so a lighter shade will typically create the desired effect.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Having tried on several highlighters, our beauty writer and makeup expert Sayantani has often noticed that most of them can have a bronzing effect on fair skin, making the finish look unnatural. Thereby, she added her top recommendation for illuminating products that are suitable for fairer skin tones, consisting of gorgeous colors like champagne, silver, soft pink, light brown, etc. that give a pearlescent finish. She thoroughly evaluated their formulation, checked customer reviews, and tested some to get a picture of how they reacted with the skin. The products that passed her critical inspection are listed in the article above.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Sayantani Deb
    Makeup & Beauty Writer

    Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More