Korean makeup products need no introduction. They are widely popular for their innovative formulation and texture providing you glass skin-like sheen. One such makeup essential is a highlighter. The best Korean highlighters are responsible for lending you a pearlescent natural-looking glow. Korean beauty brands have also introduced top-notch highlighters in an array of shades to help you achieve the radiance of your dreams. Be it subtle, shimmer, glitter, or dramatic, you will find highlighters in hues ranging from soft pink to deep brown. 

Before you kickstart your shopping haul, let us tell you what exactly is a highlighter. Take a look —

A highlighter is a makeup product that is made from finely milled reflecting particles to lend you a faux glow. It adds depth, dimension, and definition to certain parts of your face, such as cheekbones, nose bridge, eyebrow bones, cupid’s bow, under the chin, and inner corners of your eyes. Secondly, they are available in different textures and types which are as follows —

Types of Highlighters

Following are the types of highlighters to attain desirable glam. 

Cream-based Highlighter: Creamy or cream-based highlighters are intensely saturated and apt for attaining a glittery or shimmery glow. They are buildable, blendable, and long-lasting. 

Balm-based Highlighter: Balmy highlighters usually take the shape of a stick. They have more of a gel-powder formulation, that feels like balm but dries down like powder. They are travel-friendly, easy to use, and best for attaining a dewy finish. 

Powder-based Highlighter: Powder highlighters come in two forms namely baked and pressed. Both of them deliver what they claim. In addition, they are extremely light on the skin, easy to apply, and best for beginners. 

Liquid Highlighter: Liquid highlighters are best for attaining a very dewy finish. They can be mixed with foundations, BB and CC creams, or moisturizers for a translucent glow. 

Once you have acquainted yourself with the types of highlighters, check out our fanciful list of the best glittery, shimmery, subtle, and non-glittery highlighters that you should think of investing in.

• 1
  Amazon’s Choice

  KYDA Face Highlighter Palette - SUN GLOW (Champagne Gold)

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Our very first recommendation is Kyda’s face highlighter palette that comes in a glamorous shade of champagne gold. It is a glossy and shimmery highlighter featuring a long-lasting and weightless formula. With this one palette, you can create flawless 3-dimensional makeup looks with utmost ease. Secondly, for all those who are a fan of neutral or nude makeup, then this one palette can be a game-changer. The best part — it lays a blanket over your pores and never makes them look prominent. 

2

Editor’s Choice

ELLESY Highlighter Makeup Palette - 04 Rainbow Glow

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The next on our list is yet another popular K-beauty highlighter makeup palette from the brand named Ellesy. For a natural-looking glamorous look, this palette is definitely what you need in your makeup kit. What we loved the most is the fact that it has a smooth and silky texture that blends effortlessly. Secondly, it is vegan, non-toxic, light in weight, and cruelty-free. Plus, it comes with a brush so that you can highlight your collarbones, nose bridge, cheeks, eyebrows bones, and chin to perfection. 

3

Best Highlighter Stick

COLORGRAM Under Eye Highlighter Stick - 04 Peach

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While researching for the best K-beauty highlighters, we came across this stick from Colorgram. It comes with an adhesive and highly-pigmented formula to help you elevate your makeup game by several notches. What we liked the most is the fact that it is weightless and crafted for everyday wear. Secondly, with this cruelty-free Korean highlighter makeup stick, you can seamlessly highlight the inner corners of your eyes, and blur your under-eye bags as well as dark circles.  

4

Best Texture

I'm Meme Highlighter Stick - 03 Highlighter - Champagne Gold

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This I'm Meme highlighter stick that comes in an astounding shade of champagne gold is a makeup essential. Firstly, it has a buttery soft texture that glides and blends easily. Secondly, it is very easy to use and extremely light on the skin. Furthermore, it is long-lasting and lends you the most natural radiant look. So for all those who K-beauty fads, this is definitely an ideal pick to spruce up your everyday glam within seconds. Let us also tell you that it is the most-loved Korean contour stick. 

5

Best Pigmented Formula

YOUNG VISION Baked Highlighter Powder Palette

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The reason why Young Vision’s baked highlighter powder palette grabs all attention is for its highly pigmented, sweat, and water-proof formula. In addition, it is lightweight, buildable, blendable, and comes in an extremely velvety and creamy texture. The most impressive part — the monochromatic hue of the highlighter brightens and enhances your complexion like magic. Plus, it is just an apt product for donning seriously vibrant, subtle, bold, as well as dramatic makeup looks. All credit goes to this finely milled powder that amps up your makeup game. 

6

Best Glass Skin Highlighter

Hince True Dimension Radiance Balm - Light

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Based on our team’s research, Hince’s True Dimension Radiance Balm is the brand’s best glass skin highlighter. It comes in a delicate sheer color to lend you a naturally glowing complexion. Furthermore, it is shimmery and specially designed for your makeup needs. You can use it as a cheekbone and cupid’s bow highlighter, blush, and eyeshadow. What left us in awe is the highlighter’s impeccable buildable and blendable texture that doesn’t make it look cakey post application.

7

Best for All Skin Types And Tones

Kaja Highlighter - Mochi Glow - Stardust

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To highlight your cheekbones, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and brow bones without actually overpowering your makeup, Kaja’s highlighter is what you need in your makeup kit. We glanced through the features of this product and were surprised to see that it is equipped with a distinctive powder-gel formula that feels creamy but settles down like powder. To note more, it is one of the best Korean contour products that suit all skin types and tones. 

8

Most Natural Finish

ETUDE Play 101 Stick

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This cult-favorite K-beauty contour stick from Etude is a dual-ended multi-purpose makeup essential. On one end, there is a bronzer that helps you in adding depth and dimension to your face whereas on the other, it is equipped with a creamy highlighter. With this stick, you can effortlessly define and highlight your T-zone, cheekbones, and cupid’s bow in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, it has a 24-degree diagonal cut and an ergonomic design that makes contouring and highlighting super easy and less messy.

9

Best Shimmery Finish

Serseul Highlighter Makeup Palette - White Champagne

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Lastly, we recommend Serseul’s highlighter makeup palette that comes in the shade named ‘White Champagne’. It is the brand’s best highlighter for glass skin that is crafted to create natural-looking, 3D glamorous looks. Moreover, this palette is similar to your compact and also comes with a mirror for ease and convenience. Plus, the lightweight, shimmery powder blends well and makes your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, eyebrow bones, and nose bridge shine bright. 

That was our comprehensive list of the best highlighters for Asian skin. Now, let us run you through our detailed buying guide. 

 

Here are a few aspects that you should consider before splurging on the best Korean highlighters - 

Type: Make sure you are very well acquainted with the different types of highlighters available in the market. The technique of application differs based on their formulation and texture. There are powder, liquid, as well as balm-based highlighters. Powder highlighters are ideal for beginners, liquid ones are the best for creating a dewy finish makeup look, whereas balm is best for on-the-go application. You may choose the best Korean contour/highlighter as per your needs and preference. 

Shade/Color: The next important aspect is the shade or color of the highlighter that you are planning to buy. For an everyday subtle look, pick a highlighter that is neutral in the shade and suits your complexion. For special eves, you may vouch for a highlighter that comes with a pinkish hue. All of the best highlighter brands offer a wide range of shades to suit your skin type and tone, so make sure that you make a wise decision as per your needs. 

Formula: Ensure that the highlighter is free from harmful toxins, parabens, talc, and gluten. It is advisable to splurge on K-beauty highlighters that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from synthetic ingredients. Secondly, it is wise to pick highlighters that are enriched with a sweat and waterproof formula.

Texture: The next important aspect is the texture of the highlighter. Firstly, the texture should be easy to blend, soft, smooth, and extremely light on the skin. Secondly, it should offer a light to medium amount of coverage. There are highlighters featuring powder, cream, gel, balm, and liquid-based textures. Based on your makeup needs and necessities, you may choose any of them. 

After taking note of the above-mentioned aspects, roll your eyes over a few steps to use the best Korean highlighter accurately. 

Below are a few steps for using a Korean highlighter appropriately - 

Step 1: After you have applied your foundation, concealer, and blush, begin outlining the areas that you wish to highlight.  

Step 2: Pick your makeup sponge or highlighter brush and focus on the areas like cheekbones, central forehead, nose bridge, and eyebrow bones. 

Step 3: Make sure you do not try to conceal pores or any kind of redness as a highlighter does not cover or blur them. 

Step 4: Pick a concealer brush or use your finger to apply the highlighter on the inner corners and under your eyes.  

Step 5: To make your lips look prominent and pouty, apply the highlighter on Cupid's bow and under the chin. 

Tada, you are done! 

Conclusion

That was all about the best Korean highlighters that you should think of snagging right away. These highlighters will not only make you look glamorous but also spruce up your makeup game by several notches. Secondly, they help you contour your cheeks, eyebrows, eyes, lips, and chin and make them look well-defined. Not just that, K-beauty highlighter palettes and sticks are crafted especially to offer you a healthy lustrous glow. So for attaining a bright, natural-looking glowy look, make sure you get your hands on the best of the best highlighters from the Korean beauty world! Happy shopping!