21 Of The Best Highlighters For Glowing Skin

Highlighters

by Danielle Fowler |
Published on

Let’s be honest, we’re already thinking about that post-holiday glow. The kind of bronzed shimmer that leaves pasty relatives green-eyed at the evidence of a sun-filled break.

But whether you’re a sun worshipper or not, you can fake it until you make it with our roundup of the very best highlighters that are guaranteed to leave your skin positively glowing.

From illuminating pencils to highlighting sticks, the beauty market is brimming with tempting and illuminating goodies. But it can all get a little overwhelming. So we've broken down the highlighters you need to get your hands on to achieve fresh, dewy (Instagram-worthy) skin...

Liquid Highlight

For some of us, highlighting is an alien term. And when contouring, strobing and non-touring come into play, it’s enough to send us into make-up induced panic. But for highlighting newbies, it’s best to stick to the basics. Liquid highlighters are easiest to blend and our go-to is the product of all products, YSL’s Touche Eclat. Designed to illuminate, conceal, define and sculpt- this is definitely a handbag essential. Apply under the eyes to conceal signs of tiredness and along the line of your lips to make your cupids bow appear fuller.

It’s also an easy tool if you want to get to grips with contouring. If you don’t have a makeup bag brimming with brushes and tools that only an Insta-blogger would know how to use, then the Touche Eclat is the perfect start. Highlight down the sides of your nose, middle of the forehead and above your cheekbones for a subtle, sculpted effect (minus the hassle). Finish by creating a shadow under the cheekbones and along the hairline with a bronzer for a soft contour.

Our other go-to product is of course the Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer (aka guaranteed glow in a bottle). Blend on your brow bones and cheeks for a brighter complexion as demonstrated by Bella.

Cream Highlight

Slightly more challenging, but still a winner in the quest for a lust-worthy highlight. Even if you don’t know the difference between contour and non-tour, you’re sure to have heard about the NARS Illuminator. One slick of the highlighter stick and your skin will shimmer. Apply liberally to achieve the intensity you desire. It's the ultimate tool required for a winning strobe.

We’re also after Benefit’s Watt’s Up!, the stick highlighter designed to create a soft and dewy glow. Apply to the brow bones and cheeks for a strobed effect.

Powder Highlight

If the thought of yet another product to slick upon your skin fills you with dread, then opt for a highlighter in powder form. Powder highlights such as Bobbi Brown’s Nude Finish Illuminating Powder and Mac’s Mineralize Skinfinish are guaranteed to prevent oily or overly shiny skin. We particularly love Sleek's Solstice Highlighting Palette and Aussie brand Nude By Nature's Highlighting Palette, simply blend for a soft, metallic finish.

Apply a radiance-enhancing primer to begin followed by your go-to foundation or tinted moisturiser. Then, blend your highlight above the cheekbones with a buffing brush. Opt for a subtle shade to achieve a non-toured look a la Kendall Jenner. Of course, if you’re feeling daring you could always delve into a more out-there aesthetic and give rainbow highlighter a go?

Pencil Highlight

By far one of the simplest ways to nail highlighting. Bag yourself a pencil highlighter and illuminate your brow bone- a great way to make the most of your freshly groomed eyebrows. We recommend Anastacia Beverly Hills Highlighting Duo Pencil and Estee Lauder’s Hi Lo Stylo. Simply line above your eyes and use cream highlight below to illuminate your features and conceal any pesky signs of fatigue.

To achieve Instagrammable skin, shop our roundup of the very best highlighters on the market below:

Gallery

Highlighters- Grazia

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour1 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Anastasia Beverly Hills Highlighting Duo Pencil, £17, Beauty Bay

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour2 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, £38.50, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour3 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector, £25, Harrods

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour4 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlighter, £19, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour5 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, £35, Cult Beauty

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour6 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Nude Finish Illuminating Powder, £39, Bobbi Brown

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour7 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Clinique, Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator, £22.50, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour8 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminator, £27, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour9 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

High Beam Liquid Highlighter, £19.50, Benefit

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour10 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

The Estee Edit By Estee Lauder, Hi Lo Stylo Contour & Highlight, £22, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour11 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Radiant Touch Creamy Stick Highlighter, £8.50, Kiko

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour12 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Face Highlighter, £26, Bobbi Brown

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour13 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion, £20, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour14 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Mineralize Skinfinish, £24, Mac

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour15 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

NYX Hydra Touch Brightener, £6.50, Selfridges

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour16 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Halo Highlighting Wand, £25, Smashbox

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour17 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Touche Éclat, £25, Yves Saint Laurent

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour18 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Benefit Sun Beam Highlighter, £19.50, Feel Unique

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour19 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Bar Of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter, £32, Charlotte Tilbury

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour20 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Solstice Highlighting Palette, £10, Sleek Make-Up

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour21 of 21

highlighters-illuminators-makeup-contour

Nude By Nature Touch of Glow Highlighter Stick In Champagne, £15, Feel Unique

READ MORE: Non-Touring: The Simple Route To Subtly Sculpted Skin

READ MORE: 10 Make Up Setting Sprays That Are Totally Slip-Proof

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us