21 Of The Best Highlighters For Glowing Skin

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:

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

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