Whether you are aiming for a well-rested illusion, or you just want to attract more sun in the summer and need a product to help you out, highlighters are your answer. And whether it comes in a powder compact, a liquid gel, or a creamy stick, I’m here to give you exactly what you want.
I went to Sephora to test all the highlighters that they have there. Yes, I had time in my hand, and I actually wanted to know what else in the market other than my go-to Glossier highlighter. And also, to give you a clarification of every highlighter in the store. What do look for in a highlighter I got to ask? I love creamy formulas that blend well with my skin, and feel like I’m not putting any if that makes any sense. I like liquid highlighters more because I won’t need a brush since I’m using my fingers to blend it on my face. Au natural for every day. I like using disco ball formulas for the nights though. Depends on the night mood. Here’s what I found, and what I like to call each of it.
The Shimmery One
Sephora Collection Golden Hour Luminizing Powder
Sephora highlighter has a nice sheen into it as if you’re swiping silk into the skin. In my case, I wore this one in the inner corners of my eyes, and on the bone under my brows. It doesn’t look frosty and never set on the skin, rather melts into it.
The Efficient One
Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter
It has a sponge side so you can blend it easily. I found this one to be a bit shimmery, but the champagne color tends to give a more subtle look to a fair complexion like mine. Would I wear it in the daylight? Probably yes.
The Paradise Glower
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter
A pump of this on your face after your moisturizer is great to give a glow that’s only visible when the light catches your skin. How do I know this? I wiped my whole face off makeup for my second round, but I used some of this Chanel cream first. The highlighter has a very nice coconutty smell, you already know me when it comes to coconut products.
Your Other Best Friend
RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
One of my favorites highlighters, I switch between it and Glossier Haloscope. It’s subtle with any fair skin. The one that doesn’t have the slightest glitter effect in it. Just dewiness. Easy to apply over foundation or concealer. I use it on the bridge of my nose, cheekbones, and my cupid’s bow, it’s like the jam to your butter. Your face is the butter.
The OG
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
I got lost in the shades. The golden highlights were the best. I tried the Girl Next Door/Chic Phreak and the Afternoon Snack/Mo’ Hunny, both look great on my fair skin, the latter of which looks bronzy in a way.
By this time, one of Sephora’s girls was rounding with me aimlessly, another girl shouted to her that I’m not a buyer. I didn’t pay any attention.
The Long Lost Friend
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in pearl was the first, and best pink highlighter I have ever purchased when I first saw Lisa using it numerous times in her tutorials years ago. It’s still one of my favorite highlighters out there. The pressed version has 10 shades to choose from. So I got intrigued (again) and went for a darker shade to have a sun-kissed skin look. The results were very good, it’s not too powdery, and applied easily on the skin. I believe I would consume more golden shades this summer. I was sticking to rose and pinky highlighters, but this tour changed my mind.
The “It Girl” for Oily Skin
NARS Cosmetics Liquid Illuminator
If you have oily acne prone skin, and already afraid of using highlighters because you think it will make you look more oily, or you think you should only use powder highlights and you love creamy products, you should consider this one. It would be great a blush too. By this time, every person walked into the store with me already left. I’m still wiping off products and put others on my face.
The “This is just me” One
YSL’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch
A lightweight finish, also one of my favorite tools to give my face the light I need without adding shimmer. I discovered it when it first came out and my mom used it as her new magical pen. Works out like a light reflector on the cheeks and chin area, and the center of the forehead.
The 3D Effector
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Skin Highlighting Trio
For a sublime holographic look, you should go for this one. It’s very sheen and what I would use for a night out. It doesn’t come off looking frosty, or too white on my skin. It looks like a mirror, very pigmented highlighter if that’s a word. I’ve walked out of the store in this, disco balling in the middle of the streets.
