16 Best Drugstore Highlighters
1. Best For Daily Use: theBalm Mary Lou Manizer
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer is an illuminating highlighter that will attract everyone’s eyes. The product can be used as a highlighter, shadow, and shimmer. It diffuses light in a way that your skin will look softer and younger. The product will add a subtle glow to your skin. The Mary Lou Manizer can be layered on the lids, used to highlight your cheeks, or used for an all-over finishing touch for a honey-hued glow. The champagne luminizer will give you a soft, natural glow for everyday use. This video helps you know more about the product. Pros
Can be used as eyeshadow, highlighter, and shimmer Ideal for everyday use Long-lasting
Cons None
2. Best Non-Acnegenic: MAC Strobe Cream
The MAC Strobe Cream is the ultimate quick fix for the skin. The cream comes in 5 different shades – pink, peach, silver, red, and gold. The cream is filled with potent botanical extracts. The strobe cream will boost the appearance of dull, flat, and tired-looking skin with the help of nutritious vitamins and green tea. It brightens the skin with iridescent particles and antioxidants. The strobe cream will give a soft glow to the skin when in sunlight. It smoothens the skin and provides radiance. The strobe cream is hydrating and non-acnegenic. It is dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested. Check out this video to know more about this product.
Smoothens the skin Moisturizing Non-acnegenic Dermatologist-tested Ophthalmologist-tested
Cons None
3. Best Sun Protection: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter will create a covetable, healthy dewy glow. The highlighter gives a healthy radiance to the skin. It illuminates darkened skin and evens out the skin tone. The liquid highlighter is used in two ways. It can be mixed with a primer, foundation, or moisturizer for added radiance. Or it can be used on its own for an all-over dewy glow. The liquid highlighter contains SPF 20+ that fights against harmful sun rays. The highlighter is formulated with antioxidant vitamins and anti inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients. These ingredients help repair skin cells, increase collagen production, and promote moisture retention. Before buying, have a look at this video for more details. Pros
Illuminates darkened skin
SPF 20+ for protection against sun rays Repairs skin cells Increases collagen production Moisturizing Nice fragrance
Cons None
4. Best For All Skin Tones: Glossier Haloscope
The Glossier Haloscope highlighter is a crystal-infused highlighter that contains skin-conditioning benefits. The highlighter’s outer-core is formulated with crystal extracts. These crystal extracts give an all-day glow to your skin. The inner core of the highlighter is oil-based and is made from a vitamin-rich moisturizer that hydrates your skin. The highlighter is extremely nourishing and hydrating. The product is cruelty-free and is formulated without fragrance. It is dermatologist-tested. The highlighter comes in 3 blendable shades that work on every skin tone. Pros
Hydrates the skin Nourishing Cruelty-free Formulated without fragrance Dermatologist-tested Comes in 3 blendable shades Suitable for all skin tones
Cons None
5. Best Lightweight: Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter
The Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter will add a gorgeous, gleaming touch to your skin. The highlighter is a lightweight powder. It will give a sexy bronzed effect to your skin. The baked highlighter can be used to define and highlight your most desired areas. The highlighter comes in 6 different shades that suit all skin tones. Pros
Lightweight Available in 6 shades Suits all skin tones
Cons None
6. Best Natural-Looking: Beauty Junkees Powder Contour Highlighter Makeup Palette
The Beauty Junkies Makeup Palette is an exclusive contour and highlighting palette. This palette makes the process of enhancing and minimizing facial features easy. The highlighting shades of the palette will lift and brighten your face with a soft, radiant glow. The palette is perfect for everyday use. It is cruelty-free and paraben-free. The shades are formulated so well that they blend easily without any trouble. All the colors in the shades are natural-looking. They suit all skin tones. Pros
Blendable Perfect for everyday use Paraben-free Cruelty-free Natural-looking shades Suit all skin tones
Cons None
7. Best Full Coverage: NYX Cosmetics Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter
The NYX Cosmetics Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter has a light-reflecting formula that comes in 9 creamy and lightweight shades. It gives a great glow with a shimmery finish. The highlighter is buildable and gives full coverage. It will brighten your best features. Pros
Comes in 9 different shades Lightweight Buildable
Cons None
8. Best For Strobing: NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick
The NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick is a complexion-brightening stick. The highlighter will illuminate your favorite facial features with a lit-from-within glow. The product is perfect for strobing. It comes in 8 different shades that go on seamlessly on your face. The highlighter easily brightens your complexion with a luminous glow. The product can also be used as a bronzer and blush. Pros
Blendable
Ideal for strobing Comes in 8 different shades Can be used as a bronzer and blush
Cons None
9. Best For Sensitive Skin: Maybelline New York Makeup Facestudio Master Strobing Stick
The Maybelline New York Face studio Master Strobing Stick is made with a non-comedogenic, lightweight, and creamy formula. The strobing stick is dermatologist- and allergy-tested. The illuminating stick highlighter is easy to use and is highly blendable. The highlighting stick gives a healthy glow and is designed to add dimensions to your face. It comes in 2 illuminating shades – iridescent and nude glow. The product is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Pros
Non-comedogenic Dermatologist-tested Allergy-tested Easy to use Blendable Suitable for all skin types Long-lasting Suits sensitive skin
Cons None
10. Best Metallic Sheen Effect: Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
The Maybelline New York Face studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter comes with reflective pigments for a metallic sheen effect. The highlighter gives a chrome effect that will leave the skin with a melted metallic finish. The highlighter attracts light that helps accentuate and enhance your best facial features. It comes in 2 highly pigmented shades. They give a reflective finish for a brilliant skin glow. Pros
Gives a metallic sheen effect Comes in 2 highly pigmented shades
Cons None
11. Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter
The Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter will give you a natural-looking color that will last all day. The baked highlighter has a unique formulation that will provide the perfect highlighted, luminous glow. The highlighter is highly pigmented and iseasily blendable. It has a lightweight texture that is perfect for highlighting and strobing. The baked highlighter comes in 3 different shades that are perfect for all skin types. Pros
Long-lasting Highly pigmented Easily blendable Lightweight texture Perfect for highlighting and strobing Comes in 3 different shades Suits all skin types
Cons None
12. The Lip Bar Fresh Glow 2-Layer Compact
The Lip Bar Fresh Glow 2-Layer Compact is a 2-in-1 bronzer and illuminating blush palette. The bronzer will give shape to your face while the illuminating blush will highlight your cheeks and cheekbones. Both the bronzer and the illuminating blush can be blended together to give a glowing bronzed look. The palette is travel-friendly and comes with a mirror and a brush. It is vegan and is formulated with natural ingredients ideal for everyday use. The compact comes in 4 different shades. Pros
Travel-friendly Comes with a mirror and a brush Vegan Formulated with natural ingredients Ideal for everyday use Highly pigmented Comes in 4 different shades
Cons None
13. Lamora Highlighter Palette
The Lamora Highlighter Palette includes 4 highly pigmented shimmer highlighters that are suitable for all skin tones. These highlighters are long-lasting and give a perfect glow to the areas that you want to highlight. These highlighters are highly blendable and easy to apply. They are vegan too. If you are a beginner, you will find this highlighter palette quite useful. The palette is small and travel-friendly. Pros
Long-lasting Suitable for all skin tones Blendable Easy to apply Vegan Travel-friendly Specifically useful for beginners
Cons None
14. Diow Choco Palette Kit
The Diow Choco Palette Kit comes with complementing shades that have an ultra-fine formula. These highlighters will give you an illuminating glow by highlighting your desired facial features. They are super-pigmented and easy to blend and are hence perfect for everyday use. The shades are suitable for all skin tones. Pros
Super-pigmented
Easy to blend Ideal for everyday use Suitable for all skin types
Cons None
15. PYT Beauty Highlighter
The PYT Beauty Highlighter illuminates the best features on your face. It gives anatural-looking glow to your skin. The highlighter is compact and travel-friendly. It is formulated with hydrating and enhancing ingredients like jojoba seed oil and vitamin E. These ingredients give a subtle glow and a soft radiance to the skin. The highlighter is lightweight and easy to blend. It is vegan, hypoallergenic, and free from synthetic fragrances. The highlighter is also free from harsh chemicals like parabens and phthalates. Pros
Lightweight Blendable Vegan Hypoallergenic Free from synthetic fragrances Paraben-free Phthalate-free
Cons
Contains glitter
16. AestheticaStarlite Highlighter
The AestheticaStarlite Highlighter gives a dewy look to your face. The ultra shimmery highlighter glides on to your face and stays there all through the day. The highlighter comes in 4 different shades that suit all skin types. It is beginner-friendly. It also is vegan. Pros
Long-lasting Vegan Suitable for all skin types Blendable Travel-friendly
Cons None These are the top 16 drugstore highlighters. Based on their compositions, highlighters are usually available in 4 types. We have discussed them below.
Different Types Of Highlighters
Strobing Cream – These creams give you a natural, dewy glow. A strobing cream can be used as a highlighting primer and is perfect as base makeup.
Stick Highlighter – Just like a crayon, a stick highlighter is a shimmer stick that is applied with the help of your fingertips. This type of highlighter is excellent for people who are just starting their makeup journey.
Powder Highlighter – These are pressed highlighters that come in a pan. They are a staple for every makeup enthusiast and are very easy to use. Powder highlighters can also be used as an eyeshadow or to highlight the inner corners of the eyes.
Liquid Highlighter – A liquid highlighter is often used by people who have been using makeup for a long time. These highlighters are highly pigmented and look incredible when applied well.
There are so many highlighters available on the market. However, to make your cheeks pop, you will need something that will suit your skin tone. Check the below-mentioned points to find a highlighter that will look great on your skin tone.
How To Choose A Highlighter Based On Your Skin Tone
Fair Skin Tone – People with pale to light skin tone should go for a highlighter that has champagne or icy sheen to it. These shades will add a shine to the face.
Medium or olive Skin Tone – A highlighter with gold undertones will look great on medium or olive skin tone.
Deep Skin Tone – For a deep skin tone, highlighters with gold or bronze undertones work great. These highlighters offer a natural radiance.
The highlighting world seems to be getting innovative by the minute. There are too many products, and picking a good one could be challenging. But remember this – you just need to understand your skin type, its undertone, your preferences, and your budget. With that knowledge, you can buy the perfect highlighter! We hope this list has helped you with enough options. Pick your favorite highlighter today!
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Baishali Bhattacharya, is certified in makeup artistry. She reviewed many drugstore highlighters for this article and sifted through hundreds of user reviews on trusted online forums to bring the best to her readers. As highlighters are an integral part of getting that perfect airbrushed look, you can try these affordable and skin-friendly products to take your makeup game to the next level. How should I choose my highlighter? Choose a highlighter that is two shades lighter than your skin tone so that it blends perfectly with your foundation. Make sure that you have taken your undertones into account while choosing the best highlighter. Pink highlighters are the best for pale skin with pink undertones whereas yellowish highlighters are the best for warm skin tones with yellow undertones. Is using a highlighter good for the eyes? Yes, some apply a highlighter on the corner of the eyes to add definition to them and make them appear bigger. When should I apply a highlighter? Apply your highlighter after applying a primer, foundation, and blush. Can I wear a highlighter without foundation? Yes, you can apply your highlighter without foundation for a natural finish. Make sure to blend the highlighter well with your skin. How do I make my highlighter last longer? Layer your highlighter as much as possible to ensure it does not fade away. Use a good setting spray to keep the highlighter along with other makeup products in place.
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