15 best highlighters for a next-level glow, reviewed
Dewy skin and a “lit-from-within” glow – the two things I will never pass up when doing my makeup. Thankfully, my trusty collection of the best highlighters helps me achieve exactly that, giving me the type of an ethereal sheen to rival Hailey Bieber's coveted “glass skin” finish.
Whether you choose a powder, cream or liquid formula, highlighters are designed with one goal in mind: to bathe the high points of the face in light. Because, unlike contouring products – which rely on shade to create dimension – highlighter formulas are all about strategic placement of the glow.
At one time, highlighters laid down a blinding, highly pigmented chrome makeup look (2016 makeup, anyone?). And while there's definitely nothing wrong with enjoying a bit of that intense and reflective look, as far as recent makeup trends go, subtle glow and dewy skin certainly continues to dominate. Amassing over 231.7 million posts on TikTok alone.
With that in mind, it's no coincidence that today's highlighters typically have featherlight, reflective pigments that mimic the way natural light dances on the skin rather than large glittery flecks. They're an incredibly versatile addition to your makeup bag, too. You can always swipe the product on top of your eyelids for that “wet” finish or gently dab it in the centre of your lips for a party-ready look.
To help you decide between the hundreds of highlighters out there, from E.l.f to Westman Atelier, we've put together a round-up of the very best formulas that managed to impress us most. In true GLAMOUR fashion, we've spared no effort in testing each formula first-hand on a variety of skin types – from all-time classics to the more recently viral options and drugstore finds. Plus, having consulted with top makeup artists, we've got the lowdown on the best highlighting tips and tricks, too. For long-lasting glowing skin, read on.
SKIP TO: How to apply highlighter correctly | Cream, powder or liquid – which formula is best? | How we test | Our full reviews.
Best highlighters at a glance:
- Best Overall: Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter
- Best Cream Highlighter: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
- Best Powder Highlighter: Bobbi Brown Highlighter Powder
- Best Luxury Highlighter: Tom Ford Soleil de Feu highlighter
- Best affordable: e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand
Our edit of the best highlighters to channel your inner glowy goddess, tested by the GLAMOUR team.
Best overall: Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter
Tester: Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Contributor.
Why we love it: Trust us, this highlighter lives up to all the hype it gets – one very good reason it won Best Highlighter in the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2024. Available in six shades, this powder highlighter has a unique formula that almost feels like a cream upon application, resulting in a gorgeous luminous finish. It also offers flexible amount of pigment, meaning you can easily sheer it out for a subtle glowy look or layer it for a truly blinding moment.
Best cream formula: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
Tester: Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor.
Why we love it: This best-selling cream highlighter wand from Charlotte Tilbury has turned into a TikTok sensation, and with good reason. A combination of brightening pearls and pigments delivers the slickest of dewy finishes when applied to the tops of cheekbones and down the centre of the nose.
Bookmark these Cult Beauty discount codes to save ££.
Best powder formula: Bobbi Brown Highlighter Powder
Tester: Samantha Reynolds, PA to Acting Executive Editor at GLAMOUR UK.
Why we love it: This powder highlighter from Bobbi Brown comes in a mirrored compact that can slot into any bag – perfect for on-the-go touch-ups throughout the day if you lean more towards powder than creamy highlighter sticks. It's exactly what you need to create a subtle rosy shimmer or enhance your cheekbones with extra dimension.
Save big when you shop for the best highlighters with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best luxury formula: Tom Ford Soleil de Feu highlighter
Tester: Robyn Eugene, GLAMOUR's Social Media Manager.
Why we love it: This premium powder highlighter from Tom Ford is guaranteed to give your cheekbones an other-worldly, ethereal sheen. With enough slip on the skin to allow for play time, you can easily build and blend as needed. Plus, the product comes in the most gorgeous packaging too – I mean, look at it, it's practically an accessory on its own.
Ahead, more GLAMOUR-Approved highlighters.
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand</a>","dek":["div",["p",["strong","Why we love it:"]," Whoever said that quality highlighter has to come with a premium price tag didn't meet this clever formula from e.l.f Cosmetics. Packaged inside a compact tube, ",["a",{"href":"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/Ziz49JQti6yB5TxXXR3Es1a6NrqC4NVMCuDdyd8GZCqAm7xbzjj3jf73wvenQkcXP4DwsNskpXRA5VjmwifJJy3Y6mNyamfRisEsdE9oWUFsC9ZyAS3jzyuHWJ67QDsmrurQqayFbKQhHegAkiV2CjjujbWB5frhe5NRGpoEycRbNbxVrDLuuVcZkARGUy8pjqYvzqA36NosUyPqg9iS5vdothSxVKMn7NU8rqb85oJUw2tPBr5ZJiYf4r2dUrfYCHLKZUiJj5r2wn9v4TsCZojaud7zLKirjWtCnKHuC2CXtBowAr3eESwYtpLYjuiwXTzJ3H6J9zqHHTdfTmN1uBD3FW6MRAUJuYxXZP2hYXm","rel":"sponsored","target":"_blank","isaffiliatelink":"true"},"this cream highlighter"]," seamlessly melts into the skin, delivering a gorgeous sheen with a natural finish."]],"hasContextualCaption":true,"functionalTags":[],"id":"678a2557596d312c363050d6","image":{"altText":"Image may contain Bottle Lotion Cosmetics Lipstick Dynamite and Weapon","caption":"","contentType":"photo","credit":"","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_320,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_640,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":960,"width":720,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_720,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"},{"height":1920,"width":1440,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_1440,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":997,"width":748,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_748,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"},{"height":1995,"width":1496,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_1496,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":997,"width":748,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_748,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"},{"height":1995,"width":1496,"url":"https://media.glamourmagazine.co.uk/photos/6787edb47ed0c90c34f22e1e/3:4/w_1496,c_limit/DENISE%20ELF%20LINKBY%20INCLUSIONS%20150125%20Screenshot%202025-01-15%20at%2017.14.12%20copy%202.jpg"}]}},"hasNativeImgLazyLoading":true,"isHedClickable":false,"isPromotion":null,"name":"e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand","offers":[{"offerUrl":"https://go.linkby.com/HCDMMERO/halo-glow-highlight-beauty-wand/84690.html?","price":"£10","currency":"GBP","purchaseUri":"https://cna.st/p/9beNUrUcSUoJodMtNDbvB8X5qa1kYvzi2gCECBRDcaNgYGYr2X499cZdNp1qwGtsmRey7jxHyGAiaDRwzq4UB4bxhgQAmj12fnnirf7reA6TGnN9qP6MwgQ157t3GthK6mTvdUB3192hyw2sLfMgLk9ut9rCTUNSQCuj7JKtmvRGRYnrdH9ffDsq5H8ei64bpsPqdDHm7QHX2PC148wJ3zaWqhaNVNHbbk1Ba3EBUmRLqdKCz6h8wVMQLZ3nA5uqeoEvaLsg4pYzWMFakrPHQyf9wjo2nijzEwyAPUUzLNoGjwihtF5Kep4atvhrQgm5FmzAjSBb96RA7Lksndg47Pi1z4Zhu5UeU1jCvhDKikk65rg9npwgVH37d42vn2JimwuxATQsJimqgT6uLJEni5qv7yyckaVKgDWY8ScDVMgPimCu4TMNnUeMVvJngoU7","sellerName":"e.l.f. Cosmetics","countryCode":"GB","offerId":"682f3004d5248fc7aa85d255","reducedPrice":""}],"promotionHed":null,"promotionText":null,"socialIconsProps":{"links":[]},"itemSocialSharesProps":{"showBookmark":false,"links":[]},"showLocalisedOffers":false,"hasCheckPriceFeature":false,"isUpcEnabled":true,"isVenueUPCEnabled":false,"index":0,"showClampedProductDescription":true,"hasReadMoreFeature":false,"productDescriptionLineLength":5,"isMobileView":false,"showImageCreditText":true,"showMultipleImageCount":4,"hasProsConsFeature":false,"hasRatingFeature":false,"pros":[],"cons":[],"rating":"","subtype":null,"shouldUseAmazonPrimeDayLiveAPIData":true,"textBadge":null,"seal":null,"order":0,"totalCount":12,"preHeaderOne":"1/12","showOrderedGallery":false,"hasAffiliateLinkDisabled":false,"layout":"ProductEmbed","component":"unified_product_card","total_index":1,"hasMultipleImage":false,"showProsConsData":false,"videoIds":[],"offersLength":1}">
1/12Best affordable: e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand
Why we love it: Whoever said that quality highlighter has to come with a premium price tag didn't meet this clever formula from e.l.f Cosmetics. Packaged inside a compact tube, this cream highlighter seamlessly melts into the skin, delivering a gorgeous sheen with a natural finish.
Why we love it: This highlighter can take tired, lacklustre skin to new glowy heights within a matter of seconds. The seven tints are all super versatile, bathing skin in radiance when used traditionally as highlighter, as well as replacing your blusher, bronzer and even your eyeshadow for a soft glam effect.
Why we love it: Unfussy beauty sings a certain siren song in summer and that's where this dewy highlighting balm comes in. As well as complementing warmer, sun-kissed skin, this highlighter is also packed with kind-to-skin ingredients including squalane to lock in moisture, fatty acids and antioxidant vitamin E for a dewy glow that lasts beyond makeup.
Why we love it: Refy's gloss highlighter for the face is renowned for adding a glass-like sheen to cheekbones, eyelids and the Cupid's Bow. Now the brand has taken that glow below the jawline with light reflective pearl pigments and antioxidants whether you want to make a feature of your shoulders or use it all over.
Why we love it: The clue is definitely in the name. Not designed for those who shine away from a killawatt glow, this cream-powder highlighter comes in a wide shade range for deep skin tones. Brace yourself, the finish is mega-reflective and pigment-rich, ensuring this highlighter has some serious punch.
Save when shopping for the best highlighters with these Boots discount codes.
Why we love it: This buttery highlighter balm from Chanel continually sells out thanks to a texture that melts into the skin and a light-reflecting glimmer that sculpts your face. It's incredibly easy to use and will give your face, lips and eyes a sophisticated, dialled-down sheen that will have people asking where you've been on holiday to look so well.
Why we love it: If there's a highlighter that needs no introduction, it's this one, specifically in a rose gold shade dubbed “Soft & Gentle.” It's been winning all of our hearts for years now, and still remains a cult-favourite for beauty enthusiasts. This slow-baked powder highlighter ensures silky smooth application and a radiant strobe finish.
Why we love it: Alongside luxe packaging, this product's radiance-boosting credentials are pretty impressive, too. Despite being a finely milled powder it goes on more like a cream, making it easy to apply, especially if you're after a highlighting powder that won't emphasise uneven skin texture.
Why we love it: This liquid gel has a unique bouncy texture that makes it easy to swipe over both the face and body. Crafted from good-to-skin ingredients such as squalane for hydration, anti-inflammatory sunflower seed oil and antibacterial papaya fruit, its honey hue imparts a warm, glossy veil that looks like your skin made it.
Why we love it: Consider this gel highlighter to be like a long, tall drink of water for the skin. Made up of 75% water, it's cool to the touch on summer days, loaded with skin-brightening vitamin C and comes in two shades – champagne and bronze – for a gleam that livens up dull skin year-round.
Why we love it: It's beyond easy to create a lit-from-within glow when you have this liquid highlighter at hand. A celebrity favourite, this product features a gleaming metallic formula in a variety of shades that can be mixed with foundation, moisturiser or primer to create a customisable glow.
All your highlighter FAQs, answered:
When it comes to application, it very much depends on the consistency. “Powder highlighters should always be applied after using a setting powder, otherwise they grab on to any oil in the skin and won’t blend seamlessly,” says makeup artist Liz Pugh.
While liquid and cream highlighters can be applied over the top of foundation, Liz is also partial to dotting them over freshly moisturised skin, underneath foundation, for a hint of sheen during the winter months when the light is flat.
“However, I would never do this in summer as the skin will appear too shiny,” she adds. Liz likes to push the product into the skin with her fingers first, before buffing with a brush.
As for creating dimension, Chanel makeup artist Marco Antonio points out that it's best to mimic where light naturally hits. “Pick up the highlighter with a small, fluffy makeup brush and apply it to the high points of the face, including the top of your cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow, brow bone and possibly on the inner corners of your eyes,” he says.
He suggests using a light-handed approach, “starting gently by blending the highlighter into the skin to achieve a seamless, natural-looking glow rather than harsh lines. But if you are more into an intense glow, you can layer the highlighter by applying a second or third coat to build up the intensity gradually.”
Either way, there's just one caveat, says Liz. “Never blend too far into the centre of the face – a good indication is no further than the centre of the cheek below the eye, blending to the top of the cheekbone.”
The beauty of highlighter is that it is a multi-dimensional product. So don’t be afraid to experiment with different placement techniques to see what works. "For example, applying highlighter along the collarbones and shoulders can enhance a summery glow," says Marco.
Meanwhile, Liz often adds a touch of highlighter to the centre of the lip to give the illusion of a fuller pout. “Another trick I use is to wear it alone on the eyelid, or in place of eyeshadow, to give a beautiful light-reflecting, awakening effect. Highlighter can even be pressed into a matte lipstick to transform it into a soft shimmering one."
The choice of formula is largely down to personal preference and season. “The most used formulas in my kit are creams or liquids as I feel these are the most flattering on the skin and you have a little more control with them,” says Liz.
Generally speaking, creams and liquids will also deliver the dewiest results, but powders have longevity on their side, especially during the warmer months. “A powder highlighter used over cream bronzer will keep it in place,” she notes.
How we test highlighters:
Our editors are constantly testing new highlighter launches that land on the beauty desk, aiming to use them for at least a week before featuring them. We'll score the products themselves based on value for money, packaging, innovation, whether they actually give you an impressive level of glow – and whether that glow lasts. We always aim to test different shades on various skin tones to assess the shade inclusivity, too.
Feeling inspired to upgrade your makeup routine with more beauty products? Check out our guides on the best eyeshadow palettes, best bronzers, best foundations and best concealers.
