Image: MomJunction Design Team
Give your face a touch of shimmer and glow with our list of the best drugstore highlighters. Highlighters are applied on the highest points of your face to accentuate your features and make it sparkle when the light hits those areas. This product gives your makeup an edge for a stylish and special look. However, professional makeup can be expensive, making it difficult to choose the right products for your makeup kit. Drugstore highlighters can be good alternatives. These pigmented and high-quality highlighters can help define your features the way you want and offer a radiant glow. Moreover, highlighters are also multipurpose and can be used as eyeshadow.
With multiple shades and features, several products are available to suit your specific requirements. From beginners to professionals, these highlighters are suitable for all. So, explore the various expert-recommended highlighters on this list to choose the right highlighter for your makeup routine.
Top Picks
15 Best Drugstore Highlighters To Brighten Your Look In 2024
1. Best Hydrating:Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter
Image: Physicians Formula Physicians Formula’s shimmery highlighter can be used alone or applied over other makeup products. Its formula is infused with murumuru, cupuacu, and tucuma butter to hydrate the skin while highlighting the high points. With consistent blendability, the pigmented color highlights your skin in just one swipe. Additionally, the expert-recommended cream contains fatty acids and pro-vitamins that give the skin a smooth appearance.
Pros
- Available in multiple shades
- Hypoallergenic
- Cruelty-free
- Dermatologists-tested
Cons
- May not be long lasting
- May crack easily
"This beautifully pigmented highlighter gave me a soft texture. It blends easily but it tends to crumble. However, it failed to stay in a place. I was attracted by its beachy scent and acknowledged the photo finish it offered."
Point to consider2. Best For Natural Glow:Beauty Junkees Memorable Super Frosted Highlighter Powder
Image: Beautyjunkees The Memorable Super Frosted Highlighter Powder for pale skin enhances your best features with natural glowing tones. It boasts various shade ranges that provide a natural-looking glow for different skin tones. The celebrity-favorite highlighter is devoid of harmful chemicals and is free of parabens and gluten. It sculpts and contours your face and imparts a soft amplifying glow.
Pros
- Highlights and brightens skin
- Great for using over blush
- Has a subtle shimmery pink
- Not too sparkly
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Some might need to put two layers
- Size may be a bit too small
"Though initially skeptical about this powder contour, it surprised me. It might appear cool-toned, but on application, it reveals a warm hue. The formula, though powdery, blends and finishes beautifully and offers a much-loved matte finish. And the best part? It also doubles as an eyeshadow!"
3. Best Reflective Finish:Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter Powder
Image: Maybelline New York The Maybelline Master Chrome highlighter powder is a versatile product that suits all skin types and tones. Its beautiful golden color provides a seamless glow to your face, while the added pearl pigments give it a reflective finish, resulting in a soft radiance. You can use the highlighter powder alone for a reflective finish or with a contour to add more dimension to your face.
Pros
- Metallic finish
- Sultry chrome effect
- Natural sheen
- Easy to apply and remove
Cons
- May not be long-lasting
- Case might be slightly flimsy
"Of the multiple options, the molten gold shade has been my favorite. It delivers a subtle pearl-like sheen and has a buildable consistency. The shade blends well and is ideal for daytime and evening wear."
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter Best Hydrating | Beauty Junkees Memorable Super Frosted Highlighter Powder Best For Natural Glow | Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter Powder Best Reflective Finish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Pearl | MEMORABLE HIGHLIGHTER REFILL | Molten Gold |
| Dimensions | 0.89 x 2.38 x 3.63 inches | 1.44 x 1.44 x 0.13 inches | 2.85 x 0.63 x 2.85 inches |
| Weight | 1.8 Ounces | 1.44 Ounces | 1.64 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 1,519 | 18 | 2,937 |
| Price | $11.99 | $9.97 | $7.97 |
4. Best Lightweight:Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick
Image: Maybelline New York Sculpt your face and accentuate your best features with the Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter. This celebrity-favorite drugstore highlighter helps accentuate your features and add dimension while giving you a dewy luminosity because of its micro-fine pearl features. The highlighter has a lightweight creamy texture and gives you a fine strobe glow. It is suitable for all skin types and is created for light to medium skin tones. Check out this review video and learn about a reviewer’s experience with using this highlighter.
Pros
- Long-lasting color and shine
- Adds a natural radiance
- Not too sparkly
- Can be applied with your finger or straight from the tube
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some might find it a little dry
- May be smaller than you expect
"The strobe stick adds a subtle shimmer to my skin and is perfect for highlighting my cheekbones and eye corners. It has worked for me, and I hope you find your ideal shade."
5. Best Vegan Formula:Juvia’s Place Loose Highlighter
Image: Juvias The Juvia’s Place loose highlighter is a vegan formula available in multiple shades and undertones. Made from finely milled pearls, the powder highlighter provides a smooth, silky finish. With a profound staying power, its expert-recommended easy-to-blend formula works for all skin types. Further, the pearl dust is shimmery, and a small amount goes a long way to give you glowing, healthy skin.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Heavily pigmented
- Can be used wet or dry
- Can be used for a natural or dramatic look
Cons
- Container may be hard to open
"I am pleased with this highlighter, as only a tiny amount gives amazing effects. Besides offering a luxurious glow, it blends perfectly with all other makeup products and even keeps them from creasing!"
Quick tip6. Best Luminescent:Covergirl TruBlend Super Stunner Highlighter
Image: Covergirl The highlighter from Covergirl is suitable for all skin tones, as it boasts a multi-tonal color. It has a powdery consistency that is easy to blend, making it easy to achieve all those glamorous looks. The luminescent colors can make your features look chiseled by giving them a beautiful glow and shine. Moreover, this face illuminator is available in three shades to suit diverse skin tones and offers visible results.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Cruelty-free
- Long-lasting
- Highly pigmented
Cons
- Colors may look different from the image
"I'm floored by the pigmentation offered by this highlighter. It even blends easily and gives that perfect, dewy look. Moreover, the smooth texture is a big plus."
7. Best Easy-To-Blend:Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder
Image: Wet N Wild The MegaGlo formula by Wet n Wild helps you achieve that luminous glow you admire! It is formulated with micro-pearls and contains skin-nourishing, high-quality ingredients such as shea butter, vitamin E, argan oil, and murumuru seed butter. One of many drugstore makeup essentials, this versatile highlighter acts as a primer, bronzer, blush, concealer, and powder to give you a wholesome makeup experience. If you want to know more about this product, here’s a review video worth watching.
Pros
- Highly pigmented
- Leaves a velvety finish on skin
- Smooth to apply
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Some might find it a little too sparkly
- May not be great on deeper skin tones
"This highlighter has a smooth gliding formula and has earned me tons of compliments. Its color is a perfect match for my skin tone, and a little amount of this product goes a long way. It is also long-lasting and occasionally doubles as an eyeshadow when I'm in a hurry."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It's no wonder that this quality product has earned over 15,939 positive reviews on Amazon.
8. Best With A Satin Finish: Essence Cosmetics Pure Nude Highlighter
Image: Essence Cosmetics This drugstore highlighter brings out your natural glow with its nude shades. The essence Pure Nude Highlighter has a baked satin finish that blends into your skin easily and gives you a natural-looking glow. The shimmery effect allows you to build up to the glow you require, whether subtle or bold. This PETA-friendly highlighter suits any skin tone and is the perfect option for your regular touch-up.
Pros
- Light texture
- Can be layered since it is translucent
- Color lasts all-day long
- Pretty shade
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- Might be slightly darker than you expect
- Could be slightly messy to apply
"This highlighter blends flawlessly, preventing an excessively showy look. With an easy application, it provides a gentle luminosity perfect for that no-makeup makeup look. Moreover, its vegan and cruelty-free factor were a big plus for me."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 1,669 customers on Amazon have opined that this is one of the best products in its category.
Quick fact9. Best Dewy Finish:Flower Beauty Day Glow Highlighting Glaze
Image: Flower Add a touch of shimmer to your look with this expert-recommended cream highlighter by Flower Beauty. Infused with ultra-fine pearls that reflect light, this glaze provides a stunning glass-like sheen in just one stroke. The lightweight formula does not look cakey and helps create a dewy finish, leaving your skin looking naturally radiant and luminous.
Pros
- Glossy effect
- Easy to apply
- Vegan-friendly
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- May not be pigmented enough
"I went for a second round on this product because it's a breeze to apply and adds a natural glow to my cheeks. The highlighter exudes a subtle shine sans the glitter. Although not the best for oily skin types, the lack of toxic ingredients is a plus."
10. Best Buildable Formula:Revlon Skinlights Prismatic Powder Highlighter
Image: Revlon The Revlon Skinlights prismatic powder highlighter contains saturated pigments that give you a consistent glow. It’s easy-to-blend formula has a crystal-like pigmentation, which creates a subtle shimmer and delivers a sharp, glittery effect to your skin. The celebrity-endorsed highlighter is silky and smooth to apply, and the buildable coverage allows you to create a light or bold look per your preference. It is available in three colors to suit various skin tones and undertones— Twilight Gleam, Daybreak Glimmer, and Gilded Dawn.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Artificial fragrance-free
- Non-chalky finish
- Easy to apply
- Lightweight
Cons
- May take some time to blend
- May not be long lasting
"This highlighter gives a shiny, wet look and has been a perfect match for my skin tone. And I love the light, buildable shade as it comes in handy while experimenting with different makeup looks. All in all, it's been a good find."
11. Best For Intense Facelift:Damone Roberts Eyebrow Highlighter (Peach)
Image: Damone Roberts Beverly Hills Known as the eyebrow king of Hollywood, this highlighter has been used by renowned celebrities such as Rihanna, Oprah, and Madonna. Who said highlighters are just for the face? The Damone Roberts Eyebrow Highlighter lets you master the perfect eyebrows. To achieve visible results with a fresh and intense facelift, apply it directly to your brow bones and watch it accentuate your look.
Pros
- Long-lasting formula
- Has multiple uses
- Soft, creamy, superfine texture
- Spotless application
- Non-toxic
- No tested on animals
Cons
- A little creamier and it would have been great
"This highlighter is a subtle match for my skin. It blends as I expect it to, highlighting my brows and eyes just right."
12. Best For Darker Skin Tones:Technic Get Gorgeous Bronze Highlighting Powder
Technic Get Gorgeous Bronze Highlighting Powder is one of its kind. It has a shimmery texture and can be applied as a bronzer or a blush. This drugstore highlighter has a golden yellow shade and can build up to form a bold look. You can pull off the subtle highlights look by using just a little amount of this product. It looks best on darker skin tones because it brings out the features by blending in with dusky skin as it is highly pigmented. However, if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test before using the product.
Pros
- Super gorgeous color
- Has a buttery smooth feel
- Not too glittery
- Great for adding a warm summer glow to face and cheeks
Cons
- Might look dark on fairer complexions
- Some might not like the smell
"I love this little gem of a highlighter. The shade complements my skin tone and blends well with other makeup products. Its formula is super soft and buttery, which makes it easy to blend. I also use it as an eyeshadow and contouring powder to create diverse makeup looks."
13. Best Cream-Based:Dirty Little Secret Baked Highlighter
Image: Dirty Little Secret If you’re looking for radiant-looking skin, this is your pick. The Dirty Little Secret Baked Highlighter is of a light-pink shade with specks of gold. The softly baked formula glides on with ease and gives your skin a subtle glow. This pigmented highlighter is shimmery and glows after application.
Pros
- Smooth texture
- Available in eight pretty shades
- Stays on all day
- Gluten-free formula
Cons
- Top round plastic cover could have been sturdier
"I've cherished this highlighter-blush combo for a few years now. It creates a soft, shimmery effect that looks super good in photos. It's gotten me a lot of compliments, and some even mistook its glowing effect for Botox! It's become a regular part of my makeup routine."
14. Best For All Skin Tones:Revlon Insta-Fix Skin Lights
Image: Revlon Get a glistening contour look with the Revlon Insta-Fix SkinLights highlighter. The expert-recommended highlighter comes in two gorgeous colors that suit different skin tones. The Pink Light shade looks best on light to medium skin tones, while the Gold Light shade works best for medium to deep skin tones. Apply the drugstore stick highlighter directly on your cheekbones, forehead, and chin to enhance your features. The soft, silky, superfine texture gives your skin a flattering glow without any glitter.
Pros
- Helps illuminate and enhance the best features
- Stick allows for precise application
- Gives a light glow
- Perfect size for traveling
- Free of fragrance and parabens
Cons
- May not be very long-lasting
- Stick could have been better built
"This long-lasting highlighter offers decent coverage and makes me look bright throughout the day. The stick form allows hassle-free application even when traveling. Besides the brightening effect, it also made my makeup more pronounced. Hence, it has become a constant in my makeup bag."
15. Best User-Friendly:Neutrogena Hydro Boost Illuminator
Image: Neutrogena The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Illuminator is creamy and weightless and brightens your face. It contains skin-improving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and illuminating pigments that leave you with a radiant glow. This highlighter is non-greasy and has moisturizing properties to give you smooth, hydrated, and refreshed skin.
Pros
- Blends easily
- Does not form creases
- Gives a nice touch to your makeup
- Moisturizing
- Hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested
Cons
- May not transfer to the skin effectively
- Tube design may not be user-friendly
"This highlighter stick brought back the youthful glow of my skin. I've even used it as a blush and for contouring, and it offers excellent color and hydration. The twist container makes it super easy to carry, and the pretty little thing even makes it easy to blend my other makeup products."
How To Choose The Right Drugstore Highlighter?
There are many products to choose from which can become quite a tedious task. Therefore, here are a few things to keep in mind to help you pick the right highlighter for you:
- Skin type: Choosing the right highlighter depending on your skin type will give you radiant-looking skin. If you have oily skin, a powder-based highlighter will best suit your skin by absorbing the excess oil and giving you a luminous look. However, if you have dry skin, it is best to choose a highlighter that is cream-based so that it does not dry out your skin but gives you a hydrated and fresh look. Highlighter sticks tend to have a creamy formula that works well for normal to dry skin.
- Skin tone: Highlighters come in a lot of different shades to bring out the best features on your skin. To achieve this, it is important to choose the one that suits your skin tone. If you want fair skin highlighters, look for ones that have a cool icy tone, like silver or pale pink. If you have golden to yellow skin, peach or rose gold tones go best with your skin and if you have deep dark skin, a bronze, copper or deep gold highlighter will bring out your best features. Marin McCarthy, a licensed, professional makeup artist and owner of Marin Eve Makeup, says, “If you are fair-skinned and choose a highlighter that is too dark, it may look fine when it is hitting the light, but when you turn away from the light, it will cause an unnatural patch of shadow on the high points of your face. You could, however, use a darker highlighter as eyeshadow.”
- Type Of Foundation: Your highlighter should be compatible with your foundation to get that radiant glow. If you use a powder-based foundation, it is best to use a powder-based highlighter and if your foundation is cream-based, your highlighter should be cream-based too. Different formulas make it difficult to blend which gives you an unnatural look.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I put on a highlighter after the foundation?
A highlighter is used to enhance your features and make them more defined. Therefore, it is applied after you’ve used a foundation as a base for your makeup.
2. Which highlighter type is better – powder or liquid?
It is best to choose the same type of highlighter as your foundation so that they blend in well. If you use a powder formula foundation, use the same type of highlighter and for a liquid foundation, use a liquid or cream-based highlighter. Also, remember that powder highlighters work well for oily skin and liquid highlighters are better for dry skin.
3. Do I put a highlighter on before powder?
If you’re using a powder highlighter, you can apply it after your powder, whereas if it is a cream or liquid highlighter, you should never apply powder before or after applying the highlighter because it will lead to a patchy finish.
4. At what age should I start applying highlighter?
Makeup is not age-restricted. You can apply highlighter at any age. However, its application depends on the occasion and timing. For instance, if it is a day event, go for a subtle highlighter, whereas if it is a night event, you can opt for a brighter highlighter.
5. Are drugstore highlighters safe?
Drugstore highlighters are generally safe. However, you should always avoid ingredients like parabens, phthalates, parfum, and formaldehyde in any makeup product. And as is advised with every makeup product, always do a patch test before buying the product.
6. What are the best places to apply a highlighter on your face?
You can apply highlighter on the highest points of your face, like your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, your chin and temples, the inner corners of your eyes, under the brows, and your cupid’s bow, to accentuate your features.
7. Should we blend highlighter?
Yes, highlighters need to be blended for a flawless look; otherwise, they will look patchy or like just a block of shimmer. You can blend cream or liquid highlighters with your fingers or a beauty blender, and for a powder highlighter, you should use a blending or highlighter brush.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Beauty expert Poulami Nag is a passionate skincare and makeup reviewer with years of experience in writing well-researched articles. She has considered several online user reviews and feedback on several platforms to compile this buying guide and product list for you. Here are some of the best drugstore highlighters that are easily available, excellent in quality, and simply the best in their category.
The Bottom Line
The best drugstore highlighters listed here are good alternatives to expensive professional highlighters. They give your best features a natural shimmer and accentuate them. When choosing one, always try to match the shade with your natural skin tone to see the visible results you expect. The list includes the Juvia’s Place Loose Highlighter, offering a silky finish; the lightweight Beauty Junkees Memorable Super Frosted Highlighter Powder; and the Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter Powder, which provides a reflective effect. You should also consider the ingredients to avoid any side effects and ensure that it leaves a smooth texture on your skin. Also, choose highlighters that are waterproof, smudge-proof, and easy to apply.
Infographic: Using Highlighters The Right Way
Knowing how to use a highlighter correctly is necessary to make it effective at enhancing your beauty. It is essential that you choose the right highlighter shade to get the maximum effects. Go through this infographic to learn about how to apply a highlighter. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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