By Devon Abelman, Allure
Finding the best highlighter for your beauty routine can be as
difficult as finding a non-creepy dude on Tinder. Between all the cream,
powder, and liquid formulas, not to mention every shade of the rainbow,
navigating the world of vast highlighters
can be treacherous.
Don't worry, we're here to help. To make shopping
for a highlighter more manageable, we've devised an official wattage
scale. It starts with highlighters that will give you a subtle glow. The
highest on the scale are those suitable for a blindingly bright
radiance. (All amazing in our book.) We'll let you know what our
favorite products are for each category, too.
The Look: Barely there
You know that glow that only appears when the light hits your face just right? A highlighter exists for that. For this dim wattage, you'll want to look for finely milled powders with the slightest bit of shimmer. The best highlighter for the job is either the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder ($46) or Urban Decay's Naked Illuminated ($32). Dust them on your cheekbones for the most low-key glow in the game.
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Desired Glow Power: ✨✨
The Look: Subtle
For a more obvious shimmer with a hint of shine, try a liquid formula. When tapped onto the high points of your face, you'll know the highlighter is there, but it will look incredibly natural. The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter ($41) is a go-to for several Allure editors. A cheaper alternative is the NYX Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter ($6.99).
The Look: Subtle
For a more obvious shimmer with a hint of shine, try a liquid formula. When tapped onto the high points of your face, you'll know the highlighter is there, but it will look incredibly natural. The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter ($41) is a go-to for several Allure editors. A cheaper alternative is the NYX Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter ($6.99).
The Look: Dewy
No ClassPass is necessary to get that post-work out, glistening sheen that somehow makes your skin look magically bright. Cream highlighters, including ones that come in stick form, are like bottled-up versions of that glow. You can apply whenever you like — even if you've only banked 100 steps on your FitBit for the day. The RMS Living Luminizer ($38) is a ride-or-die fave for makeup artists and Allure editors, alike. We're also into the Marc Jacobs Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator ($42).
The Look: High shine
Gloss isn't only for your lips. You can apply it to your cheeks, too, for a lacquer-like look. Smooth the Milk Makeup Face Gloss ($20) atop your cheekbones for glazed donut realness. (Yes, we mean that in the best way possible.)
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Desired Glow Power: ✨✨✨✨✨The Look: Visible from Pluto
If you follow Instagram-famous makeup artists like NikkieTutorials or James Charles, you know this level of glow all to well. Their highlighters are so bright you basically need sunglasses to look at them. You don't have to have millions of followers on social media to get the look either. All you need are the super shimmery powders from the Anastasia Beverly Glow Kits or the ultra-concentrated Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops ($42). To give the powders an even more intense glow, try spritzing your brush with setting spray before dipping it into the pan.
More highlighters you'll love:
