The 10 Best Highlighters for Mature Skin Deliver a Healthy, Youthful Glow With Every Swipe
The trick is strategic placement.
For a long time, highlighter felt like one of those makeup products with a universally flattering reputation. A little glow on the cheekbones, brow bones, or inner corners of the eyes, and suddenly the whole face looks fresher, brighter, more awake. But after watching my mom and grandma test product after product for this story—swiping on highlight sticks, liquids, balms, and powders under every possible bathroom light—I realized mature skin requires a slightly different approach to glow.
That’s because, “as we age, the skin changes that can affect its texture, tone, and appearance," beauty content creator Sonia Ramos tells me. "You’re more likely to be dealing with dryness, dark spots, wrinkles, loss of firmness, texture, pores, dullness, and fine lines in your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, [and] 80s.” And yes, I know what you’re probably thinking: Why would you want to highlight and draw attention to skin when all of that is happening? But during testing, my mom and grandma actually found the opposite to be true.
When applied strategically to the high points of the face, highlighter can visually bring back dimension and create that healthy, youthful glow that makeup sometimes loses on drier or more textured skin. The sweet spot, my mom quickly learned, was keeping glow concentrated on the tops of the cheekbones and lightly at the temples to create a lifted effect, rather than sweeping shimmer all over the face. A tiny touch on the brow bone or inner corners of the eyes also helped brighten the complexion without emphasizing texture. Glitter-heavy powders and icy metallic finishes were immediately vetoed, while creamy textures and softer pearl finishes melted into the skin, looking radiant rather than overly shimmery.
The end result was skin that looked healthy, naturally luminous, and more youthful. Here are the best highlighters for mature skin, tested and approved by women over 50.
Lit-From-Within
Think of priming highlighters as the products that make skin look naturally radiant before you even get to the rest of your makeup. These formulas are typically more subtle and diffused than traditional highlighters, giving mature skin that hydrated, healthy-looking glow without obvious shimmer or sparkle. You can also mix these highlighters in with your foundation or tinted moisturizer for a subdued effect.
Trinny London boasts some of the best formulas for mature skin, and here at MC, we particularly love the brand's Miracle Halo liquid highlighter. It makes a beautiful base before the rest of your makeup application.
Without a doubt, Westman Atelier rarely misses, and the proof is in Super Loaded Liquid Highlighter. While the cream version is great for precise application, this one was my mother's favorite due to its sheer finish and soft glow.
Eye-Opening
A tiny bit of strategically placed luminosity around the eyes can make a huge difference in mature skin, especially since the eyes are among the first areas of the face to lose their laxity with age.
My mom and grandmother both agree that this is one of the best eyeshadows for mature skin. Its blendability is like no other, and it's excellent for the inner corners and brow bone to add a bit of glowing highlight, especially with the lighter champagne shades.
For a hint of luminosity on the eyes without obvious creasing, my testers recommend the Just a Sec eyeshadow in Linen—a light bone shade with silver shimmer. It creates a subtle wash of glimmer on the lids for super bright, awake-looking eyes.
Cream of the Crop
Cream formulas were by far the MVP during testing with my mom and grandma. They melt into the skin rather than sit on top of it, which makes them especially flattering on drier or more textured complexions. The finish tends to look fresher, smoother, and far more natural than powder.
Every woman above 40 in my family swears by the Laura Geller Wonder Balm. It's one of those complexion products that adds a light dose of coverage, while coating the skin in the most gorgeous luminosity.
Sarah Creal is a favorite of Senior Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender's mother, and it's quickly become a favorite of the women in my life as well. This highlighter is packed with barrier-supporting peptides that never settle into or emphasize fine lines.
Glow Gets Cheeky
Not everyone wants a dedicated highlighter—and honestly, mature skin often looks best with multi-tasking products. Blushes and bronzers with built-in soft luminosity can add color, warmth, and glow all at once.
The Miracle Balm from Jones Road is a viral cult favorite for mature skin, thanks to its wide range of colors and versatility. My grandma particularly loved the new shade, Dusty Rose, as a rosy flush across her cheeks.
Ogee is one of those if you try it once, you'll never go without it kind of brands. The Sculpted Face Stick is available in a ton of shades, but the bronze glow added subtle definition and a hint of luminosity.
The Lift Effect
Sometimes mature skin doesn’t need more glow—it just needs glow in the right places. These highlighters are best used sparingly on areas like the tops of the cheekbones and temples to help create a more lifted appearance.
Merit truly creates some of the most gorgeously textured products that sit on the skin so naturally. The Day Glow is one of those with its ultra-moisturizing formula. It has a balmy formula that deposits a sheen without any glitter.
For days you really want to highlight those cheekbones and upper brow—a trick that brings the eyes up—this powder-to-cream formula does wonders. It doesn't crease at all, and for the level of luminosity it gives, you'll be surprised how well it works on textured skin.
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