What Happened to All the Highlighter?

If you told me I could only have one highlighter for the rest of my life, I would pick Glowgasm—specifically in shade Spotlight. The reason: it’s the most versatile highlighter in my arsenal. Put a heavy application underneath foundation, and you’re left with a subtle, luminous sheen. Apply a targeted three dots on your cheekbones? The light reflects off your skin at every turn. The gold undertones play nice with both warm and cool undertones, providing a shimmer without a tinted pigment.

Pros: Looks great on all skin tones; Buildable shimmer

Cons: The applicator can be messy

Norvina (Anastasia’s daughter who is heavily involved in the brand) is an OG beauty YouTuber—and this newly launched highlighter seems to be an ode to the 2010s era. The densely packed powder and high shimmer payoff don’t come around all too often anymore, but fingers crossed that the stunning wet shine sparks a highlighter resurgence. The micro-fine powders never look clumpy—just dust a little across your cheekbones, nose, or eyes with a fan brush.

Pros: Buildable; Zero fallout

Cons: Very intense shimmer that might not be ideal for daily wear

West and Marie Claire Beauty Director Deena Campbell co-sign this skin enhancer, which is an extra subtle take on highlighter. “The best highlighters are applied with your fingers and don’t leave a thin streak along your cheek,” notes Campbell. “I love to place a few drops of this dewy glow along my face, and in no time, it melts, giving me a skin-like finish that lasts.” You can also apply this underneath blush and bronzer for a barely-there shine.

Pros: Versatile in application; Finger-friendly; Not too sparkly

Cons: May separate with certain foundations

Since its launch in 2021, Merit has become the figurehead of the clean girl beauty aesthetic, stacked with finger-friendly products designed for a five-minute face. With celebrity fans including Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Sarah Jessica Parker, the cream-based highlighter balm provides the perfect blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shimmer. It’s explicitly designed for daytime wear, so you’ll find zero sparkle in the stick—just a dewy glow. "I have an affinity for makeup with skincare benefits, and this balm includes squalene and amino acids to help lock in hydration," adds Marie Claire’s Contributing Culture Editor Quinci LeGardye.

Pros: Easy to apply; Finger friendly application

Cons: Can’t be built up to more intense shimmer

There is no makeup artist I trust more with my face than Katie Jane Hughes. She is an artist, using products to paint the skin with a lightweight, albeit incredibly reflective sheen. That in mind, it was only natural for her first product to spearhead the new wave of highlighter launches. “The kit allows you to experiment with texture, shine, and pigmentation to achieve your desired look—all results replicate her signature sheen,” notes Payne. With a serum that customizes the glossy effect of the pigment, Hypershine can be used as a full-face accent.

Pros: Buildable gloss; Range of shades; Expert-recommended

Cons: A little sticky

BeautyTok was dominated by these newly released liquid highlighters the entire month after launch. With five shades that retain their pigment on every skin tone, these blendable, buildable liquids, which are infused with hydrating iris extract, are the perfect accent on a no-makeup day. Each contains itty-bitty pearlescent sparkles that give skin a healthy, fresh glow. The Pearly hue is my go-to on a no-foundation day–I’ll swipe it on my cheekbones, above my lips, and across my eyelids.

Pros: Look natural without foundation; Buildable texture; Longwear

Cons: Hard to find your right shade online

When Becca announced it was going out of business in 2021, my first thought was: What’s going to happen to Champagne Pop? A cult classic in every definition of the word, the sparkly, glittery shade that epitomized YouTube beauty culture had long been a classic. When Smashbox announced just a few months later that it would herald the creamy, golden formula into its offerings, I stocked up instantly. It’s truly one of the most universally flattering shades in existence.

Pros: Creamy for a powder; Flattering across skin tones

Cons: Very sparkly

Saie walks the line of barely-there and glowing-radiant-luminous with every single one their products, which is precisely why E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla is a self-proclaimed super fan. “My skin is dull and dry and this all-over highlighter has been a godsend for the natural dew it gives my skin. I even keep a small bottle in my desk drawer to tap on top of my afternoon makeup to boost it,” she says. “On lighter makeup days, I apply a thin layer all over my skin and add extra coverage with a concealer. It’s not oily, doesn’t clog my pores, and it doesn’t affect the longevity of my foundation.”

Pros: Multi-purpose; Doesn’t pill on top of makeup

Cons: Jar is big and inconvenient for travel

A 2023 launch, this rollerball formula came about at a time when highlighter was taking a subtle turn. The formula itself isn’t necessarily tame—it packs a decent amount of reflective shimmer. But because the ball applicator can only deposit a small amount of product onto the skin, you’re left with a shimmer that is never overdone or too in-your-face. I like to blend this into my skin with my hands to ensure a no-streak, natural finish.

Pros: Great for on-the-go application; Affordable

Cons: Can’t be built up for more intense payoff

When Cover FX relaunched this year, they announced new complexion products, including a new foundation and concealer. My excitement was, however, mainly for their tried-and-true enhancer drops—a go-to from my teenage years. I like adding in roughly three drops to my moisturizer on summer days or into my foundation before work for an all-over glow. These were the bronzing, tanning drops of my youth.

Pros: Very versatile range; Great shade selection

Cons: Easy to go overboard with shimmer

Selena Gomez’s go-to highlighter just got a needed new shade extension—and the two additional shades (Reveal, a warm copper, and Reflect, a deep bronze) don’t disappoint. The former is best for cooler undertones, while the latter is better suited for warm undertones. Regardless, both provide a shimmery glassy finish without being too glitter-focused. It’s more delicate on the skin than it looks in the jar, so don’t be fearful of wearing this during the day.

Pros: Great shade selection; Vegan; Creamy powder texture

Cons: Hard to open; Shatters easily

While I love a liquid highlighter, they don’t always last as long on the skin as a powder formulation. When I need a glow to last 12 hours plus, Cle de Peau is my tried and true go-to. Every palette (there are six hues to choose from) comprises at least four different hues. It’s a little alarming to see at first glance, but it’s actually crucial to achieving the multi-dimensional finish. The highlighter picks up a different tone depending on the light, but never looks like a harsh streak on the skin—it diffuses into the rest of my makeup with ease.

Pros: Blends in with makeup easily; Very long-lasting; Comes with a built-in brush

Cons: Expensive

Le Baume, Chanel’s twist-up stick highlighter, probably gets the most hype, but in the past few months, I’ve noticed that my favorite celebrities have the Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow on their skin instead. Most recently, makeup artist Nick Barose used the shade Sunkissed on Lupita Nyong’o’s skin for the Academy Awards. The finish looks more like a post-sweat glow than a true highlighter, so I occasionally layer the Baume on top for a more intense finish.

Pros: Celebrity loved; Easy to blend; Great for no-makeup days

Cons: Expensive

As someone incredibly pale, I can confirm that picking the right highlighter shade is key if you want to avoid looking too made up. A shade that’s too dark or warm will look streaky and heavy—no matter how skilled you are at blending. Marie Claire’s Associate E-Commerce editor Brooke Knappenberger shares my experience, which is why she’s a huge fan of Bobbi Brown’s Pink Glow. “I'm not a fan of looking like a disco ball, but I am a fan of lifted cheekbones. This powder has the right shimmer to give that sought-after lifted look without overdoing it. The "Pink Glow" shade complements my cool-toned skin so well, too, and all it takes for a pretty subtle glow is one swipe of my finger,” she says.

Pros: Flattering on fair skin; Can be applied with your finger

Cons: Shatters easily

Lighting Dust and Fire Crystal was my hallmark highlighter for a good five years–I went through more compacts than I care to admit. But can you blame me? This Rihanna-designed formula is one of the highest-impact sparkles I’ve ever been able to find—my cheekbones shimmer from across any room. It reached peak popularity in the 2010s, but the high-quality formula remains a constant in my bag; the color combinations are ideal for eyeshadow application, too.

Pros: Large color range; Intense sparkle

Cons: Not good if you want a subtle finish

You don’t have to be a makeup artist to get a flawless finish with Westman Atelier’s highlighter stick. Makeup artist Gucci Westman, who works with Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, and Gwyneth Paltrow, designed this formula with on-the-go application in mind, which is precisely why it’s one of West’s favorites. “The control of the stick applicator makes it nearly impossible to apply too much,” she says. “The formula melts into your skin and all you need to do is finger tap it in place.”

Pros: Expert-recommended; Easy to Apply; Finger application; Can be used on many areas of the face

Cons: A little sticky

The full face beat, makeup influencer aesthetic could very well be powered by this intense sparkle. For such an intense pigment (the gold hue is no joke), it does feel surprisingly lightweight, according to West. “It doesn’t feel powdery, applies well with a brush, and is buildable,” she says. “I can go in lightly and layer if I want a more glowing look.” The shades all have warm, pink-flecked bases, so it’s the most flattering on olive or yellow undertones.

Pros: Lightweight feel for high-impact sparkle; Expert-recommended

Cons: Can be stark on cool undertones

If you want a natural glow, Payne suggests Sweden-based LH Cosmetics, which makeup artist Linda Halberg founded. “It’s very soft and feels more like skincare than makeup,” she says. You can build the soft swatches into something more dramatic if you want, but they are beautiful and dewy-looking with a great color range.” The formula is powered by squalane, olive oil extract, and shea butter, making it so hydrating, that it doubles as a moisturizer.

Pros: Multi-purpose; Great base for foundation; Hydrating

Cons: Not a true sparkle highlighter

It’s a well-known fact in the beauty world that Danessa Myricks is the queen of pigment–every product in her range has an incredible color payoff. Her highlighter is no exception, with the strobe-like effect consistently getting Payne stopped in the street. “This is more pigmented and punchier, but the texture is so soft and slippery that it glides on like a dream,” she says. Her pro tip: Wear it on your lids for a pop of shine.

Pros: High pigment; Strobbing effect; Multi-purpose

Cons: Too intense for some, especially fair tones

A few years ago, bronzing drops would not have qualified as highlighter. But as the category has evolved—and innovative new formulas entered the fold—tinted, faux-tan products have become highlighter-replacing additions. “This product is great because of its versatility,” notes celebrity and NBA makeup artist Jennifer Fleming. “it can be applied directly to the face with a brush or fingertips, or mixed into liquid foundation if an all-over glow is preferred.”

Pros: Expert-recommended; Tinted formulation that’s great for summer

Cons: Not good for targeted highlighter

A luxury finish doesn’t always have to come at a steep price. Maybelline is known for providing excellent quality formulas at an affordable entry point, precisely why Fleming counts their highlighter as one of her favorites. “It’s so easy to use,” she says. “It’s a cream product in a stick for that is forgiving while offering a beautiful, dewy payoff.” You can use a stippling brush or your fingertips to get a second-skin, opalescent finish.

Pros: Expert-recommended; Affordable

Cons: Can be messy in the tube

Hourglass’ highlighter is so subtle, that I’ll sometimes dust it all over my face like a setting powder for a very tame luminescence. “It has a subtle, buildable payoff that can be beautifully applied for an all-over glow,” says Fleming. That said, if you apply a few a few layers, you will get a higher payoff. I’m partial to shade Iridescent—especially when I want to use highlighter to brighten my eye makeup, too.

Pros: Buildable; Expert-approved

Cons: Expensive