Highlighters for a Radiant, Lit-From-Within Glow: 9 Beautiful Best Sellers

A swipe of highlighter is the quickest way to make skin look fresh, healthy and expensive, even after a long day or a short night. The best highlighters catch the light on the high points of your face so you look rested rather than shiny, and the newest formulas skip chunky glitter in favor of a soft, lit-from-within glow.

With so many powders, liquids, balms and wands available, choosing can feel overwhelming. We narrowed the field to highlighters that are consistently among Amazon’s beauty best sellers, from Charlotte Tilbury’s viral Beauty Light Wand to Hourglass’s famous Ambient Lighting Palette and a budget wand from e.l.f. Below you will find nine picks, who each one suits, and a practical guide to choosing the right finish and applying it so it looks like skin.

Highlighters at a Glance

• Best overall: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
• Best splurge: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
• Best pressed powder: Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
• Best classic: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
• Best cream: RMS Beauty Luminizer
• Best for mature skin: Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator
• Best palette: Tarte Glow Wardrobe Highlighting Palette
• Best all-over glow: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
• Best budget: e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand

The 9 Best Highlighters for Every Skin Type

1. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand

Best for: anyone who wants a fast, foolproof glow.

Of all the liquid highlighters on Amazon, the Beauty Light Wand became the biggest social media sensation, and it is easy to see why. You dot the liquid onto cheekbones with the cushion applicator and tap it in with your fingers. Charlotte Tilbury describes lustrous polymers that create a high-gloss, highlighting effect with a silky, non-greasy feel. Some shades double as a soft blush, so one wand can do two jobs.

Skip it if: you have very oily skin and prefer powder that will not move.

2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

Best for: people who want glow without visible shimmer, and anyone who is photographed often.

Hourglass’s Ambient Lighting powders are among the most famous highlighters in luxury makeup. They do not look sparkly; instead, the brand’s photoluminescent technology diffuses light for a soft-focus, lit-from-within finish that it says flatters all skin tones. The palette holds three shades you can use as highlighter, finishing powder or a touch of warmth. It is the investment pick of this list and a beautiful gift.

Skip it if: you want an obvious, blinding highlight. These powders are subtle by design.

3. Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter

Best for: fans of a radiant, beaming powder glow.

Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector was one of the defining highlighters of the last decade, and it now lives on under Smashbox. The brand says the formula blends luminous pearl pigments with liquid for a buttery texture that builds without looking glittery or chalky. Like the best pressed highlighters, it is easy to sheer out for daytime or layer up for evenings.

Skip it if: you have dry, textured skin; a cream will sit more smoothly.

4. theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Best for: light to medium skin that loves a warm, golden glow.

Mary-Lou Manizer has been a cult favorite among powder highlighters for years. The honey-toned powder diffuses light for a softer look, and theBalm suggests using it on the lids, cheeks or as an all-over finishing touch. It is one of the most versatile highlighters at a mid-range price, and the retro packaging is a bonus.

Skip it if: you have a deep skin tone and want a richer gold or bronze highlight.

5. RMS Beauty Luminizer

Best for: dry skin and no-makeup makeup.

Among cream highlighters, RMS Beauty calls its Luminizer the original cream highlighter of the lit-from-within look. The balm is infused with organic coconut oil, castor seed oil and vitamin E, and it melts onto cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of the nose and collarbones. It works beautifully over bare skin or foundation and is a favorite for wedding and editorial makeup.

Skip it if: you have oily skin; balms can slide by midday.

6. Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

Best for: mature skin and anyone who wants radiance without sparkle.

Laura Geller designs many products with mature skin in mind, and this baked illuminator is one of the brand’s best sellers. It melts into the skin for an all-day luminous glow without a speck of glitter, according to the brand. Laura Geller recommends sweeping it in a C shape from the cheekbones to the temples and brow bones.

Skip it if: you want an intense, metallic highlight.

7. Tarte Glow Wardrobe Highlighting Eye and Cheek Palette

Best for: travel and anyone who likes a whole look in one compact.

If you like highlighters with company, Tarte’s palette puts highlight, blush, bronze and eyeshadow shades together, so it is a smart choice for a weekend bag. The brand describes a silky, lightweight texture that melts into skin and diamond powders that help blur imperfections for a filter-like effect.

Skip it if: you only want one perfect highlighter shade.

8. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

Best for: an all-over glowing base rather than a single stripe of light.

Flawless Filter is a bestselling hybrid that works four ways, according to Charlotte Tilbury: alone, under foundation, mixed into it or dabbed on top as a highlighter. Light-reflecting particles and airbrush polymers blur pores and fine lines, while glycerin and porcelain flower extract hydrate. It is the most skin-like option among these highlighters.

Skip it if: you want a defined highlight on the cheekbones only.

9. e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand

Best for: trying the liquid wand trend on a small budget.

e.l.f.’s Halo Glow wand is a best seller and an affordable alternative to luxury liquid wands. The lightweight formula is infused with hydrating squalane, and the cushion tip makes it easy to place on the high points of the face. It comes in three shades.

Skip it if: you want the refined finish and long wear of a luxury formula.

How We Chose These Highlighters

We began with Amazon’s beauty best-seller lists for highlighters and luminizers and the Premium Beauty store, then chose long-standing formulas from trusted brands. We read each product page and kept to facts the brands state or that are widely known about each product. We did not test these highlighters ourselves; this is a research-based guide. We aimed for a mix of powders, liquids and creams across every budget. Read more in our editorial policy.

How to Choose Highlighters

Pick a formula for your skin type

Powder highlighters last longest on oily and combination skin. Creams and balms look most natural on dry and mature skin. Liquids are the most flexible: dab them on top of makeup or mix into foundation for an all-over glow.

Find the right shade

Fair skin suits champagne, pearl and soft pink highlighters. Medium and olive skin glows in gold and peach. Deep skin looks stunning in rich gold, bronze and copper tones. Avoid shades much lighter than your skin, which can look gray or chalky.

Choose the intensity

Satin and soft-focus finishes look like healthy skin and suit daytime. Metallic and high-shine finishes are more dramatic and great for evenings and parties. Fine pearl particles look more natural than large glitter. For background on how highlighter cosmetics work with light, the overview is a helpful read.

How to Apply Highlighter So It Looks Natural

Apply highlighters last, after foundation, bronzer and blush. Focus on the places light naturally hits: the tops of the cheekbones, the brow bone, the bridge and tip of the nose, the inner corners of the eyes and the cupid’s bow. Use a small fan or tapered brush for powder, and fingertips or a damp sponge for liquids and creams. Tap, do not swipe, so you do not disturb your base. For a sculpted look, pair highlighter with a soft matte from our guide to the best bronzers and a flush from the best luxury blush.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Highlighting texture. Shimmer emphasizes pores and bumps. Keep it on smooth areas.
• Going too low. Highlighter on the apples of the cheeks can look like shine. Stay on the cheekbone.
• Mixing too many finishes. One highlighter is enough; layering several can look greasy.
• Forgetting daylight. Check your glow near a window before you leave the house.

Highlighters FAQ

Where should highlighter go on your face?

On the high points that catch light: cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of the nose, the cupid’s bow and the inner corners of the eyes.

Should I use powder or liquid highlighter?

Choose powder for oily skin and long wear, and liquid or cream for dry or mature skin and a more natural, dewy look.

Can I wear highlighter without foundation?

Yes. Creams, balms and liquid highlighters look especially fresh on bare, moisturized skin.

Is highlighter good for mature skin?

It can be lovely. Choose a creamy, glitter-free formula, apply a light layer on the top of the cheekbones and avoid fine lines around the eyes.

Final Thoughts

The right highlighter makes skin look healthy, not frosted. Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Light Wand is our everyday favorite, Hourglass Ambient Lighting is the soft-focus splurge, and e.l.f.’s Halo Glow wand is a smart way to try liquid highlighters on a budget. Build the rest of your complexion with our guides to the best luxury foundation and the best luxury makeup primers.