5 Of The Best Highlighters For Every Skin Tone

5 Of The Best Highlighters For Every Skin Tone
Despite its rise into mainstream beauty in the last few years, highlighter still hasn’t conquered the makeup kit of many. Which, given its transformative powers, is surprising. Gone are the days of excess glitter, ashy effects and non-inclusive shades, highlighter has come into its own and is worthy of a spot in your makeup bag.

How to choose the best highlighter

When it comes to finding the best highlighters for your skin tone, Space NK’s Head of Education Niamh Butler has a simple tip: “An easy rule of thumb is to go by the jewellery that suits you the most. If you prefer to wear silver or platinum, go for a cooler toned highlighter. If you find gold suits you more, opt for golden tones.”

Lighter skin tones with cooler shades will likely suit pink hues and silvery highlighters, while darker skin tones will generally favour warm, golden hues. And if you have a neutral skin tone? The best highlighters for you will be champagne and rose gold tones.

“If you’re wondering whether to use a cream, liquid or powder highlighter, the same advice applies as it does with blusher,” explains Niamh. “Go for cream or liquid if you want your makeup to have a glowing, dewy finish.”

Best highlighters to buy in 2023

01

Charlotte Tilbury

Beauty Light Wand in Pillow Talk, £30.00

Best Highlighter For Neutral And Deep Skin Tones
As every glow lover knows, the OG TikTok phenomenon is much more than a high-end highlighter – Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Light Wand is a miracle worker. A few glides and dabs followed by a pat with your fingers across the high points of your face is all it takes to unveil a smooth, filter-like finish and the most Hollywood-worthy radiance. It is, quite simply, highlighting perfection for those who believe the glow is the limit. The only downside? It’s a constant sell-out – so grab it while you can…

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02

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Sun Dipped Glow Kit, £42.00

Best Highlighter For Medium And Deep Skin Tones
If you switch your highlighter like you switch your lipstick, this quad of shimmery hues is what you need to create an endless array of sun-kissed looks and finishes. Highly pigmented, lightweight and long-lasting, each of these shades will look the part on their own as well as mixed and matched and layered together. We think Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Sun Dipped Glow Kit is perfect for maximising that post-holiday glow – with or without an actual holiday…

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03

Kevyn Aucoin

Glass Glow Liquid Illuminator, £30.00

Best highlighter For All Skin Tones
“Glass Glow Face is truly a highlighter for everyone. All the shades are universal, and you can use them in a few ways to create beautifully radiant skin,” explains Nick Lujan, Kevyn Aucoin’s Director of Education and Artistry. We love that this smooth formula comes in six ultra-flattering shades and can be used in a multitude of ways. As Nick says, “This nourishing highlight can be used on clean skin, under liquid and cream foundation, mixed into your liquid and cream foundation, or dabbed on top of finished makeup to give extra glow.” Our advice? Let your imagination run wild and free.

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04

Hourglass

Ambient Lighting Palette - Volume III, £66.00

Best Powder Highlighter For Deep Skin Tones
Not all highlighters are born equal. Made with Photoluminescent Technology – which basically means it captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light to refine skin’s appearance – these near-magical powders create a multi-dimensional glow. “I use the Ambient Lighting Palette over the course of the day as though it were my personal lighting technician – it’s a beauty essential,” says Hourglass’ founder and CEO Carisa Janes. Now available in three volumes, this high-end highlighter boasts a trio of coppery, metallic and golden hues – a beautiful option for deep skin tones.

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05

RMS Beauty

Luminizer, £39.00

Best Highlighter For Fair And Medium Skin Tones
This little pot of creamy goodness is one of the best highlighters if you lean more towards a natural dew. Formulated with organic coconut oil, vitamin E and castor seed oil, it’s as nourishing as it is illuminating – and versatile. “Use your fingers or a brush to blend over the cheek bones, brow bones, down the bridge of the nose and at the bow of the lips for a subtle, sexy shimmer,” advises RMS founder Rose-Marie Swift. But there’s no need to stop there. “Apply anywhere on the body for gorgeous, glowing skin. This is my also favourite product for adding a shimmer to the eye – apply very lightly only over the lid.”

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Read More

The TikTok Makeup Trends to Recreate
The Best Mascaras for Every Effect
How to Remove your Eye Makeup
Cream vs Powder Blush
How to Choose the Right Lipstick for You
Posted: Friday, 02 December 2022

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