Temptalia https://www.temptalia.com In-depth makeup reviews with swatches and dupes, plus what you need to know about new product launches and tips on how to use your makeup! Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:44:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.13 Highlighters (Under $15) | 2018 Editor's Favorites https://www.temptalia.com/2018-editors-favorites-budget-highlighters/ product https://www.temptalia.com/2018-editors-favorites-budget-highlighters/#comments Sat, 29 Dec 2018 15:00:00 +0000 Christine https://www.temptalia.com/?p=370376 You'd think that every brand had already released their fair share of highlighters over the last few years, but somehow, brands remained dedicated to highlighters in 2018.  I had plenty of fantastic highlighters to reflect back on, which isn't always the case at this price point.  What I particularly like about this year's list is that there's a little across types--powder, loose powder, cream, and liquid all are represented well here. ColourPop continues to give us excellent, high-quality highlighting options with the Super Shock Cheek Highlighters and newer Luster Dusts, which are a fine, loose highlighter.  I wonder if we'll Continue Reading… ]]> You’d think that every brand had already released their fair share of highlighters over the last few years, but somehow, brands remained dedicated to highlighters in 2018.  I had plenty of fantastic highlighters to reflect back on, which isn’t always the case at this price point.  What I particularly like about this year’s list is that there’s a little across types–powder, loose powder, cream, and liquid all are represented well here.

ColourPop Princesa Luster Dust Loose Highlighter
Wet 'n' Wild Winter Bloom MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar
Wet 'n' Wild Holly Gold-head MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar
Wet 'n' Wild Bloom Time MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
Essence Be My Sunlight Pure Nude Highlighter
Essence Be My Cosmolight Pure Nude Highlighter
Wet 'n' Wild Air MegaGlo Highlighting Bar
ColourPop Double Down Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)
Morphe Lit High Impact Highlighter
Morphe Boom High Impact Highlighter
Maybelline Molten Peach MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter
ColourPop Boomin' Luster Dust Loose Highlighter
ColourPop Pose Luster Dust Loose Highlighter
ColourPop Swirl Pressed Powder Highlighter
Physicians Formula Rose Gold Butter Highlighter
Makeup Revolution Liquid Ethereal Liquid Highlighter
ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)
ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)
Makeup Revolution Liquid Starlight Liquid Highlighter
Maybelline Molten Rose Gold MasterChrome Metallic Highlighter

Best of 2018

Highlighters (Under $15)

ColourPop continues to give us excellent, high-quality highlighting options with the Super Shock Cheek Highlighters and newer Luster Dusts, which are a fine, loose highlighter.  I wonder if we’ll see them pursue liquid highlighters in 2019!  Wet ‘n’ Wild released several variations on highlighters this year with a good portion being limited edition, but they’ve fairly consistent in quality and application this year.  I was happy to see Maybelline expand their MasterChrome Highlighter range in 2018 and hope to see some more extensions in 2019 (and perhaps a blush range with a similar formula!).

What affordable highighters did you reach for this year?

P.S. — You can view swatches of my favorites here.

P.P.S. — If you enjoy reading/viewing my favorites, make sure you check out my all-time favorites here, products I’m thankful for (2018 series), and all of my editor’s recommended products here.

Top Highlighters (Under $15) of 2018

01.

01. Rose Gold Physicians Formula

Physicians Formula

PPermanent. $10.99/0.17 oz.

A+
Physicians Formula Rose Gold Butter Highlighter

Physicians Formula Rose Gold Butter Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, reddish undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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Physicians Formula Rose Gold Butter Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, reddish undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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02.

02. Double Down ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $10.00/0.15 oz.

A+
ColourPop Double Down Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)

ColourPop Double Down Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, very light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen....

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ColourPop Double Down Super Shock Cheek Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, very light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen....

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03.

03. Boom Morphe

Morphe

PPermanent. $14.00/0.28 oz.

A+
Morphe Boom High Impact Highlighter

Morphe Boom High Impact Highlighter ($14.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...

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Morphe Boom High Impact Highlighter ($14.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...

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04.

04. Rocket Science ColourPop

ColourPop

PPermanent. $10.00/0.15 oz.

A
ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)

ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...

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ColourPop Rocket Science Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light lavender with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...

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05.

05. Parallel ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $10.00/0.15 oz.

A
ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter)

ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium peony pink with subtle, warm undertones and a golden sheen. It was more...

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ColourPop Parallel Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium peony pink with subtle, warm undertones and a golden sheen. It was more...

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06.

06. Liquid Ethereal Makeup Revolution

Makeup Revolution

PPermanent. $9.00/0.6 oz.

A
Makeup Revolution Liquid Ethereal Liquid Highlighter

Makeup Revolution Liquid Ethereal Liquid Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a soft pink with subtle, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It seemed...

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Makeup Revolution Liquid Ethereal Liquid Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a soft pink with subtle, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It seemed...

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07.

07. Liquid Starlight Makeup Revolution

Makeup Revolution

PPermanent. $9.00/0.6 oz.

A
Makeup Revolution Liquid Starlight Liquid Highlighter

Makeup Revolution Liquid Starlight Liquid Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a light pink with warm undertones and a fine, metallic sheen. It had...

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Makeup Revolution Liquid Starlight Liquid Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a light pink with warm undertones and a fine, metallic sheen. It had...

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08.

08. Lit Morphe

Morphe

PPermanent. $14.00/0.28 oz.

A
Morphe Lit High Impact Highlighter

Morphe Lit High Impact Highlighter ($14.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a pale gold with warm yellow undertones with a soft, frosted sheen. The powder had a...

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Morphe Lit High Impact Highlighter ($14.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a pale gold with warm yellow undertones with a soft, frosted sheen. The powder had a...

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09.

09. Bloom Time Wet 'n' Wild

Wet 'n' Wild

PPermanent. $4.99/0.19 oz.

A
Wet 'n' Wild Bloom Time MegaGlo Highlighting Powder

Wet 'n' Wild Bloom Time MegaGlo Highlighting Powder ($4.99 for 0.19 oz.) is a soft, pink-peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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Wet 'n' Wild Bloom Time MegaGlo Highlighting Powder ($4.99 for 0.19 oz.) is a soft, pink-peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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11.

11. Swirl ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $12.00/0.21 oz.

A
ColourPop Swirl Pressed Powder Highlighter

Swirl is a brighter, light-medium pink with subtle, cooler undertones with a metallic finish. It had opaque color payoff in a single layer with a...

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Swirl is a brighter, light-medium pink with subtle, cooler undertones with a metallic finish. It had opaque color payoff in a single layer with a...

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12.

12. Be My Cosmolight Essence

Essence

PPermanent. $4.49/0.23 oz.

A
Essence Be My Cosmolight Pure Nude Highlighter

Essence Be My Cosmolight Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.99 for 0.23 oz.) is a pale green with strong, warm undertones and a shifting finish that went from...

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Essence Be My Cosmolight Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.99 for 0.23 oz.) is a pale green with strong, warm undertones and a shifting finish that went from...

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13.

13. Boomin' ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $7.00/0.106 oz.

A-
ColourPop Boomin' Luster Dust Loose Highlighter

ColourPop Boomin' Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a light-medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a soft, metallic sheen. ...

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ColourPop Boomin' Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a light-medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a soft, metallic sheen. ...

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14.

14. Pose ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $7.00/0.106 oz.

A-
ColourPop Pose Luster Dust Loose Highlighter

ColourPop Pose Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy copper with warm undertones and a soft, metallic sheen. It...

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ColourPop Pose Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy copper with warm undertones and a soft, metallic sheen. It...

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15.

15. Holly Gold-head Wet 'n' Wild

Wet 'n' Wild

LELimited Edition. $4.99/0.22 oz.

A-
Wet 'n' Wild Holly Gold-head MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar

Wet 'n' Wild Holly Gold-head MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar ($4.99 for 0.22 oz.) is a medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted sheen. It...

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Wet 'n' Wild Holly Gold-head MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar ($4.99 for 0.22 oz.) is a medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted sheen. It...

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16.

16. Princesa ColourPop

ColourPop

LELimited Edition. $7.00/0.106 oz.

A-
ColourPop Princesa Luster Dust Loose Highlighter

ColourPop Princesa Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a pale, white-to-peach shifting loose highlighter with finer pearl and larger...

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ColourPop Princesa Luster Dust Loose Highlighter ($7.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a pale, white-to-peach shifting loose highlighter with finer pearl and larger...

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18.

18. Be My Sunlight Essence

Essence

PPermanent. $4.49/0.23 oz.

A-
Essence Be My Sunlight Pure Nude Highlighter

Essence Be My Sunlight Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.99 for 0.23 oz.) is a soft, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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Essence Be My Sunlight Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.99 for 0.23 oz.) is a soft, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...

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19.

19. Winter Bloom Wet 'n' Wild

Wet 'n' Wild

LELimited Edition. $4.99/0.22 oz.

A-
Wet 'n' Wild Winter Bloom MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar

Wet 'n' Wild Winter Bloom MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar ($4.99 for 0.22 oz.) is a bright, white gold with subtle, warm undertones paired with a...

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Wet 'n' Wild Winter Bloom MegaGlo Highlighting Gold Bar ($4.99 for 0.22 oz.) is a bright, white gold with subtle, warm undertones paired with a...

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20.

20. Air Wet 'n' Wild

Wet 'n' Wild

LELimited Edition. $6.99/0.3 oz.

B+
Wet 'n' Wild Air MegaGlo Highlighting Bar

Wet 'n' Wild Air MegaGlo Highlighting Bar ($6.99 for 0.30 oz.) is a pale pink with strong, warm undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had medium...

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Wet 'n' Wild Air MegaGlo Highlighting Bar ($6.99 for 0.30 oz.) is a pale pink with strong, warm undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had medium...

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Side-by-Side Swatches
Glossover Breakdown
A
20
B
1
C
0
D
0
F
0
94%
Average
Glossover Averages
product
9.5
pigmentation
9.5
texture
9.5
longevity
9
application
5
Total
94%
product
9.5
pigmentation
9.5
texture
9.5
longevity
9
application
5
Total
94%
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