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 (Over $15) | 2018 Editor's Favorites https://www.temptalia.com/2018-editors-favorites-highlighters/ product https://www.temptalia.com/2018-editors-favorites-highlighters/#comments Sat, 29 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +0000 Christine https://www.temptalia.com/?p=370380 As I mentioned in the previous post, highlighters had another bright year with a plethora of options from affordable to luxury. My initial list of "favorites" stood at over 40 shades in the mid-end/high-end category, which I pruned to a mere--ha!--list of 20 favorites. While the Make Up For Ever Star Lit Diamond Powders may not have rated well based on claims, I absolutely loved them as cheek highlighters (which was where they performed the best without extras).  I've reached for these over and over again when I put together cheek combos for photos (which I then remove to test something Continue Reading… ]]> As I mentioned in the previous post, highlighters had another bright year with a plethora of options from affordable to luxury. My initial list of “favorites” stood at over 40 shades in the mid-end/high-end category, which I pruned to a mere–ha!–list of 20 favorites.

Tom Ford Beauty Liquid Sun Soleil Glow Drops
Make Up For Ever 106 Grenny White Star Lit Diamond Powder
Becca Berlin Girl Glow Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Marc Jacobs Beauty Gilty O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer
OFRA Space Baby Highlighter
Make Up For Ever 107 Bronze Star Lit Diamond Powder
Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter
Natasha Denona Bronze (03) Super Glow Highlighter
Natasha Denona Light-Medium (02) Super Glow Highlighter
Dior Nude Glow (001) DiorSkin Nude Luminizer
Make Up For Ever 103 Pink White Star Lit Diamond Powder
OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury Original Hollywood Beauty Light Wand
Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator
Marc Jacobs Beauty Fantasy Dew Drops
Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust Shimmering Swan Highlighter
Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter
Make Up For Ever 104 Blue White Star Lit Diamond Powder
NARS Fort de France Highlighting Powder (2018)
NARS Free Soul Highlighting Blush

Best of 2018

Highlighters (Over $15)

While the Make Up For Ever Star Lit Diamond Powders may not have rated well based on claims, I absolutely loved them as cheek highlighters (which was where they performed the best without extras).  I’ve reached for these over and over again when I put together cheek combos for photos (which I then remove to test something else after I take those photos, haha). They’re the perfect mix of shimmer and sparkle, so they’re intense but not glittery dirt-like either.

In the same vein, I tend to gravitate toward highlighters that shift or have some sort of multi-colored pearl to it.  The following all fall into this group: Tom Ford Liquid Sun, Becca Berlin Glow, Marc Jacobs Beauty Gilty, OFRA Space Baby, and Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust.

I specifically looked for and tested more liquid and cream highlighters this year, and I found two new-to-me favorites: Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Light Wand.  Natasha Denona’s new Super Glow highlighters are a new go-to favorite (they made it into my vanity drawer).

Also, I’ve kept my list of favorites here to standalone products (not shades within a larger palette), but I’d like to plead with Fenty Beauty to release Stone Cold (from the holiday palette) as a single for 2019 — please and thank you!  Some of you may wonder why Anastasia’s Amrezy didn’t make my list… because I have dozens like it, and I didn’t personally find the finish or color to be vastly different than the many gel-powder formulations out there.

What mid/high-end highlighters 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 (Over $15) of 2018

02.

02. Glazed Donut OFRA

OFRA

PPermanent. $29.00/0.35 oz.

A+
OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter

OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was...

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OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was...

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04.

04. Bathe Dose of Colors

Dose of Colors

LELimited Edition. $28.00/0.41 oz.

A+
Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter

Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It was richly...

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Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It was richly...

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08.

08. Glow Up Pretty Vulgar

Pretty Vulgar

PPermanent. $32.00/0.2 oz.

A
Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter

Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a light, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...

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Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a light, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was...

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12.

12. Space Baby OFRA

OFRA

LELimited Edition. $29.00/0.35 oz.

A
OFRA Space Baby Highlighter

OFRA Space Baby Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, bluish-white with a metallic sheen that shifted from icy blue to icy violet. It was...

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OFRA Space Baby Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, bluish-white with a metallic sheen that shifted from icy blue to icy violet. It was...

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Side-by-Side Swatches
Glossover Breakdown
A
19
B
4
C
0
D
0
F
0
95%
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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