36 Luminous Highlighters for Glowing Skin
There are so many highlighters available these days! They come in assortment of undertones, depths, finishes, and formulas. This post features top-rated shades, across formula types, that deliver a more moderate glow, often more luminous than overtly shimmery or metallic (but definitely not subtle!).
I’ve organized the shades by depth–lighter, more mid-tone, and darker–to make it easy to find the kind of highlighter depth you prefer. Each section includes a mix of formulas (powder, cream, liquid, etc.) and tones (not just gold!).
We should always play and experiment to see what kind of colors and products we like on ourselves, but sometimes a guideline or two is useful for those who are still learning their way. Typically, highlighters are lighter than one’s skin tone and are designed to reflect light where it is applied, which is why they’re often applied on the high points of the face (cheek bones, below the arch of the brow, cupid’s bow, etc.).
I’ve also written some how-tos that you may find useful on applying highlighters:
Luminous Highlighters – Lighter
Laura Mercier Highlight 01 Matte Radiance Baked Powder ($40.00 for 0.26 oz.) is described as "golden nude." The formula is described as an "ultra...
Laura Mercier Highlight 01 Matte Radiance Baked Powder ($40.00 for 0.26 oz.) is described as "golden nude." The formula is described as an "ultra...
Sydney Grace Pink Mist Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a pale, whitish-beige base with pink-to-lavender shifting pearl throughout. It had a less...
Sydney Grace Pink Mist Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a pale, whitish-beige base with pink-to-lavender shifting pearl throughout. It had a less...
Physicians Formula Pearl Butter Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a soft white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was richly...
Physicians Formula Pearl Butter Highlighter ($10.99 for 0.17 oz.) is a soft white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was richly...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator ($42.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a silvery beige with a hint of warmth and a pearly, dewy...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator ($42.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a silvery beige with a hint of warmth and a pearly, dewy...
Milani Afterglow Strobelight Instant Glow Powder ($10.00 for 0.30 oz.) is a very light peach with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque...
Milani Afterglow Strobelight Instant Glow Powder ($10.00 for 0.30 oz.) is a very light peach with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque...
Charlotte Tilbury Original Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.40 oz.) is a soft, champagne gold with warm, peachy undertones and a fine, pearly...
Charlotte Tilbury Original Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.40 oz.) is a soft, champagne gold with warm, peachy undertones and a fine, pearly...
Dior Nude Glow (001) DiorSkin Nude Luminizer ($48.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a soft, light peach with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It was richly...
Dior Nude Glow (001) DiorSkin Nude Luminizer ($48.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a soft, light peach with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It was richly...
NABLA Cosmetics Ozone Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a pale champagne beige with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous...
NABLA Cosmetics Ozone Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a pale champagne beige with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous...
MAC Double-Gleam Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
MAC Double-Gleam Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
NYX Snow Rose Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder ($7.99 for 0.21 oz.) is a very light, cool-toned beige with pink-to-lavender pearl that gave it more...
NYX Snow Rose Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder ($7.99 for 0.21 oz.) is a very light, cool-toned beige with pink-to-lavender pearl that gave it more...
Becca Pearl Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is described as a "soft luminescent white." ...
Becca Pearl Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is described as a "soft luminescent white." ...
Persona Laguna Cali Glow Highlighter ($24.00 for 0.26 oz.) is a pale, white gold with warm, yellow undertones and flecks of gold micro-sparkle that...
Persona Laguna Cali Glow Highlighter ($24.00 for 0.26 oz.) is a pale, white gold with warm, yellow undertones and flecks of gold micro-sparkle that...
Luminous Highlighters – Mid-tone
bareMinerals Joy Endless Glow Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy-orange with warm undertones and a moderate sheen. It had...
bareMinerals Joy Endless Glow Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy-orange with warm undertones and a moderate sheen. It had...
Natasha Denona Medium (02) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light bronze with a soft, warmer reddish undertone...
Natasha Denona Medium (02) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light bronze with a soft, warmer reddish undertone...
NABLA Cosmetics Amensia Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a light-medium gold with stronger, warm undertones and a luminous...
NABLA Cosmetics Amensia Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a light-medium gold with stronger, warm undertones and a luminous...
Wisp is a champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had medium, buildable coverage when applied with a stippling brush and opaque...
Wisp is a champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had medium, buildable coverage when applied with a stippling brush and opaque...
ColourPop Uoeno Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium beige with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had very fine pearl that made it appear...
ColourPop Uoeno Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium beige with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had very fine pearl that made it appear...
Hourglass Rose Gold Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium pink with strong, warm undertones and a metallic...
Hourglass Rose Gold Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium pink with strong, warm undertones and a metallic...
Catrice Warm Embrace 3D Glow Highlighter ($6.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium, peachy gold with warm undertones and a luminous finish. It had good color...
Catrice Warm Embrace 3D Glow Highlighter ($6.99 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium, peachy gold with warm undertones and a luminous finish. It had good color...
Rose Quartz is a light pink with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. I found the mini version to pull a bit warmer on me overall, though it was...
Rose Quartz is a light pink with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. I found the mini version to pull a bit warmer on me overall, though it was...
Inspiration is a light-medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had buildable pigmentation from semi-opaque to opaque,...
Inspiration is a light-medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had buildable pigmentation from semi-opaque to opaque,...
Charlotte Tilbury Peachgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a soft, peachy copper with warm undertones and fine gold and pink...
Charlotte Tilbury Peachgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a soft, peachy copper with warm undertones and fine gold and pink...
Indiscretion is a muted, meidum-dark gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The pigmentation was opaque rather than buildable (as...
Indiscretion is a muted, meidum-dark gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The pigmentation was opaque rather than buildable (as...
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...
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...
Luminous Highlighters – Darker
ColourPop Boss Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich, coppery-brown with fine, golden pearl throughout that gave it a soft, metallic finish. It...
ColourPop Boss Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich, coppery-brown with fine, golden pearl throughout that gave it a soft, metallic finish. It...
Natasha Denona Dark (03) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones...
Natasha Denona Dark (03) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones...
Hourglass Bronze Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, brown undertones and a golden shimmer. The...
Hourglass Bronze Flash Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick ($42.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, brown undertones and a golden shimmer. The...
Glossier Play Molten Umber Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, chocolaty bronze with subtle, warm undertones and...
Glossier Play Molten Umber Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, chocolaty bronze with subtle, warm undertones and...
Coloured Raine Your Treat Focal Point Glowlighter ($25.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Coloured Raine Your Treat Focal Point Glowlighter ($25.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Becca Chocolate Geode Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm, golden pearl that resulted in a...
Becca Chocolate Geode Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm, golden pearl that resulted in a...
NABLA Cosmetics Adults Only Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a deep, coppery red with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. ...
NABLA Cosmetics Adults Only Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a deep, coppery red with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. ...
NABLA Cosmetics Lucent Jungle Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium, reddish-copper base with warmer, golden copper...
NABLA Cosmetics Lucent Jungle Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium, reddish-copper base with warmer, golden copper...
Wet 'n' Wild Go With the Glow MegaGlo Liquid Highlighter ($5.99 for 0.50 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, brown undertones and a fine, golden...
Wet 'n' Wild Go With the Glow MegaGlo Liquid Highlighter ($5.99 for 0.50 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, brown undertones and a fine, golden...
Milk Makeup Glazed Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a soft, golden bronze with warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It had opaque...
Milk Makeup Glazed Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a soft, golden bronze with warm undertones and a bright, metallic finish. It had opaque...
Seduction is a medium-dark bronze with warm, golden undertones and a frosted sheen. It was buildable from semi-sheer to fully opaque color payoff, if...
Seduction is a medium-dark bronze with warm, golden undertones and a frosted sheen. It was buildable from semi-sheer to fully opaque color payoff, if...
Melt Cosmetics Nova Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, brown undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
Melt Cosmetics Nova Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, brown undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
Thank you Christine – this is really helpful for anyone trying to wade through all the varying highlighters tthat abound. The way you have organised it makes it easy to find what would suit you best.
My pleasure, Genevieve!
LOL…it’s been years and I’m still coveting Laura Mercier Matte Radiance 01. Pretty sure I don’t need it bc I have KA candlelight and Becca Moonstone but still like it.
Definitely skippable if you have Candlelight! Moonstone’s finish is more intense but Candlelight is more comparable!
Thanks for that insight! I should copy and paste your quote and stick it next to my KA Candlelight for the next time I’m tempted!
Thanks Christine this is a wonderful read, very informative.
Happy to hear it, Brenda!
Nice picks, Christine. I find myself gravitating to colour or mid-tone intensity h/lās versus the lighter ones I used to wear. Tastes change over time so this is handy.