Highlighters Over $15 | 2019 Editor's Favorites
As I mentioned in my post on my favorite highlighters under $15, I reviewed over 200 highlighters in 2019! I love highlighters and blushes that have a two-in-one effect (not quite a duochrome), and Marc Jacobs Jet Girl was a massive favorite (keeping it in my vanity for now!). The new Milk Flex Highlighters have been kept on my vanity since reviewing them and Blitzed has been the one I’ve reached for most of the four. I love how sparkling and shiny the Fenty Beauty Wattabrat highlighter is (also lives in my vanity).
If you’re unfamiliar with how I like to do my year-end favorites, here’s the low down: I pull from the products I reviewed in 2019, regardless of whether they were new, limited edition, or an established range I’ve only just gotten around to reviewing. These are personal favorites, so they may or may not be the highest rated products reviewed during the year (though they will tend to be better rated, naturally!). (You can check out best of 2018 if you missed it.)
Temptalia’s Favorite Highlighters Over $15 | 2019
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...
Glossier Play Platinum Rose Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft peach with warm undertones and a mix of multi-colored...
Glossier Play Platinum Rose Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft peach with warm undertones and a mix of multi-colored...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a pale gold with subtle, warm undertones and a soft,...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a pale gold with subtle, warm undertones and a soft,...
Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy coral with warm undertones and fine, gold and pink...
Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy coral with warm undertones and fine, gold and pink...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Jet Girl (82) O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a brighter, medium coral with warm undertones that...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Jet Girl (82) O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a brighter, medium coral with warm undertones that...
Chanel Metal Peach Illuminating Powder ($70.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium peach with balanced, warmer undertones between pink and orange. It was...
Chanel Metal Peach Illuminating Powder ($70.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium peach with balanced, warmer undertones between pink and orange. It was...
Natasha Denona Light (01) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light, golden beige with soft, warm undertones and a...
Natasha Denona Light (01) All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer In Powder ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light, golden beige with soft, warm undertones and a...
Milk Makeup Blitzed Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a soft, peachy-beige with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. There was fine pink...
Milk Makeup Blitzed Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a soft, peachy-beige with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. There was fine pink...
Benefit Cookie Box o’ Powder Highlighter ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a light, peachy gold with strong, warm yellow-orange undertones and a luminous...
Benefit Cookie Box o’ Powder Highlighter ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a light, peachy gold with strong, warm yellow-orange undertones and a luminous...
Benefit Tickle Box o’ Powder Highlighter ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a brighter, bubblegum pink base with heavy, golden shimmer that gave it a more...
Benefit Tickle Box o’ Powder Highlighter ($30.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a brighter, bubblegum pink base with heavy, golden shimmer that gave it a more...
NABLA Cosmetics Truth Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and a golden, metallic...
NABLA Cosmetics Truth Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and a golden, metallic...
Becca Pure Pearl Pearl Glow Luster Glow Powder ($40.00 for 0.32 oz.) is a pale, pinky-peach with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
Becca Pure Pearl Pearl Glow Luster Glow Powder ($40.00 for 0.32 oz.) is a pale, pinky-peach with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had...
OFRA Sea Shimmer Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, light copper with warm, rosy undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It was a...
OFRA Sea Shimmer Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, light copper with warm, rosy undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It was a...
Dior Peach Delight (007) DiorSkin Nude Luminizer ($48.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy coral with warm undertones and a sparkling, golden...
Dior Peach Delight (007) DiorSkin Nude Luminizer ($48.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy coral with warm undertones and a sparkling, golden...
Melt Cosmetics Genesis Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark, pink-coral with warm, golden shimmer throughout. It had rich...
Melt Cosmetics Genesis Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium-dark, pink-coral with warm, golden shimmer throughout. It had rich...
Milk Makeup Lit Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a light, golden beige with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It was buildable to more...
Milk Makeup Lit Flex Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a light, golden beige with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It was buildable to more...
OFRA Covent Garden Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, light pink with strong, warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It had...
OFRA Covent Garden Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, light pink with strong, warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish. It had...
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...
Fenty Beauty Wattabrat Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and flecks of silver...
Fenty Beauty Wattabrat Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and flecks of silver...
Melt Cosmetics Iluminacion Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a sparkling, light-medium peach base with pink-topeach shifting sparkle and...
Melt Cosmetics Iluminacion Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a sparkling, light-medium peach base with pink-topeach shifting sparkle and...
Glossover Averages
Your Year in Review: Highlighter Edition — Part 2
I thought it would be interesting to read through how readers used products throughout the year, what favorites emerged, what products fell by the wayside… so, if you want to join in, copy and paste the questions below and add your answers via a comment!
- What type of highlighter (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) did you use the most this year?
- Do you opt for subtle or intense highlighters?
- Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of highlighter in 2020?
What type of highlighter (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) did you use the most this year?
Mostly baked geleé and traditional powder types. Also, cream to powder, such as the ones by ColourPop.
Do you opt for subtle or intense highlighters? Fairly intense, I guess. But, I have begun to appreciate the more subtle ones of late, as they don’t emphasize texture and pores. Also, less work than the blingy ones that require a lot of buffing out on my less than youthful skin.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of highlighter in 2020? Oh, definitely the same! Can’t stop won’t stop. ?
What type of highlighter (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) did you use the most this year? Powder. I don’t do well with creams or liquids.
Do you opt for subtle or intense highlighters? Subtle. I’m not a fan of the super shiny sparkly look. I prefer just a glow-from-within look on my cheekbones.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of highlighter in 2020? The same, which is a tiny bit when I’m doing makeup to you out at night.
What type of highlighter (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) did you use the most this year? Powder, because of my oily skin.
Do you opt for subtle or intense highlighters? Usually intense
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of highlighter in 2020? The same. I have high cheekbones that I like to highlight. I also find strobing is much more fair skin friendly than heavy contouring. I use a much lighter hand with HL on the bridge of my nose and chin than I do on my cheekbones, though. If the HL is super-sparkly or intense, I’ll even use a different HL on those areas.
I only have powder highlighters.
Like subtle use for a nice glow.
Same use in 2020.
What type of highlighter (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) did you use the most this year? I preferred liquid/cream highlighters this year. Again, I dislike more and more the way powder looks on me. But there were a couple of stand out powder highlighters that I love, too, because on my skin they looked like a cream.
Do you opt for subtle or intense highlighters? I opted for a more glossy, skin-like finish, but those varied in intensity.
Do you think you’ll wear more, less, or the same amount of highlighter in 2020? Probably the same amount. Highlighting is one of my favorite parts of my makeup routine!