Highlighters Under $15 | 2020 Editor's Favorites
After years of being inundated with highlighters, 2020 was a much “slower” year with respect to highlighter releases–just over 100 that I reviewed myself–so keeping this a short, edited list wasn’t difficult at all. I’ve broken up my highlighter favorites by price, effectively more affordable (this post) and higher-end (next post).
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 2020, 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 2019 if you missed last year’s.)
Temptalia’s Favorite Highlighters Under $15 | 2020
ColourPop Out of Quartz Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a a light, rosy copper with moderate, warm undertones and slightly...
ColourPop Out of Quartz Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a a light, rosy copper with moderate, warm undertones and slightly...
Sydney Grace Sun Kissed Peach Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a bright, light pink-peach base with light, peachy-gold shimmer that gave it a more...
Sydney Grace Sun Kissed Peach Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a bright, light pink-peach base with light, peachy-gold shimmer that gave it a more...
Sydney Grace Pink Lightning Loose Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.25 oz.) is an ultra-light pink with strong, warm undertones that looks almost golden-beige...
Sydney Grace Pink Lightning Loose Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.25 oz.) is an ultra-light pink with strong, warm undertones that looks almost golden-beige...
Sydney Grace Allegro Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a light-medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a smooth, metallic sheen. It...
Sydney Grace Allegro Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a light-medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a smooth, metallic sheen. It...
Sydney Grace Arctic Moon Loose Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a very light, bright mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic finish. It...
Sydney Grace Arctic Moon Loose Highlighter ($8.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a very light, bright mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic finish. It...
Clionadh Clionadh (Light) Powder Highlighter ($12.50 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a peachy shimmer that gave...
Clionadh Clionadh (Light) Powder Highlighter ($12.50 for 0.21 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a peachy shimmer that gave...
Clionadh Clionadh (Medium) Powder Highlighter ($12.50 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and brighter, golden shimmer...
Clionadh Clionadh (Medium) Powder Highlighter ($12.50 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and brighter, golden shimmer...
Glossover Averages
Your Year in Review: Highlighter Edition — Part 1
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 highlighter did you use the most this past year? The least?
- Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year?
- Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021?
I wonder how much mask wearing contributed to a lower # of releases of highlighters (mind you, I imagine that that companies have these products in the pipeline for some time before they are released to the market, so what do I know?) The only “highlighters” I think I’ve worn have been the “all over” type that I can mix with my moisturizers to make what bit of face does show look a bit brighter.
I feel like the majority of the impact from disruption would be felt over the last few months and then into spring — I’m guessing most spring/summer releases were manufactured before a lot of places got shut down! Still, a surprising amount of releases came out, but I think holiday season was less impressive – a lot more sets, so I feel like things that were easier to manufacture and/or already approved (less new-new things).
What highlighter did you use the most this past year? MAC Double Gleam and ABH x Amrezy. Probably MAC Le Leyenda, too.
The least? Most of my more intense undertone highlighters like MAC Shaft Of Gold or Ofra Covent Garden. Not because I stopped loving these, but because I just don’t even think hard enough about all my options at hand
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year? MAC x Selena Le Leyenda and ColourPop Out Of Quartz are the main two that popped up in my head!
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021? Yes, I probably could, but the question looms of whether I should.
What highlighter did you use the most this past year? Jouer Ice and it only wins because I wore it three times haha!!
The least? Being at home all the time, there was many I feel were neglected 🙁
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year? Yes! ColourPop Out of Quartz and I received Whipped Berry as a GWP from Sydney Grace.
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021? Easily. But that doesn’t mean I should 🙂
What highlighter did you use the most this past year? The least? The most — ABH Moonchild and Aurora Glow Kits; City Color Cosmetics Intense Exposure Highlighting Powder (DC). The least — A liquid highlighter from Apocalyptic Beauty. I rarely remember to use it, but can’t bare to give it away because it’s so freaking intense and it dries down all the way. I need to put it on my vanity and use it before it goes off.
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year? Yes, I got several from Kaleidos and Black Moon Cosmetics. All of them are stunning!
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021? Yes, especially if it’s a multichrome. I just ordered Keleido’s new multichrome, Space Age Prophecy, today.
Honestly I barely wore highlighters this year, but when I did I actually grabbed the Ulta Beauty Face Highlighting Color Stick in Pixie Dust (that I got in a GWP) the most! It’s so pretty and effortless.
No new highlighters this year and that’s a good thing, I’ve somehow ended up with a bunch. The only way I’ll buy one in 2021 is, of course, if ColourPop does more Star Wars collabs.
What highlighter did you use the most this past year? The least? RMS Living Luminizer in Natural, the least Rare Beauty Luminizer in Mezmerize
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year? Rare Beauty
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021? I hope not I have enough.
What highlighter did you use the most this past year?
Still loving my Makeup Geek Starlight and Nightlight highlighters.
The least?
I find myself pretty good at rotating but haven’t used my Benefit Watts Up as much due to mask transfer.
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year?
Yes! Clinique Lunar Pop, Sydney Grace Arctic Moon and Pink Lightning, Natasha Denona Superglow in Lt-Med.
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021?
I think I am pretty much set for highlighters for a long long time. I would pick up another Clinique highlight if they released another shade. I still want the fair shade of the Natasha Denona Superglow.
What highlighter did you use the most this past year? The least? For most used it’s a tie between my ABH Aurora Glow Kit and my Becca Champagne Pop. Least used I have way more than I can count!
Do you purchase any new highlighters this past year? At the beginning of this year I got the Super Shock Highlighter in “Glow Burst” from the Pony Park collab. I then got a highlighter from Shaina B. Miami in my March Ipsy bag. I then did not get another highlighter until I bought the Physician’s Formula x Weylie palette during Black Friday, and I also got the highlighter from theBalm Will Powder palette as a single when I briefly resubscribed to Ipsy for December
Could you be swayed to purchase a new highlighter in 2021? While I’m not completely closed off from buying a new highlighter, honestly I’m pretty happy with my highlighter collection right now and am currently focusing on hitting pan on my first highlighter