If you could only use one brand for highlighter, which could you commit to?

What’s interesting about this line of questions is really that it makes you think about brands that have been consistent over the years/formulas because we all know that a lot of products get discontinued or reformulated eventually! One of my favorite ranges of highlighters is Makeup Geek’s Highlighter Powders–huge selection, great finish, so blendable–but the quality of newer releases leaves me less confident about future formulas/updates. I’d have to opt for MAC because they have a lot of types, and they tend to be fairly solid with their releases for highlighters.

— Christine

44 Comments

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Seraphine Avatar

I never thought I’d have an answer for this question because I’m not a big highlighter person, but I have to say it would be Diorskin Nude Luminizer (I have Pink Glow). This is hands-down the most beautiful of all the highlighters I’ve ever tried. The only other highlighter that comes close is Laura Mercier Baked Highlighter 01. Out of those two, I’d go with Dior because the LM is so subtle. With Dior, I have more of a choice to go subtle or make my cheekbones really pop, depending on how I apply it.

Debbie Avatar

I am happy with Laura Geller French Vanilla. It is all I that I ask from a highlighter. I love the glow from within look it gives me, without me having to look like I am trying to outdo a lighthouse on a rocky coast.

Stephanie Avatar

I LOVE that product. One of the most under rated wonders at Ulta. I used to wear it everyday. I also love and regularly use my Makeup Geek, Becca, and The Balm highlighters. I just recently started trying Colourpop’s Super Shock formula and so far, it really is beautiful. SO many options on the market it is hard to pick just one.

Sarah Avatar

Oh this is hard. I’ve been using Ofra’s Cloud 9 daily since it launched, but I haven’t tried enough Ofra to commit to it fully if it was the only brand I could use. And when it comes to highlights I want something very bright and metallic. I’m the girl people can’t stand that likes to be highlighted to the point of blinding. I think the one brand that consistently delivers bright highlights for me is ABH. Their glow kits (do they even make those anymore?) are fantastic quality. If I could dip into the Gleam glow kit forever and only use that palette I would.

Heather Avatar

Now that I think of it you can subscribe to Allure through Amazon(dot)com!! So every month amazon will ship it to you! What I love about this box is that everyone gets the same thing. Countless times I’ve never received the box with the “Brand new stuff”. Sorry I’m not trying to be a nagitive Nancy lol but also I didn’t retthis untill last month which was my second box and they only charge $10/month I believe it will last for 6 months then it gos back to $15! I hope this helps! Plus AmaOn ships everywhere!!

Kelli Avatar

I’d have to say Becca, but I also haven’t used a wide range of brands when it comes to highlighter. I do love Champagne Pop very much, though, and if I could only choose one sole highlighter to use the rest of my life, that would be it.

AJ Avatar

I pretty much only use my favorite Makeup Geek highlighter, to the point where I haven’t even considered buying a new highlighter in 2 years. So as long as they continue making the same product at the same quality, that would be my choice.

If MUG failed me, I’d probably go to Becca, as I like the one of theirs I have, they have good colors for my skintone, and I generally hear good things about them.

Ally Avatar

I could commit to MAC as a brand for highlighters. They have several different formulas with a wide variety of shades. Ofra would be a very close second. I love their formula but being quite pale a lot of their shades don’t work for me. ColourPop would come in third for the same reasons.

Ameerah@TheModWoman Avatar

I’m still learning about highlighters – I didn’t really start using them until a little over a year ago! But so far the formula I have enjoyed the most is Ofra. I also like the Hourglass Ambient lighting powders but I don’t think of those as highlighters so much as overall glow.

Nancy T Avatar

Hard one! Haha!
If I look at it from the perspective of what I’ve enjoyed using over the *past* several years, then it’s a fairly even toss-up between ABH and MAC. (cannot go without Whisper Of Gilt or Amrezy!)
If, on the other hand, I look at from the vantage point that I am almost 60, and going forward I probably won’t want “seen from space” highlighters in 10 years, then either Laura Mercier (because HELLO! Matte Radiance Highlight 01) or Fenty (again, Metal Moon).

Laurie Avatar

I bought the trio of MUG highlighters they offered by skin tone early on. Gorgeous colors for pale skin, but horrible finish on aging skin. I’d never had an issue with highlighting—having used the TooFaced Candlelight Rosy Glow successfully for years—until I saw my every fine line and bit of texture on my temples glare using the MUG highlighters. My favorite highlighters these days are the Algenist luminizing drops … much like the Cover FX drops, I think … which work well on my skin and never put my age in boldface, if you know what I mean.

deb Avatar

I hear you! I stopped using powder highlighters after finding one highlighting the smile lines next to my eyes like stripes. Becca liquid Pearl is my favorite now and Becca would be my only brand if I had to choose one for their liquid SSPs. I also love Nabla’s Glowy Skin Highlighter in Surreal but it has no staying power. If it lasted longer, I’d hoard it (limited edition). It’s a translucent base with pink and peach when the light hits just right. Great for pale skin, but not for long.

Mariella Avatar

Oh dear….this is a tough one indeed. I guess it’s a toss up between Becca (I mean, come ON – they have something for everyone) and MAC (ditto – their MSF highlighters and the Extra Dimension ones….there is something to delight just about everyone here too). I was going to say Dior because I have 2 or 3 Dior highlighters I adore but 2 of them are LE or d/c’d so no longer available and of their new ones, well, much as I love them, there isn’t enough variety of shades or finishes.

Iris Lifrak Avatar

I would have to go with Becca or ABH. I love all the pressed shimmering highlighters from Becca. I probably have at least 10, from Vanilla Quartz to Smoky Quartz to Champagne Pop. I also love the Amrezy highlighter as well as all the Sundipped and Sugar Glow Kits.

Mary D Avatar

You know I don’t really use a lot of highlighters , the three I use a lot are Tom Ford “Orchid Soleil “ Nightbloom powder ,NARS highlighter in “Free Soul “, both give a glow without emphasize the texture of the skin .
The third one I use mainly in Summer WetnWild “Under my Canopy” ( great with a tan ).

cherie Avatar

Very tough question. I think overall it will have to be Laura Mericier. I love her “matte” highlight for days when I need to be more conservative and then her other highlighters for a little more glow. A close second would be Charlotte Tilbury followed by MAC.

Bonnie Avatar

I think Maybelline’s Master Chrome are my faves, so I’m going with Maybelline. My #1 fave was LE and no longer available, but it too was from Maybelline. That pink highlight in the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Jetsetter palette. As awful as the concealer and lip products were in that palette, that’s how good the highlight was.

Silvia Avatar

I like subtle ones having cool toned skin. Hourglass trio I love it is very subtle. So subtle that I mostly think of it as an overall glow (I don’t like overall glow only a bit on my cheeks) but if applied more heavily it does show as highlighter. I like also a lot the small roses design highliters from Milani those give you a soft satiny shine very pretty & WetnWild the collection which has Precious Petals those are great and I have them all. I haven’t tried Becca but am tempted they look gorgeous. Colour pop is great too!

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