74 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Erica Avatar

MAC or Benefit. Lightscapade, Soft and Gentle and High Beam are the only highlights I use. Plus MAC also has Nylon, Phloof, Shroom and Ricepaper. So maybe MAC then?

Anne Avatar

Oh that’s a toughie. I love me a good highlighter. At first I was thinking Becca as I like to use powder, cream and liquid depending on the look, but I think MAC would beat them out as they have all three forms and have a wider shade range for them.

Marie-Estelle Avatar

That’s a though choice because I don’t have two from the same brand… And I will can’t to try MUFE, Becca formulas.

I’d say Laura Mercier because their permanent matte highlighter is a HG for me. If the Chanel Camelia de plume (and their highlighters in general) was permanent, it might have been my first choice!

Tammy Avatar

Only one brand: Laura Mercier because I must have Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01. I would give up all my other highlighters (and I have dozens) for this one!

Mariella Avatar

This is an easy one – Becca or Urban Decay.

Christine, totally unrelated to this topic, MAC Bare Study Paint Pot is showing as “discontinued” in the Reviews and Dupes sections. And while the original has been d/c’d (or just renamed), it IS still available as a “Pro Longwear Paint Pot” but it’s not showing up within the reviews for those newly named/renamed ones. I think I tried emailing about this a few weeks ago (when I’d finished my old one and was hoping to check the Dupes list for something better, since I find the texture of Bare Study to be patchy). When I searched the Dupes list, “Bare Study” came up as “no dupes yet” and “discontinued” but there’s no listing at all for “Pro Longwear Bare Study” (or if there is, I can’t seem to find it). I ended up getting a new jar of Bare Study and find it just as patchy as my previous one.

Holly Avatar

Christine,

Do you prefer an intense highlight? Or more of a glow. I’m trying to decide on a highlighter. I have fair to medium skin, depending on the season. I don’t want an intense beam on my face. And do you still contour?

Kristen Avatar

Right now my favorite brand for highlighter is The Balm specifically Mary-Lou Manizer. The color pay off, the texture is creamy and it has stunning results. I did, however, just order the KEVYN Aucoin celestial powder thanks to your post. So we’ll see if anything changes. 🙂

Anne Avatar

My fav is a LE Dior, but Becca is a close second. Christine, even when I’m signed in, I can’t get the link to work re: ‘Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.’ What am I doing wrong?

Fran Avatar

I would like to say BECCA, because they give you the option of powder, cream, or liquid formulas, but they only offer one cool-toned highlighter. Which is actually a problem with a lot of brands.

My easiest-to-use, most-used highlighters are my Hourglass ones. But, even though I don’t (yet) own any, I think I might choose Makeup Geek, for the wide range of colors that they offer. Definitely for my kit, because I could cover all skin tones easily!

Alecto Avatar

Aromaleigh! The only two highlighters that I use regualarly are from that brand. I have a dozen+ (a few of which were bundled in a cheek palette, so I didn’t really choose them specifically), but I keep defaulting to Lustra (which is very subtle, enough so that some might use it as a finishing powder) and Flutter (LE). Her truly gleaming highlighters are amazing, too. I have two limited edition ones that are quite possibly the two most beautiful makeup items I’ve ever seen — one is a super-pale blue-green called Thalassa, and the other is a lit-from-within sky blue called Tears of Nymphs (she calls it teal, but it loses the green tone on me — possibly because I’m so yellow). I’ve only used these two so far as inner-corner highlighters, but I swear I will wear them on my cheeks at some point! She also has a really amazing lavender with gold-shift highlighter called Ixchel.

I just realized I gave the same answer for that the last three question threads like this. I swear I’m noit a shill for her!

Shelley Collins Avatar

Tom Ford, Kevyn Aucoin, Natasha Denona, Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass, Becca, Laura Mercier, Mac, and so on…in that order…have I missed anyone? Lol…I love me some highlight!

Maria Avatar

I can’t believe I just checked my stash and I have Kevyn Aucoin’s Starlight and Candelight I haven’t used either one. I have too many highlighters I can’t keep up.

Flaky Avatar

I think I’d have to go with either Elf or MAC. They have a wide range of formulas that go from subtle to disco ball & enough variety in colors that I think I’d be ok.

i can see why everyone else is choosing Becca, but they just don’t have a color that suits me well enough.

ShariP Avatar

Very tough question. I’m pretty new to the highlighting bandwagon, but I’m finding myself hooked. I love Hourglass because they are more subtle. When I want something less subtle I seem to choose something from Lorac. I choose Becca on special occasions. I think I’ve failed to answer the question, lol.

Nika99 Avatar

For a powder highlight I’d have to say Anastasia Beverly Hills because they have so many Glow palettes and I have them all so i would still have alot to choose from.But the Jouer powder highlighters in Rose Quartz and Topaz have this stunning sheen to them I don’t have Citrine but I want it so bad the reason they would not be my first choice is that they only make 3 colors.For a cream highlight I would choose Love Luxe Beauty Dramatizer Drops they are a similar product to the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops but are more affordable and come in more colors.

Karen Avatar

Hourglass. Maybe Laura Mercier because I use her matte radiance in 01 so often. Oops, I forgot about liquids and creams, it’ll have to be Becca then.

Primpcess Avatar

It’s a toss up between Becca and Mac, both brands have great highlighters for dark skin. I would say Mac has more variety, but Becca’s formula is better and more consistent.

Sparklestacey80 Avatar

I Laura geller hands down her blushes and highlighters are lovely they sit beautiful on the skin not to over the top.Geleto in ballerina is just yummy!

Silvia Avatar

I have plenty from the drugstores. Just love them all I haven’t tried the foundation gliwing type I think that’ll turn me into a disco ball. Too much. Lately, I have found a Urban B’ Matte kit with a lipgloss at Ross stores that is a huge compact and it goes on very lightly I use it sometimes if my blush comes out a bit dark and it diffuses it so nicely. Taking notes to get the pricey ones. Oh! Love them all! On the hunt for more! Lol!

Lea Avatar

This one is very hard to choose. The ones I’ve used the longest are Cle de Peau luminizers and Armani highlights and I love them very much. Tom Ford’s Moodlight has been in regular rotation since it was released and is so soft and subtle. I just shopped my stash for the Laura Mercier Baked Matte #1 and that’s really pretty as well. I’m also a big fan of the Chantecaille Liquid Lumiere in Sheen. I can’t choose!!!!!!

PrNoir Avatar

I’ve only tried a few highlighters, but I love becca liquid and pressed version of moonstone and I also love one by hourglass. I have a few other, but I use both of these almost every single day

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!