The 9 Best Drugstore Highlighters of 2019

You just can’t beat this wallet-friendly glow-maker that’s a favorite amongst highlighter newbies, beauty junkies, makeup artists, and more. The velvety smooth powder dresses the cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, inner corners, or wherever you apply it with a ultra-pearly finish that never accentuates texture or visible pores. No matter if you prefer a subtle sheen or an intense glow this highlighter will work for you since you can build up the color from a light wash of shine to a more intense gleam.

The easy-to-blend formula becomes one with the skin when applied with a fan-style brush or a small, dense powder brush. It also comes in a variety of shades from golds, to pearlescent pinks, to unique shades like iridescent blue. One reviewer even said that it did not break out her acne-prone sensitive skin—which can be common with certain highlighting powders.

The opalescent quality of this fluid makes it super wearable and also very versatile. Mix a drop into your skincare (think: serum or cream) or base product (think: tinted moisturizer or foundation) and smooth all over for a lit from within glow. The light-reflecting pigments will help blur any imperfections, making for an even more flawless base than if you were starting with even the most full coverage foundation. The more you add into your products, the less coverage they’ll have, so if you like a finish that’s more high intensity, this technique may not be for you. Instead, dab some of the straight up liquid highlighter onto your cheekbones with a damp beauty blender. Though the effect won’t be exactly the same as if you mixed it with your foundation, it’s a nice compromise.

It’s called butter highlighter for a reason—it’s so velvety, it actually feels like butter on the skin (and it’s formulated with a power-packed trifecta of butters: Murmur, Capua cu, and Tucuman that moisturize skin). Upon first touch, it’s creamy and then it turns into a powder, giving it more staying power for all-day wear. This shade in particular is perfect for darker skin tones because it has rich pigments that match the warmth in deeper tones. While the champagne option might look ashy, this one leaves you with a subtle hint of radiance that catches the light and dazzles. Use your fingers or a brush for the application.

Anything that’s pearlescent will flatter fair skin tones. Stick to shades with a cooler appearance like blue and green shimmer flecks instead of warm ones like pinks and oranges—the latter will make it look like you weren’t too sure about where your blush should go. This illuminating powder in particular is finely milled and won’t make it look like you have chunks of glitter on your face—score! For a more intense sheen, dip your brush in water first and then swipe this on skin. It even works well as an eyeshadow if you’re going for a more monochromatic look.

The best thing about a stick highlighter is not needing any extra tools. It’s such a great on-the-go product because all you need is a few swipes and you’re looking more put together than before. Pro tip: throw this in your carry-on and just before landing, dab some on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your cupid’s bow. Even if you don’t have a stitch of other makeup on or didn’t get a wink of sleep on your red eye, you’ll emerge from the plane looking glowy and well-rested.

Whether you’re trying to recreate the full face of highlighter look or just like having options, this quad of four powder shades has got you covered. Armed with two universal glowy highlighters, a blush, and bronzer tone, you’ll be glistening in no time. Get creative and try multiple shades on your face to come up with your own unique hue or stick to one if it suits you. Choose from the Moon-Kissed kit or Sun-Kissed kit based on your skin tone.

One of the things you need to look out for, especially if you have more mature skin, is glitter pigments in highlighter. This one is formulated without any chunky glitter and will glide on smooth, melting into skin without it looking like you’re headed to a rave. It’s described as a metallic sheen and that’s exactly what you’ll get with this. It won’t settle into fine lines, but instead, blur them and give the appearance of a smooth complexion. Try tapping it on with your ring finger (it’s the weakest, so it won’t tug, especially around the delicate eye area) for a more diffused look that’s on the natural side. Makeup artists love using a formula like this on the brow bone—it creates the illusion of an eye lift and will help to shape the brow, too.

When highlighting your arms, legs, and chest you want to choose a formula that creates a soft sheen as opposed to an Instagram-style metallic finish. But many oils slide right off the body making you look like you just came out of the ocean or off of the running trail. That’s why we love the shimmering body highlighter from Hard Candy.

The glowy cream comes in a gorgeous bronze shade that works for fair to deep complexions. The fast-setting formula stays put after application. Just squeeze a small amount into the palms of your hands, then apply to clean dry skin. A word of caution: Wait a few minutes before dressing to ensure the oil dries.