Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brands Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story The best highlighters don’t just reflect light—they can completely change the way your skin looks. If you’re after a subtle, lit-from-within glow or disco-ball-level shimmer visible from across the room, a few strategic dabs on your cheekbones can make your complexion appear healthier, your features more sculpted, and your makeup fresher. Highlighter gives your makeup dimension and a healthy glow, says New York City-based makeup artist Katherine Dorn. Think of it as “the icing on the cake,” she says. “Highlighter can really bring the look to life and emphasizes the high points of the face.” The perfect finishing touch to your routine? We think so.
Plus, today’s formulas are more versatile and customizable than ever, spanning blendable powders, creamy sticks , high-impact liquids, and even highlighting palettes that can be tapped onto cheekbones, mixed into foundation, or applied all over skin as makeup prep. The trick is finding a formula that complements your skin rather than just sitting on top of it (more on that later). Ahead, the best highlighters our editors reach for to add a little extra life to everything from everyday looks to party-ready glam.
Where should you apply highlighter on the face? What type of highlighter is best? How to make highlighter look natural What is the best highlighter for mature skin? Meet the expert How we test and review products Our staff and testers Best Overall: Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Smashbox x Becca
Allure social media manager Bianca Richards applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Allure associate social media manager Katie Gunderman applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Why we love it: Powder or cream? You get the best of both with the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter. It has a really unique hybrid texture that starts as a pressed powder but feels ultra-creamy to the touch, melting into skin with the seamless finish of a liquid highlighter. This innovative formula is what helps make it so easily blendable—you can diffuse it effortlessly with a brush, sponge, or fingertips without leaving behind harsh edges or patchiness. Instead, it blends into the skin for a smooth, lit-from-within glow. Whether you’re after soft daytime radiance or a super reflective finish, this fan favorite is buildable while still managing to look like your skin but better.
Richards before applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Richards after applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Gunderman before applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Gunderman after applying the Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Tester feedback from associate social media manager Katie Gunderman
“The Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter is an absolute cult classic that stands the test of time. Champagne Pop brings me right back to 2015, and it's still just as silky and shimmery as ever. This highlighter is making a case for powder highlighters, especially when cream and liquid formulas seem to be all the rage right now. The formula is smooth and glides on the skin without lo…