A Definitive List of the Best Highlighters in 2026
I've been in the beauty industry for 4+ years now, although my background is originally in fine arts. In between researching and publishing our guides, I’m usually snacking and making spontaneous (and somewhat chaotic) choices about what to do with my hair.
Bring on the shine, encourage the shimmer, and glow from day to night with the very best highlighting products.
If you’re hoping to achieve a standout makeup look, there’s no doubt that the best highlighter will help you get there.
The perfect finishing touch for any makeup style, a good highlighter will make your features pop.
If you like your makeup to look a little more natural, you might’ve always skipped highlighter, deeming it ‘a bit too much’ for everyday wear.
The good news is, you don’t have to smother your face in sheen to make a highlighter work for you.
A simple dusting of a subtle formula can reflect light and enhance your natural glow.
Highlighter makeup comes in many forms. From glistening powders that sparkle and shine to iridescent cream highlighters that dab on for a subtle finish, good highlighters aren’t just for makeup experts.
Giving you a glowy, dewy finish and creating an illusion of health, the best highlighter draws the light in and helps add structure to your face.
The perfect accompaniment to bronzer and contour, the best highlighter is easy to apply and oh-so-attractive.
From a liquid highlighter that really packs a punch to the best organic highlighter makeup, there’s a formula that will help give you the glowy, healthy look that you’ve always craved.
So, What’s the Purpose of Highlighter Makeup?
The purpose of highlighter makeup is to draw attention to the most structured parts of your face.
By highlighting the tops of your cheekbones, your Cupid’s bow, and the tip of your nose, you catch the light and draw attention.
Strategic highlighting adds definition to your face. Carefully applying highlighter enhances your natural features and gives you a glowy, youthful finish.
You can choose a highlighter to make a bold makeup look really pop or just add a subtle glow to a natural look.
Here Are the 5 Best Highlighters in 2026
You don’t need to dust on a thick, sparkly powder to enjoy a luminous glow. Sometimes, the most subtle products give you the best results. Benefit Dandelion perk-me-up powder is easy to use and offers a delightful, subtle sheen. Suitable for all skin tones, this baby-pink blusher can be applied all over the face for a soft glow. Working perfectly to enhance the apples of your cheeks, this formula brightens your look in an instant without the need for glitter or shimmer. The lightweight, silky powder gives the skin a gentle flush, making it the perfect pick for an everyday glow. When you dust this powder across your face, you’ll instantly lift your look with a gentle glow from within.
Picking a highlighter can be confusing. Subtle sheen or heavy sparkle? Light cream or dense powder? There are so many options for you to sieve through! Benefit High Beam Liquid Highlighter is a soft, luminous pink liquid, that showcases cheekbones, brow bones, or anywhere you think deserves a little shine. The all-new applicator helps you precisely apply the product, and the radiant formula glides onto skin effortlessly to offer a satiny-soft finish that catches the light. Perfect for pale skin and dark skin alike, this pretty pink formula makes all skin types glow with health.
Highlighters are made to be fun! They instantly perk up your look by catching the light, so you stand out beautifully.
Whether you love the idea of a new powder formula or you’d rather mix a shimmering liquid into your foundation, check out the above formulas to set your look off with a healthy dose of shine.
What Are Some Top Makeup Highlighter Tips?
You don’t need to overthink how you apply highlighter. Whether you’re looking for a natural ‘inner’ glow or a dazzling look to top off a bold makeup look, applying highlighter is simpler than you might think.
If you’re struggling to apply highlighter, here are some top tips to help you get that all important glow.
Top tip 1: Preparation is key.
To ensure your highlighter applies to the skin evenly, it’s important you look after your complexion to get the best base. If your skin is dry and flaky, even the best liquid highlighter might cling awkwardly and make your skin look uneven. To help keep your skin clear and prepped, make sure you remove your makeup every evening and moisturise your skin to keep it soft. It sounds like pretty simple advice, but soft, smooth, supple skin wears highlighter better. If you’re struggling with your complexion but love the look of highlighter, a good primer will give your skin the smooth base your highlighter needs.
Top tip 2: Mix with your foundation.
If you love the look of dewy, fresh skin, dusting on a powder highlighter might not be the best approach. Instead, you could mix a little bit of the best liquid highlighter makeup in with your foundation. This will instantly lift your skin’s look and give you the dewy finish you crave. It’s a great way to cover your skin the way you like, with a little extra glow to finish.
Top tip 3: Choose your formula.
There are many different types of highlighters available. So, how do you know which format will work for your skin? The best blush highlighter that comes in a powder formulation will work well on skin that tends to get oily and shiny. A cream contour highlighter palette will carve out your cheekbones and elevate your look. And a jelly highlighter will top the skin perfectly and give you a healthy glow.
Top tip 4: Apply it to the high points of your face.
In the same way a contour adds shadow to give your face a more chiseled effect, a good highlighter should do the opposite and draw the high points of your face out. Just a sweep of highlighter across the tops of your cheeks, on your Cupid’s bow, and along the bridge of your nose will make your gorgeous features really stand out. Avoid putting highlighter on your T-zone. And if you prefer a more subtle highlighter, use a formula with finer particles.
How To Apply Cream Highlighter on Face?
To apply a cream highlighter to your face, it’s always best to start with a good base of foundation.
If you’d rather not wear foundation, make sure your skin is clean, dry, and moisturised before you add any product to it.
Though using a brush or a blender is a good way to apply highlighter, you can also apply the product with your fingers to blend things out perfectly.
Glide the product with your fingers across the places you want to see shine. This will help catch the light and give you a flattering, youthful glow. With a dabbing motion, use either your fingers, a blender, or a dense brush to smooth the highlighter out for a gorgeous, glowy finish.
How Do You Put On Highlighter Makeup?
To successfully apply highlighter makeup, apply it sparingly. If you put too much product on your skin, you’ll overdo the look, and all that shine will defeat the purpose.
Using a brush, a blender, or your fingers, apply a small amount to the areas of your face that you want to stand out.
To add a little extra shine to your look, dab highlighter at the inner and outer corners of your eyes and gently blend.
Again, remember that less is more—unless you’re going for a theatrical effect!
Of course, you might be looking to extend your dazzling look all over your body! Apply a face highlighter to your collarbones to gain a chic edge. Pick up a body shimmer to make the rest of your skin glow.
How Do You Put On Highlighter Makeup?
How you highlight your cheekbones really depends on the type of highlighter you choose to apply.
For a seriously subtle look, just a dusting of a sheer illuminating powder blush gives you a glow. A cream formula works well when applied with your fingers.
And a highlighting liquid mixes in with foundation perfectly.
To draw out your cheekbones and achieve a chiseled, defined finish, the best bronzer highlighter combo will work wonders.
Contouring your cheeks slims down your face and adds definition, while highlighter makes your cheekbones pop.
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
Need a recap? Here's the 5 Best Highlighters in 2026:
