5 Highlighters That We’ve Been Obsessing Over Lately

Before I joined NYLON, I didn’t really use a lot of makeup. Sure, I read about the latest hype launches and occasionally got distracted swatching all the new releases at Sephora while waiting for a late friend, but I didn’t really play around with makeup a lot.

And then I discovered highlighters during our Beauty Hit List Awards when I brought home an extra highlighter that a company sent too much off. It was tarte’s Amazonian Clay 12-hour Highlighter, and it gave my face a healthy glow without making me look like a disco ball. It was like I discovered a whole new love. How have I been living without highlighter?

Since then, I’ve tried out a bunch of highlighters and here are the ones that I’m currently in love with.

Huda Beauty Gold Sands 3D Highlighter Palette

$85, available at Sephora soon 

A lot of beauty editors and influencers gush about Huda Beauty’s highlighter palettes, and its hard to see why not. The pigmented formula doesn’t contain too much glitter – instead it looks like I dipped my finger into a pot of gold when I first swatched it. Each of Huda Beauty’s highlighter palettes are designed for different skin tones, and the one that I tried was the Gold Sands palette which is made for medium to dark skin tones (fair to medium skin tones is better suited to the Pink Sands palette).

Each palette contains four different highlighters, including a cream highlighter (Fiji) that’s supposed to act as a primer, a bronzer and a blush. The palette was designed to use all four highlighters together to get that super seamless three-dimensional glow, but I felt that using all four was a bit too overkill for everyday wear. The highlighters work well individually when I want a more daytime look and my go-to is using Zanzibar as a blush before using Tahiti on my cheekbones. Occasionally if I feel like I need a little more oomph, I would use Seychelles over my cheekbones and brow bones.

My only gripe is that the palette is pretty big, which doesn’t make it travel-friendly.

Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan Eyeshadow in Lilac Lust

$49, available at Sephora from 13 Sept

I usually gravitate towards bronze-y colours for my highlighters, but when I swatched this lilac highlighter on my arm, I was entranced by the iridescent glow when the light hit it. Okay, I do admit that it was the pretty vintage compact that first drew me to this highlighter, but I was won over my the formula and the pigmentation. The powder looks super sparkly in the pan, and when you actually dust in onto your cheekbones, the colour blends seamlessly into your skin. Depending on how the light hits your face, you’ll get rosy pinks and glimmers of lilac. Just be careful not to go crazy with the powder or you’ll end up looking like a circus as the purple is pretty striking – a light brush over the highpoints of your cheekbones is enough to transform your look. Don’t apply it down your nose and on the cupid’s bow. While I won’t reach for this as part of my everyday makeup look, I’ll keep it for festivals and night outs when I want something more striking.

Zoeva Screen Queen Highlighter Palette

$29, available at Sephora soon 

If you’re looking for a good, cheap highlighter palette that doesn’t make you look like you just got glitter-bombed, try this one out. The Screen Queen palette comes with three shades that you can mix and match, and even includes a purple shade. Zoeva’s highlighter formulas are pigmented but not powdery, and there wasn’t much fallout. Even without a setting spray, the highlighter still managed to stay on my face for a good 6 hours in the New York summer heat.

I prefer to use Pearls And Fine Silk, a light bronze, when I’m spending the day in the sun or when I’m going to beach, and Aloof Beauty for nights out. The purple shade (Absolutely Flawless) isn’t as bright as the Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan in Lilac Lust, but is just enough to add a little bit of colour to my face when I feel like being a little fun.

The slim rectangle makes it easy to pop into my makeup travel bag (and also the reason why I decided to bring it on my most recent holiday), and I found myself reaching for this palette for my everyday look. Those with darker skin tone might find that the highlighters are too light.

Natasha Denona Mini Blush & Glow

$29, available now at Sephora

Another internationally renowned makeup artist, Natasha Denona launched  her own makeup brand only two years ago which has already garnered a cult following online. Her star product is literally called the Star Eyeshadow Palette which costs a whopping $250, although her blushers and highlighters have won many hearts too. I was given this small little highlight and blush duo to try, and I was pretty excited because reviews have said that the highlighter was a good for everyday wear.

The Mini Blush & Glow comes with a pan of All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer Powder and a pan of golden coral blush that the brand says is suitable for any skin tone. The highlighter gives you a subtle glow by shimmering whenever the light hits your face, and the blush brings out the colour in your cheeks. I liked how the blush and highlighter complement and blend together really nicely on my cheeks, and the blush is buildable if you are a fan of the rosy cheeks look. The glow also looks good when brushed on your collarbones for an extra bit of shine, although it doesn’t last more than 8 hours of wear.

At $29, the Mini Blush & Glow is one of the cheapest products from Natasha Denona (their full size highlighter costs $56), and you’re getting two products worth. Get this if you have makeup commitment problems or just want to try out the brand’s highlighter and blush. Best yet, the little compact is perfect for toting around in my sling for touchups during the day or even traveling – all I’m missing is a small brush.

Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Dew You

$69, available now at Sephora

I was so excited to finally be able to try this when my editor handed me a bottle because I’ve been eyeing it ever since I read about the pale gold highlighter online.

The highlighter is part of Marc Jacobs’ Coconut Collection, and the only way I can describe is… it’s like liquid sunshine in a bottle that smells like coconut. You don’t have to use much to get the glow – a drop or two is enough to highlight your cheekbones. You can use your fingers or a BeautyBlender as the product doesn’t blend well with a blush. Since it’s liquid, the highlighter lasts throughout the day and doesn’t need any touching up at all.

I’ve also read online that you could mix the gel highlighter with your foundation or even moisturiser to get that all-over radiance. I tried it with foundation and found that it lit up my face, but not in a fake glow kind of way. The only problems I have with this highlighter is that it dries really quickly so I’ve got to be quick during application, and the glass bottle looks good but is pretty heavy which rules it out for traveling.