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Best Face Highlighters of 2026

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell

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Face highlighters are cosmetic products that add a radiant glow to the skin. They are available in various forms, such as powder, liquid, cream, and stick. These products are designed to enhance the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones, brow bone, and nose bridge, and give a luminous finish to the makeup look. Highlighters come in different shades and finishes, from subtle to intense, to suit different skin tones and preferences. They are a must-have in any makeup routine to add a touch of radiance and dimension to the face.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Top 10 Face Highlighters

Makeup Revolution Highlight Reloaded, Just My Type

Makeup Revolution Highlight Reloaded, Just My Type Cover

Makeup Revolution Highlight Reloaded, Highly Pigmented, Shimmer Glow Finish Face Makeup, Just My Type, 10g

The Revolution Highlight Reloaded in Just My Type is your ticket to an ultimate glow-up. This champagne-toned highlighter features an intensely pigmented formula that instantly brightens your complexion. With its high-impact finish and flattering shimmer, it glides onto your cheekbones with ease, adding definition and radiance. You can also use it to illuminate the bridge of your nose and the inner corners of your eyes for a striking pop of glow. Its super-sized compact makes it convenient for achieving a natural, luminous look all over your face.

9.8
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Intensely pigmented and brightening
  • Flattering shimmer finish
  • Easy application on high points
  • All-in-one super-sized compact
  • Cruelty-free and PETA-certified

Revolution Reloaded Highlighter for Ultimate Glow

Revolution Reloaded Highlighter for Ultimate Glow Cover

Makeup Revolution, Reloaded Highlighter, Highly-Pigmented Face Powder, Brighten, Glow & Shimmer, Dare to Divulge, 10g

The Revolution Highlighter offers an ultimate glow-up with its stunning range of shades designed to leave you with an irresistible radiance. The silky formula is intensely pigmented, providing an instant brightness to your complexion that enhances your natural beauty. You can easily apply it to your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and the inner corners of your eyes for a captivating shimmer. For those looking for a more dramatic effect, using a damp brush or a fixing spray can create an intense, foil-like finish.

9.7
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Intensely pigmented for brightening
  • Silky texture for smooth application
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Versatile for multiple applications

e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlighting Wand for Radiant Skin

  • e.l.f.
  • Rose Quartz
  • 10 ml (Pack of 1)
e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlighting Wand for Radiant Skin Cover

e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand, Liquid Highlighter Wand For Luminous, Glowing Skin, Buildable Formula, Vegan & Cruelty-free, Rose Quartz

The e.l.f. Glow Highlighting Wand is your go-to for achieving dewy, radiant skin in seconds. Its lightweight liquid formula is infused with hydrating squalane, helping you create a lit-from-within glow. You can easily build and blend the formula to suit your desired level of illumination, making it perfect for any occasion. The cushion-tip applicator allows for precise application on the high points of your face, ensuring you look your best with minimal effort.

9.5
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Quick application for glowing skin
  • Hydrating, skin-friendly ingredients
  • Buildable and blendable formula
  • Precise cushion-tip applicator
  • Vegan and cruelty-free product

Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder Compact

  • Technic
  • 25703
  • Shimmery Light
  • 1 count (Pack of 1)
Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder Compact Cover

Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder - Pressed Shimmer Face Makeup Compact with a Shine for a Natural Glow. Shade: Original 6g

The Get Gorgeous Highlighter offers you a fabulous glow with its incredible pigment and metallic shine, making it easy to achieve a radiant look. Its buildable formula ensures a lightweight sheen that lasts all day without transferring, so you can maintain your glow from morning to evening. This versatile highlighter can be applied to both the face and body, as well as used as an eyeshadow, complementing all skin tones beautifully. With just a small amount needed, it provides excellent value for your makeup bag.

9.5
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Long-lasting wear
  • Versatile for face and body
  • Easy application
  • Great value for money
  • PETA approved
#TOP 5

MUA Makeup Academy Radiant Cashmere Highlighter Powder

  • MUA
  • MUA012
  • Radiant Cashmere
  • 8 g (Pack of 1)
MUA Makeup Academy Radiant Cashmere Highlighter Powder Cover

MUA Makeup Academy Shimmer Highlighter Powder, Radiant Cashmere - Highly Pigmented Glow Finish, 8 g

The MUA Radiant Cashmere Highlighter offers a warm champagne glow that suits all skin tones, giving your face a soft and luminous finish. Its highly pigmented formula lets you build your desired glow, whether you prefer a subtle shimmer or a bold highlight. The velvety texture ensures the powder glides on smoothly and feels lightweight for a natural, radiant look. You can easily apply it on your cheeks for a high shine effect or add an extra pop of shimmer to your eyes, making it a versatile addition to your makeup routine.

9.3
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Warm champagne glow suits all
  • Buildable, highly pigmented formula
  • Smooth, lightweight texture
  • Multi-use on cheeks and eyes
#TOP 6

Illamasqua Beyond Powder Highlighter for Face and Body

Illamasqua Beyond Powder Highlighter for Face and Body Cover

Illamasqua Beyond Powder Highlighter, OMG

The Illamasqua Beyond Powder Highlighter offers a highly pigmented formula, perfect for adding a striking glow to your skin. You can apply it wet to achieve an intense metallic finish, ideal for a bold, standout look. Its lightweight texture means it glides effortlessly onto your skin, making application smooth and comfortable. Additionally, this versatile highlighter can be used on your body to create a natural, bronzed effect, enhancing your overall radiance with ease.

9.1
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Highly pigmented formula
  • Wet application for metallic shine
  • Lightweight and smooth texture
  • Suitable for face and body
#TOP 7

Rimmel London Sculpting Highlighter Palette, Coral Glow

  • Rimmel
  • 34779196002
  • 18.5 g (Pack of 1)
Rimmel London Sculpting Highlighter Palette, Coral Glow Cover

Rimmel London Sculpting Highlighter Palette 3-tone, Coral Glow, 18.5 g

The Rimmel Sculpting Highlighter Palette offers a fantastic way to enhance your natural beauty. Designed by Kate Moss, this kit features three shades that allow you to highlight, contour, and add a touch of blush effortlessly. The long-lasting colour blends seamlessly with your skin tone, ensuring you achieve a radiant and healthy glow. Plus, it's easy to remove, making your makeup routine hassle-free.

9.0
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Three versatile shades
  • Seamless colour blending
  • Long-lasting wear
  • Easy to remove
  • Designed by Kate Moss

Makeup Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter Powder Liquid

Makeup Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter Powder Liquid Cover

Makeup Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter, All Over Face Glow, Powder To Liquid Formula, 5 Different Shades, Rose Lustre

The Revolution Beam Bright offers a unique glass skin glow, giving your complexion a soft, luminous finish that mimics the golden hour light. Its silky powder texture melts seamlessly into your skin like a liquid, making application effortless and natural-looking. With five everyday shades available, you can easily find the perfect colour to enhance your features, whether you prefer a rose, pink, bronze, gold, or icy silver glow. This highlighter is vegan and cruelty-free, so you can enjoy a radiant look while supporting ethical beauty choices.

9.0
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Glass skin luminous finish
  • Powder melts like liquid
  • Five versatile shades
  • Vegan and cruelty-free

e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand

  • e.l.f.
  • 609332844155
  • IRL Angel
  • 10 ml (Pack of 1)
e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand Cover

e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand, Liquid Highlighter Wand For Luminous, Glowing Skin, Buildable Formula, Vegan & Cruelty-free, IRL Angel

The e.l.f. Halo Glow Wand is a liquid highlighter designed to give you radiant, luminous skin in seconds. Its lightweight formula, enriched with hydrating squalane, helps create a natural, lit-from-within glow, making your skin look fresh and dewy. The buildable and blendable formula allows you to control the intensity, so you can achieve a subtle or more pronounced highlight with ease. The cushion-tip applicator provides precise application, allowing you to highlight the high points of your face effortlessly for an instant boost of illumination.

8.9
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Quick, radiant glow
  • Hydrating squalane formula
  • Buildable and blendable
  • Precise cushion-tip applicator

MUA Makeup Academy Pink Shimmer Highlighter Powder

  • MUA
  • MUA026
  • Pink Shimmer
  • 8 g (Pack of 1)
MUA Makeup Academy Pink Shimmer Highlighter Powder Cover

MUA Makeup Academy Shimmer Highlighter Powder, Pink Shimmer - Highly Pigmented Glow Finish, 8 g

The MUA Pink Shimmer Highlighter offers a soft rosy shine, giving your skin a youthful, radiant glow perfect for any occasion. Its highly pigmented formula allows you to build the intensity, whether you want a subtle shimmer or a striking highlight. The velvety texture ensures the powder glides on smoothly and feels lightweight, making it easy to blend for a natural finish. You can use it on your cheeks or sweep it up to your temples for a luminous look, or even add a pop of shimmer to your eyes for extra sparkle.

8.7
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Soft rosy glow
  • Highly pigmented
  • Lightweight, smooth texture
  • Versatile application
  • Buildable shimmer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is illuminator better than highlighter?

Think of illuminator as more of a light-diffusing product than a light-reflecting one: illuminating product is generally much softer and gives more of a subtle glow than what you'd get from a highlighter.

2. How do I choose a bronzer and highlighter?

If you are using bronzer, blush, and highlighter, just make sure you apply them in the right order. Bronzer goes on first, then blush, then highlighter. Bronzer will be just below your cheekbone, blush on your apples, and highlighter at the top on the upper cheekbone.

3. What is the difference between illuminator and highlighter?

The main difference: "Highlighter is for a concentrated area of light, while an illuminator casts light more generally," explains Anthony.

Editor's Notes

During our face highlighter research, we found 288 face highlighter products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 139,303 customer reviews through our big data system to write the face highlighters list. We found that most customers choose face highlighters with an average price of £6.04.

The face highlighters are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of face highlighters, including Revolution Beauty London, e.l.f., Technic, MUA, Illamasqua.

Written by

Charlotte Powell Avatar

Charlotte Powell

Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.