Best Illuminating Face Highlighters of 2026

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell
Last Updated: 2 Feb 2026

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Illuminating face highlighters are cosmetic products that add a healthy glow to the skin by reflecting light. They come in various forms such as powder, cream, and liquid, and are available in a range of shades to suit different skin tones. Highlighters are typically used on the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid's bow, to enhance the natural features and create a luminous finish. These products have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to give the skin a radiant and youthful appearance.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Makeup Revolution Bright Light Glow Highlighter Drops Cover #TOP 1
Makeup Revolution Bright Light Glow Highlighter Drops
ftb score rating icon 9.9
SLEEK Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin Cover #TOP 2
SLEEK Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Faces Canada Rose Gold Strobe Cream Primer Cover #TOP 3
Faces Canada Rose Gold Strobe Cream Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Illuminating Face Highlighters

Makeup Revolution Bright Light Glow Highlighter Drops

1823654
Golden Star Dew
23 ml (Pack of 1)
Makeup Revolution Bright Light Glow Highlighter Drops Cover
Makeup Revolution, Bright Light Glow Highlighter Drops, Illuminating Finish, Golden Star Dew, 23ml

The Revolution Highlighter Drops offer an instant radiance that enhances your natural glow. Their illuminating formula not only brightens your skin but also soothes and softens it, providing a fresh and healthy appearance. These drops can be effortlessly combined with bronzing drops for a sun-kissed look without harmful sun exposure. Enriched with skin-loving ingredients like Squalene and Hyaluronic Acid, they help improve your skin's elasticity, ensuring a youthful and vibrant complexion.

What We Like
Instant radiant glow
Hydrating skin-loving ingredients
Easy to mix with bronzer
Available in four shades
Vegan and cruelty-free

SLEEK Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin

SLEEK
5029724140392
Yellow
8 ml (Pack of 1)
SLEEK Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin Cover
Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Elixir, Liquid Highlighter Illuminating Drops for a Radiant Glow, Poppin' Bottles, 8ml

The SLEEK Highlighting Elixir is designed to enhance your glow effortlessly. With just a small amount, you can mix it with your foundation or use it to highlight your favourite features, achieving a stunning, glazed look. The nourishing jojoba seed oil and vitamin E in the formula ensure your skin feels as good as it looks. Plus, the ultra-refined pearls allow for a customisable, buildable glow that is dewy rather than powdery, giving you a fresh and radiant complexion.

What We Like
Customisable buildable glow
Nourishing skincare ingredients
Easy to use
Perfect for highlighting features
Creates a soft-focus effect
#TOP 3

Faces Canada Rose Gold Strobe Cream Primer

Faces
CC5411
Rose Gold
30 ml (Pack of 1)
Faces Canada Rose Gold Strobe Cream Primer Cover
FACESCANADA Strobe Cream - Rose Gold, 30Ml Primer + Highlighter + Moisturizer Shea Butter & Hyaluronic Acid Intense Hydration Flawless Radiant Dewy Skin Illuminating & Glowing Makeup Base

Faces Canada Strobe Cream offers an instant illuminating base that gives your skin a radiant, dewy glow, perfect for transitioning your look from day to night with ease. It provides lasting hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid, which helps maintain moisture and youthful skin throughout the day. Shea butter deeply moisturises, leaving your skin soft and naturally radiant. This all-in-one cream acts as a highlighter, primer, and moisturiser, simplifying your beauty routine by combining multiple benefits into one product.

What We Like
Instant radiant glow
Long-lasting hydration
Multi-benefit formula
Suitable for all skin tones
Free from harmful ingredients

Makeup Revolution Highlight Reloaded, Just My Type

21369
Any Skin Tone
10 g (Pack of 1)
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.

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

Technic Highlighter Wand - Beam Me Up

20760
Gold
9 ml (Pack of 1)
Technic Highlighter Wand - Beam Me Up Cover
Technic Highlighter Wand - Illuminating, Gold Liquid Highlighter With Doe Foot Applicator - Long Lasting Blendable Formula To Give a Luminous Shimmer Finish and All Day Glow. Shade: Beam Me Up. 9ml

The Technic Highlighter Wand offers a stunning way to enhance your complexion with its luminous and shimmering formula. With a lightweight, buildable texture, this highlighter ensures a long-lasting glow that won't transfer, keeping you radiant throughout the day. The convenient doe-foot applicator allows you to easily apply the product to key areas like your cheekbones and cupid's bow, helping to elevate your makeup look effortlessly. Suitable for all skin types, this highlighter can be mixed with your foundation for a natural brilliance.

What We Like
Long-lasting formula
Easy application
Buildable coverage
Vegan and cruelty-free
Enhances natural glow

Revolution Reloaded Highlighter for Ultimate Glow

21353
Rose Gold
10 g (Pack of 1)
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.

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

Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin

SLEEK
5029724140484
Gold
8 ml (Pack of 1)
Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Elixir for Radiant Skin Cover
Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Elixir, Liquid Highlighter Illuminating Drops for a Radiant Glow, SUN.LIT, 8ml

The Sleek Highlighting Elixir offers you a quick way to achieve radiant skin. Just a small amount mixed with your foundation can enhance your natural glow. Its nourishing formula, which includes jojoba seed oil and vitamin E, ensures a buildable, dewy finish without the powdery feel. You can wear it alone for a fresh look or layer it under your favourite highlighting palette for extra shimmer, making it a versatile addition to your makeup routine.

What We Like
Buildable, dewy finish
Versatile for different looks
Quick application
Nourishing ingredients

Revolution Pro Dewy Glaze Serum Highlighter

1829540
Peach Glow
12 ml (Pack of 1)
Revolution Pro Dewy Glaze Serum Highlighter Cover
Revolution Pro, Dewy Glaze Serum Highlighter, Lightweight & Blendable, Illuminating Formula, Peach Glow, 12ml

The Revolution Pro Highlighter is a versatile addition to your makeup routine, offering a multi-use formula that can be applied both under and over your makeup for a radiant finish. Infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E, it hydrates and softens your skin, ensuring you look your best throughout the day. The non-sticky formula is available in three shades, allowing every skin tone to achieve a beautiful glow. With easy application, simply twist, dab, and blend to enhance the high points of your face effortlessly.

What We Like
Hydrating ingredients for skin care
Multi-use for versatile application
Non-sticky formula for comfort
Available in three flattering shades
Vegan and cruelty-free

Maybelline Master Strobing Liquid Highlighter 25ml

3600531359287
100 Light
25 ml (Pack of 1)
Maybelline Master Strobing Liquid Highlighter 25ml Cover
Maybelline Master Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter Light Iridescent 25ml

The Maybelline Strobing Highlighter is designed to give you an instant dewy glow with just one stroke. Its lightweight creamy texture ensures easy application, making it simple for you to achieve a radiant finish. Infused with micro-fine pearls, this highlighter boosts your glow, enhancing your complexion beautifully. With its convenient stick applicator, you can highlight your features effortlessly, allowing for a quick and effective makeup routine.

What We Like
Instant dewy glow
Lightweight creamy texture
Micro-fine pearls enhance glow
Easy one-stroke application
#TOP 10

FACESCANADA Strobe Cream Silver Hydrating Highlighter Primer

Faces
CC5412
Silver
30 g (Pack of 1)
FACESCANADA Strobe Cream Silver Hydrating Highlighter Primer Cover
FACESCANADA Strobe Cream - Silver, 30Ml Primer + Highlighter + Moisturizer Shea Butter & Hyaluronic Acid Intense Hydration Flawless Radiant Dewy Skin Illuminating & Glowing Makeup Base

The FACESCANADA Strobe Cream offers an instant illuminating base filled with brightening particles that give your skin a radiant, dewy glow, perfect for both day and night looks. It provides long-lasting hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid, which forms a protective moisture layer, keeping your skin youthful and refreshed throughout the day. The addition of shea butter deeply moisturises, leaving your skin soft and naturally glowing. This all-in-one product works as a moisturiser, highlighter, and primer, simplifying your beauty routine and enhancing your complexion effortlessly.

What We Like
Instant radiant glow
Long-lasting hydration
Multi-purpose cream
Suitable for all skin tones
Free from harsh chemicals
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which highlighter is best for glowing skin?

Lakme Sheer Blusher & Highlighter With intense colour payoff, it lasts longer and gives a beautiful glow to the skin. Suitable for all skin types, it blends easily with less effort. To ensure easy applying, it has a sponge applicator. It gives effortless shine and has easy application.

2. Which is better highlighter or illuminator?

Highlighters are also typically more pigmented, which works in your favor to achieve a bolder look. On the other hand, illuminator can be used to give your entire face a luminous glow instead of only focusing on certain areas.

3. How do you use illuminating highlighter?

Apply foundation first, then dab illuminator lightly along your upper cheekbones and the apples of your cheeks. You can also add a small amount to your chin, upper lip, and forehead. Once you've applied the illuminator, use your fingers or a blending sponge to blend it into your skin.

4. Does highlighter make your face glow?

Highlighter, the illuminating make-up product can do the magic for you! It comes in powder and cream forms and can transform your face instantly. Applying on the right spots can make your eyes look bigger and face luminous!

Editor's Notes

During our illuminating face highlighter research, we found 97 illuminating face highlighter products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 55,662 customer reviews through our big data system to write the illuminating face highlighters list. We found that most customers choose illuminating face highlighters with an average price of £5.78.

The illuminating face highlighters are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of illuminating face highlighters, including Revolution Beauty London, SLEEK, Faces, Technic, Maybelline.

Written by
Charlotte Powell Avatar

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.