Achieving a natural glow is the ultimate goal for many when it comes to makeup. Highlighters have become a beauty staple, offering the perfect way to enhance your skin’s radiance. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the best highlighters for radiant skin, how to choose the right one for your skin tone, and tips for applying highlighter like a pro. Whether you’re new to highlighting or looking to refine your technique, this article will provide you with everything you need to know.

Understanding Highlighters: What They Do and Why You Need One

Highlighters are makeup products designed to reflect light and give your skin a luminous finish. They can be applied to the high points of your face—like your cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose—to create a radiant, dewy look. With the right highlighter, you can enhance your features, make your skin look healthier, and give yourself a natural, lit-from-within glow.

Top 10 Best Highlighters for Radiant Skin

1. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector

Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector is a cult-favorite, known for its smooth, blendable formula. It provides a natural glow that’s perfect for all skin tones. With a range of shades available, this highlighter can be customized to match your specific complexion.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter

This limited-edition highlighter is loved for its golden, radiant finish. It’s especially flattering on medium to deep skin tones, offering a sun-kissed glow that lasts all day.

3. Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line has taken the beauty world by storm, and the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter is no exception. Its ultra-creamy formula delivers an intense glow, perfect for those who love a bold highlight.

4. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

A hybrid between a primer, highlighter, and foundation, the Hollywood Flawless Filter gives you a soft-focus, lit-from-within look. It’s ideal for those who want a subtle, natural radiance.

5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

Hourglass’s Ambient Lighting Powders are known for their soft, ethereal finish. These powders mimic different lighting effects, giving your skin a radiant, airbrushed look.

6. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish is a baked powder that provides a sheer, buildable glow. It’s perfect for those who want a natural highlight without looking too shiny or glittery.

7. Tarte Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Infused with Amazonian clay, this highlighter from Tarte offers long-lasting wear and a soft, natural glow. It’s great for all skin types, including oily skin.

8. Milk Makeup Highlighter

Milk Makeup’s Highlighter Stick is a cream formula that blends effortlessly into the skin. It’s perfect for those who prefer a more dewy, natural finish.

9. NARS Highlighting Powder

NARS Highlighting Powder offers a silky, weightless finish that’s perfect for creating a subtle, natural glow. It comes in various shades to suit different skin tones.

10. Too Faced Diamond Light Highlighter

Inspired by real diamonds, this multi-dimensional highlighter by Too Faced gives your skin a prismatic glow. It’s perfect for those who want a unique, radiant finish.

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How to Choose the Right Highlighter for Your Skin Tone

Choosing the right highlighter is crucial for achieving a natural glow. The wrong shade can make your skin look ashy or too shiny. Here’s how to find the perfect highlighter for your skin tone:

For Fair Skin: Opt for highlighters with a pearly or silver undertone. Champagne shades can also work well to give your skin a soft, luminous finish.

For Medium Skin: Gold and peach-toned highlighters are ideal for medium skin tones. These shades add warmth to your complexion and enhance your natural glow.

For Olive Skin: Bronze and copper highlighters work best for olive skin tones. These shades complement the green undertones in your skin, giving you a sun-kissed radiance.

For Deep Skin: Rich gold and deep copper highlighters are perfect for deep skin tones. These shades provide a beautiful contrast, highlighting your features without looking too stark.

How to Apply Highlighter for a Natural Glow

Getting that perfect glow isn’t just about choosing the right product; it’s also about applying it correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying highlighter like a pro:

1. Start with a Clean Canvas

Begin by cleansing your skin and applying your usual skincare routine. Make sure your skin is well-hydrated, as dry skin can make highlighter look patchy.

2. Apply Foundation and Concealer

Apply your foundation and concealer as you normally would. Make sure your base is smooth and even before applying any highlighter.

3. Choose the Right Tools

For a subtle glow, use a fan brush to apply powder highlighter. For a more intense look, use a dense brush or your fingers to apply cream or liquid highlighter.

4. Apply to the High Points of Your Face

Focus on the areas where light naturally hits your face—your cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. Apply a small amount of highlighter to these areas and blend it out for a seamless finish.

5. Blend, Blend, Blend

Blending is key to achieving a natural look. Make sure there are no harsh lines by using a clean brush or sponge to blend the edges of your highlighter.

6. Set with a Setting Spray

To ensure your glow lasts all day, finish with a setting spray. This will lock in your makeup and give your skin a fresh, dewy finish.

Tips for a Long-Lasting Glow

Keeping your glow going all day requires a bit of extra care. Here are some tips to help you maintain your radiance from morning to night:

1. Prep Your Skin

Make sure your skin is well-prepped before applying highlighter. This includes cleansing, moisturizing, and using a primer if necessary.

2. Layer Your Products

For a more intense glow, layer different types of highlighters. Start with a liquid or cream highlighter, then set it with a powder highlighter for added dimension.

3. Use a Setting Powder

If you have oily skin, a setting powder can help keep your highlighter in place. Apply a light dusting of translucent powder to areas prone to shine.

4. Reapply Throughout the Day

If your glow starts to fade, don’t be afraid to touch up your highlighter throughout the day. Keep a travel-sized highlighter in your bag for quick touch-ups.

Best Highlighters for Different Skin Types

Different skin types require different types of highlighters. Here’s a guide to choosing the best highlighter for your skin type:

For Dry Skin: Cream and liquid highlighters are ideal for dry skin. These formulas blend seamlessly into the skin, providing a dewy finish without emphasizing dry patches.

For Oily Skin: Powder highlighters work best for oily skin. They help absorb excess oil and provide a matte finish that still gives you a radiant glow.

For Combination Skin: If you have combination skin, you can use a mix of cream and powder highlighters. Apply cream highlighter to the areas where your skin is drier, and powder highlighter to the areas that tend to get oily.

For Sensitive Skin: Look for highlighters that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Stick to gentle formulas that won’t irritate your skin.

Highlighting Techniques for Different Face Shapes

The way you apply highlighter can change depending on your face shape. Here are some tips for applying highlighter to different face shapes:

Oval Face: Apply highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, and on your cupid’s bow. This will enhance your natural bone structure.

Round Face: Focus on applying highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones and along your brow bones. This will help elongate your face and give it more definition.

Square Face: Apply highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, the center of your forehead, and the center of your chin. This will soften your features and add balance to your face.

Heart Face: Highlight your cheekbones, the center of your forehead, and your chin to balance out the width of your forehead with the narrowness of your chin.