16 Best Drugstore Highlighters For A Dewy Glow – 2024
Illuminate your face without burning a hole in your pocket with these highlighters.
Nyssa Green is an Emmy award winning makeup artist and a trusted beauty and lifestyle expert with over 20 years of experience. Her diverse portfolio of clients includes celebrities from all walks of life, like Alicia Keys, Bono, Jane Fonda, Vickie Winans, Jermaine Dupri, several US Presidents, authors, and politicians.
Read full bio of Nyssa Green
Baishali is a beauty and lifestyle writer and holds a master's degree in English from Assam University. She specializes in makeup and fashion and is also a certified Style and Image Consultant. Prior to this, she was a part of a digital marketing company in Kolkata where she wrote stories on travel, beauty, and home décor.
Read full bio of Baishali Bhattacharya
Experience: 2 yearsSrijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.
Read full bio of Srijita De
Experience: 3 yearsSrijani is an associate commerce editor with a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal. She is certified in makeup techniques and is also a certified style and image consultant.
Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
Do you wonder how celebrities have an extra-glamorous finish to their makeup look when they walk down the red carpet? The secret is using a highlighter. For an affordable option, you can start with the best drugstore highlighters. They surely help you get your celebrity-inspired makeup looks on point. A good highlighter palette enhances the overall makeup look and gives a flawless finish. The right highlighter shade can instantly brighten your complexion and enhance your facial angles. You can even use it on certain body areas like your collarbones and shoulders for some extra glow. In this article, we have listed the 16 best drugstore highlighters that work like wonders. Keep reading to find out more!
In This Article
16 Best Drugstore Highlighters
1. Best For Daily Use: theBalm Mary Lou Manizer
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer is an illuminating highlighter that hits all the right spots and attracts everyone’s eyes. This versatile highlighter can be used as a highlighter, shadow, and shimmer. It diffuses light in a way that your skin will look softer and younger. The product will add a subtle sun-kissed effect to your skin and is suitable for everyday wear. The Mary Lou Manizer can be layered on the lids, used to highlight your cheeks, or used for an all-over finishing touch for a honey-hued glow. The long-wearing champagne luminizer will give you a soft, natural glow for everyday use. This video details a reviewer’s experience with the product. Watch it to learn more about the formula.
Pros
- Can be used as eyeshadow, highlighter, and shimmer
- Ideal for everyday use
- Long-lasting formula
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With 4,511 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
2. Best Buildable Formula:Wet n Wild MegaGlo Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter
The Wet n Wild MegaGlo Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter has a semi-matte, highly pigmented formula that illuminates your features like no other. The expertly crafted formula is buildable and made of powerful pearl pigments that allow you to customize your glow. The formula is enriched with grapeseed oil and vitamin E. According to online reviews, this budget-friendly highlighter blends easily and keeps your skin moisturized throughout the day. Take a look at this honest review to know more about the product.
Pros
- Buildable formula
- Hydrating formula
- Glides smoothly
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- None
"This highlighter is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It has a doe-foot applicator that makes it easy to apply without the need of brush. It offers a natural tint and blends seamlessly."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 509 reviews, this product has become a fan favorite among users.
3. Best Sun Protection: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter will create a covetable, healthy dewy glow. The highlighter gives a healthy radiance to the skin. It illuminates darkened skin and evens out the skin tone. The liquid highlighter is used in two ways. It can be mixed with a primer, foundation, or moisturizer for added radiance. “It’s especially gorgeous when mixed with darker foundation to give a beautiful finish,” says Emmy Award-winning makeup artist, Nyssa Green.
Or it can be used on its own for an all-over dewy glow. The liquid highlighter contains SPF 20+ that fights against harmful sun rays. The highlighter is formulated with antioxidant vitamins and anti-inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients. These skin-loving ingredients help repair skin cells, increase collagen production that blurs fine lines, and promote moisture retention. Before buying, have a look at this video and a tester’s experience with the product for more details.
Pros
- Illuminates darkened skin or deeper skin tones
- SPF 20+ for protection against sun rays
- Repairs skin cells
- Increases collagen production
- Moisturizing
- Nice fragrance
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- None
| Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter Best For Daily Use | Wet n Wild MegaGlo Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter Best Buildable Formula | theBalm Mary Lou Manizer Best Sun Protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Type | DryColor | - | - |
| Dimensions | 2.75 x 0.5 x 2.75 inches | - | 2.3 x 2.3 x 2.2 inches |
| Weight | 0.32 Ounces | - | 1.6 Ounces |
| Color | - | HALO GORGEOUS | Pearl |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 4,511 | 509 | 84 |
| Price | $22.8 | $5.98 | $52 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
4. Best For All Skin Tones:Glossier Haloscope
The Glossier Haloscope highlighter is a crystal-infused highlighter that contains skin-conditioning benefits. Beloved by makeup artists, this highlighter’s outer core is formulated with crystal extracts. These crystal extracts give an all-day glow to your skin. The inner core of the highlighter is oil-based and is made from a vitamin-rich moisturizer that hydrates your skin. The highlighter is extremely nourishing and hydrating. The product is cruelty-free and is formulated without fragrance. It is dermatologist-tested. The highlighter comes in 3 blendable shades that work on every skin tone, including dark skin tones.
Pros
- Hydrates the skin
- Nourishing
- Cruelty-free
- Formulated without fragrance
- Dermatologist-tested
- Comes in 3 blendable shades
- Suitable for all skin tones
Cons
- None
"This highlighter is perfect for those who are after a subtle glow. It has a creamy texture and blends well. It gives the skin a natural glow without too much of a shine. It is perfect for every day looks."
5. Best Lightweight:Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter
The Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter will add a gorgeous, gleaming touch to your skin. The highlighter is a lightweight powder. It will give a sexy bronzed effect to your skin. The baked highlighter can be used to define and highlight your most desired areas. The highlighter powder comes in 6 different shades that suit almost all skin tones. The product does not undergo animal testing, which makes it ideal for people seeking ethically conscious makeup options.
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Available in 6 shades
- Suits all skin tones
Cons
- None
Quick Tip6. Best Natural-Looking:Beauty Junkees Powder Contour Highlighter Makeup Palette
The Beauty Junkies Makeup Palette is an exclusive contour and highlighting palette which makes it easier for you to recreate your favorite celebrity-inspired makeup looks. This palette makes the process of enhancing and minimizing facial features easy. The highlighting shades of the palette will lift and brighten your face with a soft, radiant glow. The palette is a perfect option for everyday use. It is cruelty-free and paraben-free. The shades are formulated so well that they blend easily without any trouble. All the shades in this drugstore highlighter palette offer a natural-looking finish. This versatile product is suitable for all skin tones.
Pros
- Blendable
- Perfect for everyday use
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Natural-looking shades
- Suit all skin tones
Cons
- None
"This palette is such a versatile product. It has a setting powder, contour, and a highlighter. It completes the makeup look in a matter of few minutes. The highlighter looks stunning and blends easily."
7. Best For Silky-Soft Texture:Catrice More Than Glow Highlighter
The Catrice More Than Glow Highlighter is the perfect choice to add dimension and depth to your makeup. This luxurious highlighter has finely milled and pressed powder, which offers a silky smooth texture to the skin. It easily blends on your skin, providing full coverage and enhancing your complexion with a subtle glow and a metallic shimmering effect. This highlighter powder is available in two shades, rose and golden tones, which can complement almost all skin tones. It is a vegan and cruelty-free product.
Pros
- Oil-free formula
- Blendable formula
- Silky-smooth texture
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- None
"This highlighter is very versatile. I have used it on the cheeks and it applies smoothly. I love how it can also double up as an eyeshadow. It gives a stunning shimmer that lasts for quite a while."
8. Best For Strobing:NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick
The NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick is a complexion-brightening stick. The highlighter will illuminate your favorite facial features with a lit-from-within glow. The product is perfect for strobing. It comes in 8 different shades that go seamlessly on your face. The highlighter lets you achieve enhanced beauty as it brightens dull complexions with a luminous glow. This highlighter stick can also be used as a bronzer and blush.
Pros
- Blendable
- Ideal for strobing
- Comes in 8 different shades
- Can be used as a bronzer and blush
Cons
- None
"This highlighter offers lovely coverage. It applies easily and blends seamlessly. It is great if you're after a subtle highlight. The formula is creamy and feels moitsurizing on the skin."
Quick Tip9. Best For Sensitive Skin:Maybelline New York Makeup Facestudio Master Strobing Stick
The Maybelline New York Face studio Master Strobing Stick is made with a non-comedogenic, lightweight, and creamy formula. The strobing stick is dermatologist- and allergy-tested. The illuminating stick highlighter is easy to use and is highly blendable. The highlighting stick gives a healthy glow and is designed to add dimensions to your face. This drugstore option comes in 2 illuminating shades – iridescent and nude glow. This statement-making, affordable highlighter stick is suitable for all occasions and all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Creamy texture
- Dermatologist-tested
- Allergy-tested
- Easy to use
- Blendable
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-lasting
- Suits sensitive skin
Cons
- None
"This highlight stick is so easy to apply. It is travel-friendly and perfect for on-the-go, quick applications. It gives a nice, subtle sheen. I love how it adds that dewy youthful look without being too glittery."
10. Best Metallic Sheen Effect:Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
The Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter comes with reflective pigments for a metallic sheen effect. This high-end highlighter gives a chrome effect that will leave the skin with a melted metallic finish. The highlighter attracts light that helps accentuate and enhance your best facial features. It comes in 2 highly pigmented shades. Reviewers have noticed that they offer a reflective finish for a brilliant skin glow.
Pros
- Gives a metallic sheen effect
- Comes in 2 highly pigmented shades
Cons
- None
"This Maybelline highlighter is highly pigmented. It is quite long-lasting and perfect for wearing on all-day long events. I love how I can build its intensity as per my liking. It gives a subtle highlight without an intense glitter."
11. Best Long-Wearing:Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter
Accentuate your features with this finely-pressed Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter. Its superfine texture easily blends with your makeup and delivers a cream-like radiant glow. The highlighter is enriched with skin-loving ingredients like murumuru butter and anti-aging peptides that add a shimmery glow to your skin and improve your skin’s tone and texture. The product is dermatologically tested and has been tried and tested for use on sensitive skin.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Superfine texture
- Anti-aging benefits
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Dermatologist-tested
- Ideal for sensitive skin
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 1,519 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
12. Best For Ultimate Glow:Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder
The Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder can be a good addition to your makeup routine to add a touch of glow and radiance. This powder has an incredible pigment and a metallic shimmery finish that gives you the ultimate glow. It has got you covered, whether you want a subtle natural-looking glow or a statement-making glow. The highlighter has a soft, velvety texture that blends seamlessly with the skin and adds a touch of glamor, and makes you look like a timeless beauty. It is available in a range of shades that can suit all skin tones. Moreover, ethically conscious consumers adore this product as it does not undergo any animal testing.
Pros
- Highly-pigmented
- Blendable formula
- Velvety texture
- Metallic shimmery finish
- Vegan
Cons
- None
"This highlighter is quite versatile. It enhances your facial features by adding a subtle glow to the skin. It is easy to use and can even be applied without a full face of makeup. It is long-lasting as well."
13. Best For Dewy Glow:Rimmel Jelly Highlighter
The Rimmel Jelly Highlighter is formulated with a unique jelly-like texture that feels light and smooth on the skin. It delivers a dewy, radiant glow that blends seamlessly into the skin. The unique bouncy and jelly texture is cool and soothing to touch, and provides a natural radiance. It is very versatile as it can be easily mixed with a moisturizer and applied to get a dewy finish.
Pros
- Water-based formula
- Smooth consistency
- Offers radiant glow
- Blendable formula
- Easy to apply
Cons
- None
"This Rimmel jelly highlighter is so fun to use. It applies easily and blends really well. It looks natural and stays put throughout the day. You can even build its intensity as your liking."
14. Best For Natural Glow:essence Pure NUDE Highlighter
The essence Pure NUDE Highlighter is a high quality highlighter that offers exceptional results and adds a natural, dewy glow to the skin. This formula has a baked-satin finish which enhances natural beauty. It comes in one shimmery shade, which has light-reflective properties and can complement all skin tones. It is a lightweight product that gorgeously blends with the skin offering a smooth and natural finish, and adding a natural luminescence to the cheeks, temples, and brow bones.
Pros
- Lightweight
- High-quality formula
- Baked-satin finish
- Blendable formula
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- None
15. Best Multi-Tonal:COVERGIRL TruBlend Super Stunner Highlighter
The COVERGIRL TruBlend Super Stunner Highlighter is an excellent choice to add to your makeup kit, whether you want a subtle glow or a dramatic, bold effect. It is a highly-pigmented, multi-tonal powder that can blend smoothly and seamlessly with the skin. The highlighter comes with a buildable shimmer formula and is easy to apply. This luminescent highlighter comes in three versatile shades, which looks good on all skin tones and can give you that showstopping glow.
Pros
- Highly pigmented
- Blendable
- Bold highlighter
- Compliments a variety of skin tones
- Buildable coverage
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- None
"This highlighter adds such a healthy glow to the skin. It applies easily with both fingers and brush and blends nicely. It offers a subtle tint that enhances my natural features."
16. Best For Beginners:AestheticaStarlite Highlighter
The Aesthetic Starlight Highlighter gives a dewy look to your face. The ultra shimmery highlighter glides on to your face and stays there all through the day. The highlighter comes in 4 different shades that suit all skin types. It is beginner-friendly. This vegan product is also not tested on animals, which makes it ideal for people seeking guilt-free makeup options.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Vegan
- Suitable for all skin types
- Blendable
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- None
These are the top 16 drugstore highlighters that you can add to your makeup collection. Based on their compositions, highlighters are usually available in 4 types. We have discussed them below.
Different Types Of Highlighters
- Strobing Cream – These creams give you a natural, dewy glow. A strobing cream can be used as a highlighting primer and is perfect as base makeup.
- Stick Highlighter – Just like a crayon, a stick highlighter is a shimmer stick that is applied with the help of your fingertips. This type of highlighter is excellent for people who are just starting their makeup journey.
- Powder Highlighter – These are pressed highlighters that come in a pan. They are a staple for every makeup enthusiast and are very easy to use. Powder highlighters can also be used as an eyeshadow or to highlight the inner corners of the eyes.
- Liquid Highlighter – A liquid highlighter is often used by people who have been using makeup for a long time. These highlighters are highly pigmented and look incredible when applied well.
There are so many highlighters that provide exceptional results available on the market. However, to make your cheeks pop, you will need something that will suit your skin tone. Check the below-mentioned points to find a highlighter that will look great on your skin tone.
How To Choose A Highlighter Based On Your Skin Tone
- Fair Skin Tone – People with pale to light skin tone should go for a highlighter that has champagne or icy sheen to it. These shades will add a shine to the face.
- Medium or olive Skin Tone – A highlighter with gold undertones will look great on medium or olive skin tone.
- Deep Skin Tone – For a deep skin tone, highlighters with gold or bronze undertones work great. These highlighters offer a natural radiance.
Infographic: How To Apply A Drugstore Highlighter
If you are looking for a quick and healthy way to achieve a radiant complexion, drugstore highlighters are your best bet. With the right highlighter, your skin will look instantly brighter and more lively. Check out the infographic below to learn how to use powder, liquid, and cream highlighters correctly to enhance your makeup.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
The highlighting world seems to be getting innovative by the minute. There are too many products, and picking a good one could be challenging. For example, the theBalm Mary Lou Manizer delivers soft skin and youthful glow, the Glossier Haloscope has a crystal-infused outer core and a vitamin-rich inner core that hydrates and nourishes the skin, and the Maybelline New York Makeup Facestudio Master Strobing Stick has a non-comedogenic formula that adds dimension to your face and imparts a healthy glow. But remember this – you just need to understand your skin type, its undertone, your preferences, and your budget. Read the reviews online along with the above-mentioned descriptions. With that knowledge, you can buy the perfect highlighter! We hope this list has helped you with enough options. Pick your favorite highlighter today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I choose my highlighter?
Choose a highlighter that is two shades lighter than your skin tone so that it blends perfectly with your foundation. Make sure that you have taken your undertones into account while choosing the best highlighter. Pink highlighters are the best for pale skin with pink undertones whereas yellowish highlighters are the best for warm skin tones with yellow undertones. Also, gold and peach-toned highlighters work well on medium skin tones.
Is using a highlighter good for the eyes?
Yes, some apply a highlighter on the corner of the eyes to add definition to them and make them appear bigger.
When should I apply a highlighter?
Apply your highlighter after applying a primer, foundation, and blush.
Can I wear a highlighter without foundation?
Yes, you can apply your highlighter without foundation for a natural finish. Make sure to blend the highlighter well with your skin.
How do I make my highlighter last longer?
Layer your highlighter as much as possible to ensure it does not fade away. Use a good setting spray to keep the highlighter along with other makeup products in place.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Baishali Bhattacharya, is certified in makeup artistry. She reviewed many drugstore highlighters for this article and sifted through hundreds of user reviews on trusted online forums to bring the best to her readers. As highlighters are an integral part of getting that perfect airbrushed look, you can try these affordable and skin-friendly products to take your makeup game to the next level.
Read full bio of Nyssa Green
Read full bio of Baishali Bhattacharya
Read full bio of Srijita De
Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury
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