9 Best Highlighters For Dark Skin Tones (2024)
Enhance your face with smooth and creamy highlighters that leave you a radiant glow.
Savanah Norman is a full time professional makeup artist with six years of experience in the field. She originally started college studying fashion design but took a leap of faith to start accepting clients when she knew makeup was her passion. Since 2017, she has put her whole heart into becoming a better artist and business owner.
Read full bio of Savanah Norman
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
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Ladies with dark skin tones deserve a royal and attractive look like anybody else. Well, using highlighters for dark skin tones can do the magic. The strokes need to be just right to blend the product evenly and get that natural sheen on your face!
Did you know that there are shades especially made for dark skin tones like rose gold, metallic nudes, light and dark bronzes, plus, all shades of browns? Here is a cumulation of the 9 best highlighters to add to your enhanced beauty routine for that extra shine!
In This Article
9 Best Highlighters For Dark Skin Tones
1. Best Highly Pigmented:Milani Baked Highlighter – Dolce Perla
The super buildable Milani Baked Highlighter takes illumination to an all-new level. It is specially baked on Italian terracotta tiles and loved by dark-skinned women for its highly pigmented and light coverage formula. It is formulated with ultra-fine multi-tonal luminescent powders that leave a light shimmery finish. Reviewers on online forums have noted that this perfect highlighter only takes a single swipe of the brush to give a high-impact natural glow for the evening. The highlighter is in powdered form and comes in a round compact that fits easily in your handbag for touch-ups. Ethically conscious consumers love this highlighter as it does not undergo animal testing.
Pros
- Highly pigmented
- Blends well
- Oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Not transfer-proof
Quick Tip2. Best Affordable:Maybelline New York Master Chrome By Face Studio Metallic Highlighter – Molten Rose Gold
The Molten Rose Gold metallic highlighter from the celebrity-endorsed brand Maybelline contains reflective pigments for a metallic sheen chrome effect. It spreads evenly across the skin and attracts light to accentuate and enhance your best facial features. The formula helps you customize your look just the way you want it. The powdered highlighter contains pearl pigments that reflect shimmer, accentuating the bridge of the nose and enhancing cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid’s bow. Savanah Norman, a professional makeup artist, suggests, “Spray the brush lightly with clean water, before swiping it on this highlighter to get more pigment on the skin.” Check out this video to learn more about a tester’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Dermatologically tested
- Seamless application
- Metallic finish
- Skin-friendly
- Long-lasting
- Value for money
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 14,888 great reviews on Amazon.
3. Best For Smooth Application:Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter
If you have a deeper skin tone, have your makeup pop with the statement-making Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter that features rule-defying shades. The versatile nature of this cream-powder hybrid palette offers seven must-have shades for a glamorous look that can be applied solo or in duos. The hyper-metallic finish accentuates your features with color and contours your face. The colorful range of highlighters ranges from subtle shades of icy blue, peach, and pink to darker lavender, metallic plum, and fiery copper. You can check this video to learn more about a reviewer’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Highly pigmented
- Smooth application
Cons
- Expensive
"This highlighting palette is my favorite. The colors spread without me having to rub them on my skin for hours. I like that it gives me a metallic finish that is ideal for highlighting."
4. Best Non-Cakey:Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – Champagne Pop
Champagne Pop from Becca is a mix of soft gold with peachy pink pearl. This highlighter offers basic coverage and has a buttery soft texture. It also offers a seamless blend and coverage. Swipe with a brush to accentuate your best facial features. The micro-pigments melt into the skin and flawlessly complement your skin tone. The unique formula of this cult classic blends pigments with liquids, creating a creamy feel. To find out more about this formula, check this video review that details a tester’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Soft texture
- Smooth application
- Non-caking
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
- None
"This highlighter gives me a natural glow. It enhances my features with a subtle sheen. I like it because it does not overwhelm me. It is ideal for casual makeup."
Quick Tip5. Best For Radiant Glow:Milk Makeup Highlighter – Champagne Pearl
The creamy pearlescent Milk Makeup Highlighter comes in a stick form for convenient application. The shade leaves a shimmery and pearlescent finish on deep skin tones and illuminates your favorite facial features. It features a blendable micro-shimmer for a fresh-faced dewiness that can be amplified with more layers. The highlighter is infused with coconut oil, mango butter, and avocado oil, which gives you soft, hydrated skin. Several reviews on online forums have indicated that the skin absorbs the formula instantly, exuding a radiant complexion and glow! The product is not tested on animals, which makes it ideal for makeup lovers seeking ethically conscious options.
Pros
- Creamy texture
- Shimmery finish
- Easy to apply
- Vegan
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Gluten-free
- Talc-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Feels sticky
Quick Tip6. Best Blendable:Eddie Funkhouser Glow Drops
This liquid highlighter plus primer from the high-end brand Eddie Funkhouser accentuates your skin with a lit-from-within glow. It is one of the best drugstore highlighters for dark skin that delivers a youthful glow and buildable coverage, letting you customize it from sheer to intense. It also serves as a diffuser to brighten up or even tone your skin. You can also use it solo or blend it with your moisturizer, liquid foundation, or other cosmetic products to create the look that you desire. Reviewers have praised the highlighter’s ball tip applicator offers better control over the product and enhances coverage.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Blends easily
- Travel-friendly
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- GMO-free
- Soy-free
- Vegan
Cons
- None
7. Best Subtle Look:theBalm Mary-Lou Manize Highlighter
The theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter offers a relatively innocuous, honey-hued shine that grabs everyone’s attention. It imparts a youthful, lit-from-within glow to your skin. The creamy formula of this highlighter glides easily on your skin. You can use it alone or mix it with your moisturizer, lotion, or liquid foundation to gain dewy, shiny skin. Many reviewers have mentioned that the amped-up sheen highlighter adds a subtle glow to deeper complexions and is a must-add to your makeup essentials!
Pros
- Easy to wear
- Compact
- Long-lasting
Cons
- The compact can break easily
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 4,511 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
8. Best Travel-Friendly:L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette – Moon-Kissed
The highlighter palette from the celebrity-favorite L’Oreal Paris offers four pearlescent, cool-toned nude shades that give you a multi-dimensional effect. The shades include Moon for glowing ivory with a pearl finish, Venus for a luminous glow and a radiant finish, Jupiter for radiant taupe with a natural finish, and Twilight for shimmery bronze. Each of these highlighters is crafted to help you achieve the perfect shade and shimmer on your skin. The mix-and-match highlighter makeup shades give you a naturally illuminated and sculpted look. Reviewers adore the product for its magnetic cap closure that preserves the formula and keeps the vibrant shades intact.
Pros
- Light coverage
- Natural finish
- Universal shade
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- Lightly pigmented
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Almost 2,128 happy users have mentioned the value and quality of this product.
9. Best For Sensitive Skin:Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter – Rose Gold
The Murumuru Butter Highlighter from Physicians Formula gives you a radiant golden glow while highlighting your best facial features. It is made with hydrating ingredients like murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma butter to nourish your skin. The multi-dimensional cream-to-powder formula feels soft and satiny as it glides across the skin. The soft-focus pigments offer light coverage with exceptional results. The fatty acids and pro-vitamins in the formula condition your skin and make it smooth. This highlighter helps contour your eyebrows’ curves, pop your cheekbones, and accentuate the nose bridge and Cupid’s bow.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Mild fragrance
- Hypoallergenic
- Blends easily
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Natural finish
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
- Not long-lasting
Highlighters are the number one beauty product when you want to achieve a dewy, dreamy look. Just a few swipes are all that it takes for a warm glow and to enhance your best features. Today with the beauty industry being more inclusive, there are a variety of stunning highlighters available for darker skin tones. Just remember to keep in mind the following pointers while choosing the best highlighters for dark skin tones.
What To Look For In A Highlighter For Dark Skin Tones
- Know Your Undertones
The color of your highlighter should match your undertone. Your undertone never changes even though your skin tone may change at different times of the year, depending on exposure to the sun. Shades like gold, copper, and bronze complement warm undertones while champagne and warm rose are good for cool undertones. It is advisable to go a couple of shades lighter than your own skin tone for a highlighter. For neutral or yellow undertones, opt for gold highlighters.
- Types
There are various types of highlighters that suit different skin types. Powder highlighters deliver a sheer, shimmery finish and are suitable for oily skin types as they help to absorb excess oils. For dry skin types, liquid highlighters are a good option. They are easy to use and can be mixed with your foundation for a natural glow.
The other type of highlighter is the stick highlighter which is good for all skin types. They are travel-friendly and ideal for on-the-go touch-ups. Look for the ones that have hydrating ingredients like fatty acids and pro-vitamins along with SPF.
- Degree Of Shine
Most highlighters offer high-impact shine. This shine comes from emollient oils or finely milled shimmer flecks. For a dewy glow, choose a creamy formula enriched with oils, and for a shimmery look, opt for a powder highlight with flecks of glitter, mineral, or pearl pigment.
- Additional Features
A buildable formula sits easily on top of your base makeup to give a sparkly highlight. Look for this feature in your highlighter as it will allow you to apply just the right amount to various parts of your face. Powder highlighters have great buildable formulas. Smooth application also depends on the blendability of your highlighter. This is easy to achieve with a creamy wet formula.
- Ingredients To Avoid
Choose an expertly crafted hypoallergenic highlighter that is free of parabens, phthalates, nonylphenol, ethoxylate, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. A dermatologically-tested highlighter is ideal to keep your skin free of allergies and irritations.
Infographic: Tips To Apply A Highlighter On Dark Skin For A Sculpted Look
Dark skin looks gorgeous on its own when you prep it properly before makeup, but brushing some highlighter on top can make your skin glow. Not only that, applying a highlighter strategically can help define your facial contours. Check out the infographic below and familiarize yourself with the tips for applying a highlighter on dark skin to get that chiseled look.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Highlighters are a great way to provide a glow highlighting the high points. But only certain highlighters match your skin tone. A dark skin tone needs highlighters that blend well on the skin. From rose gold to metallic nudes, and from light brown shade to dark brown shade, the products listed above provide a great finish, impart a natural finish, and enhance facial features. It would be best to invest in highlighters that are free from harmful chemicals, as chemicals like paraben and sulfate are harmful to the skin. You may try the Milani Baked Highlighter – Dolce Perla for a highly pigmented light coverage formula and the Maybelline New York Master Chrome By Face Studio Metallic Highlighter – Molten Rose Gold contains pearl pigments that accentuate your best features. For effortless blending, easy application, and a smooth texture, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – Champagne Pop is the best. However, conduct a patch test on a small part of your face before committing to a formula for long-term use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which highlight color is the best for dark skin?
Highlighters with a gold or bronze base look the best on dark complexion tones. Warm colors compliment dark complexion the best and don’t look ashy.
Do highlights look good on brown skin?
Yes. Highlighters with warm undertones look great on brown skin.
Do highlights make you look younger or older?
You can get younger-looking skin by applying highlighter to the high areas of your face, such as the cheekbones, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and forehead temples. It draws light to your face and gives it more definition.
What kind of highlights make you look younger?
A highlighter that enriches your complexion, gives you brighter skin, and blends in flawlessly can make you look younger.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya, the author of this article, is certified in makeup artistry and believes that highlighters create a great impact on your makeup. So, she browsed online reviews about highlighters and checked the user feedback from various sites and forums. Apart from providing instant glow and highlighting the high points, they enhance your facial features. Moreover, they come in a matte and shimmery finish.
Read full bio of Savanah Norman
Read full bio of Baishali Bhattacharya
Read full bio of Srijita De
Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury
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