The Top 11 Must-Have Natural Highlighters Of 2024
Leave people awestruck with dynamic, classy makeup that looks effortless.
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
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
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 yearsKrati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.
Read full bio of Krati Darak
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Finding the best natural highlighter can be a tough feat, but once you get your hands on it, your make-up game can turn around forever. After all, natural highlighters can add a statement-making glow to your face that will leave people in awe. It can not only provide a contour to your face but can also make your face glow with natural warmth and a post-vacay radiance.
Since finding a good-quality highlighter can also be hard, we know what the drill of finding a natural highlighter would look like. That’s why we’ve decided to help you attain that sun-kissed effect on your face by curating a list of top natural highlighters. But before we go ahead with the list, there are a few things you should know. Ideally, highlighters are supposed to be used after applying a foundation, to complete your look. But since it’s a versatile product, you can use it even when you’re aiming for a no-makeup face that should just glow.
In This Article
The 11 Best Natural Highlighters Of 2024 To Achieve That Goddess-Like Glow
1. Best Versatile:Undone Beauty Conceal To Reveal 3-in-1 Coverage Palette – Porcelain Light
This 3-in-1 cream concealer cum highlighter is the stuff that dreams are made of. Ideal for a natural dewy glow, this Undone Beauty product allows you to add an extra glow on your high bone points with the utmost ease. As a concealer, this product bounces off light for superior masking of dark spots and pigmentation and offers a smooth, luxurious finish. This product provides intense coverage for blemishes and tattoos, under eye circles, wrinkles, and a sheer dewy coverage for all your high bone points with a buildable formula. It enhances your features, leaving behind no glitter particles but rather a youthful luminosity. Made from natural coconut extract for an unparalleled glow, this product is completely natural, vegan, and cruelty-free. Watch this video detailing a tester’s experience with this palette to get a detailed review of it.
- Blendable
- Versatile
- Affordable
- Can be used as a concealer
- Best suited for dry skin
- The product doesn’t come with a mirror or applicator.
2. Best Creamy Texture:RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
Say hello to a non-sticky, non-greasy, and non-glittery formula that will give you a luxurious, luminous glow that you have been on the lookout for. This illuminating natural highlighter is ideal for building a sensuous and sheer glow that creates a luminous aura around you, almost like a halo! It enhances your skin’s natural youthfulness while hydrating and nourishing it simultaneously. It is carefully formulated with plant-based ingredients, making it an eco-friendly choice that enhances your beauty. It contains Vitamin E, which protects your skin from free radicals, and castor oil for intense hydration. Rosemary extracts in this luminizer offer anti-inflammatory properties. It is ideal for dry skin and is often considered the best highlighter for sensitive skin. Made without soy and gluten, this skin highlighter is healthier than your last meal. Check out this video to explore a reviewer’s experience with this highlighter before buying it.
- Does not bleed
- A little product goes a long way
- Creamy texture
- Ideal for a natural dewy look
- Cruelty-free
- Some may find it slightly expensive.
- It may not be best suited for oily skin.
, Makeup Artist, mentions, “This feels amazing and glides on so easily! I’ve used RMS for years and the products are always top tier.”
Remember3. Best Vegan:Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer
Well, who can say no to a luxurious natural liquid makeup highlighter that is versatile and easily one of the best in the market? A quick application of this wonder-product leaves you with a subtle luminosity and multidimensional glow. It is infused with 100% pure argan oil that lends extra hydration. This product can be used by itself or mixed with other beauty products such as foundation, moisturizer, or your daily SPF. It is ideal for a dewy natural makeup look that can be built from a subtle day to a shimmery night look for deeper skin tones. For medium to light skin tones, this product is your be-all and end all-natural highlighter. The Madonna lily and poet’s narcissus infused in the formula brightens and evens out the skin tone. This video review takes you through this product’s details.
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Sulfate-free
- No mineral oils
- Slightly expensive
Remember4. Best Water-Resistant:Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Glow Shimmer Shadow And Highlighter
Elizabeth Mott’s unique shimmer shadow and highlighter should be your go-to product to make your days better and less cluttered! This multi-use highlighter, shimmer, and eye shadow will take your makeup game to a whole new level. Packed in a compact case, this ultrafine highlighter adds beautiful pearl-like pixie dust on the high points of your cheeks and the inner corners of your eyes. This mineral-based highlighter is a sustainable solution for achieving a sunlit glow. With a subtle sparkle, this product is buildable and an undoubted winner! Many reviewers have testified that the formula absorbs excess sebum from your face and controls oil production. This beeswax coated powder delivers a long-lasting hold with added benefits.
- Cruelty-Free
- Paraben-free formula
- Water-resistant
- Ultrafine pearl-like shimmer
- Flatters all skin tones
- Crease-proof
- It may not be highly pigmented.
5. Best Organic:BaeBlu Organic Shimmer Highlighting Cream – Champagne
This all-in-one highlighter and shimmer cream is awe-worthy. You can use it on the high points on your cheeks, brow bones, and eyelids to add a spark or on the cupid’s bow, bridge, the tip of your nose, or your forehead. This soft, buildable, and non-bleeding formula delivers exceptional results, leaving your skin with a hint of shimmer and a healthy-looking glow. The creamy texture glides smoothly over your skin, giving it an ultra-smooth and seamless blend. This non-toxic highlighter is infused with natural pigments. Formulated with coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, and vitamin E, this product helps nourish your skin. Makeup Artist Nyssa Green, mentions how this product is also great for the body in photographs!
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
- Certified organic
- No artificial colors
- It has a short shelf life
- Not ideal for a heavy makeup look
6. Best Paraben-Free:Bare Minerals Barepro Glow Highlighter Liquid – Joy
Let us talk a little about this godsent product. The best place to begin would be the fact that it contains green lentil extract! It lends your skin an even texture and reduces the appearance of large pores. The light-reflecting mineral pearls give this natural highlighter the luminosity you have seen on the editorial spread of glossy magazines. This pearl-infused formula imparts a subtle radiance to your skin. You can mix it with a liquid foundation, moisturizer, or other liquid skincare products to add an enviable glow to your face. Our selected favorite shade Joy is the best natural highlighter that gives a pink-peach finish with subtle gold reflecting in the light. This highlighter is weightless and is infused with oat sugar to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles instantly.
- SLS-free
- Talc-free
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- No parabens
- Lasts up to 16 hours
- May not be ideal for dark skin tones
7. Best Affordable:Cocokind Mai-Light Rose Highlighter Stick
Let’s talk about practicality, shall we? Makeup on a stick is the next best thing that’s happened to makeup since the invention of a primer. This is the best stick highlighter that is natural and ideal for all our busy makeup lovers. Best for our on-the-go readers who love a dewy makeup look but have jam-packed schedules, it rolls up like a lip balm, occupies the least amount of space, and is as effective as your adrenaline rush with an approaching deadline. Apart from its never-ending practical benefits, this natural highlighter is amongst the best stick highlighters in the market. It brings a dewy-looking radiance to your skin while nourishing it using sunflower seed wax, mango seed butter, and antioxidant maitake mushroom rich formula.
- Affordable
- Easy stick application
- Creamy texture
- Hydrating and nourishing properties
- Ideal for a subtle shimmer and dewy look
- Can be used alone or layered with other products
- Does not have a long shelf life
8. Best Gel-Based Formula:ILIA Natural Liquid Light Serum Highlighter – Atomic
The unique serum formula of this highlighter allows all makeup lovers to apply it smoothly. With a single layer, this product provides that flushed, post-workout glow. It is the one product you need to transform your day look to a glam night look. With its buildable coverage, this highlighter effortlessly enhances your features, adding a touch of radiance to your skin. The marine actives in this product help in collagen growth, and the hibiscus extract gently exfoliates your skin, revealing a smooth and supple texture. It is gluten and fragrance-free.
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Weightless
- Easy to apply
- Fragrance-free
- Serum and gel-based formula
- Protects from UV rays and free radicals
- It may not flatter deeper skin tones.
9. Best Unscented:Undone Beauty Nonzer 4-in-1 Highlighting Palette
This color palette provides a creative outlet to the makeup diva within you. Here, aesthetics meet practicality to offer you the best natural highlight palette you could have asked for. It is buildable, allowing you to contour your face and body in 4 different shades! It has ultra-fine light-reflecting pigments that are so good that we are convinced that they are made from angel dust. Achieve healthy-looking skin with this skin-loving highlighter that imparts a rose gold tint. The different shades, namely Rose Quartz, Blush, Peachy/Gold, and Iridescent Plum are your new group of best friends. Due to the sheer number of choices within this palette, this highlighter glides well on all skin complexions and textures!
- Affordable
- 4-in-1 palette
- Unscented
- Vegan
- Gluten-Free
- Coconut oil infused
- May contain talc
10. Best Buildable:Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder, in Golden Peach
Let’s be real for a second, we’ve all heard thousands of praises for Milk Makeup’s best seller holographic highlighter sticks, haven’t we? To make things better, Milk Makeup introduced this nature-friendly clean-version of the original holographic sticks to allow for a guilt-free highlighting experience. This prismatic silky powdered highlighter is true to its original version. It takes your glow to a next level without overpowering your face. Many reviewers agree that this product leaves you with a soft iridescent glow and offers a multidimensional finish. Achieve a strobing effect and enhance your natural beauty with the golden undertones of this highlighter. Packed with avocado oil and mango butter, this product also makes sure that you glow and grow healthy from within!
- 100% vegan
- Buildable
- Paraben-Free
- Gluten-free
- Talc-free
- Fragrance-free
- Silky and smooth application
- Fragile packaging
- No applicator in packaging
11. Best Travel-Friendly:BOOM! By Cindy Joseph Boomstick Trio
The Boom! By Cindy Joseph Boomstick Trio comprise a blush, a moisturizer, and a highlighter. The Boomstick Glimmer is the highlighting stick that matches all skin tones. The stick blends effortlessly without adding any excess glitter or frost to your skin. It improves your skin’s radiance and imparts a flawless look. You can apply it on your eyelids, upper cheekbones, cupid’s bow, the center of lips, inside corners of your eyes, or under brow bones to gain that naturally shiny look. You may also apply it on your shoulders, collarbones, or sides of your neck for a glamorous look.
- Suitable for all skin types and tones
- Long-wearing formula
- User-friendly application
- Comes with an organic cotton make-up bag
- Cruelty-free
- Small size
Now that you’ve seen our long list of natural highlighters, here’s a quick guide helping you make your final decision and purchase.
How To Buy The Best Natural Highlighter
1. Know your skin texture, type, and complexion
The most important rule to remember before buying any beauty product is understanding your skin. This includes knowing the complexion of your skin, the texture, and the type. If you have oily skin, a powder or sebum-absorbing highlighter like the Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Glow Shimmer Shadow And Highlighter would be an ideal purchase. For sensitive skin, we recommend sticking to W3ll People Natural Bio Bronzer Stick for its hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic properties. You may also side with an expert-recommended formula that is allergy-tested.
2. Know the kind of highlighter you are looking for
Unless it is a part of your makeup haul or another splurge, it is essential to understand the kind of highlighter you are looking for. In addition to being natural, there are a few other characteristics that might seem more appealing to some people. For ease of application, several people may prefer a cream highlighter, whereas a few others prefer a powder to allow oil absorption.
How To Apply A Natural Highlighter
The most common steps involved in applying highlighter are:
Step 1: Before applying any makeup to your face, wash your face thoroughly.
Step 2: Apply a hydrating moisturizer.
Step 3: Apply foundation. Although foundation is not a must for applying highlighter, it helps prepare a base for the highlighter.
Step 4: Apply highlighter using a makeup sponge or a brush on the high points of your face.
The Bottom Line
Finding a good highlighter can be tough! However, you should use the best natural highlighters that can ultimately make your makeup appear flawless. These highlighters hide your blemishes while making sure that the best features of your face are completely highlighted. You should use the best natural highlighters because they are mostly made with organic ingredients. They are also free of animal testing, ensuring a guilt-free experience. For those of you looking to conceal dark marks and blemishes, consider the Undone Beauty Conceal To Reveal 3-in-1 Coverage Palette for its intense coverage and glowy buildable formula. You can go for the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer if you want to add subtle, dewy highlights made with clean and organic ingredients. You can opt for the ILIA Natural Liquid Light Serum Highlighter to achieve a high-impact, buildable luminosity. and smooth texture. Also, make sure that the highlighter that you have chosen is suited for your skin type. For people with sensitive skin, you should go for dermatologist-tested highlighters to avoid rashes and skin infections. It is always better to avoid highlighters that come with harmful additives, chemicals, and toxins. Also, read the reviews left by customers before making a purchase.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Srijani Roy Chowdhury, is a makeup enthusiast. She is very passionate about trying natural makeup products, and highlighters are her favorite. She conducted extensive research into the products and went through many user reviews on trusted online forums to pick the best natural highlighters for her readers. These products not only provide contour to your face but make it glow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you use instead of a highlighter?
You may use a bronzer like the W3ll People Natural Bio Bronzer Stick we have been raving about as it is an ideal substitute. It is a product that allows you to meet all your bronzing and highlighting needs.
Which is better – liquid or powder highlighter?
It depends on what you are looking for. Powder highlighters are ideal for those with oily skin and looking for something that helps control excess sebum. It is also ideal for people who may want a more heavy makeup look. A liquid highlighter, like the Bare Minerals Barepro Glow Highlighter Liquid is highly recommended for people looking for a versatile and playful product.
Can you use eyeshadow as a highlighter?
Yes, eyeshadows can be used as highlighters. The best part is, you can get different highlighter colors inside one eyeshadow palette as well.
Can Vaseline or lip balm be used as a highlighter?
Yes, Vaseline or any other lip balm can be used as a highlighter. Petroleum jelly can offer a natural glow to your skin while illuminating the high points of your face. However, people with oily skin must not use Vaseline on their face regularly to prevent triggering acne and breakouts. As for other lip balms, make sure they are non-tinted.
Can you use lip gloss as a highlighter?
Yes, you can use lip gloss to highlight the apples of your cheeks. But make sure to blend it away towards your ears to get a natural look.
Can you use a concealer as a highlighter?
Yes, you can use a concealer as a highlighter, but choose the right color. However, concealers cannot offer the shimmer or metallic effect that highlighters generally do.
Can I use bronzer as highlighter?
Yes, bronzers and highlighters usually go hand in hand in a makeup routine. You can use a lighter shade of bronzer to highlight the high points of your face.
Read full bio of Nyssa Green
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