9 Best Expert-Approved Rainbow Highlighters Of 2024
Flaunt the chicest makeup looks and make heads turn with these trendy shades in your vanity.
Mary Ajaka is a celebrity makeup artist with 15 years of experience in TV/media, editorial, and bridal makeup. She has a keen eye for detail and understands that each face is unique, which is why she uses different makeup techniques tailored to the individual.
Read full bio of Mary Ajaka
Experience: 3 yearsEsha Saxena is a writer and journalist with over 3 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in media and mass communication from St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, and firmly believes that makeup is nothing less than art.
Read full bio of Esha Saxena
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: 2.5 yearsShatabdi is an associate editor and an alumnus of Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, where she honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of the world of literature and expression. She has worked with various organizations and websites operating in different industries, ranging from education to lifestyle, showing her adaptability and drive to learn.
Read full bio of Shatabdi Bhattacharya
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
A rainbow highlighter goes with any fashion outfit. It brings a fun and playful element to your makeup routine, offering an iridescent glow that enhances the beauty of your high points. The best rainbow highlighter comes with high pigmentation, rich texture, and bendability. It offers a multicolored look to your cheeks, cupid brow, and other high points. If you want to dazzle your audience with your dashing makeup looks, check out our list of the 9 best rainbow highlighters below!
In This Article
9 Of The Best Rainbow Highlighters Out There
1. Best Buildable:Too Faced Diamond Highlighter
Review
This prismatic highlighter from Too Faced is infused with real crushed diamond powder and light-reflecting pearls for an extra-luxe sparkle. Its formula is hand-poured, ensuring that no two highlighters ever look the same – much like real diamonds. For a pure, radiant glow, simply swirl the blue, pink, and gold shades to create a custom highlight shade that can be used anywhere on your face, body, and eyes. Check out the review video of this product on YouTube featuring a tester’s experience of using this beauty product and know why it is one of the best out there. Discover the illuminating effect of this product and embrace the prism-like glow.
Pros
- Buildable
- Long-wearing
- Pigmented colors
- Suitable for all skin tones
- Versatile
Cons
- Expensive
Trivia
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 160 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are so in awe of this product.
2. Best Easy To use:Wet N Wild Rainbow Highlighter
Review
This gem from Wet N Wild features vibrant shades of pink, orange, yellow, pale green, pale blue, and lavender. When swirled together, they create a green-tinged gold with a heavy metallic finish. This metallic sheen adds an extra level of allure to your makeup, creating an eye-catching and enchanting effect. If you want to play around with fun makeup looks without spending a lot of money, this cult-favorite rainbow highlighter is the best you can get for a truly unique unicorn glow. The product also boasts countless positive reviews on Amazon for its highly pigmented formula, so you can confidently give this product a try!
Pros
- Easy to use
- Blends well
- Extremely saturated
- Affordable
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- None
Trivia3. Best Versatile:Makeup Revolution Rainbow Highlighter
Review
Makeup Revolution’s Rainbow Highlighter makeup is as big as a whole palette. We are talking about a giant pan, bright colors, and multiple ways to use the powders. The size of the pan makes it easy to use individual shades or mix them all together for a multi-colored glow. Its colors are perfect for a spring or summer day and stand out beautifully on all skin tones. Elevate your makeup game with this multi-color statement-making shimmer that brings high-impact shine, and versatile application options.
Pros
- Versatile
- Soft texture
- Long-wearing
- Blends well
- Value for money
Cons
- None
| Makeup Revolution Rainbow Highlighter Best Versatile | Wet N Wild Rainbow Highlighter Best Easy To use | Too Faced Diamond Highlighter Best Buildable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Silver | Unicorn Glow | - |
| Dimensions | - | 2.99 x 0.71 x 2.95 inches | - |
| Weight | - | 0.8 Ounces | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 160 | 29 | 19 |
| Price | $58 | $16.99 | $54.49 |
4. Chaos Makeup Kaleidoscope Rainbow Highlighter
Chaos Makeup’s Kaleidoscope Rainbow Highlighter is magic in a pan. This handcrafted formula is infused with coconut and leaves you with the dreamiest texture ever. Its pigment is remarkable and not at all chalky. Its coverage is buildable, making it easy to customize your makeup looks.
Pros
- 100% natural
- Great packaging
- Iridescent to full coverage
- Suitable for all skin types
- Value for money
Cons
- None
Purchase Linkwww.chaosmakeup.com
5. Bitter Lace Beauty Prism The Original Rainbow Highlighter
Review
The Prism Highlighter from indie beauty brand Bitter Lace Beauty went viral on social media because of its unique design and impeccable quality. It is made of a spectrum of six colors, and the shades are lined up perfectly to create an aurora of colors across your cheeks. Whether you want a subtle rainbow highlight or a full glam unicorn glow, this highlighter does it all flawlessly.
Pros
- Buildable color
- Handmade
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-wearing
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Availability issues
TriviaPurchase Link
6. Ciate London Mermaid Glow Highlighter
Review
The Mermaid Glow Highlighter from Ciate is designed to provide a photogenic finish with its pale silver formula and luminous sheen.It has a smooth consistency and is really easy to blend out on the skin. However, the strips of color are rather thin, so it is not quite possible to use them individually. If you have pale or fair skin, this highlighter will look beautiful on you. If you have a deeper skin tone, be wary as its silveriness may look ashy on you.
Pros
- Easy to blend
- Travel-friendly
- Buildable luminosity
- Long-wearing
Cons
- Only suitable for fair complexions
Purchase Link
7. Best Value For Money:FantasyDay Rainbow Highlighter
Review
This rainbow highlighter is composed of six colors and suits well for smokey eye makeup. It provides a long-lasting effect and is water-resistant. In addition, it has a glossy finish that highlights your eyes and makes them appear prettier and attractive. The high-quality ingredients used in this rainbow makeup do not look chalky on application. The product is ideal for creating timeless beauty looks and is guaranteed to have you covered for all occasions!
Pros
- Sleek carrying case
- Suitable for all skin types
- Skin-friendly
- Light
- Soft
Cons
- None
8. Best For Lasting Wear:Technic Prism Rainbow Highlighter
Review
This incredible prismatic baked highlighter flaunts a range of five pastel rainbow colors that are so lustrous, that you will want to put it all over your body. Swipe across all five colors for a bold magical glow or gently swirl your brush around the pan for a more natural effect. Its high-shimmer formula and buildable color will keep you glowing all year round. Additionally, as a body highlighter, it is the perfect choice for adding a touch of luminosity to your collarbones or other desired areas to create magical and bold looks. Multiple reviewers have also vouched for this amazing beauty highlighter’s quality and long-lasting results, so try it out now!
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to blend
- Buildable color
Cons
- Slightly chalky texture
9. Best Travel-Friendly:Tarte Spellbound Glow Rainbow Highlighter
Review
This limited edition rainbow highlighter from Tarte comes in a diverse color palette, with 4 soft pastel shades in a warm tone; it blends smoothly with your skin tone. You can use any single shade of this highlighter or combine it to create a customized shade offering a brilliant sheen and a striking strobing effect. It offers moderate buildable coverage and emphasizes the skin’s natural texture. Moreover, the Amazonian clay and mineral pigments in the formula ensure a smooth and non-chalky application. The shimmering radiance makes this rainbow highlighter palette a perfect choice for those who love to create statement makeup looks that turn heads. But if you still are not entirely convinced, check out its numerous positive reviews on Amazon to help you with your buying decision.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Blends well
- Pigmented
- Flake-free finish
- Pleasant vanilla scent
Cons
- None
Now that you know all about the best rainbow highlighters available on the market, check out how to apply them properly to create the perfect rainbow effect.
How To Apply Rainbow Highlighter
Applying a rainbow highlighter is surprisingly easy. Here’s a handy tip: if you want to achieve a full rainbow effect, use a dense contour brush or a beauty sponge to pick up the product from the pan and sweep it across your cheekbones while following the lines of the colors. Don’t swirl the highlighter brush around in the pan as it will mix all the colors and not create the rainbow effect that you are looking for. You can also use your fingers to apply and blend the facial highlighter for a more natural effect.
The Bottom Line
Highlighters are a great addition to the makeup and beauty sphere. They help focus on the most crucial facial features. The Too Faced Diamond Highlighter offers a buildable coverage with precise finish, while the Makeup Revolution Rainbow Highlighter offers a blendable coverage with a radiant finish. The Technic Prism Rainbow Highlighter offers full coverage with a shimmery finish. You can wear a highlighter that matches your outfit or is in contrast, giving an edgy look. However, some highlighters that do not have high pigmentation might ruin your makeup look. So, it is wise to invest in rainbow highlighters that offer high pigmentation with rich texture and blendability. Also, concentrate on long-wearing products that are suitable for all skin types. Furthermore, you should avoid highlighters that have a chalky texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does rainbow highlighter suit dark skin?
Yes, a rainbow highlighter looks stunning on dark skin. For a lit-from-within glow, use the Tarte Spellbound Glow Rainbow Highlighter with warm or copper tones.
What areas of your face do you use highlighter rainbow?
Rainbow highlighter is used on the high points of your face to enhance your natural features. Apply it on the cheekbones, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and under the eyebrows.
Which color of highlighter is best?
• For the best results, match the color of the highlighter to your skin tone.
• If you have a fair skin tone, opt for a highlighter with pink or pearlescent undertones.
• For medium or wheatish skin tones, choose hues of peach or gold.
• Copper or bronze highlighters would look best on a dark skin tone and dusky complexion.
Do you apply highlighter before or after the blush?
Always apply a powder highlighter after the blush to make it look seamless.
Can I use rainbow highlighter as eyeshadow?
Yes. A highlighter is used to draw attention to the high points of your face. So, you can use it as a shimmering eyeshadow.
Is it easy to remove rainbow highlighters?
Yes, you can remove rainbow highlighters as easily as regular highlighters. Gently sweep a cotton pad with micellar water or a makeup wipe across the face to remove it.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Esha Saxena, the author, loves all things makeup and has the lowdown on the best rainbow highlighters that ought to be a part of your cosmetics collection. She carefully reviewed the product details and customer feedback of the most popular options on the market to create this list. Rainbow highlighters give you an iridescent glow that accentuates your high points with a pop. In addition, they add a touch of fun to your look, helping to make you stand out.
Read full bio of Mary Ajaka
Read full bio of Esha Saxena
Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury
Read full bio of Shatabdi Bhattacharya
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.