10 of the Best Highlighters For Skincare Benefits and An Otherworldly Shine

10 of the best highlighters for an instant sparkle.

The ultimate multi-purpose make-up must, highlighter can be used on its own, mixed with foundation and moisturiser, or as a substitute for your lip gloss or eyeshadow. You can even combine powder or liquid highlighter with your body moisturiser for an all-over shimmer.

It’s true, having a good highlighter in your vanity can really amp up your make-up look. If you can’t decide whether to go for a powder or cream highlighter, choose both! Powder highlighters are great for a subtle dust of shimmer, while liquid formulas offer a stronger sheen and tend to last longer on the skin – combine the two, and you have a powerful, long-lasting glimmer.

When it comes to applying your highlighter of choice, the general rule is to add shimmer to areas of your face that you want to enhance–that’s most likely your browbone, cheekbones, and the bridge of your nose. New to the wonderful world of highlighters? You’re in luck, Harrods experts have tried and tested the latest and greatest highlighters out there. Get ready for the 10 of the best highlighters for an instant sparkle.

Best Highlighter for Bronzed Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Illuminate, sculpt and enhance the contours of your face with Hourglass’ hyped Ambient Lighting Bronzer. Just look at the marbled pigment, it’s handmade using an advanced miscelare technique (‘miscelare’ means ‘to mix’ in Italian) to create the ultimate balance between bronzer and highlighter. It’s also made using the brand’s Photoluminescent Technology, which works to diffuse and soften your skin to amplify its natural warmth.

Best Highlighter for a Rosy Glow: Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand

If you’re not sure what colour or tone of highlighter to opt for, know that a pink-tinted illuminator can add a faux fresh-from-a-gym glow that’s more subtle than a blusher. Charlotte Tilbury’s Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand is loved by beauty editors around the globe for good reason, the soft-focus formula is infused with oils that blend gently onto your skin for a natural boost.

Best Gel-To-Powder Hybrid Highlighter: Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder

Make-up artists praise Bobbi Brown’s high-performing Highlighting Powder – and for good reason, the ultra-fine formula glides seamlessly onto your skin and offers an iridescent glow.

Best Butter-Soft Highlighting Formula: Suqqu Melting Powder Highlighter

J-beauty brand Suqqu is here with a buttery-soft highlighter inspired by the house’s iconic Melting Powder Blush (base colours of black, red and yellow ensure it blends with any skin tone – it’s amazing), and this 101 Kagerou shade is equally flattering. Kagerou translates to ‘heat haze’ in Japanese, and the simmering blend of bright peach gold and bronze is designed to mimic golden rays of sunshine across your skin. The highly pigmented colour is buildable, so use the accompanying blush to blend the colour onto your skin, adding more if you’re after a bold, gold streak.

Best Highlighter with Skincare Benefits: Sisley Orchidée Highlighter Palette

Sisley’s Orchidée Highlighter Palette doubles up as a skincare must. It’s infused with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-packed ingredient white lily, which helps to tone and soothe the skin. For an ethereal glow, use a large fan brush to dust onto the high points of your face – that’s your cheekbones, tip of the nose, cupid’s bow, and the inner corner of your eyes. Top tip: for glossy, shimmering eye make-up that won’t crease throughout the day, use a small eyeshadow brush to pat the product onto your eyelids.

Best Sheer Highlighter Stick: Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo

Hailed as the mother of make-up, Dame Pat McGrath is one of the world’s most-loved British make-up artists and this dual-ended glow-giver is a testament to her formidable reputation. On one end of the renowned highlighter stick, you have a super-silky formula which you can blend onto the skin for buildable luminosity.

Best Pearlescent Liquid Highlighter: Iconic London Illuminator

Trust a brand that’s literally called ‘Iconic’ to bring one of the most iconic highlighters to the table. Get ready for a gleaming liquid formula that blends with moisturiser and primer to add a customisable glow to your skin. For skin that sparkles all over, try this top beauty hacks – mix the versatile, blendable formula with your foundation, it will evenly distribute shimmer all over your face. Another tip? Drop a pea-sized amount of the concentrate onto your ring finger and dab onto your cheekbones, tip of the nose, collarbones, and cupid’s bow.

Best Cruelty-Free Highlighter Stick: Westman Atelier Lit Up highlighter Stick

This silky, translucent gel is infused with pearlescent ingredients to reflect natural and artificial light. Making more conscious beauty choices? Know that the cult-favourite formula is made with plant-based ingredients and is completely cruelty-free, too.

Best Highlighting Setting Spray: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray

Ever thought about dabbling with highlighter in setting spray form? Once you’ve finished applying your make-up, spritz this coconut- and vanilla-scented delight over your face. It’s extremely sparkly, so works well for evening soirées and parties. You can also use it under your make-up or alone for additional radiance.

Best Highlighter for Natural Radiance: Rodial Banana Lowlighter

After a radiant glow without a strong shimmer or sparkle? Look to Rodial’s vegan-friendly highlighting concealer. Simply use the brush to dab the brightening product onto your cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the corners of the eyes, underneath the eyebrows, and your cupid’s bow to make your skin look naturally glowy.