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For makeup-lovers, it can be a struggle to resist purchasing every sparkly new highlighter that hits the market, especially when the best cream, powder, and liquid formulas all promise to make your cheekbones look lifted and give your skin a major glow.
Finding the perfect formula that gives your skin luminosity without looking powdery or emphasizing uneven texture can take a lot of trial and error, but luckily, we’ve tried dozens of highlighters to determine which are truly the best. From gel-like liquid options that can be mixed with your base makeup products for an all-over radiance to silky powder formulas that melt into skin with a single swipe, there’s something for every makeup style.
Choosing the right shade of highlighter is another factor to consider. There are hues ranging from light opals and pale pinks to deeper golden honey and iridescent blues, and we believe that no makeup collection is complete until it contains at least one of each. Once you apply these highlighters to the high points of your face — like your cheekbones, eyebrow bones, nose, and Cupid’s bow — you can keep the shimmer going by using many of them on your body, too.
From powder to cream and liquid varieties, check out the best highlighters of 2023 ahead.
