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Spring's best highlighters are your shortcut to glowy – not glittery – skin
From light-diffusing powders to glassy liquids, these next-gen illuminators create skin that shines
Highlighter has long been the show-off of the make-up world. Sparkly and shimmery, wrapped up in gilded packaging, these illuminating powders and creams are designed with magpies in mind – and made for late nights out. But a great highlighter shouldn't be reserved solely for parties and nightclubs – in fact, this season's best new launches are destined to become a key component in your everyday line-up. The trick is simply to choose the right one.
Sure, there’s a time and a place for disco-ball shimmer, but to really trick the light, a softer stance is better, as make-up artist Celia Burton explains. “Balms and creams have a texture that’s much closer to the skin’s natural form – we don’t tend to look powdery naturally. So to use highlighters (or blushes) with this consistency keeps the skin looking human.”
How to apply highlighter
The joy of balm and cream highlighters is that you can simply dab them on with your finger – but if you prefer a brush, a small synthetic foundation or concealer brush works just as well. However, be aware that buffing with a brush is likely to shift any base products you’ve applied beneath. “If you have a heavy-ish base on, use a finger. If not so much, use a brush,” adds Burton.
While creams and balms can deliver believable gleam like no other, nothing rivals a powder when it comes to impact and staying power. “A powder is good for a more ‘make-up-y’ finish, which isn’t a bad thing,” says Burton. Using a fluffy brush, swirl yours over a base of foundation and setting powder to ensure an even, airbrushed effect.
Where to place highlighter
When faking a glow, It’s not just the texture you should consider – positioning is crucial too. “Highlighter should be placed where light naturally hits the face – the top of the cheek bone, brow bone, and the Cupid's bow” says Burton. For the most flattering dimension, be careful not to focus on the front of your face – it's when light hits the outer edges that structure really shines.
The finishing touch
Really, a glossy highlighter atop a foundation is all you need for a year-round glow, but a pop of blush can take things into even brighter territory. “Try applying the highlight after your blush: layering the two together helps to take down any metallic frostiness and keeps it looking really natural,” says Burton. “Again, I like to use something nice and creamy like Glossier’s Cloud Paint for blush: it’s lightweight, buffs out beautifully and has the best shade range.”
Here, see the best face highlighters to call on for a grown-up glow, day or night.
The best highlighters to try this spring
Proof that the most elegant formulas don't always come in super-luxe packaging, L'Oreal Paris' latest launch has seriously impressed the Bazaar beauty team.
The brand's most popular product in the States, Lumi Glotion is a glycerin-loaded liquid highlighter that lights up skin without leaving behind a frosty shimmer (a misstep that mars so many high-street launches).
Instead, you're left with a sophisticated gleaming finish that doesn't dry or melt throughout the day. Dab it onto cheekbones, tap it over eyelids, or mix it into a foundation to sheer out the coverage.
Gucci Westman's eponymous brand always impresses us, but the make-up artist's latest launch raises the bar even further.
Liquid Super Loaded is, as the name suggests, a fluid twist on the brand's original illuminating creams, with less pigment and more gloss for creating an otherworldly sheen. The secret is the transparent base, which allows the skin to show through for a natural and highly flattering finish.
Don't be afraid to wear this one all over your face: the base is loaded with skin-kind ingredients and the radiance will instantly perk up sallow skin.
Dior's powder highlighter comes in a collection of five warm, pinkish shades that are more flattering than a yellow-gold. The finish is fine and easily buildable: think candlelight, not disco-ball.
The entire Merit make-up line is designed for women who want effortless, effective products that always look flattering. The brand's scribble-on highlighter is purposely sheer, so you'll never end up with glittery cheeks, and melts onto skin to leave a translucent pop of dewy colour. Call on this one to instantly awaken skin, with no skill (or time) required.
This multipurpose liquid highlighter has a slight champagne sheen, which works on all skin tones but looks especially lovely on darker complexions. It doesn't dry or turn powdery once blended, so is ideal for keeping dry skin looking bright and radiant all day. Try mixing it into a liquid foundation too.
The star of Burberry's recently revamped make-up line, this lightweight formula is billed as a primer, but we find it works best when dabbed over moisturised skin, or used atop a foundation as a highlighter. It's intensely light-reflecting, but contains minimal pigment, so creates a fresh and luminous result without sparkle.
This is the product behind many an A-list event look. In fact, it's quite the make-up artist's secret weapon, thanks to the way it creates creamy highlights that balance red-carpet impact with a flattering finish.
The original Spotlight shade is a warm champagne gold, while Pinkgasm delivers a pearly-pink gleam that looks especially beautiful on very pale skin.
Tom Ford's cult-classic Shade & Illuminate spawned dozens of imitations, but none come close to the cheekbone-carving powers of the original.
Each palette contains two complementary balm formulas: one sheer, shadowy hue for contouring, and a translucent highlighter to spotlight cheekbones. Together, they enhance the structure of your face beautifully, with a radiant sheen that keeps things flattering and natural.
There are four shade duos to choose from, and a further selection of powder formulas for those who prefer greater longevity and a little sparkle. Whichever you choose, sweep the darker shade just beneath your cheekbone, then use the lighter shade to spotlight the peaks.
For something with a touch more pigment, Glossier's balm stick contains a clear, oil-based core inside a pigmented cream. Simply scribble over cheekbones and pat in for a luminous result.
While most cream highlighters are soft and subtle, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's is made with after-dark impact in mind. These 'dry' creamy formulas are blended with ultra-fine sparkle that lights skin up without shifting or sliding down your cheeks. Tap a finger over your cheekbones and cupid's bow for a glamorous result.
This perfecting powder is a firm favourite with brides, thanks to the soft-focus radiance it imparts in all lighting conditions (even in the harsh flash of a camera). The pearlescent pigments are more finely milled than most, allowing for the smoothest results, and the shades are all soft, natural and flattering.
Powders can look patchy on dry skin, so a hydrating liquid will always be your best bet. MAC's Strobe Cream is a long-loved classic, now available in five light-reflecting shades. The secret to its popularity lies in its versatility: blend into your moisturiser or foundation, apply it on top, or sweep it over eyelids.
If you prefer an all-over glow, this unique iridescent gel could be perfect. There are plenty of ways to use it, but we find it looks its radiant best when worn underneath a light layer of foundation. Made with squalane and rosehip oil, it comes with good-for-skin benefits, too.
This blush/highlight hybrid is the perfect choice for anyone who also wants a touch of face-brightening colour with minimal faff. A truly elegant formula, the silky cream can be blended over cheekbones with a brush or finger, and is easily buildable for extra intensity.
Convention-challenging make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench may have taken inspiration from sweaty post-rave complexions when creating this cult favourite, but the effect it delivers is more glowing than greasy.
A hyaluronic acid-based serum, Skinlaq is infused with ultra-fine reflective particles that, once massaged into skin, delivers a glow that looks wet without feeling it. Blend it over moisturised skin, or tap with fingers atop a layer of foundation.
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