TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.8*
Why it's great: Benefit's creamy highlighter is great for achieving "a natural, gorgeous glow." One reader says the "champagne hue" looks "becoming" on her fair skin, and that it "smoothes on effortlessly." She's thrilled that "people don't notice that [she's] sporting a highlighter — they simply notice a new 'glow' about [her]." Even readers who normally avoid highlighters because they are "too pink" or "have too much shimmer" have fallen in love with this subtle highlighter.
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.9*
Why it's great: Readers recommend this Stila highlighter because "it's so versatile." One reader not only uses this to highlight her cheeks, she also "mixes it in with body lotion for an all-over glow." Another reviewer is amazed that this product is true to its claims, saying it gives her a "healthy, luminous look." reviewers appreciate that the product comes in several different shades, so "there is a perfect one for people of all different skin tones."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.0*
Why it's great: One reviewer calls this her "Holy Grail highlighter." Others agree, saying this highlighter is "highly pigmented," "beautiful," "stays on all day" and is "versatile and adaptable" enough "for any occasion."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.0*
Why it's great: This "highlighter, bronzer and blush in one" wins readers over because "it adds the right amount of glow and shimmer to the face without being too frosty [or] metallic." Readers like that the four colors can be swirled together to create a customized blush shade or can be used individually "to highlight and bronze."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.0*
Why it's great: This highlighter is perfect for getting a "bronze-y glow." Readers have fallen head-ove-heels for this product, which "gives the perfect shimmer when you feel like [achieving] a glowing, yet natural, look." To boot, "it gives a really nice glow to tan skin." Another reviewer agrees, saying, "I really love this stuff, and for dark skin; I think gold is perfect as highlighter!"
Not to be a Debbie downer, but it's a fact of life that with each passing year, time takes its toll on our complexions. Our cheekbones become more sunken in, our under-eye bags get darker and lower, and our skin turns sallower.
With that said, is it a lost cause to yearn for that perfectly chiseled face and youthful glow from our teenage years? Nope. Here at Total Beauty, our motto is if you don't have it, you can fake it — with some help from the best highlighter, of course.
A great highlighter can perk up your complexion, accentuate the features you love, and even camouflage aging skin. Celebrity makeup artist Joanna Schlip calls highlighters "the secret weapon for a youthful, healthy glow — especially for women ages 40 and over." Highlighter can help minimize dark circles, decrease the look of wrinkles, and mimic a facelift with appropriate placement. The key is knowing how to use it.
"Apply the highlighter under the eyes, above the brows and on the browbone to add life and brightness, which ultimately helps you to look healthier and younger," says celebrity makeup artist Geoffrey Rodriguez.
Schlip also recommends applying highlighter on the apple of your cheeks over your blush where the color is most vibrant. And makeup artist Karen Scott recommends using a highlighter to "give the illusion of a fuller pout by applying a small dab just above the cupid's bow on your lip."
Now that you know all about this anti-aging essential, it's time to find your best highlighter. But don't worry: We've narrowed down your search by compiling our readers' top picks. From creams to powders, high-end makeup counters to the drugstore, these are the 12 best highlighters that are guaranteed to brighten your face.
