Best Highlighters (Over $15) | 2018

Best of 2018

Best Highlighters (Over $15)

As I mentioned in the previous post, highlighters had another bright year with a plethora of options from affordable to luxury. My initial list of “favorites” stood at over 40 shades in the mid-end/high-end category, which I pruned to a mere–ha!–list of 20 favorites.

While the Make Up For Ever Star Lit Diamond Powders may not have rated well based on claims, I absolutely loved them as cheek highlighters (which was where they performed the best without extras).  I’ve reached for these over and over again when I put together cheek combos for photos (which I then remove to test something else after I take those photos, haha). They’re the perfect mix of shimmer and sparkle, so they’re intense but not glittery dirt-like either.

In the same vein, I tend to gravitate toward highlighters that shift or have some sort of multi-colored pearl to it.  The following all fall into this group: Tom Ford Liquid Sun, Becca Berlin Glow, Marc Jacobs Beauty Gilty, OFRA Space Baby, and Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust.

I specifically looked for and tested more liquid and cream highlighters this year, and I found two new-to-me favorites: Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Light WandNatasha Denona’s new Super Glow highlighters are a new go-to favorite (they made it into my vanity drawer).

Also, I’ve kept my list of favorites here to standalone products (not shades within a larger palette), but I’d like to plead with Fenty Beauty to release Stone Cold (from the holiday palette) as a single for 2019 — please and thank you!  Some of you may wonder why Anastasia’s Amrezy didn’t make my list… because I have dozens like it, and I didn’t personally find the finish or color to be vastly different than the many gel-powder formulations out there.

What mid/high-end highlighters did you reach for this year?

P.S. — You can view swatches of my favorites here.

P.P.S. — If you enjoy reading/viewing my favorites, make sure you check out my all-time favorites here, products I’m thankful for (2018 series), and all of my editor’s recommended products here.

View the List

Top Highlighters (Over $15) of 2018

01.

01. Fantasy Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty

LELimited Edition. $44.00/0.80 oz.

A+

Marc Jacobs Beauty Fantasy Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter ($44.00 for 0.80 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a subtle, pearly sheen.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Fantasy Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter ($44.00 for 0.80 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with subtle, warm undertones and a subtle, pearly sheen.

02.

02. Glazed Donut OFRA

OFRA

PPermanent. $29.00/0.35 oz.

A+

OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was opaque...

OFRA Glazed Donut Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright white with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color coverage was opaque...

03.

03. Bronze (03) Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona

PPermanent. $38.00/0.35 oz.

A+

Natasha Denona Bronze (03) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow gold with warm undertones and a shiny, metallic finish.

Natasha Denona Bronze (03) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, sunshine yellow gold with warm undertones and a shiny, metallic finish.

04.

04. Bathe Dose of Colors

Dose of Colors

LELimited Edition. $28.00/0.41 oz.

A+

Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish.

Dose of Colors Bathe Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a high-shine, metallic finish.

05.

05. Free Soul NARS

NARS

LELimited Edition. $30.00/0.16 oz.

A
06.

06. Spotlight Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty

PPermanent. $42.00/0.49 oz.

A

Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator ($42.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a silvery beige with a hint of warmth and a pearly, dewy sheen.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator ($42.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a silvery beige with a hint of warmth and a pearly, dewy sheen.

07.

07. Berlin Girl Glow Becca

Becca

LELimited Edition. $38.00/0.25 oz.

A

Becca Berlin Girl Glow Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a soft, peachy, beige base with a pink-to-blue shifting pearl.

Becca Berlin Girl Glow Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a soft, peachy, beige base with a pink-to-blue shifting pearl.

08.

08. Glow Up Pretty Vulgar

Pretty Vulgar

PPermanent. $32.00/0.20 oz.

A

Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a light, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen.

Pretty Vulgar Glow Up Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a light, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen.

09.

09. Lilac Lust Pretty Vulgar

Pretty Vulgar

PPermanent. $32.00/0.20 oz.

A

Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a bright, medium lavender with strong, warm pink undertones and an iridescent bluish-violet, metallic sheen.

Pretty Vulgar Lilac Lust Shimmering Swan Highlighter ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a bright, medium lavender with strong, warm pink undertones and an iridescent bluish-violet, metallic sheen.

10.

10. Original Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury

PPermanent. $38.00/0.40 oz.

A

Charlotte Tilbury Original Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.40 oz.) is a soft, champagne gold with warm, peachy undertones and a fine, pearly sheen.

Charlotte Tilbury Original Hollywood Beauty Light Wand ($38.00 for 0.40 oz.) is a soft, champagne gold with warm, peachy undertones and a fine, pearly sheen.

12.

12. Space Baby OFRA

OFRA

LELimited Edition. $29.00/0.35 oz.

A

OFRA Space Baby Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, bluish-white with a metallic sheen that shifted from icy blue to icy violet.

OFRA Space Baby Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a bright, bluish-white with a metallic sheen that shifted from icy blue to icy violet.

13.

13. Liquid Sun Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty

LELimited Edition. $50.00/0.47 oz.

A

Tom Ford Beauty Liquid Sun Soleil Glow Drops ($50.00 for 0.47 oz.) is a translucent base with fine white and silver pearl. Against my skin tone, the...

Tom Ford Beauty Liquid Sun Soleil Glow Drops ($50.00 for 0.47 oz.) is a translucent base with fine white and silver pearl. Against my skin tone, the...

15.

15. Light-Medium (02) Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona

PPermanent. $38.00/0.35 oz.

A-

Natasha Denona Light-Medium (02) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a soft peach with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen.

Natasha Denona Light-Medium (02) Super Glow Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a soft peach with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen.

16.

16. Gilty Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty

LELimited Edition. $49.00/0.35 oz.

A-

Marc Jacobs Beauty Gilty O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy gold with warm, rosy undertones and a metallic sheen.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Gilty O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer ($49.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy gold with warm, rosy undertones and a metallic sheen.

17.

17. 104 Blue White Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever

PPermanent. $26.00/0.08 oz.

B+

Make Up For Ever 104 Blue White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has pale, almost silvery-white base with a strong, aqua-to-blue sheen, though it sometimes flashed almost pink but very rarely did I see that except when contorting myself to do so.

Make Up For Ever 104 Blue White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has pale, almost silvery-white base with a strong, aqua-to-blue sheen, though it sometimes flashed almost pink but very rarely did I see that except when contorting myself to do so.

18.

18. 106 Grenny White Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever

PPermanent. $26.00/0.08 oz.

B+

Make Up For Ever 106 Grenny White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) shifts from lavender-pink to flashy, greenish-gold with a sparkling, shiny finish.

Make Up For Ever 106 Grenny White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) shifts from lavender-pink to flashy, greenish-gold with a sparkling, shiny finish.

19.

19. 103 Pink White Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever

PPermanent. $26.00/0.08 oz.

B

Make Up For Ever 103 Pink White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has a silvery-beige base that has a more dominant, pink-to-lavender shift from the shimmer and sparkle in it.

Make Up For Ever 103 Pink White Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has a silvery-beige base that has a more dominant, pink-to-lavender shift from the shimmer and sparkle in it.

20.

20. 107 Bronze Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever

PPermanent. $26.00/0.08 oz.

B

Make Up For Ever 107 Bronze Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has a medium, coppery base (with warmer undertones) paired with flecks of gold and pink sparkle that give it a peach-to-pink shifting finish.

Make Up For Ever 107 Bronze Star Lit Diamond Powder ($26.00 for 0.08 oz.) has a medium, coppery base (with warmer undertones) paired with flecks of gold and pink sparkle that give it a peach-to-pink shifting finish.

Glossover Breakdown

95%

Average Score
A
16
B
4
C
0
D
0
F
0
Glossover Averages
product
9.5
pigmentation
10
texture
9.5
longevity
9
application
5
Total
94%
product
9.5
pigmentation
10
texture
9.5
longevity
9
application
5
Total
94%


from Temptalia http://bit.ly/2TiOlMD
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