Highlighters I've Been Using Lately: Review and Swatches of Cream, Liquid, and Powder Highlighters

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Hey everyone!

I've been accumulating a few highlighters over the past few months and instead of doing individual reviews for each, I thought I would just do a compilation post of all of them while we're still enjoying somewhat of a highlighter renaissance.  I have seven cream, liquid, and powder highlighters from Becca, Glossier, Makeup Geek, and NYX to share. I think a lot of people are just inundated with highlighters so I'm hoping this post gives a quick insight to a few and ones you might consider trying (or skipping!).


Highlighters I've Been Using Lately

I grouped each highlighter together by formula when it came to swatching, the creams, liquids, and powders are swatched together. Click through to read more and see swatches!




Cream Highlighters

The cream highlighters are the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz and NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in Chardonnay Shimmer.

Glossier Haloscope in Quartz

$22.00 for 5.5 grams/0.19 oz. Available from Glossier.

What Is It: A highlighter stick with a oil core surrounded by a shimmery cream highlighter. It gives a dewy effect to your skin that looks best in direct sunlight (which is how it's been mostly advertised) but still shows up under artificial lighting. It's quite a firm stick so over bare skin it applies well straight from the tube, but over foundation, it's best applied with fingers. This does contain coconut oil if you're sensitive to that. The dewy effect is most prominent when the rest of your face has a more matte/natural finish and it's excellent for normal, combination, and dry skin types. 

This comes in a white twist up tube with a clear lid. I appreciate that the highlighter is flush to the top of the tube so I don't have to worry about cutting into it when I put the lid back on.

Quartz is a champagne gold that isn't too shimmery or sparkly. Glossier is swatched on the left.


Glossier Haloscope in Quartz Swatch

I know it doesn't look that spectacular in the swatch but trust when I say the gloss adds some shine while the shimmer adds some glow. It's great for that slightly glossy look without being too greasy.

Purchase if: You want a stick highlighter that actually gives off a slightly glossy effect to your skin with a bit of shimmer. Easy to apply over bare skin, you'll want to be more careful if applying over foundation.

Would I Repurchase? I was originally gonna say no, the effect doesn't stand out as well over the day on my oily skin unless I mattify the rest of my face. But despite the effort I have to put into keeping the rest of my skin more matte, I've been using it everyday as part of everyday makeup so I would repurchase. You might especially like this if you have normal, dry, or combination skin but apply with fingers over foundation.

NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in Chardonnay Shimmer

$8.00 for 6 grams/0.21 oz. Available from ULTA and Target.

What Is It: A shimmery cream highlighter stick. The cream highlighter is kind of firm but glides quite easily over your face so I don't think it'll really lift any of the foundation underneath. If you're worried about it, apply with fingers. It's got much more of a shimmery effect than the Glossier Haloscope but it's not so shimmery that it looks metallic. It actually imparts a wonderful light highlighting effect that blends out easily on the skin that you can apply lightly for a lit-from-within glow or apply heavier to look brighter.

This comes packaged in a twist up tube and unfortunately the end of the highlighter is exposed past the top so you have to be careful when putting the cap on.

Chardonnay Shimmer is described as a chardonnay pink with gold shimmer. NYX is swatched on the right side.


NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in Chardonnay Shimmer Swatch

Purchase If: You want a shimmery cream highlighter that dries down and sets. It's buildable so you can get a subtle effect for those casual days or build it up for a more blinding glow. 

Would I Repurchase? Yes, it's a good versatile highlighter stick. I'm not as fond of the packaging because I wish the end of the highlighter was not as exposed, it means I have to be careful when putting the cap back on. It's a good budget friendly highlighter.

Liquid Highlighters

Next are the liquid highlighters which include the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter, NYX Away We Glow, and Wet n Wild Megaglo Liquid Highlighter.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter in Opal

Mini size: $19.00 for 19 grams/0.68 oz (available in Moonstone and Opal). Full size: $41.00 for 50mL/1.7 oz (available in all seven colors). The mini sizes are available on Sephora and ULTA, while the full sizes are available on BeautylishBecca, NordstromULTA, and Sephora)

What Is It: A cult-classic liquid highlighter that works gives such a glowy sheen without obvious glitter or sparkle. It blends in incredibly well without any harsh edges. You can also apply this under your foundation or mix with your foundation. I feel like this is the highlighter to use when you want that glow without the sparkle and would be my pick for newbies to liquid highlighter. It's liquid but not too runny or thin.

I got a set of the liquid highlighter and pressed highlighter together so it comes in a tube with a doefoot applicator which I like for applying onto my cheekbones. It normally comes in a tube with a pump.

Opal is described as a "golden opal pearl". This is swatched on the left lightly, you could easily build it up for more opacity.


Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter in Opal Swatch

Purchase if: You want a versatile highlighter that isn't too blinding and adds a luminous but not sparkly effect that doesn't look too artificial. A great pick for people who are new to highlighters since it blends incredibly well into your skin.

Would I Repurchase? Yes, it's a gorgeous liquid highlighter and I love how the effect looks on my skin. 

NYX Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter in Moonbeam

$7.00 for 0.21 oz. Available on NYX, Target, and ULTA

What Is It: A liquid highlighter in a handy doe foot applicator. It's got a very creamy texture and blends out easily. The doefoot applicator means you can pinpoint where you want to apply it on the skin. I do think some of the shades have larger shimmer/sparkle particles compared to the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid. 

This is swatched in the middle. Compared to the Becca and Wet N Wild Liquid Highlighter (which is next), this has the most shine/shimmer. 


NYX Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter in Moonbeam Swatch

Purchase If: You're looking for a drugstore priced liquid highlighter that gives more shine and has slightly more obvious sparkles. There are a ton of colors so you might find one that suits your skintone.

Would I Repurchase? No, I'm not in love with the formula/shimmers and I feel like there are better liquid highlighters out there.

Wet n Wild Megaglo Liquid Highlighter in Halo, Goodbye

$5.99 for 0.50 oz. Available on ULTA and Wet n Wild

What Is It: A liquid highlighter with a thin smooth consistency that spreads well, a little goes a long way and the effect is buildable if you let the layers dry in between. Compared to the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid, it's got a thinner consistency and has more shimmers that catch the light which gives a more prominent glow though there aren't any large shimmers/sparkles like the NYX Away We Glow. It's in between the Becca and NYX when it comes to how much glow/sheen you get. 

This comes in glass packaging with a large doefoot applicator, this means you can dab however much you need out though it's not as controllable compared to a squeeze tube. This is definitely a packaging that I'd expect from more expensive brands. 

Halo, Goodbye is a warm champagne pink. This is swatched on the right.


Wet n Wild Megaglo Liquid Highlighter in Halo, Goodbye

Purchase if: You want a budget friendly liquid highlighter that you can use on its own or mix with other products. It's got a buildable shimmery glow and the thin formula smooths out incredibly well. 

Would I Repurchase? Yes and not just because it's inexpensive. The formula is versatile and would be good for those days that I want more of a glow from the get go.

Powder Highlighter

Last up are the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter and Makeup Geek Highlighter.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Opal


$38.00 for 7 grams/0.25 oz. Available on Beautylish, Becca, Nordstrom, Sephora, and ULTA.

What Is It: The powder version of the Shimmering Skin Perfector, it's the more pigmented cousin to the liquid. Incredibly smooth, this will give you a shimmery highlighted effect. This can run the risk of accentuating any skin texture due to how shimmery the formula is. You can even build it up even more to a near-metallic finish. High-shine is a good way to describe the effect but it's not glittery at all. It's a cult classic for a reason and there are a ton of shade options.


This comes in a compact. The Becca Highlighter is swatched on the left.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Opal Swatch

Purchase if: You want a highlighter that will give you that high shine shimmer without the glitter. It's soft and smooth and a classic for a reason. 

Would I Repurchase? I would repurchase, but probably the mini size. The full size compact is a lot to get though and I can rationalize the price of the mini better.

Makeup Geek Highlighter in Rekindle

$20.00 for 7 grams/0.25 oz. Available on Makeup Geek

This is a pressed powder highlighter with a soft (but not too soft that it's powdery), pigmented formula. This allows for you to get a beautiful highlight or you can buff it out onto your skin to create this almost wet metallic sheen for an ultra-highlighted look. I feel like you can get a very similar look to the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, but the slightly softer formula means you can pick up more product on the brush if you're not careful. You can use a lighter hand for a lighter effect but the pigmented formula lends well to adding a great sheen. 

Rekindle is described as a "rose gold with a reflective luminous finish" , it also applies lighter on the skin than it looks in the pan. The highlighter comes in a compact with a mirror. This is swatched on the right.


Makeup Geek Highlighter in Rekindle Swatch

Though I feel like the price is high for a Makeup Geek Highlighter, I can't help but admit that I love how it looks on my skin. Frankly if you like the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, you might want to check out the Makeup Geek Highlighters since you get the same amount for almost half the price.

Purchase if: You want a soft and smooth highlighter that gives off a wonderfully shimmery effect without being glittery on the skin.


Would I Repurchase? I would repurchase, it's got a great formula that rivals even the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector at a great price.

Conclusion:

That was a lot of highlighters to get through! If I could only pick one highlighter, I'd say the Glossier Haloscope would be my pick though the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid is not far behind. There are a ton of highlighters out there, I hope my thoughts on these helped give you a sense on what's worth it and what's not (and how it compares to others you might already have!).

What's your current favorite highlighter?

Disclaimer: I purchased all these highlighters myself. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links which provide me with a commission based off your use of the link.

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