Highlighter – Top 20 Favourites – Cream, Powder, Affordable + Luxury

Highlighter is an essential step in my make up routine. I never, ever skip this step. I love adding the glow back into my skin, especially after matting down with powder. As I get older, I find a dewy looking skin much more flattering. So, as they are my favourite product to buy, I have amassed quite the collection. Today we are talking all things highlighter. Twenty of my favourites in cream, powder, gold, pink, affordable and high end. Lets go!

Cream Highlighter – Five Faves

I love to start of my highlight with a cream formula. Layered under powder, used as a primer or just on its own for natural looking skin. These are my best five cream highlighters:

1- Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand is one of the best cream highlighters I have ever tried. It gives the skin the most beautiful glow and has quickly become a holy grail product. You can buy HERE.

2- L’oreal Infallible Shaping Stick in ‘Slay In Rose’ is an affordable but beautiful pink toned highlighting stick. It lasts really well on the skin, blends easily and is a flattering colour. You can buy HERE.

3- IsaDora Strobing Stick in Champagne Glow gives the skin a glossy, expensive looking glow. I love this stick and bring it on holidays with me. You can buy HERE.

4- Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick in Sunstruck was my one of my favourite products of the summer. A blush on one side and a stunning bronze toned cream highlighter on the other. It looked beautiful with a tan (fake) and bright coral lip. You can buy HERE.

5- Cover Fx Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight is a versatile liquid highlight that you can add to your moisturiser, foundation on straight onto the skin for a pigmented and metallic highlight. My go to for a glam night out and you can buy HERE.

Affordable Highlighter You Will Love..

Highlighter does not have to be expensive to be good. I am a fan of my luxury brands but these five affordable highlighters are just as good as my more expensive ones. Look at the swatches!

1- L’oreal La Vie En Glow is one I have mentioned several times already and will continue to do so! Four flattering shades in one slim palette that also double up as eye shadows. A great product to take away with you and you can buy HERE.

2- Sleek Highlighter Palette in Coppertone was one of the summer 18 releases and I was here for it. Full of beautifully bronze toned powders, they are pigmented and creamy. You can buy HERE.

3- Wet N Wild Highlighter in Precious Petals will now and forever be one of the best affordable highlights I have tried. It is smooth, buttery and oh so flattering. You can buy HERE.

4- Primark Mink Pink Highlighter is as cheap as chips but delivers a beautifully glow. Run to your nearest Primark and try one for yourself.

5- Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter is a stunningly intense gold highlight that my sister bought me in the States last year. I think you can buy on Amazon but the price is inflated. Ask a friend to bring you back one!

Gold Toned Luxury Highlighter

I love my luxury brands. The packaging, the formula and the feeling of being treated to something special, I can’t explain it! These are my five favourite Gold toned luxury highlighter powders:

1- Charlotte Tilbury’s Bar of Gold Highlighting Palette will be of no surprise to any of you as I use it ALL THE TIME. Three shades of gold highlighter  that can be used wet or dry, it is versatile, pigmented and worth every single penny. You can buy HERE.

2- Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt was all I used when I first bought it. The packaging is sleek and expensive looking. Inside are two of the most beautiful highlighting powders, one gold and one pink toned. The formula is smooth, intensely shimmering without a spec of glitter. The dream and you can buy it HERE.

3- Estee Lauder Illuminating Powder in Heat Wave was a limited edition summer release and when it comes back next year you need to grab it! Not only is the compact as pretty as an instagram picture, the powder inside is just stunning. When I first got it I felt it was a little let down but the trick is to scrape the top layer off and underneath you are left with the smoothest, metallic gold highlight.

4- Mac Cosmetics Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Oh, Darling is another beautifully smooth gold highlight. How many times can I say ‘beautiful’ ‘gold’ ‘highlight’ lol! Well it is and I love it. You can buy HERE.

5- Laura Geller Baked Gelato in Gilded Honey is a cult classic for a reason. A more readily available alternative to the Estee Lauder Heat Wave and you can buy it HERE.

Pink Toned Luxury Highlighter Powders…..

For fairer complexions or every day wear a pink toned highlighter is universally flattering. Here are my five faves in no particular order….

1- Dior Beauty Nude Air Luminizer in 001 was an impulse buy last year that I never regretted. As you can see from mine it has been well loved and used over the months. If you are feeling like a boujie buy then try this HERE.

2- Nars Forte De France highlighter is more champagne toned than pink but not quite gold. You really have to build this up for an intense finish but it is beautifully subtle for day time. You can buy HERE.

3- Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Afternoon Glow is another product I speak of regularly but it really is the most beautiful pink toned highlight. Smooth and easy to blend in to the skin. You can buy HERE.

4- Becca Champagne Pop is cult and also more champagne than pink but its a paler gold that I adore. It has cult status for a very good reason, this is a beauty and you can buy HERE.

5- Nars Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder is an absolute find. Intensely highlighting, it never lets me down. Look at the swatch! It is stunning!Treat yourself HERE.

So there you have it, all of my favourite highlighters! Hopefully there is something in here to suit you and your budget. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up to date on new in beauty products HERE.

Louise x

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