16 Best Drugstore Highlighters For A Dewy Glow – 2022
Illuminate your face without burning a hole in your pocket with these highlighters.
Do you wonder how celebrities have an extra-glamorous finish to their makeup look when they walk down the red carpet? The secret is using a highlighter. For an affordable option, you can start with the best drugstore highlighters. Your overall makeup will look flawless only if you own a good highlighter palette. The right highlighter can instantly brighten your complexion and enhance your facial angles. You can even use it on certain body areas like your collarbones and shoulders for some extra glow. In this article, we have listed the 16 best drugstore highlighters that work like wonders. Keep reading to find out more!
In This Article
16 Best Drugstore Highlighters
1. Best For Daily Use: theBalm Mary Lou Manizer
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer is an illuminating highlighter that will attract everyone’s eyes. The product can be used as a highlighter, shadow, and shimmer. It diffuses light in a way that your skin will look softer and younger. The product will add a subtle glow to your skin. The Mary Lou Manizer can be layered on the lids, used to highlight your cheeks, or used for an all-over finishing touch for a honey-hued glow. The champagne luminizer will give you a soft, natural glow for everyday use. This video helps you know more about the product.
Pros
- Can be used as eyeshadow, highlighter, and shimmer
- Ideal for everyday use
- Long-lasting
Cons
None
2. Best Non-Acnegenic: MAC Strobe Cream
The MAC Strobe Cream is the ultimate quick fix for the skin. The cream comes in 5 different shades – pink, peach, silver, red, and gold. The cream is filled with potent botanical extracts. The strobe cream will boost the appearance of dull, flat, and tired-looking skin with the help of nutritious vitamins and green tea. It brightens the skin with iridescent particles and antioxidants. The strobe cream will give a soft glow to the skin when in sunlight. It smoothens the skin and provides radiance. The strobe cream is hydrating and non-acnegenic. It is dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested. Check out this video to know more about this product.
Pros
- Smoothens the skin
- Moisturizing
- Non-acnegenic
- Dermatologist-tested
- Ophthalmologist-tested
Cons
None
3. Best Sun Protection: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter will create a covetable, healthy dewy glow. The highlighter gives a healthy radiance to the skin. It illuminates darkened skin and evens out the skin tone. The liquid highlighter is used in two ways. It can be mixed with a primer, foundation, or moisturizer for added radiance. Or it can be used on its own for an all-over dewy glow. The liquid highlighter contains SPF 20+ that fights against harmful sun rays. The highlighter is formulated with antioxidant vitamins and anti inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients. These ingredients help repair skin cells, increase collagen production, and promote moisture retention. Before buying, have a look at this video for more details.
Pros
- Illuminates darkened skin
- SPF 20+ for protection against sun rays
- Repairs skin cells
- Increases collagen production
- Moisturizing
- Nice fragrance
Cons
None
4. Best For All Skin Tones: Glossier Haloscope
The Glossier Haloscope highlighter is a crystal-infused highlighter that contains skin-conditioning benefits. The highlighter’s outer-core is formulated with crystal extracts. These crystal extracts give an all-day glow to your skin. The inner core of the highlighter is oil-based and is made from a vitamin-rich moisturizer that hydrates your skin. The highlighter is extremely nourishing and hydrating. The product is cruelty-free and is formulated without fragrance. It is dermatologist-tested. The highlighter comes in 3 blendable shades that work on every skin tone.
Pros
- Hydrates the skin
- Nourishing
- Cruelty-free
- Formulated without fragrance
- Dermatologist-tested
- Comes in 3 blendable shades
- Suitable for all skin tones
Cons
None
5. Best Lightweight: Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter
The Rude Cosmetics Baked Highlighter will add a gorgeous, gleaming touch to your skin. The highlighter is a lightweight powder. It will give a sexy bronzed effect to your skin. The baked highlighter can be used to define and highlight your most desired areas. The highlighter comes in 6 different shades that suit all skin tones.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Available in 6 shades
- Suits all skin tones
Cons
None
6. Best Natural-Looking: Beauty Junkees Powder Contour Highlighter Makeup Palette
The Beauty Junkies Makeup Palette is an exclusive contour and highlighting palette. This palette makes the process of enhancing and minimizing facial features easy. The highlighting shades of the palette will lift and brighten your face with a soft, radiant glow. The palette is perfect for everyday use. It is cruelty-free and paraben-free. The shades are formulated so well that they blend easily without any trouble. All the colors in the shades are natural-looking. They suit all skin tones.
Pros
- Blendable
- Perfect for everyday use
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Natural-looking shades
- Suit all skin tones
Cons
None
7. Best Full Coverage: NYX Cosmetics Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter
The NYX Cosmetics Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter has a light-reflecting formula that comes in 9 creamy and lightweight shades. It gives a great glow with a shimmery finish. The highlighter is buildable and gives full coverage. It will brighten your best features.
Pros
- Comes in 9 different shades
- Lightweight
- Buildable
Cons
None
8. Best For Strobing: NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick
The NYX Professional Makeup Bright Idea Stick is a complexion-brightening stick. The highlighter will illuminate your favorite facial features with a lit-from-within glow. The product is perfect for strobing. It comes in 8 different shades that go on seamlessly on your face. The highlighter easily brightens your complexion with a luminous glow. The product can also be used as a bronzer and blush.
Pros
- Blendable
- Ideal for strobing
- Comes in 8 different shades
- Can be used as a bronzer and blush
Cons
None
9. Best For Sensitive Skin: Maybelline New York Makeup Facestudio Master Strobing Stick
The Maybelline New York Face studio Master Strobing Stick is made with a non-comedogenic, lightweight, and creamy formula. The strobing stick is dermatologist- and allergy-tested. The illuminating stick highlighter is easy to use and is highly blendable. The highlighting stick gives a healthy glow and is designed to add dimensions to your face. It comes in 2 illuminating shades – iridescent and nude glow. The product is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
- Allergy-tested
- Easy to use
- Blendable
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-lasting
- Suits sensitive skin
Cons
None
10. Best Metallic Sheen Effect: Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
The Maybelline New York Face studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter comes with reflective pigments for a metallic sheen effect. The highlighter gives a chrome effect that will leave the skin with a melted metallic finish. The highlighter attracts light that helps accentuate and enhance your best facial features. It comes in 2 highly pigmented shades. They give a reflective finish for a brilliant skin glow.
Pros
- Gives a metallic sheen effect
- Comes in 2 highly pigmented shades
Cons
None
11. Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter
The Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter will give you a natural-looking color that will last all day. The baked highlighter has a unique formulation that will provide the perfect highlighted, luminous glow. The highlighter is highly pigmented and iseasily blendable. It has a lightweight texture that is perfect for highlighting and strobing. The baked highlighter comes in 3 different shades that are perfect for all skin types.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Highly pigmented
- Easily blendable
- Lightweight texture
- Perfect for highlighting and strobing
- Comes in 3 different shades
- Suits all skin types
Cons
None
12. The Lip Bar Fresh Glow 2-Layer Compact
The Lip Bar Fresh Glow 2-Layer Compact is a 2-in-1 bronzer and illuminating blush palette. The bronzer will give shape to your face while the illuminating blush will highlight your cheeks and cheekbones. Both the bronzer and the illuminating blush can be blended together to give a glowing bronzed look. The palette is travel-friendly and comes with a mirror and a brush. It is vegan and is formulated with natural ingredients ideal for everyday use. The compact comes in 4 different shades.
Pros
- Travel-friendly
- Comes with a mirror and a brush
- Vegan
- Formulated with natural ingredients
- Ideal for everyday use
- Highly pigmented
- Comes in 4 different shades
Cons
None
13. Lamora Highlighter Palette
The Lamora Highlighter Palette includes 4 highly pigmented shimmer highlighters that are suitable for all skin tones. These highlighters are long-lasting and give a perfect glow to the areas that you want to highlight. These highlighters are highly blendable and easy to apply. They are vegan too. If you are a beginner, you will find this highlighter palette quite useful. The palette is small and travel-friendly.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Suitable for all skin tones
- Blendable
- Easy to apply
- Vegan
- Travel-friendly
- Specifically useful for beginners
Cons
None
14. Diow Choco Palette Kit
The Diow Choco Palette Kit comes with complementing shades that have an ultra-fine formula. These highlighters will give you an illuminating glow by highlighting your desired facial features. They are super-pigmented and easy to blend and are hence perfect for everyday use. The shades are suitable for all skin tones.
Pros
- Super-pigmented
- Easy to blend
- Ideal for everyday use
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
None
15. PYT Beauty Highlighter
The PYT Beauty Highlighter illuminates the best features on your face. It gives anatural-looking glow to your skin. The highlighter is compact and travel-friendly. It is formulated with hydrating and enhancing ingredients like jojoba seed oil and vitamin E. These ingredients give a subtle glow and a soft radiance to the skin. The highlighter is lightweight and easy to blend. It is vegan, hypoallergenic, and free from synthetic fragrances. The highlighter is also free from harsh chemicals like parabens and phthalates.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Blendable
- Vegan
- Hypoallergenic
- Free from synthetic fragrances
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
Cons
- Contains glitter
16. AestheticaStarlite Highlighter
The AestheticaStarlite Highlighter gives a dewy look to your face. The ultra shimmery highlighter glides on to your face and stays there all through the day. The highlighter comes in 4 different shades that suit all skin types. It is beginner-friendly. It also is vegan.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Vegan
- Suitable for all skin types
- Blendable
- Travel-friendly
Cons
None
These are the top 16 drugstore highlighters. Based on their compositions, highlighters are usually available in 4 types. We have discussed them below.
Different Types Of Highlighters
- Strobing Cream – These creams give you a natural, dewy glow. A strobing cream can be used as a highlighting primer and is perfect as base makeup.
- Stick Highlighter – Just like a crayon, a stick highlighter is a shimmer stick that is applied with the help of your fingertips. This type of highlighter is excellent for people who are just starting their makeup journey.
- Powder Highlighter – These are pressed highlighters that come in a pan. They are a staple for every makeup enthusiast and are very easy to use. Powder highlighters can also be used as an eyeshadow or to highlight the inner corners of the eyes.
- Liquid Highlighter – A liquid highlighter is often used by people who have been using makeup for a long time. These highlighters are highly pigmented and look incredible when applied well.
There are so many highlighters available on the market. However, to make your cheeks pop, you will need something that will suit your skin tone. Check the below-mentioned points to find a highlighter that will look great on your skin tone.
How To Choose A Highlighter Based On Your Skin Tone
- Fair Skin Tone – People with pale to light skin tone should go for a highlighter that has champagne or icy sheen to it. These shades will add a shine to the face.
- Medium or olive Skin Tone – A highlighter with gold undertones will look great on medium or olive skin tone.
- Deep Skin Tone – For a deep skin tone, highlighters with gold or bronze undertones work great. These highlighters offer a natural radiance.
The highlighting world seems to be getting innovative by the minute. There are too many products, and picking a good one could be challenging. But remember this – you just need to understand your skin type, its undertone, your preferences, and your budget. With that knowledge, you can buy the perfect highlighter! We hope this list has helped you with enough options. Pick your favorite highlighter today!
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Baishali Bhattacharya, is certified in makeup artistry. She reviewed many drugstore highlighters for this article and sifted through hundreds of user reviews on trusted online forums to bring the best to her readers. As highlighters are an integral part of getting that perfect airbrushed look, you can try these affordable and skin-friendly products to take your makeup game to the next level.
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