| is a year-round staple, which makes highlighter as essential as mascara and lip gloss in our book. Highlighter is not a one-size-fits-all though — some formulas provide a natural, lit-from-within glow, while others create an iridescent sheen. To help you find the best highlighter for your skin tone, we highlighted (pun intended) the hues that work best for every skin tone and rounded up 30 that are perfect for every occasion. Whether you prefer powder, gel, stick or liquid formulas, find the best highlighters, below. Show
Highlighter for Fair Skin TonesIf you have pale to light skin, opt for highlighters with a pearlescent, icy silver (which will flatter cool undertones) or a champagne sheen for warm undertones. Above all, always opt for a shade that’s lighter than your skin tone. Highlighter for Medium and Olive Skin TonesIf you have a warmer skin tone, keep your complexion from looking too frosty by going for a highlighter with a gold-bronze or copper undertone. Highlighter for Deep Skin TonesRich variations of rose gold or bronze work best on darker complexions. Just be sure to look for super-pigmented or completely transparent options and steer clear of frosty, opalescent shades with a white base, as they can cause the skin to appear dull instead of lit-from-within. As beauty editors, we know better than just about anyone about the power of a good highlight. This glistening accent can breathe new life into a minimally made-up face or be the cherry on top of a full beat. Either way, it’s a must-do step in any routine. With a vast array of pressed powder, liquid, and cream options on the market, you’d think selecting the right highlighter would be as simple as plucking your formula of choice off the shelf at your favorite beauty haunt. But for those of us with deeper skin tones, the burden of choice is a heavy one, because a highlight can go awry if not handled properly. We know a thing or two about a thing or two (you trust us, right?), but we thought it best to call in the experts on this one. That’s why we tapped the most celebrated makeup artists in the game right now to weigh in on the best highlighters for darker skin tones. This talented lot work with black and brown stars such as Lupita Nyong’o, America Ferrera, Gabrielle Union, and more of our faves, and they gave us all the intel on the highlighters that best complement deeper complexions. Oh, and don’t worry—they also spilled the tea on which ones we should avoid at all costs. Check out their tips and red carpet–approved picks ahead. Allan Avendaño, Celebrity Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Jodie Turner-Smith, Kerry Washington, Liza Koshy, Maya Rudolph
 Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Flicker $88 Shop Now “I love the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder because it applies like butter. It almost gives the look of a liquid highlighter. It comes with a highlighter and bronzer, but depending on your skin tone, you can use both as highlighters. They give a natural glow but can also be buildable without looking chalky.” Dior BackstageGlow Face Palette $45 Shop Now “The Dior palette is also a staple in my kit because it has a variety of colors and it’s a compact quad palette. You can apply a single shade or mix them to your liking. The highlighter gives a glossy wet look without looking unnatural. It’s a healthy glow without sparkle and glitter. I would say it’s a strong highlight, but you can totally go super light-handed if you want a subtle glow.” Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter $45 Shop Now “I like liquid highlighters because they are versatile. You can pump some of the product and mix it in with your foundation for a full dewy look, or you can just apply it on the high points of your face.” Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter $41 Shop Now “Liquid highlighter it gives off a very natural and radiant glow. It soaks into your skin and gives off an effortless lit-from-within look.” Nick Barose, Celebrity Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Lupita Nyong’o, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Willow Smith
Lancôme Click and Glow Highlighting Skin Fluid in Lumières Rosées $26 Shop Now “Darker skin already has its own highlight, so anything too frosty or shimmery will just be too much. I prefer liquid highlighters that set to a velvety finish with a gentle sheen. They make skin look luminous by reflecting light but without being frosty or metallic, which is extra obvious on darker skin and makes it look dry—not glossy.” Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face Liquid Highlighter $32 Shop Now “Avoid highlighters that are too light. Pick it according to your undertone so it matches your foundation. People tend to pick ones that are too light because it looks obvious, but a good highlight is gentler and doesn’t scream frosty from across the room.” Tasha Reiko Brown, Celebrity Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Logan Browning, Alicia Keys, Regina Hall, Letitia Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Chocolate Geode $38 Shop Now “For extra-deep skin tones, this is my go-to. The color has a touch of red-bronze to really pull out and showcase the warmth in the red undertones. The texture is so smooth you can skip a brush and use your fingers pressed right into the powder.” Ilia Illuminator in Summertime $34 Shop Now “This color is ideal for true medium brown shades. It’s the perfect bronze tone. The stick texture is smooth and buttery, so blending is easy—even for unsure hands.” Lancôme Dual Finish Highlighter in Radiant Rose Gold $41 Shop Now “For lighter caramel tones, this one gives you a sunkissed glow that’s believable. It’s the perfect pinkish-gold that’s bright yet doesn’t tip over into a frosty, unflattering pearl. This powder can be applied dry for a subtle glow or applied wet for an amped-up sheen.” Nina Park, Chanel Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Laura Harrier, Naomi Scott, Lily-Rose Depp
Flesh Ripe Flesh Glisten Drops in Candleglow $28 Shop Now “When I want to create a lit-within-glow on my clients, I like to use this Flesh Beauty liquid highlighter on the highpoints under foundation. The reason I do this is once the foundation is blended on top, there is a subtle hint of radiance that peaks through without being overpowering. I also love to mix a few drops into the foundation if I want an all-over glow to the face or body.” Chanel Baume Essentiel in Transparent $45 Shop Now “When I want the skin to have a dewy sheen, I always reach for Chanel Baume Essentiel in Transparent. Many times, highlighters can be too metallic or bright. I love this particular one, as it subtly highlights to mimic skin.” Chanel Baume Essentiel in Golden Light $45 Shop Now “If I want to create a bronzy glow, the shade Golden Light is the perfect warm highlighter for a radiant sun-kissed effect. I place this balm on the tops of the cheeks, above the arch of the brow, and bridge of the nose with my fingers. This is usually my last step when applying makeup so I can accentuate certain features like the cheekbones or eyelids.” Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion Highlighter $39 Shop Now “If I want a subdued, diffused highlight, I reach for a powder highlighter. Recently, I’ve been loving the Makeup Forever Pro Light Fusion Highlighter in Golden. I like to use a tapered blending face brush and lightly sweep this across the sides of the forehead, cheekbones, and chin. For a more concentrated glow, I use a small tapered eye shadow blending brush and build the intensity. This powder highlighter also looks amazing on the collarbone, wrists, and forearms for any red carpet.” Neil Scibelli, Celebrity Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Yvette Noel-Schure, Teni Panosian, Elle Macpherson, Larsen Thompson
Milani Baked Highlighter in Bronze Splendore $10 Shop Now “For those with deeper skin tones, I would recommend looking for highlighters that contain warm undertones, like golds and deep orange to red tones. I would suggest steering away from any highlighters that are too icy or frosty, which can oftentimes cast a grey finish on deeper skin. I really love Milani’s Baked Highlighters because they’re all warm-toned and offer a range of deep tones. They’re also super finely milled so there’s no chalky, powdery buildup on the skin.” Fiona Stiles, Celebrity Makeup ArtistCelebrity clients: Gabrielle Union, America Ferrera, Lilly Singh, Katherine Langford
Beautycounter Illuminating Cream Highlighter in Bronze Glow $32 Shop Now “Highlighters on darker skin tones should have a gold or bronze tone to them. Anything cool-toned will look ashy on the skin. I prefer my highlighters to either have a satiny sheen or to be a very smooth highlighter. Anything with big obvious particles of shine or glitter makes me crazy, as they don’t feel seamless on the skin. Even if makeup is bold or even borderline theatrical, it should still feel integrated into the skin and like a part of the face.” Beautycounter Luminous Powder Highlighter in Halo $39 Shop Now When going in with powder highlighters, Stiles notes that placement is key. She suggests sweeping this Beautycounter highlighter along the tops of the cheekbones to catch the light. More Editor-Approved HighlightersPhysician's Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter in Rose Gold $9 Shop Now Barose told us he stays away from any metallic, frosty powders when working with darker skin since they look too harsh and not at all like real skin. We love a soft option for deep tones so it blends right into the skin. E.l.f. Jelly Highlighter in Cloud $4 Shop Now This champagne-hued highlighting gel is on the lighter end of the highlighting spectrum, but it’s the soft, golden undertone that makes it a match for darker skin tones. As Brown puts it, “I avoid highlighters with opal or pearl sheens, as it’s not a natural or complementary shade that appears in deeper tones and can read very false. It’s literally on the opposite end of the color wheel.” Juvia's Place The Nubian Loose Highlighter $14 Shop Now Avendaño warns against powder highlighters with any dense glitter in them. Not only does he say they’re unnatural looking, but they also tend to have fallout throughout the day. Brown agrees, stating that “the perfect texture of the product to me is when the pearl particles are finely milled, so it’s an elegant sheen and not a glittery one.” Nyx Born to Glow $7 Shop Now “In general, the perfect highlighter for deep tones should have golden and warm undertones. Shades of caramel, bronze, and chocolate with a gold pearl are ideal,” Brown told us. This liquid highlighter by Nyx hits all the marks. Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow $32 Shop Now This fool-proof highlighter stick can be applied anywhere, any time. Simply stamp the smooth, glossy sheen onto your skin and blend with the attached brush or your fingers. This shade is truly stunning on brown girls. How do I choose a highlighter shade for my skin tone?It's advisable to pick a colour that's two shades lighter than your skin tone. Your highlighter of choice must blend in seamlessly with the rest of your makeup.
What highlighter color is best for my skin?Pink tones work best for pale to light skin and even light to medium skin. Those with pale skin can also opt for highlighters with lilac tones, which will help brighten their natural skin colour. For medium skin tones, warm shades of peach and gold work best. “It's not easy to find a highlighter for duskier tones.
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Which color highlighter is best for brown skin?
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