8 Best Liquid Highlighters for an Effortless Glow, Tested by Our Beauty Editors
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There are many ways to achieve glowy skin, but nothing makes it as effortless as the best liquid highlighters. These shimmery products can be just as pigmented and radiant as powder formulas, while being incredibly easy to build and blend into the rest of your complexion essentials. The best part? The naturally glowy look from these liquid highlighters is making a major comeback for 2025’s makeup trends.
TL;DR Our top pick is the Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer, which will last you forever, comes in a wide range of flattering pearly shades for different skin tones and types, and is under $30. Below, find the best liquid highlighters—including drugstore bestsellers and TikTok-viral formulas—you’ll want to keep on hand for everyday wear or your next night out.
The best liquid highlighters, at a glance
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How we tested
Over four Glamour editors tested a dozen liquid highlighters over several months, evaluating their texture, format, pigmentation, and longevity. The ones that made the cut were silky-smooth to the touch and delivered rich, lasting pigment—one to two taps of the product were enough to fully highlight the high points of our face. We tried a variety of applicators and packaging styles, ultimately favoring those with doe-foot applicators that made the product easy to apply. Finally, ever liquid highlighter that made our final list earned high marks for longevity— we applied them in the morning and could still see their luminosity well into the evening.
Best Overall: Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer
This liquid highlighter is a standout favorite among Glamour editors and professional makeup artists alike. “Positive Light Luminizer blends so smoothly and gives you a natural glow from within,” says New Jersey–based makeup artist Brielle Pollara. The finish is dewy, lightweight, long-lasting, and designed to work for all skin tones and skin types. The formula is infused with a botanical blend of white water lily, gardenia, and lotus to help nourish and soothe skin with every application.
Our tester says:. “I’ve been using the same bottle for months, and I still have plenty left over,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “A few dots go a long way, and the formula blends easily and looks glistening on my skin tone. It plays well with my other makeup products, too, and gives me an illuminating glow that lasts for hours. Rare Beauty highlighter is by far one of the best I’ve ever used.”
Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand
Pollara is a big fan of this beauty wand if you’re looking for an affordable, everyday liquid highlighter. “It’s really lightweight and has buildable pigment and a soft-glow finish,” she says. It also features a cushion-tip applicator that makes applying the product a breeze–no need for brushes.
Our tester says: “I was really impressed with this drugstore formula. It’s super pigmented—literally one tap of product on each cheek is enough—and stays put for hours. I like that it’s under $10. It’s lasted me over four months and performs just as well as as other higher-priced highlighters in my collection,” says Kilkeary.
Best for Deep Skin Tones: Iconic London Illuminator
A cult-favorite among both celebrities and makeup artists, this best-selling liquid highlighter is incredibly versatile—apply it on bare skin for a gentle sheen, or mix it into your foundation, moisturizer, or primer anytime you want a customizable, glossy finish.
Our tester says: “This Iconic London highlighter is perfect if you’re looking for a dewy, glowy look. I tend to prefer a matte finish with my makeup, so I set it with a highlighter and it still gave me a natural glow without taking the pigment away. It lasted all day and blended well with my other liquid-based products. It’s perfect for a natural, light makeup look,” says Glamour senior social media manager Jazmin Gathers.
Best for Mature Skin: Tarte Glow Tape Highlighter
Makeup artists tell us liquid highlighters are especially flattering on mature skin, since they can blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This pigmented formula does exactly that with shea butter to create a silky, even-textured, fresh finish.
Our tester says: “Tarte highlighter’s applicator is supercool. The pen-like makeup has a sponge on top, and when you click the top to the left the highlighter appears on the sponge. When I put about three dots on my cheeks, it’s more than enough product, and it can actually double as a blusher—the Rose Glow shade is perfect for my fair complexion, and I found I didn’t need to also use blush. It’s the perfect step in my two-minute makeup routine, when I just need to run out the door super fast. And since it’s in a convenient portable applicator, I can also throw it in my bag to use later in the day when I need to refresh my look. The texture is just creamy enough to moisturize my skin and yet stay on my cheeks. I used it on my cheeks, chin, on top of my brow bones, and the tip of my nose to give a sun kissed-gleam that wasn’t sparkly, just a perfect shine,” says Glamour copy manager Charlotte Twine.
Best Highlighter and Bronzer: Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops
For a lit-from-within glow that comes before foundation, try these multi-use highlighter drops that blend seamlessly into moisturizer. They have a blend of squalane, sunflower seed oil, and hyaluronic acid to smooth dry, flaky patches and improve skin texture overall. And if you want a little extra shimmer, they layer beautifully on top of makeup too (without causing it to pill or separate).
Our tester says: “I normally don’t add highlighter to my makeup routine because it’s an extra step, but lately I’ve been loving the extra dimensional shine that it adds. In the winter my face doesn’t feel as glowy, so this helps add that dewy look that really stands out in certain lights. Although there’s no brush, I appreciate that it’s not messy at all. It doesn’t drip down my face and absorbs nicely. You can also use this on your body by mixing it with lotion,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best Highlighter and Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Light Wand
Charlotte Tilbury’s liquid highlighter provides a high-gloss, soft-focus finish that makes your skin look radiant but not overly shimmery. Its rose-gold pigments create a sun-kissed look, and the sponge tip is not too large or small, making it perfectly precise for application. Our tester said that this one is perhaps the most long-lasting of the bunch—you can apply it in the morning and still see its luminosity by the end of the day. A little goes a long way: One or two taps are all you need to illuminate your features.
Our tester says: “I’m a big fan of the Charlotte Tilbury blush wands but haven’t had a lot of luck with their viral contour wands, and I would say the highlighter falls somewhere in the middle. When I tried to blend it in (gently) with a brush, I found the product lifted, but once I tried using my fingers the highlighter created a lovely subtle glow,” says Glamour contributor Emily Tannenbaum.
Best for Glowy Base: Saie Glowy Super Gel
“The Saie illuminator is for my no-makeup makeup girlies. It gives a soft dewiness that looks like healthy, glowing skin,” says New York City-based makeup artist Jonet Williamson. It’s excellent for layering over makeup or mixing into your favorite lotion, moisturizer, or SPF for an allover glow. The formula nicely accentuates the high points of the face and creates a subtle radiance with little effort.
Our tester says: “When I’m going for a more natural highlight, I always reach for this gel,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “I like to mix it in with my full-coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer for a radiant finish. A few taps on my upper cheekbones, down my nose, and on top of my makeup will do the trick. It’s very lightweight but definitely noticeable, and it makes me look like I spent some time in the sun without being overly shiny.”
Best Long-Lasting: Sacheu Liquid Glow
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You may recognize this TikTok-famous highlighter from your FYP. The formula is lightweight and dewy, delivering a shimmery finish without shine or grease. Its packed with skin-boosting ingredients, including squalane, hyaluronic acid, and pomegranate extract, that gently plump and hydrate dry skin.
Our tester says: “This ultra-lightweight highlighter isn’t too chunky or glittery but still delivers all-day luminosity,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “I love that it gives off a dewy finish that’s ideal for applying on the high points of my face (cheekbones, down the nose, and on my cupid’s bow). It does a great job of keeping skin moisturized all day, even when paired with makeup. You can use this blended in your foundation or tap it on top of your finished look—the doe foot makes it easy to get the product right where you want it. It also keeps my skin pretty hydrated thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the formula.”
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between liquid and powder highlighter?
“The main difference between liquid highlighter and powder highlighter is in their application and finish,” says Williamson. “Powder isn’t as versatile as liquid, which can be mixed into or on top of other products like foundation, concealer, blush, and moisturizer. Liquid highlighters can also be applied under complexion products, while powders can only be used as a finishing touch.” Liquid highlighters also vary more widely in results—some are dewy, while others dry down to a powder-like finish.
What’s the best way to apply a liquid highlighter?
There are a few ways you can apply liquid highlighter: with your fingers, a brush, or a damp beauty blender or sponge. “I personally love using my fingers because the warmth helps the product melt into the skin, while a sponge or stippling brush leaves a really soft, diffused look,” says Pollara.
Where should you apply liquid highlighter?
You can apply these illuminators wherever you want enhance shine. Makeup artists recommend sticking to the high points of your face (the cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of your nose) and cupid’s bow. “I also like adding a tiny bit to the inner corners of my eyes for an extra pop of brightness,” says Pollara. You can also use a brush to add it as your base for a radiant look.
How to choose the right liquid highlighter for your skin tone
Choosing the right liquid highlighter depends on the undertone of your skin. Cool undertones tend to look best with pearly-pink shades, while warmer, olive-toned undertones are best suited to copper, bronze, or golden hues.
Meet the experts
- Brielle Pollara, a New Jersey-based makeup artist
- Jonet Williamson, a New York City-based makeup artist
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