One of my favorite makeup products is highlight powder! I am always on the hunt to find the latest and greatest and have acquired quite the collection over the past year! I love “strobing” with these powder products because they emphasize the high points of my face, showing off my favorite features. I also love that I look instantly healthier and more alive by adding some extra radiance to my skin. I think highlight powder can take what would otherwise be considered simple makeup and instantly turn it into a Pinterest-worthy look! The tops of my cheekbones, temples, inner-corners of my eye, tip of my nose and cupid’s bow are my favorite places to highlight. I never skip out on this step of my makeup routine and highly encourage you to try out this popular beauty trend! I wanted to share all of my favorites with you so you can find your best match; whether you want a dewy and natural skin look, or an extremely bright and noticeable glow, I think I’ll have you covered!   

Subtle Glow

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact, “Highlight 01 – Golden Nude,” $40.

This product truly stands out in my collection because it provides the most beautifully subtle glow. If you want a natural, effortless highlight, you will absolutely love this product. It gives a reflective sheen once applied, which brings a lifted effect to your face. If you have mature skin, I would highly suggest this one because it isn’t glittery and definitely won’t emphasize any fine lines or texture.
   

Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo, “Warm Glow,” $30.

I love the “lit-from-within” glow that this highlight gives my face. Again, it really just provides a radiant looking complexion, rather than an intentional shimmer. My favorite way to apply this product is with a large fluffy brush all over my face, not being specific where I place it. Whenever I do this technique, my skin looks hydrated and gorgeous! I would not recommend this product as a strategic highlight because it doesn’t have enough power in its pigmentation to bring out your cheekbones and other high points of your face. It really works best as an all over dusting powder when you’re finished with your makeup and want to look extra dewy. For me personally, I never apply this product in my t-zone, just because after a couple hours I will look unattractively oily, rather than my desired healthy glow.
    

Makeup Revolution Pro Illuminate, $7.

I mentioned this product as a highlight to pick up in my drugstore starter kit post because it really gives a universally flattering sheen to anyone’s face. Regardless of age or skin type, I find this product beautifully brings attention to the high points of the face, without looking harsh or glittery. I would best describe the overall look of this product to be glossy, which is unique for a typical powder formulation!
     

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit, “That Glow,” $40.

I am obsessed with the formula of these highlights! They glide on the face so evenly pigmented, so you never have one area that looks shinier than the rest. This kit is super versatile because it not only comes with four different highlight shades, but it also can be intensified with beauty mists, like M.A.C Fix Plus if you want an intense, almost metallic looking effect! They last beautifully for hours and I am always getting compliments whenever I wear these out!

      

M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinsh, “Soft & Gentle,” $32.

This was one of the first highlight’s I ever owned because I read so many blog posts that recommended it! I was so excited to get it and expected it to be a bright and sparkly highlight, but surprisingly it gave me a super natural, skin-like glow! This product does have shimmers in it, but after blended out, they don’t really show up on your skin. It is a gorgeous champagne color, which is universally brightening on many different skin tones! I enjoy wearing this product on a day-to-day basis because it has the power to compliment any kind of makeup look.

   

     

Beaming from the Heavens

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, “Opal,” $38.
I love Becca highlights because they’re creamy, but also have extremely shimmery color payoff. Sometimes the more glitter that’s in a highlight, the more chalky and patchy they apply. With this product, you can guarantee that your highlight will look gorgeous on the skin. I love the shade Opal because it’s a warm, champagne, neutral color that goes great with any makeup look. I love this color as an eyeshadow as well since it’s such an effortless brightening shade for all over the eyelids and the inner corners of the eye! Another amazing aspect of the Becca highlights are their longevity! I can apply this product at 6am and still have it show up when I get home from work at 6pm! I will definitely continue to buy these highlights because I do think they’re the best on the market! 

       

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, “Champagne Pop,” $38.

This is my all-time favorite highlight! If you have no idea where to begin with this glowing skin trend, look no further than Champagne Pop! It’s a beautiful peachy-gold shimmer, that brightens and compliments any skin tone! If you’re a fan of peachy or bronze blushes, you will absolutely love this shade to place on the tops of your cheeks! Of course it has the signature Becca creamy formula that is long-wearing and pigmented, so you really can’t go wrong in any aspect!

    

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator, “Gilded Honey,” $26.

This would definitely be ranked as my second favorite highlight! The best thing about this product is its brightening power! If you’re looking for a shade that will give lift to your face, than you’ll love the way this formula reflects on the high points you place it. It is also absolutely beautiful in the sunlight. Since it’s a true gold, it does compliment my olive-tan skin tone very well, but I also believe its universally flattering too! This is also one of the few powder highlights I own that layers evenly over cream products, which is an extra bonus! 

    

theBalm Highlight, “Mary-Lou Manizer,” $24. 

This was one of the first highlights I ever bought because of its popularity online! I heard so many YouTubers and read so many blog posts about this being the ultimate glowing skin product. It really is amazing! The bright, champagne radiance it brings my skin is so gorgeous and unique! This is a highlight I’ll always have in my collection because it matches any makeup look and is my go-to whenever I want to sparkle from space. This is also an extremely long wearing formula and will last you throughout long days and summer weather! 

         

ColourPop Highlight, “Wisp,” $8. ColourPop Highlight, “Avalon,” $8.

These ColourPop highlights are the best value on the market right now! They are extremely pigmented and have such great color payoff even once you blend them out on your cheeks. With some powder products, the shimmer will fall out once blended, but since these are a unique cream-to-powder consistency, they go own as dewy and evenly pigmented than they look in the pan. I love the shades Wisp and Avalon because they’re different from one another in shade, but both perform exceptionally well. The shade Wisp is a gorgeous golden-champagne color and Avalon is copper shade that acts beautiful as a blush/bronzer topper to give your entire face a shimmery glow! I’m also astounded that these inexpensive highlights last longer than anything else I own! You’ll love these if you’re just starting out and want to build your collection because they’re budget friendly and extremely high quality! 

    

Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my highlight powder collection! I am constantly rotating each of these products into my everyday makeup routine, so they are all being used and well-loved. Although I don’t think you absolutely need every single highlighter I mentioned, I do hope you found a new one to love or discovered some helpful info on the one you’ve been recently eyeing! Happy highlighting!