Best Makeup Highlighters For Darker Skin Tones
11 Luminous Highlighters That Will Leave Brown Skin Glowing
Makeup shopping can sometimes be a challenge for brown girls. Foundations and concealers can appear too red or too yellow on our faces — or just don't exist in our shades. But ladies with deeper skin tones, you're in great luck when it comes to finding a highlighter to achieve that coveted strobed glow.
Bronze and golden pigments are arguably the most complementary shades on our complexions — regardless of our undertones! — and they make up a majority of the formulas in the highlighter department.
Have you been scoping out illuminating products to intensify your Summer glow? I tested (and found!) the most flattering highlighters to add to your stash. These formulas can be worn alone to give your skin a subtle shine or paired with your favorite contour palette to really sculpt your face. But most importantly, they work on a diverse palette of deeper complexions — so brown girls of all hues can get their bespoke Beyoncé glow on. Keep reading to check them out!
If toting around compacts and brushes isn't your thing, then the Cover Fx Enhance Click Highlighter in Candlelight ($18) will be your favorite. The mini stick is a creamy shade of copper that will strobe brown skin, leaving behind a sunset hue in just one swipe. Blend it out with your fingers, pop the cap on, and toss it into your makeup bag — you're done!
Benefit's Sun Beam Highlighter ($26) is an essential part of any makeup-lover's glow arsenal. The golden shade is especially favorable against warm undertones, as both have complementary hints of yellow. Thanks to its small brush applicator, Sun Beam is convenient for women who prefer to apply makeup with their fingers. Use the tool to place a few small dots of product directly onto your face, then blend it in with your fingertips.
You can achieve a serious shine or a sheer glow with the Nars Dual Intensity Blush in Jubilation ($45). The sleek compact comes with two pearly, pigmented shades that can be used separately or together to complement a wide range of brown skin tones. Try to apply the weightless powders with a wet brush to create that intense, Instagram-worthy look! I personally love to wear the golden shade dry on my cheekbones and the peach hue wet in the inner corners of my eyes for a contrasting pop of color.
If you're after sexy, sun-kissed skin, then you can achieve it with just one dust of MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit ($32). The slow-baked powder is rich in pigment and leaves behind potent shimmer. A little goes a long way with this product, so use a light hand when applying! Try dabbing some onto your cheekbones, nose, and cupid's bow using a fan brush for a regal glow.
The Pur Minerals Strobing Palette in Sun-Kissed Glow ($34) comes with three exquisite shades that will give any shade of brown skin a luminous cast. The cream formula dries down to a powder-like finish for longer-lasting wear. If you're concerned about the lighter hues in this compact, don't be — whether you blend them or use them separately, they won't feel or look ashy on your skin.
You'll be team #NoFilter once you swipe on the Jay Manuel Beauty Skin Face Lift in Gold ($32). The soft-focus highlighting powder won't sparkle like glitter on the skin but will reflect natural light to enhance your features (especially in selfies!). The pigment stick comes with an adjustable brush so you can customize your coverage. Apply lightly on your face for a healthy shine or generously for a photo-shoot-ready radiance.
Makeup minimalists will love the ethereal finish of Kevyn Aucoin's The Celestial Powder in Sunlight ($44). Because of its golden hue, it's especially flattering on medium- to olive-toned skin. Add a bit of its modest shimmer to bare skin or on top of foundation — it reflects light on your face without looking overly "made up."
Regardless of how fair or deep your complexion, the Anastasia Glow Kit in That Glow ($40) is a brown girl's fantasy for perfectly lit skin. The four shades in the compact all vary in tone but are equally complementary on a wide range of complexions. Golden Bronze and Dripping in Gold are my personal favorites for enhancing my cheekbones and cupid's bow, but you can use the hues alone or layered together for an Instagram-worthy makeup look.
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz ($41) is basically dewy skin in a bottle for brown girls. The liquid highlighter feels like luxurious silk when applied to your face and leaves behind an effortless radiance. You can dab some of this onto the high points of your face for a runway-like glow, or mix a few pumps into your foundation to give it a boost of shimmer.
If you, too, envied Ciara's Met Gala glow, then replicate it yourself! Makeup artist Yolonda Frederick used H&M Glow-to-Go Highlighter Stick in Imperial Topaz (available in stores) to strobe the star's cheekbones. The portable highlighter is rich in pigment and performance — you'll only need one swipe of the gold hue to accentuate your complexion. Unlike many other creamy formulas, this one glides on and blends easily with your fingers and dries down beautifully, leaving you shimmery, not sticky. Hey, if Cici approves, this is definitely worth a try!
The copper tones in the Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powder in Seduction ($44) translate into magic in a compact for chocolate gals. Because the sumptuous bronze powder is buildable, you can achieve a sheer or intense glow. The lightweight formula also provides your skin with a deep, luminous cast that doesn't look or feel unnatural or heavy.
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