When I tell people that the hottest makeup trend of 2018 is shaping up to be purple highlighter, most of them react with some variation of, "But that would look awful on me!" I'm here to tell you that you're wrong — between lilac, lavender, and violet, there is a shade of purple highlighter that will flatter any skin tone. Just look at the diverse range of reviews for Fenty Beauty's lilac highlighter stick, or the various swatches of Becca's cult-favorite Prismatic Amethyst powder!
Whether you're striving for a vivid, sparkly shade or prefer a muted, subtle glow, check out these 22 options for testing out the purple highlighter trend. There's something here for everybody.
For something that looks so muted, Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder ($24) has a surprisingly vivid glow when you dab it onto your cheekbones.
Love a good magic trick? Just try Lemonhead Los Angeles Houdini Highlite Spacepaste ($22), which has a bluish-lavender shimmer from one angle, but then disappears completely from another.
Talk about heavenly — Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter ($32) is the perfect lilac to highlight your face.
Accent your fabulous side with Urban Decay Disco Queen Holographic Highlighter Powder ($29).
NYX Away We Glow Liquid Highlighter ($7) is another affordable option in a much more muted shade.
Its packaging might be blue, but Too Faced Unicorn Horn Mystical Effects Highlighting Stick ($28) actually goes on in a pinkish-lavender tone.
If you want several purple highlight options, the Lancôme All-Over Color Highlighting Palette ($39) is your pick. A purple for every mood!
If you spring for this NYX Love You So Mochi Highlighter Palette ($27), you'll also get a peachy highlighter and a golden option as bonuses.
Calling all mermaids — the Ciate Mermaid Glow Highlighter ($42) has a lovely lavender shade on one end.
The most vivid lavender shade in this Sigma Chroma Glow Shimmer Highlight Palette ($49) can also be worn as a blush — talk about a bonus!
Lime Crime fans go crazy for the purple in this Lime Crime Hi-Lite Highlighter Palette ($38).
Get double-duty beauty from this NARS Women's Highlighting Blush ($30) — it works as both!
The "Aura" highlighter in this Kevyn Aucoin Prismagic Highlighting Trio ($48) is a universally flattering amethyst shade.
The purple in Huda Beauty's Winter Solstice Highlighter Palette ($58) is inspired by the Winter solstice in the Arctic — it's icily stunning.
If you're looking for a drugstore option, Maybelline FaceStudio Master Fairy Highlight Illuminating Powder ($10) is the perfect pick.
Use only the right side of this Tarte Spellbound Glow Rainbow Highlighter ($30) to achieve a more purple-tinted highlight.
It's pricey, but the Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer ($95) will lend an elegant lavender edge to your highlight game.
The ombré design of this Kevyn Aucoin The Neo-Limelight in "Ibiza" ($58) highlighter is practically begging you to Instagram it!
If you're not into powdered highlights, check out the barely purpleUlta Face Highlighting Duochrome Stick ($10) luminizer.
For days when you're feeling wild, just use the "Mykonos" violet highlighter from Huda Beauty's 3D Highlighter Palette Summer Solstice ($45).
Rihanna can do no wrong, and Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in "Confetti" ($25) is a perfectly playful lavender highlighter.
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in "Prismatic Amethyst" ($38) is my go-to highlighter; it's got just a subtle touch of lilac glow, but it's also buildable enough that you can create a more purple look if you're feeling feisty!