BEST FACIAL HIGHLIGHTERS THAT WILL MAKE YOU LIT AF

Before highlighter, there was strobing cream. Not just the purview of Tyres O’Flaherty and teeth-grinding ravers in Sir Henry’s, bathing our cheekbones in its fluorescent blue hue was the closest we ever came to being LIT AF. Fast forward a generation and the makeup scene has evolved beyond the creations of Mrs. Constance Carroll and co. Whether it’s liquid, powder or mousse that floats your boat, there’s now something for every shimmer aficionado. These four products listed below are the best facial highlighters you NEED in your makeup bag IMO. I’ve scoured the web for the best deals on the brands I love and saved you up to €15 on some! Now, go forth and shine.

1. Charlotte Tilbury ‘Filmstar’ Bronze & Glow

This is by far one of the most expensive highlighters on the market but it is worth every penny. Much to the chagrin of most contour advocates, this palette breaks all the rules by adding a slight shimmer to the bronzer in a (shock, horror) warm tone. The result? A soft sculpt – I prefer it to a matte bronzer which produces a more severely chiselled cheekbone effect. This palette is perfect for a dramatic night-out look. I paired it with some MAC Ruby Woo lipstick and liner and a brown smokey eye, using the Urban Decay Naked Palette. The best deal for this facial highlighter is on Feel Unique and there’s 20% off if you spend more than 80. It costs a whopping €68.50 on Brown Thomas with shipping and €80 on Net a Porter but Feel Unique has it for £49 with free shipping and that converts to €54 – that’s €15.50 in the difference – a MASSIVE saving on one of the best facial highlighters out there. This is a must-have for your makeup bag and worth investing in.

2. The Balm ‘Loumanizer’

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer comes as a single product or in a mirrored compact palette with Cindy-Lou Manizer (a pink toned multi-purpose illuminator I like to sweep over the cheeks) and Betty-Lou Manizer (a glitter hued bronzer for contouring). Unlike harsh silver toned facial highlighters, Mary-Lou Manizer gives a softer glow. Its buttery tone means that it’s much more natural than the other highlighters mentioned here and is perfect for daytime looks. I’m wearing it with the Chanel eyeshadow palette in Tisse Mademoiselle and NYX retractable pencil in nude and NYX matte lipcream in London. This palette is €28 in my local Debenhams in Waterford but I found it here for £16.80 with free delivery which converts to €18.52, saving you almost €10. Winning! I’m not going to lie, the packaging is so darn cute too!

3. Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

This is the best facial highlighter you never knew you needed in your makeup arsenal. Its lightweight coverage and liquid texture gives the impression that it doesn’t measure up to the best facial highlighters in a powder finish. However, it photographs so beautifully, giving a radiant candlelit effect you can’t beat. This multi-tasking facial highlighter works hard for its money; I love using it as a complexion perfector to diffuse fine lines on the forehead and as an eyeshadow base. The best thing about this highlighter is you only need a tiny drop to produce a highly effective looks – it lasts so long! If you buy this on FeelUnique, it works out at €38 which converts to approximately €42 including shipping whereas it’s €49.50 on Brown Thomas website with shipping.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Perfector

YSL touche eclat is a cult beauty product but I’ve never been a massive fan of the classic  liquid incarnation. I always felt it was a bit too natural for me. Cue touche eclat blur perfector  – a pink-toned highlighting powder combining illuminating particles and blur technology. You can apply it all over to even out and diffuse the complexion but I like to use it just on the forehead and cheeks. It gives a lovely natural soft focus glow. It’s €41 plus shipping costs on Brown Thomas and £33 which works out at €36 with free shipping here.

What was your favourite look from my list of the best facial highlighters on the market? Will you be investing in any? Have I left out your favourite and if so, what is it?

Disclaimer: none of these products were given to me to review or by a PR agency. I am not affiliated with any of the brands. These photos are my own and may not be reproduced or re-published elsewhere without permission. This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a product, I get a few pence (between 10c and 30c).