The Best Highlighters of 2020: Liquid, Powder, Cream — Editor Reviews

Glowing, healthy-looking skin is always in. Need proof? Just take a look at your favorite celebrities. Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian West, Zendaya, Selena Gomez — they always look radiant, with subtle shine in all the right places.

We know what you’re thinking: Obviously, they’re going to have great skin. They go to some of the top dermatologists and aestheticians in the world. But while that’s true, it doesn’t mean you can’t fake it ’til you make it. That’s where highlighting (sometimes referred to as “strobing”) comes in: It’s where you take a powder, cream, or liquid formula to the high points of your face to help give your skin a glowing-from-within look. 

According to Los Angeles-based makeup artist Robin Black, highlighter is meant to mimic the way natural light (such as candlelight or sunlight) catches and reflects off the high-points of your face. “It has the added benefit of giving a dewy, fresh look to skin and can help makeup look less makeup-y,” she says.

Keep in mind, not all luminizing products do the same thing. Some impart a subtle sheen to your complexion, while others offer a more noticeable glimmer or even a holographic, chrome strobe. Either way, don’t worry about spending a celebrity’s budget for lit skin — there are so many options at every price point, no matter where you are in your pay cycle and no matter which format you prefer.

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