Image: MomJunction Design Team
Give your face a glowy sheen with our list of the best highlighters for brown skin. A highlighter adds a luminous glow to the face and accentuates the highest points of your face. However, choosing the right highlighter shade depends on your complexion. Products with peach, bronze, or gold undertones can give your skin a warm, rich, sunkissed glow.
Most highlighters are available in liquid, cream, or powder formulas. They contain light-diffusing pigments that offer the skin a natural sheen and enhance your makeup. With various products available, choosing the right highlighter for your skin may be challenging. So, browse through our list to make an informed choice.
Top Picks
9 Best Highlighters For Brown Skin
1. Best For All Skin Types: Maybelline New York Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
Maybelline New York master chrome metallic highlighter can add dimensions to your face. This highly pigmented molten gold highlighter for brown skin is suitable for all types of skin, giving your skin a reflective effect. It is formulated with the best ingredients to enhance your facial features by attracting light. The professional-grade pressed powder has two rich colors of molten metal tones. This video review showcasing a tester’s experience will help you learn more about this highlighter.
Pros
- Can be applied using fingertips
- Works best on cheeks and brow bones
- Delivers a warm undertone
- Blendable and buildable formula
Cons
- Shade may be darker than expected
- Palette may have a brittle finish
"This highlighter shade has surpassed my expectations, unlike my experience with other shades. It offers a soft glow and is easy to apply with your fingertips. Perfect for me!"
Beauty tip2. Best Water-Resistant: Lifus Highlighter Palette
A perfect highlighter for brown skin, the Lifus subtle glow highlighter is a four-in-one palette that can enhance your makeup and give you a three-dimensional look with perfect and precise contours. The water-resistant and smudge-proof illuminator for deep skin tones is ideal for your brow-bones, cheekbones, and eyelids and suitable for various skin tones. The pigment-rich bronze highlighters add a subtle glow to your face and give it a soft, silky texture. This results-driven natural-looking highlighter for deep complexions is vegan and cruelty-free.
Pros
- Delivers a natural-looking finish
- Lasts up to 12 hours
- Best for simple makeup
- Suitable for professional makeup artists
Cons
- May require a setting spray for a highlighted look
- May not be easy to get colors on the brush
"I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this palette. It's subtle yet effective. It adds the right touch of radiance without being overpowering."
3. Best Moisturizing: Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter
The Physicians Formula multidimensional powder-based highlighter combines the advantages of murumuru, tucuma, and cocoa butter. This dermatologist-approved pearlized highlighter for rich skin tones is lightweight and can be worn over makeup or used as a stand-alone makeup delight. It also contains essential fatty acids and provitamins, which help moisturize the skin and retain moisture. This glow enhancer for brown skin has refined pearls to help brighten the skin tone and provide visible results. The hypoallergenic powder formula is safe for sensitive skin and does not contain harsh chemicals. This review video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
Pros
- Delivers a Brazilian glow seamlessly
- Made with a lasting hydrating effect
- Can be used without a makeup brush
- Glides on face easily
- Allergy-tested
- Can deliver a subtle but shimmer finish
- Gluten-free and vegan
- Available in eight colors
Cons
- May not be water-resistant
- May have a peculiar smell
"I love the quality and color of this bronzer although the scent is slightly overpowering. The shade adds a soft warmth to my skin. I'm delighted with my purchase."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product boasts 33,327 reviews on Amazon, and many buyers have said they would purchase the product again.
4. Best Shimmery: Wet N Wild Megaglo Liquid Highlighter
The liquid warm-toned highlighter for brown skin delivers a multi-dimensional shimmer effect and gives it a natural moisturizing finish. Wet n Wild, a celebrity-endorsed brand, offers this highlighter with refined pearls and soft-focus pigments, which can smoothen your skin tone and give it a subtle golden glow. This wear-alone multi-dimensional highlighter for deep skin tones contains murumuru seed butter and vitamin E, which can smoothly spread and brighten skin tone. The moisturizing formula has never been tested on animals. Check this review video to learn more about the product.
Pros
- Consists of buildable pigmentation
- Long-lasting
- Made with a hydrating formula
- Comes in four colors
Cons
- May not suit people with cool undertones
- May not be easy to remove
"This highlighter is a steal for the subtle, youthful glow its adds to my complexion. It's long-lasting and nicely pigmented. I recommend a brush for a lighter touch. It fits nicely in my makeup bag."
Beauty tipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
Do not miss out on this product that has earned 3,010 positive reviews on Amazon.
5. Best Vegan: Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter
Aesthetica highlighter, available in four shades, delivers a radiant glow and natural dewy effect to dark skin tones. This powder-based luminous highlighter for brown skin has a metallic luster, blends perfectly with your skin, and lasts for a long time. The disc-shaped dewy highlighter for darker skin tones contains luminous pressed powder with a mirror to complete your makeup look. This professional-grade radiant highlighter for dark skin is fortified with the best ingredients and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Pros
- Emphasizes facial structure
- Glides smoothly on the skin
- Suitable for beginners and professionals
- Available in three colors
Cons
- Some may find the pigmentation to be insufficient
- May crumble upon prolonged usage
"The charm of this highlighter lies in its lovely color, which can be layered to achieve the desired glow. It was a bit tricky to open the compact initially, but that's a minor hiccup. The shade is flattering for fair, warm complexions too. I gifted this to my friends, and they loved it."
6. Best Pigmented: Covergirl TruBlend Super Stunner Hyper-Glow
The Covergirl TruBlend highlighter is designed to give all skin tones a shimmering effect. It is a powder formula rich in pigments, which help accentuate the cheekbones and give a radiant glow. The rich formula blends perfectly with your makeup to create a perfect and charming appearance. The results-driven shimmering highlighter for deep complexion contains highly effective ingredients and has never been tested on animals.
Pros
- Suits all skin types and tones
- Can be applied using fingertips
- Blends easily
- Comes in various colors
Cons
- May get clumped
- May not suit dry skin
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 1,140 positive customer reviews on Amazon are a testament to its quality and reliability.
7. Best Handmade Formula: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact
Bobbi Brown’s compact-based highlighter in pink quartz is a shimmering brush-on powder highlighter that gives your face a soft pink appearance. The light-diffusing pigments enhance the skin texture with a natural sheen, adds a soft glow to your cheeks, and accentuates your facial features beautifully. The dermatologically tested handmade formula blends smoothly with your skin and reflects a radiant glow. The formula does not contain parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.
Pros
- Travel-friendly and comes with a mirror
- Tested by dermatologists
- Hassle-free application
- Available in three colors
Cons
- May be smaller than expected
- May crumble easily
"I've used this product for years, and it never disapoints. The natural shine it provides is perfect, without being excessive. It's great for minimal makeup days."
Quick tip8. Best For Natural Glow:Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beauty Light Wand Highlighter
The Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk light wand highlighter is a blendable liquid formula with a high-gloss finish. The brightening pigments provide soft-focus coverage while giving the skin a radiant, youthful, and dewy glow. In addition, this celebrity-favorite highlighter is infused with lindera extract, which provides hydration, and silica, which has oil-absorbing properties.
Pros
- Non-greasy formula
- Fast-drying
- Rich, velvety texture
- Lightweight formula
Cons
- May not be suitable for oily skin
- Tube might not be user-friendly
"I enjoy using this product. The quality is great; however, the blending could be easier. Its long-lasting nature makes it worth splurging on."
9. Best With Vitamin E:Elf Cosmetics Baked Highlighter Apricot Glow
If you’re looking for a highlighter that complements and enhances your skin tone, this highlighter in the Apricot Glow shade is a great choice. With a sheer finish and smooth texture, richly pigmented highlighters for brown skin blends effortlessly into the skin. Additionally, this makeup artist-approved golden highlighter for deep skin tones by Elf is formulated with skin-friendly ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba, rosehip, sunflower, apricot, and grape oils that provide nourishment to your skin even while wearing makeup.
Pros
- Can be applied wet or dry for the desired look
- Suitable for daily use
- Richly pigmented
- Lightweight
Cons
- Gold color may not suit people with cool undertones
- Might not stick well to the brush
How To Choose The Right Highlighter For Brown Skin?
Here are some suggestions for choosing the best highlighter for brown or dark skin tones.
1. Pigments: Choose a product that is rich in pigments to enhance natural luster.
2. Shade: Rich gold, bronze, and copper are most suitable for brown skin. Avoid buying frosty colors such as pink and peach.
3. Long-lasting: Always check the product label’s expiry date. Avoid buying products that are close to the expiry date. Expired products may irritate your skin.
4. Sun protection: A highlighter with SPF content can be worn as wear-alone to provide you with double protection.
5. Brand: Choose trustworthy brands that have positive reviews. A reputable brand will not compromise on quality.
Barbie Ritzman, a beauty brand expert and founder of Barbie’s Beauty Bits, says, “Know your undertones. Undertones can be classified as cool, warm, or neutral. Choose a highlighter that is two shades lighter than your skin tone to achieve a natural look. Unlike your skin tone, which can change due to sun exposure, your undertone is reliable as it never changes.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How should I use a highlighter on brown skin?
You can use a dark-colored and pigmented highlighter on all the areas of the skin that would reflect light. Use your finger or a brush to dab the shimmery product over your nose, cheeks, and collarbones.
2. How should I find my highlighter shade?
Your highlighter should be a few shades lighter than your skin tone. Aldo, ensure the shade belongs to the same color family as your skin tone.
3. Will a highlighter make me look older?
When applied correctly, a glowing highlighter for brown skin tones can give you youthful and glowing skin. However, using excessive amounts of the product can make existing dryness or wrinkles prominent.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Poulami Nag is a makeup, fashion, and personal care enthusiast. She has searched extensively to find the best highlighters for brown skin to give you a smooth finish. In this post, she has included products available in various brown shades. While all of these products are smudge-proof and offer glittery hues, they have varying intensities to suit your needs. This list comprises highlighters that would enhance your skin tone. Also included is a buyer’s guide to help you make the right choice.
When applied correctly, the best highlighters for brown skin can give you a natural glow and help accentuate and define specific features, such as your nose, collarbones, or cheekbones. To choose the perfect highlighter, pick one that has high pigmentation, is water-resistant, long-lasting, and easy to apply. Further, ensure you pick the highlighter based on your skin type, whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin. Also, pick a product from a reputable brand so that you do not compromise on quality.
Infographic: Where Should You Apply The Highlighter For Perfect Results?
A highlighter is a versatile makeup product that adds a luminous glow to the skin. However, it needs to be applied strategically to the high points of the face to create a youthful, dewy finish. Refer to the infographic below to learn about the facial points where you should apply the highlighter to achieve a refreshed, flawlessly vibrant look. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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