ComScore

How to Find the Best Highlighter for Your Skin Tone

People are always praising concealer and mascara, but in our humble opinion, highlighter is the unsung hero of our makeup bag. Tap some under your eyes before applying concealer and shadows disappear. Or sweep some on the tops of your cheeks and bam! Instant cheekbones. The trick is finding the right shade to complement your skin tone. This is where we (with the help of pro makeup artists) come in. 

7 Places You Never Thought to Put Highlighter (but Should)


rituel de fille highlighter1
Rituel De Fille

If You Have Fair To Light Skin

Fair complexions look best with something that has a silvery or even a slight lavender tone to it, says Mally Roncal, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Mally Beauty. The pearly pigments will subtly brighten your complexion without masking it (or worse, making you look pasty).

Rituel De Fille ($29)

highlighter too faced
Sephora

If You Have Light To Medium Skin

Look for a peach or rose-gold highlighter. Both have warm and cool tones that will pick up the little bit of warmth in your skin without looking overdone. This will ensure that you get more of a natural-looking glow, as opposed to something that’s too muddy or ruddy.

Too Faced ($30)

highlighter kosas
Kosas

If You Have Medium To Olive Skin

Avoid anything that’s too light or pearly, as it can look frosty on your skin. Warm highlighters that have a champagne or peach tint to them will enhance your natural glow.

Kosas ($34)

highlighter makeup for ever
Sephora

If You Have Olive To Dark Skin

Go for a sheer gold or bronze highlighter. Both are warmer in pigmentation and will naturally pop on your complexion says Max Bronner, a makeup artist for Make Up For Ever.

Make Up For Ever ($39)

armani fluid sheer list
Nordstrom

If You Have Dark To Deep Skin

For darker skin tones, a rich gold or coppery shade that's not overly shimmery works best. Too much shimmer can look frosty and leave you with a gray cast.  

Giorgio Armani ($62)



Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

  • Oversees all beauty content at PureWow
  • Has over a decade of experience in writing and editing, both in print and digital media
  • Produces 'Youngish' newsletter, a guide to beauty in your 30s and beyond