The 12 Best Highlighters for Dark Skin Tones, Reviewed by Editors

Fact: no one makes products for dark skin tones like Danessa Myricks. Known for her intensely pigmented color and complexion products, this is the highlighter to beat all highlighters. Buildable and glitter-free, the liquid formula is filled with refined pearl pigments to create a sheer radiance that feels built from within. All glow, no glitter.

Finish: Radiant, illuminating

Texture: Liquid

What We Love: These highlighters are sheer and buildable—a little bit goes a very, very long way

What We Don’t: Liquid highlighters can be finicky

Review for MC: "This is not an over-exaggeration: I have considered leaving my entire life savings to Danessa Myricks in my will. The woman has never missed when it comes to a beauty product. These liquid highlighters come in a range of shades perfectly suited for darker skin tones, but I really love how buildable they are. I tend to be a little heavy-handed regarding my highlighter application. While it can be fun to be seen from the tailgating booth in the parking garage sometimes, other days I just want to have an easy, natural glow. Truly, these are miracles in a bottle." — Amanda Mitchell, Contributing Beauty Writer

Sometimes, when a powder highlighter has a bit too much shimmer, my red flags go up. See, glitter is different than glow, and highlighters with too much glitter can come off looking like concert makeup or an arts and crafts project. Maybelline, however, nailed the balance. This combines a blend of pearl pigments with a metallic chrome sheen to create a reflective highlighter that illuminates.

Finish: Illuminating

Texture: Powder

What We Love: Buildability; the intense finish

What We Don’t: It’s certainly not the most subtle of highlighters

Review for MC: "Never, ever, ever sleep on Maybelline. I’ve always said they’re one of the most consistent drugstore brands ever created. You can get high-quality performance at a price point that won’t hurt your wallet. If you want pigment, they’re giving you pigment, which is perfect for dark skin tones. I love how easy these are to wear. Even my mother, who hates highlighters and doesn’t understand why I would ever want to look like a glazed donut, loved the application of these highlighters. The shade and metallic sheen in the pan warmed up to a gorgeous, natural glow on my face." — Amanda Mitchell, Contributing Beauty Writer

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty nearly exploded the highlighter game when she launched the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter—remember the chokehold Trophy Wife had on us in 2017? But I prefer the liquid version a bit more. It’s a lightweight, creamy formula that dries down to a powder, giving a subtle, buildable glow that looks stunning on dark skin. “I love the texture and pigmentation in this highlighter,” adds makeup artist Tamara Boyd. “The finely milled shimmer blends seamlessly into the skin, avoiding the chunky shimmer effect that some highlighters leave behind.”

Finish: Luminous

Texture: Liquid

What We Love: The pigment and shade range

What We Don’t: Because of its high pigmentation and viscosity, it’s easy to overapply, which can make blending more challenging.

Review for MC: "I’m not even going to lie to you: When I first got this product, I fully said, “Is this a highlighter for ANTS?” But I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s Rihanna. Of course, this tiny 0.5-ounce tube contained liquid (rose) gold. I barely even use a whole drop to highlight my entire face—that’s how glowy and pigmented this product is, and I can promise you I’ve been using this same tube for over a year." — Contributing Beauty Writer, Amanda Mitchell

“Master” really defines this product perfectly. Created by the Glow King himself and inspired by his love of crystals, this is the most light-reflecting, glowing highlighter out there. Sheer enough for every day use, it’s a gorgeous burst of sparkle and illumination for the eyes, cheeks, or décolletage.

Finish: Extreme luminosity

Texture: Powder

What We Love: The pigment and shimmer

What We Don’t: The powder is so soft and gentle, the pan can break very easily; only three shade options

Review for MC: "Oh, you said you wanted to GLOW? These highlighters are the perfect balance of glow to (gasp) glitter, but they don’t feel or apply too sparkly when applied. This is the highlight for the most glamorous of occasions because it’s like a disco ball in a pan… in a good way, not like shards of glass." — Contributing Beauty Writer, Amanda Mitchell

For those who want true glow, but want it to feel like it comes from deep within your skin, this is one of the most natural-looking highlighters on the market. Charlotte Tilbury describes it as “a powder highlighter that glides on like a liquid,” filled with ingredients to give a filter-like glow effect on the skin.

Finish: Radiant Shimmer

Texture: Powder

What We Love: It’s full of skin-smoothing emollients and glides on like a dream

What We Don’t: The shade range options; packaging can be iffy

Review for MC: "I don’t remember a life before I had this highlighter. I love how big the pan is and that it applies so effortlessly and easily. It gives a really shimmery, radiant effect to the skin, and really sinks in to last for a long time. My only complaint is that I wish the shade range was a bit bigger—I can make most highlighter shades work with my skin tone (luckily!) but I’d love more undertone options for my highlighters." — Contributing Beauty Writer, Amanda Mitchell

Trinny London is designed for finger-friendly, subtle application. Every product, including this highlighter, is truly foolproof and perfect for on-the-go glow emergencies. I'm not sure how she made a ring light into a cream form, but this simple highlight always has me looking and feeling radiant.

Finish: Subtle glow

Texture: Cream

What We Love: Gorgeously subtle; a shade range with something for everyone

What We Don’t: Doesn’t last as long as other products

Customer Review: “I love this product. I finish off my makeup with a dab of this highlighter and feel fresh and dewy. Coming into summer in Australia, it's a perfect finish.” — Trinny London

These powders are so soft, they feel like a cloud on my skin. I'm continuously shocked that something so light and airy can pack a punch when it comes to pigment. This highlighter feels weightless and gives a sheen that is best described as angelic.

Finish: Skin-like with luminous glow

Texture: Silky Powder

What We Love: Doesn’t settle into fine lines; the texture of the product is beautiful

What We don’t: Because of the silk-like texture and the packaging, this can break relatively easily

Review for MC: “This formula melts into the complexion beautifully,” says makeup artist Sam Fine. “I love the lightweight, buildable formula that provides a glass-like glow and a gentle flush of color.”

Sometimes, it can be hard to find a formula that’s both good for the environment and shows up on the face (pigment is trickier to formulate without chemicals). Enter LYS Beauty’s highlighter stick, which delivers a soft, dewy glow to enhance your skin's natural radiance without being overly shiny. The creamy formula glides effortlessly onto the skin, providing a smooth, blendable texture that doesn’t feel heavy or sticky.

Finish: Dewy Radiant

Texture: Creamy

What We Love: Hydrating; ideal for dry skin types.

What We Don’t: It can remove makeup if applied too heavy on top; better applied with a sponge or a brush; reviewers have received broken tips

Review for MC: “Aside from the amazing price point, this stick is travel friendly and comes in a bronze shade that is absolutely stunning on dark skin.” says makeup artist Brandy Allen. “It leaves a fresh, glowing finish that looks just like skin – but better. The formula helps to illuminate the face without emphasizing texture.”

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, you’ve done it again. And, I must refer to you by your full legal name so you understand how important this is. Lady Gaga's Haus Labs has consistently been putting out brilliant new products over the past two years, and these highlighters are yet another slam dunk. With ten shades, there’s something here for every skin tone, especially for dark skin tones. The gentle shimmer will give you a natural, easy glow—think: Joanne-era Gaga, not The Fame Monster-era Gaga.

Finish: Gentle radiant glow

Texture: Velvet gel-powder

What We Love: The innovative formula; the widest range of shades on this list (10)

What We Don’t: These require a lot of product to get a big punch — a very subtle, subtle glow upon first application

Review for MC: “The shade range is the widest around,ranging from silvers to deep golden bronze; they have something to suit all needs,” says Fine. “This vibrant, pigment-rich formula satisfies a myriad of skin tones.”

For those of us who may be traveling, indecisive, or both, a highlighter palette is the way to go. This one from Black Radiance gives you three options at once, or if you want to blend them all—go wild, the world is your shimmering oyster.

Finish: Shimmer

Texture: Velvet powder

What we love: The shade variety and price point

What we don’t: Powder formulas can emphasize dry patches or flakiness on the skin.

Review for MC: “I love this highlighter palette because it has everything you need at your fingertips,” explains makeup artist Manuel Espinoza. “It has three beautiful shades to choose from—a bronze, lavender, and peachy highlighter. There are whispers of purple being a huge makeup trend in 2025, so the lavender shade in this palette offers a way to experiment.”

REFY is easily one of the buzziest makeup brands out there. I get the hype. This gel formula can be used as a primer or on top of your makeup, offering multiple ways to wear and control the shine. It’s lightweight, too, perfect for those sweaty summer days when you want to turn that swampy dampness into pure luminescence. There’s no glitter here, just a pure, natural glow.

Finish: Radiant shimmer

Texture: Gel-Liquid

What we love: Can be used as a base primer, on its own, or on top of your base makeup.

What we don’t: Can sometimes have a sticky texture; glow doesn’t last very long

Review for MC: “I like this highlighter for darker complexions because its golden bronze shade is universally flattering and leaves the glass-like glow everyone is after,” says Espinoza.

Chanel’s Baume Essential is a cult favorite for a reason. It’s a dewy glow stick for face, eyes, and lips that doesn’t feel super sticky or tacky at any point. If you’re balking at $48 for a single stick product, this product goes a long, long way due to the luxuriously glossy texture. It’s more like a moisturizing balm with a bit of shimmer that’s the epitome of that French girl effortless sheen. It's also Marie Claire Beauty Director Hannah Baxter's longtime favorite highlighter for a lit from within glow.

Finish: Dewy

Texture: Glossy balm

What We Love: The texture is glossy, but not sticky and stays looking fresh for hours; the packaging is perfect for on-the-go touchups

What We Don’t: May be too emollient for oily skin

Review for MC: “The formula is perfect for those looking for a glowing highlight or a wet-look gloss effect,” says Allen. “It’s great for adding a subtle shine to the high points of the face, or even as a glossy finish on eyelids and lips. It’s the ultimate product for creating that “lit from within” glow.”