10 Best Highlighter For Dark Skin in 2022

Designed for dark skin, Bronze Sands 3D Highlighter Palette features a combination of four shades including Barbados (prep), Maldives (set), Aruba (sculpt) and Bora Bora (flush). The highlighter palette has two textures. The cream-like Barbados smooths the skin while priming it for makeup application. The rest three shades are all finely-milled powders that are tightly pressed without fallout. The highlighter is highly pigmented, so simply applying the powder with a brush can visibly brighten the bridge of your nose and cheeks, making a multi-dimensional look. The shimmer highlighter blends perfectly into the skin for a natural, glossy finish. Plus, it helps keep the skin glowing all day long. If you’re a beauty pro, this highlighter can also be used as an eyeshadow, blush, and bronzer to create any looks by mixing and matching different shades. However, Bronze Sands 3D Highlighter Palette is in dark undertones, so it may not look great on fair skin.

BECCA specializes in liquid foundation, concealer, blush and highlighter for face contouring. Highlighter is a staple of this brand. As the award winner of Influenster 2018 Reviewers' Choice, Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed highlighter features ultra-fine pearls for natural, radiant looks. “This highlighter is the perfect shade of warm bronze that highlights the richness or deeper tones,” said makeup artist Haley Ellen. The shade chocolate geode goes best with dark skin and blends perfectly into skin. The brand claims that it is “A rich chocolate brown highlighter with golden pearl-recommended for dark-deep skin tones.” This cream-like highlighter is finely-milled and highly-pigmented. A small amount of the product can brighten your cheeks and the bridge of nose while camouflaging the look of pores. The highlighter is free of artificial fragrances and parabens, making it safe for sensitive skin. However, some customers complained about its staying power. So we recommend setting your makeup after use.

Found by Anastasia Soare, the Hollywood “Eyebrow Queen", Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) became popular for its eyebrow makeup products. In addition to this, ABH’s eyeshadows and highlighters are also favored by the public. "Sun Dipped" Glow Kit is considered a cost-effect option thanks to four large pans and affordable price. Ideal for dark skin, this four-shade highlighter palette features finely-milled texture that is tightly pressed without fallout and blends perfectly into skin. Use ABH’s A23 Pro Brush to apply this highly-pigmented, shimmer palette to brighten the face for a metallic, luminous finish. The four shades can be worn separately to highlight anywhere on the face, eyes, lips and other body parts. For beauty pros, "Sun Dipped" Glow Kit can also be used as a blush and eyeshadow. Plus, the four highlighters also allow for mixing and matching. We interviewed a lady who likes to layer the shades Bronzed and Toumaline together to make her brown skin look perfect.

As a world-renowned professional makeup brand, MAC offers a wide range of products featuring beautiful colors, favored by the public. Its highlighters are all bestsellers. Mineralize Skinfinish is a versatile products that can be used as a highlighter or eyeshadow. The finely-milled, smooth formula blends perfectly into skin without accentuating the look of pores. Super long-lasting and highly pigmented, the highlighter features golden shimmer and is easy to use. The shade Cheeky Bronze is perfect for dark skin, and the makeup artist Yedda Wilson said, “It's a soft golden coral that pairs incredibly well on deeper skin tones. It goes on silky smooth and literally melts into your skin like butter. ”

It may cause slight fallout when you pick up the powder, which is not a big problem. However, some customers complained about the dry texture, so be sure to do the hydration if you have dry skin.

As a popular drugstore makeup brand, Maybelline offers a variety of amazing products that are favored by the public and also the go-to of newbies. As the winner of Allure’s Best of Beauty Award for 2018, Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter delivers a metallic, champagne hue, perfect for dark skin. Makeup artist Yedda Wilson said, “A metallic champagne gold pigment with hints of glitter, it leaves an eye-catching chrome effect wherever applied.” The finely-milled highlighter feels comfortable on skin. It’s highly pigmented and easy to blend with finger or brush. But we recommend not applying it to the whole face, or it will give an exaggerated look. The highlighter works well to brighten cheeks, brow bone, and the bridge of the nose for a multi-dimensional look. Plus, it features shimmers that can highlight your skin and fill in the pores and fine lines to create a natural, luminous finish. In a nutshell, FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter is a cost-effective option thanks to the ultimate staying power and affordable price. It should be noted that it contains preservatives, so proceed with caution if you have sensitive skin.

As a hero product from Laura Geller, Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator is a cult-favorite thanks to the exceptional quality. Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator (Gilded Honey) is a highlighter suited for dark skin. It blends perfectly into skin for a natural, healthy glow. The cream-like formula is soft and finely-milled without accentuating pores. Moderately-to-highly pigmented and easy-to-blend, the shimmer highlighter can be applied with a brush to brighten the cheeks, temples, and the bridge of nose for a multi-dimensional look. We recommend applying multiple layers with small amounts to create a more natural, radiant finish. The long-lasting highlighter can make your makeup in place all day long, ideal for daily commutes. This affordable product comes in a plastic packaging that is prone to abrasion or breakage, so be careful when carrying it around.

As a hero product from Wet N Wild, Mega Glow Highlighter is available in 7 shades, of which Precious Petals is a champagne hue perfect for dark skin. This finely-milled formula blends perfectly into skin. The powder is pressed tightly. We recommend using a brush to apply the powder to highlight the desired areas for a natural finish. This beginner-friendly highlighter not only brightens cheeks and the bridge of the nose, but also can be used as a blush. It features ultra-fine pearls that can create a natural, luminous and healthy look. Makeup artist Yvette Gunter said it’s her favorite highlighter, “It’s buildable and gives a pretty glow. This highlighter has golden tones, which always pair well for deeper skin tones because of its natural reflections.” It should be noted that this is a super long-lasting formula. One customer wrote, “I have to admit that it is worth it, though, because the powder itself is absolutely blinding, applies super smoothly, lasts all day, is easy to remove, and one purchase will last you longer than you can imagine.” Mega Glow Highlighter features a stunning embossed pattern. Some customers complained that it may cause fallout, but this is no big deal. In a nutshell, this highlighter is a cost-effective pick.

Featuring no-fussy beauty, Milk Makeup is a popular New York City-born brand that offers a variety of stylish cosmetics and skincare products. Superfine and smooth, Flex Highlighter blends perfectly into skin to create a natural finish, making it look great on dark skin. This highlighter is highly pigmented and easy to use. Apply the product with a brush, a sponge or your finger to highlight cheeks, brow bone and the bridge of the nose for a multi-dimensional look. Plus, it features finely-milled gems and pearlescent particles to deliver a shimmery finish. Flex Highlighter is enriched with hyaluronic acid to make skin look smoother and plumper. Multiple plant extracts such as blue Lotus and chamomile help brighten the complexion while relieving redness and soothing skin. Makeup artist Julia Idaewor said, “It’s shimmery, yet creamy at the same time. It’s not too light, not too gold, and most importantly, it doesn’t leave that dry chalky look on your cheekbones. It gives you a very subtle, inner glow. It’s truly the perfect highlighter for Black women.” 

Tom Ford is known for its lipsticks, eyeshadows and foundations. Actually, Tom Ford’s contour products are also favored the public thanks to the exceptional quality. Combining highlighter and bronzer in one, Skin Illuminating Powder Duo (Flicker) is perfect for dark skin. It features golden shade as highlighter and chocolate shade as bronzer, both of which blend perfectly into dark skin to create a natural glow. It can also be coated with other products and won’t leave your makeup looking weird. Plus, it’s a good alternative of an eyeshadow that can be applied individually or layered together. Skin Illuminating Powder Duo is finely milled and pressed tightly, making it not easy to pick up the powder. We recommend using a brush with dense bristles to apply. The highly-pigmented product also contains superfine pearls to highlight your cheeks and the bridge of the nose for a multidimensional finish. However, it contains dark undertones that may affect the overall makeup look, so it’s not recommended for fair skin. It should be noted that Skin Illuminating Powder Duo doesn’t come with a brush.

Bobbi Brown makeup is known for natural and simplicity style, suitable for beginners and those who prefer natural-looking finishes. Highlighting Powder is available in 6 shades, of which Bronze Glow is deal for dark skin. Finely-milled and smooth, this shimmer product can brighten your cheeks and cheekbones to create a natural, multi-dimensional glow. One customer wrote, “The shade "bronze glow" is uber flattering on medium skin, so you'll have an out-of-this-world shimmer with this choice.” It may cause slight fallout, but this is no big deal. The highly pigmented highlighter glides on easily. You don’t need to pick up too much powder and just use a brush with loose bristles to layer it together. Thanks to a good staying power, it lasts all day long after you set your makeup. Even when your skin gets oily, it can make your makeup in place. It’s worth mentioning that infused with glycerin and squalane, the highlighter brightens the complexion while moisturizing and repairing the skin, making the finish more seamless.