The Best Highlighter Makeup for Your Skin Type

Strobing, gleaming, brightening. Whatever you call it, highlighting is a makeup trend that will probably never go out of style. But not everyone can use the same highlighter makeup. It really depends on the type of skin you have. If you’re constantly flaking up because you have dry skin, you won’t want to use a powder highlighter. Similarly, if you…

The Right Highlighter For Your Skin Type

The Right Highlighter For Your Skin Type #1

The easiest way to achieve a dewy glow in a snap? Brush (or dab) on a little bit of highlighter makeup. But before you hunt for the best highlighter, we asked top makeup artists to share their favorite picks for every skin type.

Image: Imaxtree
Best Highlighter for Oily Skin

"For oily skin types, I prefer a powder highlighter, like the Hourglass strobe product," says Suzy Gerstein, a makeup artist who works with Camilla Belle.

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder, $38 at Sephora
Best Highlighter for Oily Skin

"Sometimes I use no highlighter at all since the benefit of naturally oily skin is a built-in luminosity (I just blot the T-zone with Tatcha blotting papers or apply Milk Makeup Blur Stick and leave the bridge of the nose, lids and tops of cheekbones alone and there's your highlight)," says Gerstein.

Milk Makeup Blur Stick, $36 at Sephora
Best Highlighter for Dry Skin

"The best highlighters for dry skin are ones infused with moisturizing oils and the way to go is liquid," says Azra Red, a makeup artist who works with Azealia Banks. "My favorite one is the Josie Maran liquid gold — it lasts for hours and has shades that work on every skin tone. The best thing about it is that it contains argan oil, which moisturizers and nourishes skin."

Josie Maran Argan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Face Oil, $42 at Sephora
Best Highlighter for Dry Skin

"For dry skin, I love a creamy product with hydrating ingredients, like the coconut-based RMS Beauty Living Luminizer," says Gerstein.

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, $38 at RMS Beauty
Best Highlighter for Dry Skin

"I also love the emollient core-containing Glossier Haloscope for dry skin," says Gerstein.

Glossier Haloscope, $22 at Glossier
Best Highlighter for Combination Skin

"For combination skin, I'm really into cream-to-powder products, like the uniquely textured highlighters from ColourPop Cosmetics," says Gerstein.

ColourPop Candyman Pearlized Highlighter, $8 at ColourPop
Best Highlighter for Sensitive Skin

"For sensitive skin types, I prefer highlighters without extra additives," says Red. "This ILIA product works as a subtle highlighter, adding dimension and vitality to the skin. It also contains rosehip oils, which are great for sensitive skin types."

ILIA Illuminator in Polka Dots & Moonbeams, $34 at Sephora