The Best Drugstore Highlighters

Highlighters are my my favorite way to really amp up a look. Whether you prefer a subtle glow or a strobing sheen, giving your skin a bit of radiance is always a nice finishing touch to your makeup look. It just makes the skin look healthy and youthful, and gives dimension to the face.

Sometimes it can be a struggle to find budget-friendly highlighters that actually give you a glow versus dumping a bunch of glitter on your face. Believe me, I’ve tried many— but there are a select few that you’ll see me using again and again because of their application and effect.

Keep reading to discover the best drugstore highlighters that I’ve tried— many of these have several shade selections, so you can find one that compliments your skin tone perfectly. The specific shades listed below also work very well for me with my Light/Medium skin tone.

1. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Golden Flower Crown
This has consistently been the highest rated drugstore highlighter by customers whenever I’m browsing online at Target or Ulta. The powder is soft and easy to blend, and can be built up for a major statement glow. Golden Flower Crown is a neutral champagne shade that will be flattering on many skin tones.

2. Pixi Glow-y Gossamer Duo in Subtle Sunrise
As someone who loves a strong highlight, this duo is probably my favorite highlight on this list. You get two shades in one compact: in the case of Suble Sunrise, a cool champagne and an icy pink. You can use them separately or blend them together. The shimmer in this duo is very fine and the end result is a very metallic beam of glow.

3. Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter in Pearl
The Butter Highlighters are a soft, cushy formula that applies feeling cream-like but has a powder finish. When applied with the fingers, you get a stronger opaque finish with less obvious simmer. Pearl is a great shade if you’re working with cool tones in your makeup look, but Champagne is one of my favorite shades for a warmer highlight. You can see swatches of some of the other shades in this line in my post here.

4. Essence Pure Nude Sunlighter in Be My Sunlight
The Pure Nude Sunlighter is one of the more natural looking highlights on this list, but can still be layered for more drama. It’s the least shimmery of the products mentioned, with a gorgeous luminous gleam. The shade Be My Sunlight truly looks like the beam your skin would have when out in the sun.

5. Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold
If drama is your middle name, then this is the drugstore highlighter for you. The glow is strong with this one, and you get a chrome-like reflection with even a little bit. Molten Gold really does have a slick appearance on the skin that I love for bold looks.

Are any of these your pick for best drugstore highlighter? Share yours in the comments!