Best Highlighters for Fair Skin

If you have pale skin like me, then you probably can assimilate with my struggle to find a highlighter that is not too dark on the skin. You know when you apply a dark highlighter and it looks like a muddy stripe on your face? Yes, that feeling. Most highlighting palettes only yield one or two shades that I can actually wear. This is prompting me to dig in my highlighter drawer and pull out all of the best highlighters for fair skin. I will share some remarks on these highlighters as necessary, and discuss what colors to avoid.

Assorted

I am going to talk about a variety of highlighters:

• The Balm Mary Lou-manizer, $24: This is a classic choice for an everyday glow, featuring a light champagne gold hue.
• Benefit Dandelion Twinkle Powder Highlighter, $38: This highlighter is extremely subtle. If you like just a hint of glow and a natural look, this is an excellent choice for you. The shade is a soft pink gold.
• Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powder in Afterglow, $11.18: If you want a stunning champagne pearl shade from the drugstore, Afterglow has got your back.
• Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, $43: This is another OG selection. I like to use Soft and Gentle as a highlighter that falls somewhere between subtle and blinding, or even all over the face as a finishing powder to give a soft glow. The shade is a gilded peach bronze, yet is super wearable on fair skin.

Smashbox x Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, $42

I have some high-end picks from Becca that cannot be omitted. I enjoy wearing these on special occasions when I am doing a mostly high-end look because these give me that blinding glow I am looking for. The shade Opal is a white gold, while Champagne Pop is a gold that is safe on pale skin.

• Opal
• Champagne Pop

Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter, $12

I love everything in Physicians Formula’s Butter line, and the highlighters are no exception. They are pretty and smell amazing, with a formula that you would swear is a cream, but is really a powder. Peal is an all-time favorite for me because it is a white highlighter, which always works on fair skin. Rose Gold is a lovely choice for a smoldering glow. I can probably include the other shades here, in all honesty.

• Pearl
• Rose Gold

Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Rose Gold, $12

I really love the entire Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter line from Maybelline. I do recommend checking out the other shades with the exception of the dark bronze one. This formula is blinding, and I find myself reaching for it in place of high-end highlighters, even when I am doing a special occasion look.

wet n wild megaglo Highlighting Powders, $4.95

wet n wild gives us a lot of pale skin friendly options. Their formula rivals high-end and is absolutely one of the best at the drugstore, hands down. You will be glowing with these. You can see these in action with my wet n wild megaglo Highlighting Powder swatches. My picks are:

• Golden Flower Crown
• Bloom Time
• Precious Petals
• Blossom Glow

What to Avoid

When you are shopping highlighter shades, there are some colors you should avoid if you have fair skin. Any color descriptions that mention words like bronze or copper are usually a bad choice. I often struggle with unnatural colors likes purples, pinks, greens, etc.

You know when a highlighter is too dark because it physically looks like a dark line or shadow on the face, that often looks worse as you turn your head in the light.

Look for color descriptions that mention white gold, pearl, champagne, and opal. Fair skin can usually pull off most rose golds and peachy shades, as well as regular golds, as long as the gold is on the lighter side.

Shop The Highlighters

While I opt for an eye-catching glow, my selections include buildable, blinding, and subtle formulas to suit all tastes. However, do keep in mind that my selections work on me, but everyone’s skin is different. I cannot guarantee all of these shades will be 100% perfect if you fall in the pale category, but it will not hurt to give them a try. What is your favorite highlighter shade to wear? Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

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