The Best Highlighters for Dark Skin Tones Were Made With Melanin In Mind
Because 'universal' shades rarely hit.
I don’t care if we’re nearly a decade out from the 2016 makeup era—I will never let go of my love for highlighters. My lore goes way back to the very beginning of my makeup journey. It was one of the only product categories that consistently offered shades that worked for my skin tone, without requiring a scavenger hunt through the drugstore beauty aisle.
That said, I definitely went through a phase with my acne-prone skin where the affordable options either broke me out or left me with wild-looking stripes across my face. (Your girl was still learning, okay?) All this to say: I feel uniquely qualified to talk about the best highlighters for dark skin. As a beauty writer, I've got over a decade of hands-on experience testing every formula out there—liquids, creams, powders, you name it.
But I'm nothing if not thorough, so I didn't stop at personal trials. I also tapped some of the best makeup artists in the game to break down exactly what makes a highlighter great for deeper skin tones. “The most important aspect when you are looking for a highlighter for deeper skin tones is to ensure the chosen tone is warm,” celebrity makeup artist Theo Turner tells me. “Deeper complexions are best spotlighted with warm and rose gold shades, as well as bronze and copper tones.”
I also rounded up the best highlighters for dark skin that are actually worth your money, you know, in case your makeup bag could use a little seasonal refresh. Keep scrolling for the best formulas available now, plus some extra tips to make sure your glow is the most radiant, luminous version it can be.
At a Glance
- Shop the Best Highlighters For Dark Skin
- How We Chose the Best Highlighters For Dark Skin
- What to Look for in a Highlighter for Dark Skin
- How to Apply Highlighter for Dark Skin
- Meet the Experts
Shop the Best Highlighters for Dark Skin Tones
- Best Highlighter for Dark Skin Tones Overall: Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Flush Glow
- Best Drugstore Highlighter for Dark Skin: Maybelline Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
- Best Liquid Highlighter for Dark Skin: Fenty Beauty Liquid Killawatt Fluid Freestyle Highlighter
- Best Glowy Highlighter for Dark Skin: Makeup by Mario Master Crystal Reflector
- Best Natural-Looking Highlighter for Dark Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Glow Glide Face Architect Highlighter
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.
Texture: Liquid
What I Love: These highlighters are sheer and buildable—a little bit goes a very, very long way
What I Don’t: Liquid highlighters can be finicky, especially for beginners
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
Amanda Mitchell wears Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Flush Glow in Tiara - Champagne Glow.
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.
Texture: Powder
What I Love: Buildability; Intense finish without overdoing it
What I 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
Amanda Mitchell tries Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter Powder Makeup in Molten Gold.
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-like finish, giving a subtle, buildable glow that looks stunning on dark skin. “I love the texture and pigmentation in this highlighter,” says makeup artist Tamara Boyd. “The finely milled shimmer blends seamlessly into the skin, avoiding the chunky shimmer effect that some highlighters leave behind.”
Texture: Liquid
What I Love: The opacity; Won't emphasize texture or pores
What I Don’t: Because of its high pigmentation and viscosity, it’s easy to overapply
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
Amanda Mitchell tries Fenty Beauty's Liquid Killawatt Fluid Freestyle Highlighter in Hu$tla Baby 2.0
“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 everyday use, it’s a gorgeous burst of sparkle and illumination for the eyes, cheeks, or décolletage.
Texture: Powder
What I Love: The pigment; Shimmer is luminous, not glittery
What I 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
Amanda Mitchell tries Makeup by Mario Master Crystal Reflector™ in Bronzite
For those who want a 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.
Texture: Powder
What I Love: It’s full of skin-smoothing emollients and glides on like a dream
What I Don’t: The shade range options
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
Amanda Mitchell tries Charlotte Tilbury Glow Glide Face Architect Highlighter in Champagne Glow
What to Look for In a Highlighter for Dark Skin
- Shade
When it comes to any highlighter, the key is to find a shade most complementary to your skin tone. "Look for warm, bronzed, or rose gold undertones," suggests makeup artist Tamara Boyd. "These shades beautifully complement and blend into dark skin without looking harsh." Highlighters with white or silver undertones can leave an ashy cast—and unless Beetlejuice-chic is what you're going for, steer clear.
- Pigment
Pigment is key for a highlighter for dark skin tones, especially in powder and liquid formulas. "The right formula can create a luminous glow without looking ashy or dull," says Sam Fine, a professional makeup artist. "Shades like gold, bronze, and even deeper pinks or reds can provide rich, glowing effects."
- Texture
If you're wearing a cream or gel formula in search of a natural finish, makeup artist Brandy Allen suggests finding a shade that's nearly transparent or with a very light shimmer, as they're likely to flatter a range of deep skin tones. "It’s colorless, yet creates a glowy highlight on the skin," she says.
How to Apply Highlighter for Dark Skin
According to Fine, "highlighter looks best when applied to the outer perimeter of the face—the height of cheekbones, the crest of the forehead and/or bridge of the nose, the Cupid’s bow." You want to avoid applying a highlighter to the center of the face, which can emphasize pores and fine lines.
The product formula also impacts the highlighter's placement. "If you’re using a powder highlighter, you want to make sure that you are using a precise powder brush to apply your highlighter above your contour, not over it. This will take away from your contour," says Espinoza. You want to apply the highlighter above the contour, going upward towards your ear.
Boyd says highlighter is best applied with a larger powder brush for a natural, effortless-looking application. For a bolder, more intense glow, go in with your fingers.
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How We Tested
To compile this list of the best highlighters for dark skin, MC's Beauty Writer Ariel Baker and Contributing Beauty Writer Amanda Mitchell scoured the internet and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market. They also asked the Marie Claire team to share their holy grail picks. For each highlighter, they assessed each product based on finish, pigment, staying power, price, and results.
Meet the Experts
A native of Los Angeles, Brandy Allen started working in makeup at the age of 18 while earning her bachelor’s degree in Journalism. She worked in corporate beauty and sales for five years with companies such as MAC, Make Up For Ever, Napoleon Perdis, DuWop, Fashion Fair, and Maybelline. While working in make-up throughout college, she honed her skills, product knowledge, and customer service. Over the years, Brandy has become one of the industry’s go-to artists for women of color. She’s accentuated the natural beauty of celebrities such as Aja Naomi King, Keke Palmer, Janelle Monae, Serayah McNeil, Danielle Brooks, Yara Shahidi, and many more. Brandy is known for color mixing and flawless skin.
Theo is an internationally acclaimed makeup artist, creative director, and fragrance connoisseur with over 15 years of industry expertise. A former artist for Tom Ford and MAC Cosmetics, he has honed the art of transformative beauty and olfactory storytelling, seamlessly blending technical mastery with creative expression.
His work has graced industry icons such as Phylicia Rashad, Nicole Ari Parker, Teyana Taylor, and Chloe x Halle, reflecting his ability to enhance and redefine the beauty of all ages. Beyond celebrity makeup, Theo collaborates with world-renowned brands including Chanel, Fenty Beauty Skin, YSL, Bulgari, Redken, and Saks Fifth Avenue, lending his vision and expertise to product development, education, brand storytelling, and creative consultation.
Sam Fine is an Emmy-award-winning celebrity makeup artist and author, having painted the faces of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Hudson, Tyra Banks, Iman, and Naomi Campbell. His work has appeared on the covers and pages of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Vibe, and Marie Claire, and he was the first African-American spokesperson for Revlon and CoverGirl Cosmetics. He is also the author of a makeup how-to book, Fine Beauty: Beauty Basics and Beyond for African-American Women.
Manuel Espinoza is a professional makeup artist. He has 16 years of experience in the industry, specializing in bridal looks, soft glam and more. His work has been featured in music videos, award shows and editorial. Plus, his most notable clients include Lizzo and Jennifer Lopez.
Tamara Boyd is a professional makeup artist. She has over 10 years of experience in the Los Angeles area. She specializes in bridal and special events makeup, with a heavy emphasis on flawless finishes.
