We don’t know what it is about isolation, but quarantine has us swapping out heaps of our favourite powder products in favour of creams.
Maybe it’s the dewy finish, maybe it’s that they’re crazy easy to apply, or maybe it’s just the fact that swatching product across your own skin is super satisfying. Whatever the reason, we’re into it.
The one cream product we’re really relying on, you ask? Highlighter, of course. Glossier than powder formulas, but longer-lasting than liquids, these kinds of illuminators are a must-have if you’re aiming to fake five extra hours of sleep in four seconds flat.
So if you’re down to join us aboard the cream highlighter bandwagon, we’ve rounded up the best velvety glow-boosters in the game so that you too can live the cream dream.
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Clinique
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight
This product basically invented cream highlighter (in a handy stick form, of course) so where better place to begin? One swipe and your skin will look illuminated with the light of a million suns.
Natio
Natio Desert Sunset Cream Blush & Highlighter Palette
This highlighter is the perfect copper-chrome hybrid hue for a natural finish – consider the two coral-coloured cream blushes it’s flanked by complexion-brightening bonuses.
ulta3
ulta3 Highlighter Sculpt Stick
Sculpt and brighten the high points of your face (hi cheekbones!) with this dew-boosting cream stick – the gilded gold shade features just the right amount of shimmer.
MCo Beauty
MCoBeauty Highlight & Glow Stick
Enriched with super fine micro pearl particles for a hit of effortless-looking radiance, this velvety-smooth precision strobing stick is awesome for controlling the intensity of your illumination.
Iconic London
ICONIC London Multi-Glow ($70, adorebeauty.com.au)
Give your glow a leg up in the dewy stakes with this jelly-cream blend – the wet look it delivers is to die for. This rosy shade will also double as both highlight and cream blush – bonus.
Natasha Denona
Natasha Denona Face Glow Cream Shimmer in Light ($32.50, sephora.com.au)
Another one of our favourite swipe-on formulas, this cool-toned cream is concocted using natural pearls to help the highlighter mimic the authentic texture of your skin.
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick ($39, sephora.com.au)
Let’s be real: Rihanna does no wrong, especially in the shimmer stakes. This ridiculously radiant cream colour leaves skin looking like you’ve just applied gold foil to your face – it’s that good.
NARS
NARS The Multiple in South Beach ($62, mecca.com.au)
NARS’ iconic cream colour stick is definitely a makeup collection must-have – we’re loving this shimmering apricot shade applied tonally across eyes, lips and cheeks.
Revlon
Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Highlighting Sticks
This brightness-boosting formula offers both a feather-light feel and impressive light-filtering technology to glide golden glow across skin like a dream.
RMS
RMS Magic Luminiser ($61, mecca.com.au)
If champagne came in cream form, this is what we imagine it would look like. We’ll be honest: it does scream special occasion when layered, but hey, a single swipe definitely works on an everyday basis too.
I have Nars multiple. Not using much cream highlighters because my skin is so slick
The RMS one looks amazing! I can never have enough highlighters
Have many cream highlighters/ illuminisers. Nars, Smashbox, RAWW are my favourites.
Haven't tried the cream highlighters will need to give it a try. Some great products above.
Is it just me but do highlighters seem to last and last and last!?! I think I will have enough until I'm 99.
The Iconic and Natasha one's look good!
Some of these cream highlighters look amazing. I need to brush up on my highlighting technique.
Another old favourite of mine is Nars Copacabana. I’ve had mine for ages (sshhhhh) and there’s not much left. And it’s so versatile, you can wear it anywhere.
I’ve got a couple of cream highlighters but I actually prefer my powders. But out of my creams, my favourite is a Mecca Max brand one. It’s a little double ended jar, one side has highlighter and the other has blush/lipgloss. It’s so easy to toss in your handbag. I’ve created quite a few quick faces on the go with this little jar. I use the highlighter for an eyeshadow.
I haven't used a cream highlighter in ages. I prefer powders for a matte finish.
I dont really like cream anything for my skin. I stick with powders.
Adore Nars but I think I would use any cream highlighter as a base for powder highlighter
I have two creme highlighters already but haven't had time to use it since the iso lol!
Yes, same for me.
I never use highlighters my face to too skinny & cheekbones already obvious and I hate it so don't want to draw more attention to them
These sound nice, but I prefer powder highlighters
Cream highlighters just look so natural
Revlon looks lovely
Probably not something I'd try.
I've never gotten into cream highlighters or eyeshadows. I'd like to try the NATIO one though. They are the colours I like to use.
Dying to try RMS products because of their natural ingredients and then soo dying to try Fenty they look so good
I love liquid and cream products because they look more natural
I have ran out of cream highligters even though I like them. So this is a good article for me to see what is budget friendly and recommended.
I have not put on any makeup in over a month now but I still want to go out and get some of these 🙂
I prefer powder highlighters but Nars do a nice cream highlighter.
I love cream highlighters and have tried the Clinique one and love it. I've run out of it but will repurchase soon 🙂 In the meantime, I've been trying a sample of the RMS cream highlighter but really didn't like it – the colour was lovely, but the texture is thick and sticky, and it has a really unpleasant smell 🙁
I have always really liked the highlighting cream by Inika.
I like the look of the ulta3 stick. I'm not keen on shimmer or glowones
So many of them in cream. Have none, need to buy one of these
Looks so flawless…
I stick with powders over the creams.
I have never tried any of these.
Love cream highlighters. I have the RMS. It is really lovely for a sheer dew and gives a natural glow. I am not a fan of obvious blinding highlights.
I had no idea we could review MCoBeauty Highlight & Glow Stick because I have that as well but have not started using it. Hmm.
I'd like to try the RMS Magic Luminiser because someone with older skin like me described it as suitable for people that usually do not like highlighters. In other words, it is subtle and not shimmery.
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I think I would prefer a powder. Have not tried any of these.
I haven't tried any of these cream highlighters before but I might have to do some investigating with these. Longevity is always something I've wondered with creams.
The Fenty ones look amazing, hope there just as good as the killawatt highlighters!
Every time I leave the house these days, I wear a cloth mask, so I haven't been wearing highlighter or even foundation! It'll feel strange when I stop wearing masks.
I've marked Wendychapman & RoseMoore's posts below as SPAM!
Though these days, I am make-up free as I am mostly at home. Using Iso to perfect my skin care routine! But these make-up articles and tips would be great once normal life returns after COVID-19, and you start going out more! Great tips to keep in mind!
Nude by Nature have a really good cream highlighter also!
I used the fenty one and found it to be way too hard 🙁 had luck with a few of the others mentioned though!
Creams are easier to apply as you can control how much you use and they are also more hydrating for the more mature skin. Some really lovely products mentioned here too that I would love to use.
cream highlighters are great as they give such a natural look
I love Nars. Can't go wrong with Nars.