12 Best Makeup Artist-Approved Drugstore Highlighters For Older Skin (2025)
Illuminating and brightening mature skin should not be tedious and expensive.
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If you were on the hunt for the best drugstore highlighter for older skin, you are at the right stop. As your skin ages like fine wine, it can no longer take the wrath of experimental products. You have to choose the products carefully because if something triggers acne or rashes, it’s not going to be easy dealing with them. And selecting the best drugstore makeup products, especially highlighters is surely a task. These highlighters add a flattering glow to your face and are perfect for concealing fine lines and spots. Here are the 12 highest-rated highlighters crafted to meet the needs of mature skin.
| Top Picks | Check Price |
|---|---|
| Best Overall:IT Cosmetics Anti-Aging Creme Stick Highlighter | Price on Amazon |
| Best For All Skin Tones:e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Liquid Highlighter | Price on Amazon |
| Niceface Shimmer Highlighter Stick | Price on Amazon |
| Best Flawless Finish:Maybelline New York Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter | Price on Amazon |
| Best Long Lasting:Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight | Price on Amazon |
| Best Lightweight:Beauty For Real Bronze | Price on Amazon |
| Best Skin Moisturizing:Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter | Price on Amazon |
| Best Seamless Finish:MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Powder | Price on Amazon |
| Best For All Skin Types:Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick | Price on Amazon |
| Best Travel Friendly:PÜR Sparkle And Shine Bright Travel Highlighter Palette | Price on Amazon |
In This Article
12 Best Drugstore Highlighters For Older Skin
1. Best Overall:IT Cosmetics Anti-Aging Creme Stick Highlighter
The IT Cosmetics Anti-Aging Creme Stick Highlighter is a great product to highlight and contour. This age-defying stick highlighter is also great for hiding blemishes and wrinkles. It provides a natural-looking glow and gives the skin a beautiful radiance. The highlighter comes in a twist tube that is easy to use.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Natural-looking glow
Cons
- None
Pro Tip2. Best For All Skin Tones:e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Liquid Highlighter
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The e.l.f Beautifully Bare Liquid Highlighter is formulated with illuminating pigments. These pigments add light to the face and give a glowy, dewy complexion. The liquid highlighter can also be used for strobing to create a glowing look. The pigmented highlighter is enriched with vitamin E that comes with added skincare benefits. It does not contain any artificial colors, making the liquid formula beneficial for skin. It is always best to check out some reviews online for more details.
Pros
- Pigmented
- Sheer finish
- Non-drying formula
- Ideal for all skin types
Cons
- None
3. Niceface Shimmer Highlighter Stick
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The Niceface Shimmer Highlighter Stick is a waterproof highlighter that lasts for a long time. It has a creamy formula that glides smoothly on the skin. It is easy to apply and leaves a radiant glow. The creamy highlighter gives off a subtle shimmer that is suitable for everyday use. Multiple reviewers report that this highlighter is easy to apply and adds a sheer glow to their face.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Long-lasting
- Renders a subtle glow
- Gentle formula
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Strong fragrance
4. Best Flawless Finish:Maybelline New York Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter
The Maybelline New York Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter is highly pigmented. It gives a metallic sheen chrome effect. It also offers a reflective finish to the skin and gives a fantastic glow. It is available in 2 richly-hued, molten metal shades. The flattering shades are ideal for all skin tones, including darker skin tones. This video detailing a tester’s experience with the product offers more insights into its benefits and effects.
Pros
- Highly pigmented
- Long-lasting
- Buildable
- Affordable
- Ideal for all skin tones
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 14,888 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
5. Best Long Lasting:Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight
The Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight applies seamlessly on your skin and shows off your best features. This cream highlighter has light-reflecting optics that add sparkle to your face. The formula is smooth and long-lasting and can be used as a multi-use product in the form of eye shadow and lipstick as well. Additionally, it is oil-free, making it a perfect highlighter for those with acne or oily skin.
Pros
- Long-wearing
- Oil-free.
- Travel-friendly
- Easy to use
Cons
- Small size
6. Best Lightweight:Beauty For Real Bronze
The Beauty For Real Bronze is a blush and highlighter duo that has a creamy and lightweight texture. The product helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is formulated with skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin E grape seed extracts that have anti-aging benefits. The bronzer is vegan and free from parabens.
Pros
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Lightweight
- Hydrating formula
Cons
- None
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has more than 963 reviews and is a top choice all around the world.
7. Best Skin Moisturizing:Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is a lightweight formula that glides onto your skin and gives a flawless look. It illuminates and blends easily leaving a poreless-looking airbrushed makeup look. This liquid highlighter cum moisturizer by a celebrity-endorsed brand is infused with porcelain flower extracts and glossy oils that leave the skin moisturized, shiny, and brighter than before. The liquid formula has finely milled powder that blurs fine lines and hides pores to give you smooth skin texture and dewy skin. Multiple reviewers report that this versatile highlighter adds glow to their skin while keeping it moisturized for a long time.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Lasts for 24 hours
- Imparts a dewy glow
- Moisturizing formula
- Easy to use
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- SLS-free
- Gluten-free
Cons
- Expensive
8. Best Seamless Finish:MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Powder
The MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Powder highlighter gives your skin a perfect glow The formula leaves the skin looking illuminated and fresh. The creamy powder formula features prismatic reflections that sculpt your face while adding a gorgeous glow and seamless finish to it. This dermatologist-tested highlighter stays on your skin for 10 hours. This highlighter powder is formulated with gentle ingredients that make it suitable for sensitive skin.
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-wearing
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
- Ophthalmologist tested
Cons
- None
9. Best For All Skin Types:Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick
The Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick has a lightweight and creamy formula. The dermatologist-tested highlighter is easy to use and highly blendable. It is non-comedogenic too. The product is suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin as it delivers a lovely dewy finish. This affordable highlighter comes in 2 illuminating shades for you to choose from. You may check this video detailing a reviewer’s experience with the product for a better understanding.
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Lightweight
- Dewy finish
- Blendable
- Easy to use
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
- Not long-lasting
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 3,927 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
10. Best Travel Friendly:PÜR Sparkle And Shine Bright Travel Highlighter Palette
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The PÜR Sparkle And Shine Bright Travel Highlighter Palette will help define and brighten your face. The palette has three powder highlighters and comes with a fan brush for precise application to create countless versatile looks. All the highlighters in the palette are ideal for all skin tones and are known for effortlessly enhancing neutral undertones. The palette is compact and travel-friendly. It also is vegan, never tested on animals, and free from parabens and gluten. Check out some online reviews to learn more about the product.
Pros
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Travel-friendly
- Ideal for all skin tones
Cons
- None
11. Best For Natural Glow:Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter
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The Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter gives a natural glow to your face. The highlighter is ultra-shimmery that glides on smoothly and stays in place all day and night to deliver exceptional results. The highlighter blends beautifully and gives a long-lasting finish. It is vegan. The highlighter comes in three different shades for you to choose from.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Blendable
- Vegan
- Easy to use
Cons
- None
12. Best For Skin Shine:BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter contains ultra-fine luminescent pearls that make your skin shine beautifully. The creamy highlighter blends seamlessly into your skin for a natural look and helps create a soft-focus effect. The buttery texture of the highlighter imparts a long-lasting finish without making your face look chalky. The product provides balanced color dispersion, ensuring to make your skin look naturally shiny. Reviewers on Amazon noted that this product imparts a subtle glow to the skin. To know more about the product, check out this honest review detailing a tester’s experience with the product on YouTube.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Adds a soft glow
- Easy to use
- Ultra-creamy
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Expensive
This was the list of top-rated drugstore highlighters that you can add to your makeup routine.
Infographic: Dos And Don’ts Of Applying Highlighter On Mature Skin
Older skin generally has a higher number of deep-set wrinkles and uneven texture. If not used correctly, highlighters can bring to light these areas and make the skin look even older. But, don’t let this scare you off from using a highlighter on mature skin type. Keep in mind the dos and don’ts of highlighter application shared in the infographic below for a flawless look.
Some thing wrong with infographic shortcode. please verify shortcode syntaxThe Bottom Line
These anti-aging highlighters help you revive that youthful glow. These are both effective and easy on your pocket. Choosing the right highlighter for mature skin involves considering texture, shimmer, and skin tone. Soft color shades enhance the complexion without emphasizing fine lines or wrinkles. Try the Maybelline New York Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter, which blends to give a reflective glow. For those seeking a richly pigmented one, consider the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, while the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter offers a buttery-smooth texture. Go ahead and pick your favorite highlighter today. Don’t forget to check the reviews for more details!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I put on a highlighter after foundation?
Yes, apply highlighter after foundation to ensure that your makeup looks even.
Do you blend highlighter?
Yes, blend your highlighters with your fingers, a fan brush, or a moist makeup sponge to avoid product lumps and noticeable makeup lines.
What goes on first – blush or highlighter?
The blush goes first, followed by the highlighter.
What is the difference between an illuminator and a highlighter?
Illuminators add glow to the entire face, whereas highlighters draw attention to the high points of the face.
What should I look for in a highlighter for older skin?
Look for a highlighter with a creamy texture that enables smooth application and blends easily without straining your skin. Look for water-resistant compositions that have long-lasting power. Choose products containing anti-aging chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants to slow down the aging process, keep your skin nourished, and effortlessly minimize skin imperfections.
How do I use a highlighter on older skin?
• Apply a highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes to look more alert and youthful.
• Avoid using highlighter near your eyes if you have wrinkles and fine lines.
• Avoid using it on your brow bone if you have eyelids that are crepey or drooping.
• Always use a small amount of product and a gentle hand to apply it on your forehead or chin.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya is certified in makeup techniques and is passionate about researching the top makeup products. She has compiled this detailed list of the best drugstore highlighters for aging skin based on thorough research and feedback from multiple trusted sites. She has also included a buying guide and mentioned the pros and cons of each product to help you make an informed decision.
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