5 Highlighters to Brighten Dull-Looking Skin This Winter

Don’t let dry, dull winter skin get you or your complexion down—brighten things up with a little highlighter! From NYX Professional Makeup’s Mosaic Powder Blush Highlighter to Urban Decay’s coveted Naked Illuminated Trio highlighter palette, we share five of our favorite—read: must-have—highlighters to temporarily brighten the look of dull skin this winter, ahead. Spoiler alert: Some of them are skin care-inspired!

URBAN DECAY NAKED ILLUMINATED TRIO

Add some shimmer to your winter skin with Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated Trio Shimmering Powder for Face and Body. With three shades to choose from— Pyrite (gold-champagne), Oasis (marbled frosted taupe), and Twilight (iridescent pink)— you can brighten the look of your favorite facial and body features with just a few sweeps of your blush brush.

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio, $36 MSRP

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP MOSAIC POWDER BLUSH IN HIGHLIGHTER

This winter season, we’re turning to one of our favorite drugstore makeup brands— NYX Professional Makeup, of course— to help us highlight and illuminate our dull-looking skin. Mosaic Powder Blush in Highlighter, the brand’s five-in-one compact highlighter, can brighten the look of dull skin and enhance your favorite facial features.

NYX Professional Makeup Mosaic Powder Blush in Highlighter, $7 MSRP

Editor’s tip: Pick up one of NYX Professional Makeup’s powder blushes in a darker bronze shade, too! Use both simultaneously to create a subtle “non-tour” look.

THE BODY SHOP INSTAGLOW CC CREAM

Want a highlighter that boasts skin care benefits? Reach for The Body Shop’s Instaglow CC Cream. With three shades to choose from— Warm Glow, Peachy Glow, and Bright Glow— you can use each one of these highlighting CC creams to create a strobing effect. Find out how in our strobing with skin care tutorial!

The Body Shop Instaglow CC Cream, $22 MSRP

MAYBELLINE MASTER STROBING STICK ILLUMINATING HIGHLIGHTER

Speaking of strobing, Maybelline’s Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter makes strobing and highlighting dull complexions on-the-go a piece of cake! Toss the easy-to-use illuminating stick in your purse for days when your dull skin needs a midday pick-me-up.

Maybelline Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter, $9.99 MSRP

THE BODY SHOP HONEY BRONZE SHIMMER WAVES

Brighten the look of your dull skin and give yourself a little faux summer glow with a bronze highlighter, such as The Body Shop’s Honey Bronze Shimmer Waves. The five-in-one compact highlighter formula is enriched with the brand’s Community Trade marula oil and can help enhance the appearance of your complexion. Use all five colors together or individually for a more customized look.  

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmer Waves, $22 MSRP