We live by a simple philosophy here at R29: You can never have too many highlighters. Like lipstick, glow-givers — no matter the shade, finish, or texture — always manage to wiggle their ways into our collections. Until recently, we thought we had pretty much every type of highlighter we could possibly need — but then, along came lilac highlighter and our minds were blown.
Sure, lilac may not seem like the most obvious highlight color, but the shade has been wedging it's way into the permanent lines of many major makeup brands lately — and we have to say, we dig its effect on the skin. "Like that of purple or lavender concealer to color correct, lilac helps brighten dull skin, says Achelle Dunway, E.L.F. Cosmetics Global Artistic Director. On paler skin tones, the effect of lilac shimmer is subtle, yet on warmer and deeper skin tones, the shade transforms into a edgy, otherworldly hue that looks insanely cool painted onto the cheekbones, eyelids, and even lips.
The shade is so hypnotic that the founders of Milk Makeup, who have just launched a lilac holographic highlighter of their own, are calling the shade "Champagne 2.0," because of the hue's versatility. "Lilac is a universal tone — white doesn't work on all skin tones, [nor] does pink." says Milk Makeup cofounder and COO, Dianna Ruth. "Everyone has natural purple in their veins, that's what makes it work on everybody."
That's why our highlighter stash just got an injection of pastel purple. Want to try your hand at the trend? We've listed our favorites, ahead.
You can't go wrong with Pat McGrath's cult-status Skin Fetish highlighter in Nude. The color has a lilac-toned base, which leaves a beautiful halo of radiance when dusted on the skin.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish 003 in Nude, $72, available at Sephora.
This finely milled powder is the most subdued highlighter of the bunch, so it's perfect for those who just want a kiss of glow. We love slicking this onto the tops of our cheekbones when we're wearing minimal makeup.
Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Highlighter in Aura, $26, available at Ulta Beauty.
We like dotting a touch of Makeup Revolution's pearlescent highlighter right onto the apples of our cheeks to boost the color and sheen of our blush (a tip we snagged from Dunway).
Revolution Highlighter Pink Lights, $4.03, available at Revolution.
If you're looking for a highlighter that will send signals to space, this icy lavender hue will be right up your alley. It's super beamy, but can be applied with a fluffy fan brush for a sheer effect (fingers will provide the most opaque).
For all the warm tones out there (myself included) Colourpop's Monster is a beautiful duochrome option that has a touch more warmth, but still utilizes bits of lavender-tinged pearl.
ColourPop Hippo, $8, available at ColourPop.
This twist-up stick was created with portability in mind. Use your fingers and dot it onto the eyelids, Cupid's bow, and high points of your cheeks for a chic monochromatic look or layer it under foundation for a boost of dewiness. You can slick it on your finished makeup look, too, but we'd recommend doing this on bare skin, as the stick may lift away any foundation or concealer you've applied.
Milk Makeup Holographic Stick, $28, available at Milk Makeup.
These mineralized luminous pearls contains lilac beads, which color-correct dull skin and brighten the complexion. Simply dip a fluffy face brush straight into the pearls and go to town.
E.L.F. Mineral Pearls, $8, available at E.L.F.
A light dusting of this luminous, pinky-lavender setting powder will brighten your whole complexion.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light, $45, available at Sephora.
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