7 Best Rose Gold Highlighters For Luminous Skin In 2023

Add these dazzling formulations to your makeup kitty to get that sun kissed glow anytime.

Written by Srijita De, Certified Style & Image Consultant
Edited by Rajeshwari Das
Fact-checked by Srijani Roy Chowdhury, Certified In Makeup Artistry, Certified Style & Image Consultant ย โ€ขย 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

What makes the best rose gold highlighters stand out is that they are universal and timeless. These metallic shades give you both a cool and warm look, making it one of the most versatile tools in your beauty arsenal. Their metallic sheen adds to the luminesce of your look. What makes them irresistible is that they give a wonderful hue to your skin or any skin tone for that matter. This is why rose gold highlighters have made a place for themselves in every girlโ€™s makeup routine. Be it liquid, cream, powder, or gel, the choices are many. How do you know the right one for you and not end up picking the wrong one? Itโ€™s simple. Take a look at our list of the top rose gold highlighters out there for you to choose from. If you havenโ€™t, scroll down to the next section to check them out!

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Overall:Physicians Formula Butter Rose Gold HighlighterPrice on Amazon
Best Drugstore Highlighter:Maybelline Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter- Molten Rose GoldPrice on Amazon
Best For Natural Glow:Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Rose Gold HighlighterPrice on Amazon
Best Long-Lasting Formula:Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter Compact - CosmosPrice on Amazon
Best High-Shimmer Formula:E.L.F Metallic Flare Rose Gold HighlighterPrice on Amazon
Best For All Skin Types:CATKIN Moonlight Contour Palette - C02Price on Amazon
Best For Everyday Use:E.L.F Cosmetics Baked Highlighter And Blush- Rose GoldPrice on Amazon

Top 7 Rose Gold Highlighters To Lay Your Hands On

1. Best Overall:Physicians Formula Butter Rose Gold Highlighter

4.5
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter Powder Makeup, Rose Gold Image: Physicians Formula

Most people with dry skin find it hard to work with powdered highlighters because it may appear flaky after a few hours. If you relate to this, Physicians Formulaโ€™s rose gold highlighter is here to solve your problem while imparting some amazing skincare benefits. It is infused with murumuru, cupuacu, and tucuma butter from the Amazon that lends it a creamy texture. It melts into your skin as you sweep it over your cheeks and gives a flawless shimmer while making your skin look supple. The highlighter also contains mica and natural silica that give it the right amount of pigmentation without feeling heavy on the skin. The anti-aging peptides bless your skin to fight the signs of aging, and the skin-conditioning ingredients keep your skin hydrated, giving you a radiant complexion. This video will help you understand the product better.

Pros

  • Cream-to-powder formula
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben and gluten-free
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Cruelty-free
  • Travel-friendly packaging

Cons

  • Some may find it a little too sparkly.
Price at the time of publication: $9.99

2. Best Drugstore Highlighter:Maybelline Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighterโ€“ Molten Rose Gold

4.4
Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter Makeup, Molten Rose Gold, 0.24 Ounce Image: Maybelline New York

This rose gold highlighter is one of the best drugstore options for ardent fans of the metallic glow. On days when youโ€™re too lazy to apply any makeup, using a little bit of this Maybelline highlighter in the rose gold shade can add the right amount of vibrance to your face. However, if youโ€™re looking for a bold highlighter that goes over your foundation, it glides on easily and offers an intense, fine shimmer. It feels light on the skin and offers a molten metallic finish while accentuating your best facial features. Check out the detailed review of the product in this video.

Pros

  • Reflective pigments offer a sheen chrome effect
  • Rich hue
  • Metallic finish
  • Suits all skin tones

Cons

  • It may fade quickly.

protip_icon Quick Tip
If your eyeshadow is missing from your makeup bag, you can apply the rose gold highlighter as its substitute to give a light and silky touch on the eyelids.

Why Itโ€™s Worth Buying: It has gained over 14,888 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
Price at the time of publication: $4.86

3. Best For Natural Glow:Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Rose Gold Highlighter

4.5

This rose gold highlighter adds a natural and luminous glow to the face without being overly shimmery. A good skincare routine coupled with a hint of this highlighter every day equals naturally glowy skin that complements a warm complexion. It works wonders on all skin types and comes in a buildable formula without looking cakey. It is formulated with ultrafine multidimensional pearls that reflect the light from all angles for a subtle glow rather than a shimmery finish. You can highlight your cheekbones and other features of the face for a healthy glow that stays on for the whole day. If youโ€™re applying the highlighter on top of another product, it blends well without eroding the layer of the product. Watch this video of the product for more information.

Pros

  • Blends seamlessly
  • Delivers a natural glow
  • Balanced color dispersion
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Not very pigmented
  • Slightly expensive
Price at the time of publication: $28.99

4. Best Long-Lasting Formula:Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter Compact โ€“ Cosmos

4.2
Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter - Metallic Shimmer Highlighting Makeup Powder - Cosmos (Sparkling Rose Gold) Image: Aesthetica

The Aesthetica Starlite Highlighter is like stardust packed in a compact form, giving you a natural and multidimensional radiance. You can highlight the high points of your face with this rose gold highlighter for sharper facial features or apply it evenly to your cheeks for an overall illuminating glow. The expert grade formula makes it long-lasting and locks the shine, so it stays on from morning to night without losing much of its shimmer. Subtle or bold โ€” it works beautifully for both finishes depending on the amount of product you use. It blends well, leaving behind a picture-perfect glow for all skin types and light and deeper skin tones.

Pros

  • Gluten and paraben-free
  • Sleek case with mirror
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
  • Long-lasting wear
  • Complements neutral complexion

Cons

  • It may not be highly pigmented.
Price at the time of publication: $25.0

5. Best High-Shimmer Formula:E.L.F Metallic Flare Rose Gold Highlighter

4.3
e.l.f, Metallic Flare Highlighter, Versatile, Jelly-like Formula, Multi-Dimensional, Buttery Soft, Creates a High-Luster, High Shimmer Glow, Rose Gold, Applies Wet or Creamy, 0.18 Oz Image: E.l.f.

This rose gold highlighter has a soft buttery consistency and packs a high-shimmer formula perfect for a shiny and sparkly finish. The metallic rose gold hue is quite intense and flatters tanned skin like no other. It is a great combination of subtle and luminous and adds the right kind of flare without looking overdone. When you want an intense look, you can dampen your highlighter brush for more impact. It works on the cheekbones, brow bones, cupidโ€™s bow, and lasts quite long. Couple this stunner with the perfect summer eyeshadow, and youโ€™re sure to look flawless.

Pros

  • Free from phthalates, parabens, and other toxic ingredients
  • Cruelty-free and vegan
  • Intense glow
  • Good pigmentation
  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Highly compressed, which can make application with a brush difficult.

protip_icon Pro Tip
Apply the rose gold highlighter with a fluffy brush or a fanned angle brush for even distribution of the product throughout the skin without wasting too much.

Price at the time of publication: $7.29

6. Best For All Skin Types:CATKIN Moonlight Contour Palette โ€“ C02

This versatile baked highlighter complements all skin types and skin tones, giving an instant radiance. You can apply it to the features of the face that the sun naturally hits and let the light illuminate your face. This subtle highlighter is formulated to deliver a soft glow to your skin while making it look supple and adding a bit of sparkle. If you love aesthetically pleasing products, youโ€™d be happy to know that the compact case is beautifully designed. This golden rose highlighter is long-wearing and does not have any fragrance, perfect for daily wear that flatters warm and cool complexions.

Pros

  • Buildable coverage
  • Offers natural radiance
  • Formulated with delicate micro-pearls
  • Magnetic case

Cons

  • As it features a silver hue, it may not flatter warm skin undertones.
Price at the time of publication: $17.99

7. Best For Everyday Use:E.L.F Cosmetics Baked Highlighter And Blushโ€“ Rose Gold

4.5
Elf Cosmetics Baked Highlighter & Blush 83371 Rose Gold, 0.6 Ounce Image: E.l.f. Cosmetics

This versatile 2-in-1 highlighter that features a blush is perfect if you want to reduce the clutter in your makeup bag. One half of this product is a rose gold highlighter while the other half is a blush. It glides smoothly and is buildable, so you can apply multiple layers if you want more pigmentation. You can use a single shade or swirl your highlighter brush to blend the highlighter and blush for a similar highlighting blush effect. This application technique provides a natural glow to help you shine without making your face too shimmery.

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Value for money
  • Ideal for everyday use
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
  • Subtle shimmer effect

Cons

  • It contains parabens.

protip_icon Pro Tip
Before applying the e.l.f rose gold highlighter, apply the e.l.f Flawless Satin Foundation to get the perfect glow on your skin.

Now that we have looked at the list of the best rose gold highlighters from some of the big-time, high-end brands, hereโ€™s a brief guide about using a highlighter the right way.

How To Use A Highlighter?

When using a highlighter โ€” whether you pick a rose gold highlighter stick from Fenty Beauty or settle for a rose gold liquid highlighter from Maybelline, you should know how to use it correctly for the right kind of radiance. We have covered a few points that will help you pick your highlighter to accentuate your best features.

  • Areas to highlight

If you want the highlighter to help provide an enviable shine, you have to first figure out what parts of your face you should focus on. For a natural glow, highlight parts of your face where the light naturally falls. These areas are cheekbones, arch of the brows, the tip of the nose, and cupidโ€™s bow. While you donโ€™t always need to highlight all these areas, you should never miss out on the cheekbones. If you want to experiment with a bold look, you can use highlighter a little more generously. While the areas are constant, the way you go about highlighting changes the outcome.

  • Preparation

Whether you want a natural look or wish to go all out, you should always prep your face with a high-quality moisturizer and primer before applying a highlighter. This also saves your pores from getting clogged. In addition to that, a good primer can also help other makeup products settle better, giving your makeup the right kind of finish.

  • Using a highlighter stick

Highlighter sticks mostly pack a creamy formula and are ideal for a quick application. When youโ€™re done with the rest of your makeup, all you have to do is twist it open and dab it on the cheekbones and other facial features. Start by marking the parts of the face with a little bit of the highlighter. Use a blender or a brush to blend it properly for a seamless and transluscent finish.

  • Using highlighter powder

Highlighter powders are generally more shimmery, and they can be applied with either a highlighter brush or fingers. Most highlighter powders have a buildable formula that offers great control over the amount of highlighter you use. However, when using a pressed highlighter powder, start lightly and add layers and blend well until you have achieved the desired finish.

The Bottom Line

Rose gold highlighters are perfect for imparting a luminous effect. They can also be used on days when you do not feel like putting on heavy makeup yet need to look stunning for your work meetings. If you have sensitive skin, try products like the Physicians Formula Butter Rose Gold Highlighter that is gentle and does not cause irritation. The Maybelline Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighterโ€“ Molten Rose Gold is perfect for those who want a molten, metal-like shine. But if you are looking for a multitasker formula, try the E.L.F Metallic Flare Rose Gold Highlighter. These highlighters are enriched with moisturizing ingredients that nourish the skin and fight premature signs of aging. Many rose gold highlighters are free of parabens, phthalates, and glutens. They are lightweight, hypoallergenic, and do not cause skin irritations. However, it is better to steer clear of rose gold highlighters that do not offer an intense shimmer.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Srijita De, loves trying out makeup products that are universal and timeless. She believes the metallic shades of rose highlighters give you a variety of looks, making it a versatile tool to have in your makeup arsenal. She tried out several rose gold highlighters from leading brands and picked the top ones for you to try. This list of highlighters is dermatologically tested and cruelty-free, giving you a shimmery and glamorous look

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use a rose gold highlighter?

Apply foundation and blush. Take a bit of your rose gold highlighter in a fan brush and tap off the excess product. Apply it to the inner corner of your eyes, forehead, cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of your nose, cupidโ€™s bow, and chin. Blend it out for a seamless look.

Is a rose gold highlighter good for fair skin?

Rose gold is one of the best highlighters for light skin tones. It looks natural on this skin tone and does not look too bold, fake, or overdone.

Do you put highlighter on before or after powder?

Apply the setting powder after applying your highlighter. However, if you apply a liquid highlighter, use the powder afterward.

Whatโ€™s the difference between a highlighter and an illuminator?

A highlighter is used on the high points of your face where the light hits naturally. An illuminator is for your entire face. It helps give your makeup a lively, luminous glow.

Can we use both illuminator and highlighter?

Yes. Use your illuminator first and then apply the highlighter on the high points of your face.

What is strobing?

Strobing is an illuminating makeup technique that allows you to illuminate certain parts of your face like your cheekbones, nose, brows, forehead, and chin without wasting a lot of the product.


Recommended Articles:


Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

Latest Articles