Highlighters (Cream)

Boom Boomstick Glimmer – $28

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Boomstick Glimmer adds glamour to your skin. You can dab this pearlescent cosmetic on your eyelids, cheeks, brow bone, or anywhere else for a little extra radiance! At only 7 grams, it’s easy to carry anywhere to add a natural-looking sparkle to your skin.”

Boom is a line of natural beauty products designed for women in their 50’s or older.

The company encourages women to wear only a minimal amount of makeup, with this Glimmer Boomstick being one of the few cosmetic products they offer.

They recommend that this stick be used as an eye shadow as well as on the cheekbones.

I have found the effect of the Boomstick to be a little more subtle than that of some other highlighters that I have tried.

The base is a light bronze type color that helps the product meld with the skin rather than standing out too much.

I feel like it more just makes the skin look more glowy and hydrated (and also adds a little moisture to the skin) rather than looking at all glittery or show-offy.

I do like the look of this product and can see how it might be attractive on a variety of women no matter what their age is.

It feels pretty clean to me and the ingredients list looks okay.

Size: 0.25

Amazon Rating: 4.3 Stars (3626 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lanolin, Candelilla Wax, Lanolin Oil, Carnauba Wax, Ozokerite, Ceresin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

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Burt’s Bees All-Aglow Highlighter – $13

Overall Rating: (4 / 5)

Performance Rating: (4 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: Natural Flavor, Linalool

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: Carmine

The description of this product reads, “Burt’s Bees All Aglow Highlighter Stick instantly enhances skins natural glow and defines your best features with hydrating ingredients. Made with nourishing ingredients, the combination of moisturizing coconut oil, jojoba oil, cupuacu butter and daikon radish extract hydrates skin for hours.”

The Burt’s Bees highlighters are available in three shades – opal, bronze and gold.

I tried the bronze shade, which is quite transluscent and adds only a little bit of golden-bronzy shimmer to the face.

It is designed to be moisturizing and includes coconut oil, jojoba oil, cupuacu butter and daikon radish extract.

It also contains a substantial amount of sunflower seed oil, which makes me wonder about how soon it will go rancid.

Like many of the makeup products from Burt’s Bees, this one contains an unspecified but fruity-smelling “natural flavor” that I don’t appreciate much at all.

However, since this product is not intended for use on my lips, I don’t mind it as much as I do with some of the lip products.

Although I don’t think that I would ever buy this product for my personal use, it doesn’t look too bad on me and it does have a pretty clean ingredients list apart from the natural flavor.

Burt’s Bees Rating: 4.3 Stars (85 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

Think Dirty Rating: 0 (green)

EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Natural flavor (4), Linalool (3), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Coconut Oil, Carmine.)

Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary leaf extract, Natural flavor, Linalool

All Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, sunflower seed wax, mica, coconut oil, radish seed extract, lauryllaurate, theobroma grandiflorum seed butter, silica, rosemary leaf extract, tocopherol, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, water, natural flavor, linalool. May contain: Iron oxides, titanium dioxide, carmine

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Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight – $28

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: Carmine, Blue #1, Yellow #5

The description of this product reads, “Luminous cream highlighting stick with light-reflecting optics brings your best features forward. Long-wearing and oil-free.”

I am a fan of Clinique Chubby Sticks in general and think that this is a nice basic highlighter that feels pretty clean to me.

It is just plain silvery-white without any colored undertones, and results in rather muted highlights on the face.

When I first tried it on, I felt like it didn’t do too much and wasn’t that impressed.

But after wearing it a while, I have started liking it more.

Especially for women who have cooler undertones than I do (and who tend to look best in silver rather than gold jewelry), I think this could be especially pretty in a very subtle way.

Size: 0.21 oz.

Sephora Rating: 4.1 Stars (235 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: No (Meets Criteria)

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Blue #1 (7), Yellow #5 (6), Tocopheryl acetate (3). (Also contains Carmine.)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Isodecyl Isononanoate, Polyethylene, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Candelilla Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Ozokerite, Squalane, Ceresin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecanol, Phytosteryl Isostearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Lecithin, Synthetic Beeswax, Alumina, Lauryl Pca, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Tin Oxide, Oryzanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Manganese Violet, Bismuth Oxychloride, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ultramarines, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Iron Oxides, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Chromium Oxide Greens.

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Ilia Multi-Stick – $34

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredients: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: Red #7, Red #28, Yellow #5

The description of this product reads, “A buildable wash of color for cheeks and lips—now with 12 swipe-and-go shades. This creamy, multi-use formula comes in a twist-up stick for easy application on the go. No tools required: Simply swipe and blend for skin that looks and feels alive. Keep it simple with your favorite Multi-Stick shade, or mix, match, and layer to create a customized look. Available in both natural and luminous finishes.”

Ilia Multi-Stick is a line of cream blushes and highlighters in stick form.

The line currently includes three highlighters – Cosmic Dancer (“soft champagne pearl”), Stella By Starlight (“rose gold pearl”) and In The City (“bronze pearl”).

Although I have not purchased any of those colors, I do have a previously available highlighter shade (Summertime) and have enjoyed using it.

In general, I think that the Ilia Multi-Sticks are relatively clean products without any scent that perform well.

I would be interested in trying some of these additional colors.

Size: 0.18 oz.

Sephora Rating: 4.0 Stars (118 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3), Red #7 (6), Red #28 (5), Yellow #5 (6),

Fragrance Ingredients: Orange peel wax

All Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Castor Seed Oil*, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Cera Alba*, Candelilla Wax, Sesame Seed Oil*, Shea Butter*, Orange Peel Wax, Corn Starch*, Avocado Oil, Tocopherol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Red 7, Red 28, Yellow 5. *Certified Organic Ingredients.

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Buy From Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale Glow Time Highlighter Stick – $38

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating (Cheeks): (5 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings (Eclipse): Red #28

Problematic Colorings (Cosmos, Solstice): None

The description of this product reads, “Creamy, multitasking highlighter stick for buildable, blendable color and a radiant pearl finish. Ideal for on-the-go application or touch-ups. Creamy formula for natural, streak-free application. Jojoba Seed Oil hydrates and smooths skin.”

These highlighter sticks are quite shimmery, but nonetheless are in the running to be my favorite highlighters of all.

I am especially impressed by the formula, which goes on very smoothly and blends very easily.

If I use this product without foundation or on top of my foundation, I have to be careful to only use a very small amount since the shimmer level is pretty high.

Usually I use this highlighter as a “primer” and then put a sheer foundation – such as the Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals – on top of it. This creates a muted glow that I think is super-pretty.

This product is available in three shades – Cosmos (“pearlescent pink”), Solstice (“iridescent champagne”) and Eclipse (“golden sheen”).

I have Eclipse and though the golden color is a little more obvious than I ordinarily might be inclined to use, underneath foundation I think that it may be the perfect shade for me.

Those who would prefer a highlighter with a little less shimmer along with some color may want to consider the Jane Iredale Glow Time Blush Sticks (discussed in detail on the Cream Blush page of this website).

Five different shimmery shades are offered, with the formula being almost the same as the Jane Iredale highlighter sticks.

Size: 0.26 oz.

Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (878 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Rating: 2/3 (green/yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3), Red #28 (5)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients (Cosmos): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ceresin, Polybutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Jojoba Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide

All Ingredients (Solstice): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ceresin, Polybutene, Mica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Jojoba Seed Oil. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Red 28

All Ingredients (Eclipse): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceresin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polybutene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Silica, Jojoba Seed Oil, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide

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Merit Day Glow – $30

Overall Rating: (3 / 5)

Performance Rating: (2 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: Moderate (Smell)

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Made for daytime, this highlighter gives a dewy, balmy sheen with zero sparkle. The vitamin-rich base replenishes moisture for a dewy glow that lasts beyond makeup. Micro-fine pearls reflect light and illuminate the skin. Plant-based squalane locks in hydration. Olive fruit oil nourishes skin with monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E — a known antioxidant. A phytosterol and amino acid blend promotes healthy skin barrier function.”

I think that this highlighter looks nice on me in a muted way, and I wore it pretty frequently for a while after I got it.

However, I heard many people (both YouTube beauty influencers and in user reviews) report that after only a short period of use, the product acquired a really bad smell that made it unusable to them.

This did happen for me eventually too, after about six months of use.

I feel that this is too short of a time to try to use up a whole highlighter (I barely made a dent in it).

In addition, some of the people complaining said that their product smelled bad to them either immediately after purchase or after only a very short period of use.

I have been wondering whether squalane smells really bad when it goes rancid, since I have had experiences with other products containing substantial amounts of that smelling bad as well.

Regardless, I think that Merit should be thinking about reformulating this product since this is not something that I think should be happening so routinely with an item that is part of a generally high-quality brand.

Size: 0.14 oz.

Sephora Rating: 4.4 Stars (199 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Glyceryl behanate (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Squalane, Olive Fruit Oil, 2- Octyldodecanol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

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Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizers – $32

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: Lavender Oil

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Rare Light Crème Luminizers are Allure Best of Beauty Award 2017-winning highlighters that impart an ethereal, transformative glow. Each offers a remarkable lit-from-within radiance, in shades from subtle to unearthly—all with a mesmerizing color shift.”

Rituel de Fille’s luminizer offerings seem to be “cult favorites” that – though not widely known – some beauty gurus have cited as their favorite makeup products of all time.

For instance, a Byrdie editor wrote in 2020, “Rituel de Fille’s Rare Light Luminizer is the perfect product for achieving soft, sparkling skin. It creates a subtle sheen—not the blinding highlight that’s popular among YouTubers….Every time I wear this highlighter on my cheeks (which is most days), I swear at least one person stops me and compliments me or asks me what highlighter I’m wearing. Some have even whipped out their phones and bought it on the spot.”

I tried the Phosphene version (“beige with a peachy blush shift”). I found it to be more subtle than I had imagined it would be, but with a complex mix of colors that change and shift depending on the lighting and the angle.

Rituel de Fille currently offers eight different versions of this highlighter.

Now that I have realized how subtle the look is, I’m tempted to try one of the more interesting shades such as Lunaris (“iridescent blue violet”) or Ghost Light (“iridescent opal”).

I think they all would be lovely as eye shadows even if they turned out to be too much for my cheeks.

Rituel de Fille uses all natural ingredients, including only natural coloring agents. I have found everything that I have tried from them to feel very clean and to work really well for me.

Size: 0.2 oz.

Awards: Allure Best of Beauty 2017

Credo Rating: 4.9 Stars (90 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary leaf extract, Lavender oil

All Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, mica, lanolin usp, castor seed oil, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, rosemary leaf extract, sunflower seed oil, lavender oil, tocopherol

Buy From Rituel de Fille

RMS Beauty Luminizer – $38

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Award-winning, multi-use cream highlighter. Highlights skin with a light-reflective, natural dewy, glow. Inspired on set, this nourishing cream luminizer highlights with a delicate, natural glow that looks un-made-up—never greasy or glittery. Formulated with skin-loving, organic ingredients that nourish as they illuminate.”

RMS first made their name primarily on the celebrity word-of-mouth associated with their luminizers, and I agree that these are standout products that I especially enjoy using.

Historically RMS has been among the cleanest of all beauty brands, and these luminizers are typical of the purity and quality they provide.

There are five different versions offered. The most popular is the plain silvery-white one, which the website says offers an “ultra-sheer, lit-from-within, natural glow.”

I really like the Peach version for my skin, and the Magic and Champagne Rose ones are also really nice.

Like many of the traditional RMS products, this one contains coconut oil and so may not be appropriate for everyone.

Size: 0.17 oz

Sephora Rating: 4.2 Stars (597 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Coconut Oil.)

Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary leaf extract

All Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Mica, Tocopherol, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide

(Information is for the original “Living” shade.)

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RMS Beauty Master Mixer – $38

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “The makeup artist’s secret–a reflective rose gold cream highlighter. Blends with any makeup product to add light and dimension, effortlessly. This unique color energizer blends into any lip, cheek, eye or highlighting product, boosting it with luminous rose gold, the most flattering tone for all skin.”

This is another luminizer from RMS with a slightly different formula and a peachy rose-gold color that is designed to blend into the skin to look like the glow is coming from within rather than from a cosmetic.

The RMS Master Radiance Base (discussed on the Shimmer Oils page) is the same basic idea, except that while the Master Mixer is a solid thick cream, the Master Radiance Base is fluffier and can be used very slightly more liberally on the skin.

I like both products and think that of all the makeup that I own, there is nothing that consistently makes me look better.

Especially when I am tired or otherwise not feeling that great, the natural healthy glow from this product is really transformative (and always really surprising).

RMS Beauty’s founder, Rose Marie Swift, also suggests using a tiny bit of the Master Mixer in combination with matte lipsticks, in order to make them look more shimmery and current.

I have found that to be a super-helpful tip for me personally, since I do not look very good in saturated colors in general. Adding just the tiniest bit of the Master Mixer to my lips makes the colors of the lipsticks much more muted and diffuse, allowing me to wear a wide variety of lipsticks that I had previously totally given up on.

Rose Marie Swift also suggests using the Master Mixer on the eyes, either on its own or a shadow or over another shadow to create extra drama. I think that this also has worked well for me.

While possibly this product is just particularly well-suited to my skin tone, I think it very likely would be just as beautiful on many other women as well.

Hopefully they will keep making this one since I would really miss it if it disappeared on me.

The product has a very clean ingredients list but does include coconut oil.

Size: 0.15 oz.

RMS Rating: 4.9 Stars (138 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 1 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: None. (Contains Coconut Oil.)

Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary extract

All Ingredients: *Coconut Oil, *Beeswax, Mica, Silica, *Jojoba Seed Oil, *Cocoa Seed Butter, *Rosemary Extract, Tocopherol (non-GMO), Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

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Buy From RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty Palettes – $28+

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of the RMS Living Luminizer Glow Quad reads, “A travel-ready palette for on-the-go glow, featuring our legendary, award-winning luminizers and top-selling bronzer to highlight the skin. These four subtle, elegant best-selling shades work together or separately so you can create the right glow for any occasion. Versatile and easy to use anywhere, any time.”

One of the things that I especially like about RMS luminizers and other cheek products is that they are available in palettes.

Especially with the luminizers, I use so very little of the product that it would literally take me decades to use up a whole jar even if I used the same one every day.

The palettes provide four different products for a price that is the same as or less than the amount that I would spend on one larger container.

As of this writing, RMS offers two different palettes containing just luminizers and bronzers, as well as as several other palettes containing combinations of luminizers/bronzers and blushes.

Like other traditional RMS products, they have very clean ingredients but do contain coconut oil.

The palettes all have a nice little mirror and are very convenient to use to refresh the makeup when out on the go.

Personally, if I were limited in budget and choosing a capsule makeup collection, I think that I would get just one of these mixed palettes to use for luminizer, bronzer and blush. And that I would be perfectly happy with just that.

Size: 0.08 oz.

Sephora Rating: 4.2 Stars (103 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meet Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Coconut Oil.)

Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary leaf extract

All Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Mica, Tocopherol, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide

Buy From RMS Beauty

Buy From Salt New York

Salt New York Radiant Crème Tint Pro – $16 + Case

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “The ultimate highlighter. No chunks, no glitter, just mother effing luminosity. Each tint is buttery soft, easy to blend, and offers a sheer, buildable glow with a soft, skin-like finish. They’re chock full of nourishing, hydrating, credit score raising ingredients like pomegranate, jojoba, & grape seed oils, and contain absolutely zero nonsense ingredients like talc, fragrance, or mineral oil.”

These highlighters are intended to be used in Salt New York’s zippered 4-pan or 8-pan palettes.

Six highlighters shades are currently available.

I have the beige shade and think that it looks pretty on me, though I never think to use it unless I also am using other products in my palette.

The Salt New York products all have quite clean ingredients list, and I have not had any problems with them causing any irritation.

Size: 0.15 oz.

Salt New York Rating: 5 Stars (6 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe extract (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Phenoxyethanol (4)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Candelilla Wax, Kaolin Clay, Silica, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Aloe Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

Tarte Shape Tape Glow Wand – $12+

Overall Rating: (4 / 5)

Performance Rating: (4 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (3 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: Moderate

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “This sheer liquid brightener is like an instant eye lift in a tube! Delivers a natural, lit-from-within youthful glow. Brightens your features without any glitter. Diamond complex delivers a soft-focus finish. Instantly gives you 8 hrs of beauty sleep. Includes removable sponge for easy application.”

I have one of these travel-sized “glow wands” from Tarte and am mentioning it here primarily because of its accessible price point.

Especially for those who are not accustomed to using highlighter, it may make sense to start out with something inexpensive to see if it actually makes a positive difference in terms of giving a desired look.

Although these highlighters are not the cleanest ones listed on this page in terms of their ingredients list, I think that the one I have has been fine for me in terms of how it has felt and smelled.

This is a liquid highlighter applied with a sponge applicator, and it creates a mild diffuse glimmer on the skin that I think is pretty and not too attention-grabbing.

I have the color Dream, which is described as a “champagne glow” and is roughly the color of my skin. The highlights therefore look almost just like my skin is a little more dewy than usual rather than that I am wearing makeup.

Other colors available in the travel-size version are opal, rose gold and amber.

The full-size version of this product is available in eight shades, including some designed for darker skin tones, but it is $29 as of this writing.

Size: 0.03 oz.

Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (45 reviews)

Credo Clean: No

Clean at Sephora: No

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Licorice (4), Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: Hoya lacunosa flower extract

All Ingredients: Water, Hydrogenated Didecene, Mica, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isoamyl Laurate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Mango Seed Butter, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hoya Lacunosa Flower Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Licorice Root Extract, Diamond Powder, Citric Acid. Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Oxychloride

Buy From Tarte

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Vapour Highlight Stick – $36

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: Fig Oil (Organic), French Vanilla Flavor Oil (Organic)

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Dewy light and ethereal glow. Creamy + blendable vegan highlight stick. Intuitive and Multidimensional. Radiance-amplifying pure mineral pigments let your true self shine through. Wherever you want: cheeks, brow bones, cupid’s bow + shoulders. EFA rich. Hydrates and nourishes with Organic Cocoa + Shea Butter. Antioxidant, soothing, moisturizing Cocoa Butter. Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) rich Organic Avocado + Shea Butter. Hydrating, skin-conditioning Organic Sunflower.”

This is a quite creamy and moderately shimmery highlighting stick, made almost exclusively from natural ingredients.

It goes on very smoothly and creates a soft glow that I think is very pretty and appropriate for day or evening.

It has a mild scent and taste derived from citrus oil/wax, fig oil, and French vanilla flavor oil (with all of these being organic or plant-derived).

I really like this highlighter but am a little concerned about the sunflower seed oil (listed as the first ingredient) going rancid.

I do think that the sample that I got to test the product is smelling slightly off to me now (after about six months).

At least so far, it does not have anything that is anywhere close to the problem that the Merit highlighter developed, though.

Size: 0.15 oz.

Credo Rating: 4.8 Stars (9 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: Orange peel wax, Bergamot peel oil, Fig oil, French vanilla flavor oil

All Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Castor Seed Oil*, Carnauba Wax*, Silica^‡, Corn Starch*, Coco-caprylate^†, Avocado Oil*, Shea Butter*, Sesame Seed Oil*, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Candelilla Wax^†, Lauroyl Lysine^†, Tocopherol^†, Orange Peel Wax^†, Bergamot Peel Oil*, Fig Oil*, French Vanilla Flavor Oil*, Phenethyl Alcohol^†, Ethylhexylglycerin^†.May Contain: Mica^‡, Titanium Dioxide^‡, Iron Oxide^‡. *Organic. ^†Plant derived. ^‡ Mineral derived.

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Victoria Beckham Reflect Highlighter Stick – $42

Lisa Rating: Not Yet Rated

Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “A state-of-the-art, ultra high dimension cream highlighter for an impeccably fresh, glass-like glow. It’s luminous and sheer on all skin tones. Cutting-edge AirCore pearlescent pigments leverage hollow cores that catch and reflect light from all directions—like an infinity mirror. Strawberry butter ensures a smooth application while soft-focus silica microspheres blur pores and softens texture. Creates a universal, glitter-free glow that lights up all skin tones from every angle. Your complexion looks instantly nourished and refreshed.”

I have yet to try this product.

Size: 0.17 oz.

Victoria Beckham Rating: 4.4 Stars (189 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredients Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: Strawberry seed oil

All Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Vp/eicosene Copolymer, Synthetic Wax, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Saccharomyces Ferment, Shea Butter, Strawberry Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Tin Oxide. May Contain : Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

W3LL People Supernatural Stick Highlighter – $22

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “A creamy, multi-use highlighting stick that illuminates and hydrates your complexion with organic ingredients. Creamy, hydrating formula. Creates dimension and adds youthful radiance to your complexion. Versatile formula ideal for use on lips, cheeks, and eyelids. Enriched with plant-based ingredients like jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, and green tea. Great for all skin tones.”

While W3LL People products have been rather hit-or-miss for me, I am unreservedly enthusiastic about this highlighter stick.

The product is available in three colors: Universal Glow (a light neutral), Golden Glow (described as a champagne color) and Rose Glow (a light peachy-pink).

I have the Rose Glow and feel that it is something that I can put on my bare face and look better, without using any other makeup products.

It has a rather restrained look and just a hint of color, which I think makes me look healthier and prettier but without the appearance of wearing any makeup at all.

The look of the product on my hand and on my face seems to me to be very similar to that of the very expensive Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter.

So for those who like the look of the Westman Atelier product but blanch at the price, conceivably this could be something to try.

I also feel that this is a quite clean product that most people likely would be able to wear successfully.

I have not experienced any irritation from it even when I have used it on my eyelids.

Although this highlighter stick contains as much product as other standard-sized highlighters, the container is quite small and lightweight.

I find this to be very appealing, both because I can put the product even in my very small purse for use on the go and also because the environmental wastefulness is less.

I’m thinking that the Golden Glow shade may work well as a bronzing highlighter and so would like to try that shade soon as well.

Size: 0.17 oz.

Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (136 reviews)

Credo Clean: Meets Criteria

Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Ingredient Rating: 1 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: None

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Tri-isostearyl citrate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, beeswax, acacia decurrens/jojoba/sunflower seed wax/polyglyceryl-3 esters, hydrolyzed jojoba proteins, silica silylate, castor seed oil, tocopherol, olive fruit oil, carthamus tinctorius, green tea oil, aloe leaf extract, synthetic fluorphlogopite.

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Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick – $25+

♥ Lisa’s Choice

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: None

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: None

The description of this product reads, “Multitasking gel highlighter for facial-fresh clarity. Glassy finish. This clean, translucent gel highlighter imparts skin with facial-fresh, radiant clarity. Flattering, light-catching undertones and skin firming ingredients leave a dewy, glassy and unforgettable finish. A quick and hydrating way to perk up dull skin. Dab across cheeks, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow, lips and lids.”

This highlighter is available in three shades – Lit (“glassy iridescent”), Nectar (“glassy golden peach”), and and Brulee (glassy bronze gold).

I have the Nectar and Brulee shades and like both of them a lot.

The look that they give to my skin is a little unusual but low-key, with a glassy finish and very little sparkle.

I think it makes my skin look more healthy and glowing, without looking like I am wearing makeup.

On the downside, I have not found that these highlighters have much staying power on the skin.

They more need to be touched up throughout the day.

The full size versions of this product are presented in beautiful heavy containers with a magnetic cap and are quite expensive ($48).

More recently, Westman Atelier introduced mini versions with about half the product of the original at a more affordable price point ($25).

These are presented in tubes that are somewhat similar in appearance to the full-size, but that are much lighter and thus appropriate for use on the go.

Size: 0.17 oz.

Credo Rating: 4.7 Stars (139 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

EWG Product Rating: 1 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)

EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)

Fragrance Ingredients: None

All Ingredients: Diisostearyl malate, octyldodecanol, triisodecyl trimellitate, polybutene, polyethylene, microcrystalline wax, synthetic fluorphlogopite, dicalcium phosphate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tin oxide, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, grape, fruit extract [vitis vinifera fruit extract], titanium dioxide

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Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight – $75

♣ Living Clean Superstar

Overall Rating: (5 / 5)

Performance Rating: (5 / 5)

Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)

Lisa Irritation Level: None

Processed Fragrance: Flavor

Silicone Level: None

Problematic Colorings: Carmine (Old versions also may contain Red #30, Blue #1, Red #7, Yellow #5)

The description of this product reads, “Award-winning, treatment-packed cream highlighter for cheeks, lips, lids. Beautiful, clean highlighting cream for cheeks and eyes that delivers luminous warmth in flattering shades. This soothing, multipurpose polish is super loaded with skin-nourishing ingredients and treatment benefits for a beautiful boost of glowing color. Intuitive and effortlessly blendable, Gucci calls it the ‘closer’ because it gives the most refined polish to the skin.”

This is a very expensive cream highlighter with a bit of a tint, designed to add a bit of refinement and polish to the appearance.

I agree that it does give an especially lovely finish to my skin, with a very muted shimmer that looks more like healthy skin than makeup.

This is the kind of highlighter that I feel that I can put on bare skin and look better without doing anything else, though it also does add a nice finishing touch when I am wearing other products as well.

Four shades are available: Peau de Peche (“warm peach”), Peau de Soleil (“warm bronze gold”), Peau de Rose (“soft cool rose”) and Peau de Sante (“warm peachy rose”).

I have Peau de Peche, which provides a soft pretty finish with very little sparkle.

It’s my understanding that the Peau de Sante (which I feel drawn to trying) has more of an obvious shimmer to it, though.

The products come in a very heavy and beautiful metal container that seems to me inappropriate for use on the go.

I think that is a bit unfortunate since this is the kind of product that I feel would be especially useful to freshen up my look part way through the day.

Some of these products now are available in refillable containers, though the refills are not yet available and the older non-refillable containers are still being sold in some shades.

It’s my understanding that these products have been reformulated since their introduction, with artificial colorings being removed but an unspecified “flavor (aroma)” being added.

While am guessing that this flavor is made from botanical rather than synthetic ingredients, I have yet to get verification on this.

Unfortunately, I am unsure about which version I own. I am not noting that it has a scent though.

Although it may be that the scent would non-noticeable or non-objectionable to me, the idea that the product has any kind of scented ingredient in it makes me much less interested in purchasing another color.

Size: 0.14 oz.

Awards: Allure Best of Clean Beauty 2021

Credo Rating: 4.6 Stars (112 reviews)

Credo Clean: Yes

Clean at Sephora: Yes

Drunk Elephant Clean: No

EU Compliant: Meets Criteria

Think Dirty Rating (New Version): 3 (green)

EWG Product Rating (New Version): 2 (green)

EWG Ingredient Rating (New Version): 3 (yellow)

EWG Ingredient Rating (Old Version): 6 (yellow)

EWG Problem Ingredients (New Version): Titanium dioxide (3), Flavor (4)

EWG Problem Ingredients (Old Version): Titanium dioxide (3), Red #30 (5), Blue #1 (7), Red #7 (6), Yellow #5 (6). (Also contains Citric Acid.)

Fragrance Ingredients (New Version): Flavor (Aroma)

Fragrance Ingredients (Old Version): None

All Ingredients (New Version): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Jojoba Seed Oil, Silica, Beeswax Cera Alba, Sunflower Seed Wax, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Flavor (Aroma), Octyldodecyl Myristate, Capparis Spinosa Fruit Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Trihydroxystearin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide. Peau De Soleil also may contain Carmine.

All Ingredients (Old Version): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kaolin, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Mica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Behenylcarbamoylpropyl Polysilsesquioxane, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture. May Contain: Carmine, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 30, Blue 1, Red 7, Yellow 5.