The Beauty Diary by Beck Sullivan: Six amazing highlighters even beauty rookies will fall in love with
It costs less than a fancy sandwich and can be found in one of the most unlikeliest places — but it’s actually one of Sportsgirl’s hero products.
Most of life’s problems can be solved with good food, exercise, a great therapist and a gigantic glass of wine.
Then there are the brilliant beauty solutions to a bad day — a bouncy blow dry, accidentally blowing $75 at Chemist Warehouse, or discovering a fabulous new highlighter.
Highlighters are the easiest way to bring light (literally!) to a dark day, month, or decade.
They’re cheap, easy to apply and have magic glitter powers that bring an instant glow to dull, tired skin.
Here are six amazing highlighters guaranteed to make you smile.
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SPORTSGIRL COCONUT OIL ILLUMINISOR
Price: $14.95
Available from: Sportsgirl stores and sportsgirl.com.au
This lovely cream highlighter is made from a range of oils, including coconut oil, and smells like a delicious tropical holiday.
I’m told it has a similar smell to surfboard wax and apparently that’s a good thing.
It’s very natural-looking and the oils create a subtle sheen on the cheekbones that make you look like you naturally have glowy skin. The product blends very easily into the skin, so it’s great for beginners who find highlighter a bit complicated or intimidating.
This is not a blinding highlighter so if you’re looking for some serious sparkle, you’ll be left disappointed, but it’s perfect for everyday use.
FENTY KILLAWATT FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER
Price: $54
Available from: Sephora
When Rihanna dropped her debut Fenty Beauty collection in 2017, her gorgeous gold highlighter Trophy Wife was hailed as one of the range’s standout products.
The game-changing, sparkly formula made the product a raging success. Now she’s released that same highlighter in several new colours.
My personal favourite is the pale pink sparkly shade, aptly named “Wattabrat”.
The colour looks gorgeous swiped across the cheeks and cheekbones, almost like a sparkly blush, and can also be used as an eyeshadow.
From my Walkey-worthy field reporting I can confirm that this product is a guaranteed mood-booster on a bad day.
Everything seems a little better when you’re wearing sparkly pink eyeshadow.
MCoBEAUTY HIGHLIGHT AND GLOW STICK
Price: $14
Available from: Woolworths and MCoBeauty.com
ModelCo, the iconic Australian beauty brand famous for it’s fabulous pink Tan In A Can, recently launched a new line of vegan, cruelty-free beauty products under the brand MCo Beauty.
This highlighter stick is one of the — sorry — highlights of the range. The dewy stick formula is super easy to apply on the go. Just blend with fingers across your cheekbones, nose bridge and Cupid’s bow for a natural glow.
GLOSSIER HALOSCOPE
Price: $US22
Available from: Glossier.com and the Glossier stores in NYC and LA
Despite persistent begging and a few drunken 4am emails to its customer service team, New York beauty brand Glossier STILL doesn’t ship to Australia.
You can get around their annoying policy by using Australia Post’s ShopMate tool, or you can ask the next person you know heading to the US to stop by one of the brand’s brick-and-mortar stores and stock up for you.
I recommend this product despite clear accessibility issues because people always ask about Glossier products, plus millions of Aussies travel to the US each year, with many actually scheduling a pilgrimage to Glossier into their itineraries.
Haloscope is a gorgeous natural-looking highlighter that really is the embodiment of “is that sweat or just good highlighter?” — and I mean that as a total compliment.
MECCA COSMETICA LIT FROM WITHIN ILLUMINATING BALM
Price: $32
Available: Mecca
This is honestly my favourite highlighter of all time and that’s why it keeps coming up in this column. I will absolutely keep repeating myself because this product deserves all the praise in the world.
It’s cheap, super easy to use and the glow is seriously next level, while still looking relatively natural.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY GLOWGASM PALETTE
Price: $120
Available from: Charlotte Tilbury’s website
This is the latest product release from British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. You can practically feel her fans’ bank accounts recoiling in anticipation.
Yes, it’s pricey. But it’s a goddamn beautiful palette that will last for ages.
This would be an ideal gift to receive, so start dropping hints to your family, friends, but especially your partner. The next time they screw up and need an apology present, send this palette their way!
If you have a beauty question or product you’d like us to road test, DM me on Instagram or tweet me