Are highlighters the new blush? From soft shimmer to bold pigment: why hybrid highlighters are redefining the future of face makeup

From the Instagram profiles of today’s most in-demand makeup artists (MUAs) to viral TikTok videos, a quiet revolution is reshaping the beauty world. We see it across every form of contemporary representation: the glossy cheeks in Bridgerton on the small screen, the glam looks chosen for Margot Robbie in Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, and the glowing makeup looks that lit up the Grammys 2026, including Chappell Roan and Audrey Nuna. The common denominator? Highlighters have replaced blush. Where we once followed the canonical formula, "step 1: color + step 2: glow", we’re now embracing a single step encapsulated in one increasingly high-performing hybrid product. Countless beauty brands are leaning into this trend, developing collections designed specifically to introduce highlighter-blush hybrids in upcoming launches. A few days ago, I decided to conduct a field investigation at Sephora to determine whether I was simply a victim of my algorithm, or whether the era of matte blush has truly come to an end.

Everything I discovered about the evolution of glow

Let’s be clear: colored highlighters are not exactly new. Just consider that Ashley Ysabelle, the make-up artist behind Audrey Nuna’s Grammys look, used Chanel’s iconic Baume Essentiel, a multi-use glow stick first launched in 2019. So what has changed? Previously, these products were designed to leave behind a sheer veil of color, a shimmering topcoat often paired with a blush. Today, however, highlighters have been reformulated with richer pigments that deliver bold, saturated color while maintaining the luminous, light-reflecting finish we love. During my “field research”, as I learned from good old Malinowski, I tested countless samples. Here’s what truly deserves a place in your beauty bag. First place definitely goes to Fenty's mini Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in the shade “wattabrat.” It's a mini cream-to-powder highlighter for the face and eyes, available in a limited edition for Valentine's Day. Now one of my must-haves: Haus Labs' Bio-Radiant Gel-Powder Highlighter, especially the shade “fire opal.” Some interesting and super colorful new products from Sephora are the Colorful Luminizer, a light but high-performance illuminating powder, and the GLEAM & GO liquid highlighter in the shade “04.”

Affordable highlighters to own this spring

“A Light exists in Spring / Not present on the Year / At any other period”, wrote Emily Dickinson, and I couldn’t agree more. To survive rainy days and February’s grey skies, my mind drifts ahead to the most fragrant season of the year. I picture myself surrounded by pastel blooms, dressed in full Cottagecore aesthetic, wrapped in softness and light. If there’s one beauty product that captures these vibes, it’s undoubtedly a colored highlighter. You could wear it alone and still create a complete makeup look. But which one should you choose without overspending? With NYX's Buttermelt Highlighter in “Frosty Pink,” you can't go wrong, but another great alternative is e.l.f's Halo Glow Silky Powder in “coppertunist.”