This Viral Highlighter Is Under $40—And I Am Obsessed
By If there is one thing I know about highlighter, it’s that the more natural it appears on the skin, the more it absolutely needs to be in my makeup bag. Like most women, I have a penchant for looking glowy—fresh, dewy and alive—and seek out formulas that will deliver that result, fast. Those very glow-inducing properties are the reason Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Light Wand recently went viral on TikTok and then swiftly sold out—much to the dismay of the 41,000 people left languishing on the waiting list.
A highlighter that effortlessly delivers the kind of glow dreams are made of, it’s long been a staple in my beauty routine. After a quick swoosh on the tops of cheekbones (and some patting in with fingertips), it imparts a very fine shimmer (which reads as dewiness), and melts into skin, subtly catching the light for unbeatable luster. In fact, this highlighter is so good that the equivalent of one unit of the Pinkgasm shade is sold every eight seconds in the UK.
COURTESY OF BRAND
A glimpse of the countless videos of TikTokers using the product—and, of course, recent photographs of Phoebe Dynevor looking next-level luminous while wearing it—are evidence enough that it’s a formula worth getting on board with. But the brilliance of the Beauty Light Wand is that it doesn’t just look good on camera, or in good lighting; this is a product that looks good IRL too. Dispensed through a cushiony-soft sponge applicator, it’s a gel-cream consistency that dries quickly but doesn’t cake or appear dry and dusty on the skin, as many formulas can. Instead—thanks to silica and an array of skin-loving ingredients—it lends a soft-focus highlight.
“The formula is infused with my genius gel for a wet-look glow—never glittery or shimmery,” confirms Tilbury herself. “It plays with the light beautifully for instant red-carpet cheekbones. My quick trick is to apply along the entire cheekbone with the cushion applicator and blend with fingertips.” Simple and effective as can be, I also apply in this way, and it takes under 10 seconds.
The Pinkgasm shade is particularly beloved because it works exceptionally well on all skin tones, boosting warmth and delivering a rosy glow, whether you are deep or pale, and Tilbury attests that it is a tone that “suits everyone.” For extra oomph on medium to deep skins? “Dial up the rosy-pink hue by applying directly to the apple of cheeks, then blend with my Hollywood Complexion Brush—the densely-packed bristles help it glide on for a more intense, pearlescent pink glow,” Tilbury says.
So, as the winter months roll in and that healthy, post-facial glow becomes increasingly hard to come by, look no further than this $38 wonder to truly transform your look—just get in there before it sells out again.