Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Korean highlighters different from Western highlighters?
The biggest difference between Korean and Western highlighters comes down to their overall approach to glow and pigmentation. “Korean beauty products tend to focus on creating a natural, healthy-looking radiance—more of an ‘it’s there, but not there’ effect,” says Oh. Many formulas are also more skin care-focused, featuring ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to enhance the skin’s texture and create the smooth, hydrated mulgwang or “glass skin” look K-beauty is known for.
You’ll often find unique formats like cushion compact highlighters and balm textures that “blend seamlessly into the skin for a more natural finish,” Oh says. By contrast, “many Western highlighters are designed to strongly emphasize and sculpt specific facial features with higher pigmentation and shimmer,” sometimes prioritizing intensity, sparkle, and definition, she explains. “Neither approach is better or worse—they simply reflect different beauty philosophies and makeup trends.”
How should you apply Korean highlighters?
When applying Korean highlighters, less is often more. “Korean makeup focuses heavily on achieving a natural, subtle glow, so the application is usually much softer and lighter,” says Oh. Rather than sweeping on product for maximum shine, she recommends using “a gentle tapping motion with minimal pressure to create a seamless, skin-like radiance.” While the techniques used for Western highlighters are similar, Oh notes that they often involve “more pressure, layering, or sweeping motions to build stronger pigmentation and shine,” resulting in a more defined highlight.
How do Korean highlighters perform on deeper skin tones?
Korean highlighters can absolutely work beautifully on deeper skin tones—it all comes down to choosing the right shade. “Because many K-beauty highlighters are designed to create a subtle, skin-like glow rather than intense shimmer, selecting a shade that complements your complexion is key,” says Oh. She recommends skipping icy or pale tones in favor of warmer hues like bronze, champagne gold, and rose gold, which tend to look more natural and radiant on deeper complexions without appearing ashy or chalky.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Korean highlighters, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
