Benefit’s High Beam highlighter was the beauty community’s original highlighters before it blew up into something huge. High Beam an icy, pink highlight that’s great for adding a natural glow to the high points of your face. It’s very natural, the packaging is small and it only works for light skin-tones. It’s a great everyday highlighter but is it worth the high end price tag?
Our favorite dupe for Benefit’s High Beam highlighter is NYX Born to Glow liquid illuminator in Sunbeam. This highlight is the same icy pink color, a fraction of the price and you get triple the amount of product! Benefit’s High Beam isn’t worth the price when you have a dupe as effective as NYX’s Born To Glow illuminator. It looks the same on this skin while being cheaper, multi-use and cruelty-free.
Benefit High Beam Review
Use High Beam as a spot highlighter over makeup or wear it under your complexion favorites for a subtle luminescence.
High Beam is a pink, icy highlighter that works for fair-light skin tones. It has a doe-foot applicator so it’s suitable for highlighting the high points of your face and the inner corner. High Beam’s formula gives a natural glow and it’s a great everyday highlighter. It’s not a unique, one-of-kind highlighter but it does the job.
High Beam’s applicator is small so it’s not ideal for priming the face like most liquid highlighters. This product is tough because there is no shade range and you get very little product for what you pay. It’s not a blinding highlight so if you’re looking for that, this isn’t a good option. But, if you have fair skin and want something subtle, this could be a good option for you.
Where to buy: Amazon
Benefit High Beam Dupes
In the beauty industry there is no shortage of highlighters! Blinding, natural, cream, liquid, jelly, powder…you name it and there’s a highlighter out there for whatever you’re looking for. I recommended trying a dupe versus High Beam because there is no need to pay high end prices for something as natural and subtle as High Beam.
Another advantage of a dupe is finding a cruelty-free one! Benefit Cosmetics isn’t CF so if thats important to you, they’re already off the table. Luckily, there are tons of affordable highlighters that are beautiful and perform well. There is no need to pay high dollar for a highlighter when every single beauty brand is launching their own.
1. NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam
Our Pick
This buildable, medium coverage foundation is available in a range of 45 flattering shades!
This NYX highlighter in the shade Sunbeam has the same icy glow as High Beam. The finish is so similar and when the two are side by side, it’s very difficult to spot the difference. This NYX highlighter comes in 4 shades so there is a shade for most skin tones. This is our favorite dupe for High Beam and we love that it has a shade range to suit multiple skin tones!
Pros:
- Affordable and you get 3xs the product as High Beam.
- The formula is a great dupe for High Beam.
- Comes in multiple shades.
- NYX is cruelty-free, Benefit is not.
- Squeeze applicator makes it suitable to use all over, especially as a primer before foundation.
Cons:
- Does not come with a doe-foot applicator.
- Packaging is less luxurious then Benefit.
Where to buy it:
2. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Liquid Highlighter
This hydrating formula is infused with Murumuru Seed Butter, Grapeseed Oil, and Vitamin E to help smooth out your skin’s texture.
Wet n Wild’s Megaglo highlighter is a great everyday highlighter and it comes with a doe-foot applicator thats similar to High Beam. The shade ‘halographic’ has to be the most suitable option for Benefit’s High Beam shade, though it’s not a perfect match. But, it comes in 6 shades so there is an option for all skin tones! Benefit’s High Beam tends to be more metallic looking while this highlighter adds glow with a dewy finish — it’s still a great day time option.
Pros:
- Comes in 6 shades.
- Has a doe-foot applicator like High Beam.
- Super affordable and day time appropriate.
- Works great mixed into foundation for a glowy finish.
- Has double the amount of product as High Beam.
Cons:
- ‘Halographic’ isn’t a perfect dupe for Benefit’s High Beam.
- This formula is a little lighter and dewier then High Beam.
Where to buy it: Amazon
3. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glow Amour in Daybreak
These revolutionary drops of highlighting pigment instantly illuminate skin for a dewy glow look.
This icy, pink liquid highlight is reminiscent of Benefit High Beam. The texture is a liquid so it’s a little runny but it’s suitable for day time and great for light skin tones. This highlighter is a liquid with a dropper applicator so it’s great if you want to use it as a primer or wear it on your body.
Pros:
- Has the same pearl, icy pink color.
- Dries down to leave a natural looking glow.
- Half the price and you get double the amount compared to High Beam.
Cons:
- This formula is a little more runny then High Beam
- Different applicator than High Beam. Doe foot vs dropper.
Where to buy it: Amazon
4. J.Cat Beauty You Glow Girl Baked Highlight in Crystal Sand
This multi-dimensional Baked formula brings instant GLOW all day long due to high intense shimmer pigment.
If you want a highlight that’s the same shade of High Beam but with more of an intense glow, this is the dupe for you! Crystal Sand is a powder highlighter and not a liquid like High Beam but the color is identical. If you have oily skin, this is a good option as powder highlighters are a little bit easier to work with and last longer then creams.
Pros:
- Great option if you want powder highlighter or something more intense that’s still reminiscent of High Beam.
- Affordable.
- Blinding glow!
- If you have oily skin, a powder may last longer than a cream.
Cons:
- Not a perfect dupe for High Beam. Shade dupe vs. overall dupe.
- Powder formula.
Where to buy it: Amazon
5. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Dewy Highlighter
An ultra-blendable and buildable Highlighter loaded with hydrating antioxidants to provide a healthy glow to your skin.
This cream highlighter is loaded with skin friendly ingredients to give the skin a natural glow. The shade Dew Frost has the natural finish with that icy, pink hue just like High Beam. This product looks very similar to Benefit’s High Beam. It’s a natural highlighter and best suited for light skin tones.
Pros:
- Cream-to-powder formula contains skin friendly ingredients like jojoba oil and aloe vera.
- Shade Dew Frost is reminiscent of High Beam.
- This highlighter is long lasting and a good day time option.
Cons:
- Cream-to-powder formula vs. a liquid like High Beam.
- Stick applicator.
- Not a blinding glow.
Where to buy it: Amazon
6. Essence Make Me Glow Liquid Highlighter
Essence Make Me Glow Liquid Highlighter creates a satin rose subtle glow.
This dupe is the most similar to High Beam and it was definitely made with High Beam in mind. It has the same packaging, the exact doe-foot applicator and it looks just like High Beam when it’s swatched. It’s a fantastic dupe all around but not our number one because it’s a little harder to find.
It’s available on
Pros:
- Packaging is a perfect dupe for High Beam!
- Affordable and easy to use.
- The packaging still feels luxury.
- This dupe is identical to High Beam.
Cons:
- Harder to get your hands on.
- You get a small amount of product but the price is so affordable.
Where to buy it: Amazon
Final Thoughts
Benefit’s High Beam isn’t the most wearable highlighter when it comes to the shade offering but if it works for your skin tone, it’s a good option. I don’t think Benefit High Beam is worth the price when there’s so many other affordable highlighters that mimic that natural look. If you’re looking for an icy pink shade like High Beam, this list of dupes shows 6 options to get the look for less.
NYX has some great highlighters and their Born to Glow in Sunbeam is our best dupe for High Beam. It gives that natural glow, you get tons of product and it’s affordable. If you’re looking for a product to splurge on — go for a good foundation or eyeshadow palette. Save your money on highlighter because there are so many great, affordable options!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply a liquid highlighter over powder?
Yeah most liquid highlighters are fine over powder! Cream and liquid products are more popular than ever so most formulations are really easy to use. If you don’t like the way it looks then I would skip out on it but try and see.
Is Benefit Cosmetics cruelty-free?
No, Benefit is not cruelty-free because they sell in Mainland China and animal testing is required there. If you’re looking for a cruelty-free dupe, those include NYX, J.Cat Beauty and Essence. Physicians Formula, L’Oreal and Wet n Wild are NOT cruelty-free.
Is Benefit High Beam a universal highlight?
Universal is a weird term because everyone can wear the same shade but most of the time it won’t flatter everyone. High Beam is an icy, pink shade that works best for fair to light skintones. If you have medium or deep skin it’s going to look grey on the skin because it is so light.
Benefit High Beam is not universal and it’s disappointing that Benefit would create a highlighter that only flatters one skin tone. If you’re medium or deep, something darker like golden or bronze highlighters tend to be more flattering! Wet n Wild and NYX offer dupes in darker, more inclusive shades!