We tried the Glossier stick highlighter that's made with real crystals it's foolproof to use and

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• Glossier's Haloscope Highlighter is a dewy stick formula that's made with real crystals.
• Four testers tried different shades: Quartz, Moonstone, and Topaz.
• We found that it offered a subtle shimmer that works best for more bare-faced, natural looks.

Combine a nourishing formula, a subtle shine, and an easy stick applicator and you've got Glossier's Haloscope highlighter, a great illuminator for "no-makeup" makeup lovers and novice highlighter users alike.

The highlighter's two cores blend together on the skin to give you an all-day creamy glow. The outer core, the "halo," is made with real crystal extracts that offer a natural shimmer rather than a glittery one. The inner oil-based core has skin-conditioning ingredients like coconut and castor seed oil with vitamin E. 

Haloscope is dermatologist-tested and formulated without fragrances, so most skin types can glide it on without any irritation. We had four testers try out all of the different shades — Topaz, Quartz, and Moonstone — to see how it wore on their skin tone and skin type. Overall, we found that its creamy formula layered better on dry skin types and gave a more crystallized shimmer than a true highlight, but you can find our individual Haloscope reviews below.

Our reviews of the Glossier Haloscope highlighter:

Glossier Haloscope in Topaz

Jacqueline's skin type & tone: dry, sensitive; warm with golden undertones

Golden hour hits different with Glossier's Topaz highlighter. It glided onto the high points of my face and sank in with just a few dabs. The subtle shine looks beautiful on more minimal makeup looks. On thicker liquid foundation bases, I spritzed facial spray on a brush then blended the highlighter onto my face for longer wear. The vitamin-rich formula gave me all-day hydration.

I've tried Haloscope in Quartz before trying this shade, and surprisingly, I preferred its pearlescent shade over the Topaz, because it pops more on a warm skin tone. Still, if minimal makeup is your forte, it's hard to go wrong with this easy-to-use shimmer. —Jacqueline Saguin, style & beauty reviews fellow

Glossier Haloscope in Moonstone

Sarah's skin type & tone: combination; cool, yellow undertones

Out of every powder, cream, or liquid highlighter I've used, Haloscope had one of the smoothest applications and a great subtle shimmer. Moonstone's cool, silvery tone layers well since it doesn't have a pigmented base color. The texture of the highlighter is soft on my skin and on top of that, it adds a dewy finish I try to achieve with face oil. 

It required about three to four swipes to achieve my ideal shine. The formula separated around my oily areas like the brow bone and nose but kept my cheekbones hydrated. Shining even brighter without my foundation, it lifts my dull face on non-makeup days. It's great for an everyday look, easy to apply, and small enough to place into my handbag. —Sarah Pai, software engineer

Glossier Haloscope in Quartz

Lauren's skin type & tone: combination; fair with cool/neutral undertones

The oil-based pearlescent highlighter blended super easily with only my fingers, creating a dewy sheen. When layered over a matte base, the product added a healthy glow without being blinding or glittery. The low to medium pigment wore more like a shimmer than a highlighter — more noticeable in bright light or light-reflecting angles. My skin was too oily for it to set well on a bare face, so I needed a minimum of two layers. 

The product exceeded my expectations on how well it wore throughout the day. I anticipated it transferring onto my face mask or rubbing off, but it pretty much stayed in place. As someone who usually opts for "no makeup, makeup" looks, I really appreciated this highlighter. —Lauren Ruhlen, researcher

Glossier Haloscope in Quartz

Sarah's skin type & tone: combination; fair

I am very pale, so it took a lot of swatches to make it appear on my skin. Quartz has a slight shimmer to it, but it was too close to my actual skin tone. I blended it with both tools and my fingers. With makeup, it gave me a subtle glow, but it took some effort to get there. I found it slightly thick but couldn't use it on my forehead and eyelids since it seemed to seep into my fine lines by the end of the day. The place I liked it most was on my cheeks. —Sarah Burton, Business Intelligence senior analyst

The cons

Although it's a great highlighter for beginners, there isn't much product for the price, especially since most of us needed multiple swipes. We also found the consistency to be overpowering for already oily skin types, so it's best to stick to the cheekbones.

You also may have to experiment with different shades to find one that makes you glow best. Glossier Haloscope delivers a more natural shimmer, so if you're looking for a high glam shine, try going for powder-pressed formulas like BECCA Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector. For more highlighter recommendations, check out our guide to the best highlighters here.

The bottom line

Haloscope's biggest selling points are its easy application and a skin-enhancing formula with coconut, castor seed, and sweet almond oil. Plus, the stick applicator makes for an easy, direct application that you can blend with fingers. Whether you're seeking a subtle, dewy highlight or frustrated with other highlighter formulas, Glossier Haloscope is a low-maintenance shimmer that should be on your radar.

Read more about every Glossier product we've tried here.

Shop Glossier here.

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