Haus Labs Balm Highlighter Stick Is the Answer to Achieving Glass Skin

Let’s start with the tube. It reminds me of an eyeshadow crayon stick that I can easily store in my bag. It’s smooth to twist for more product and I don’t have to worry about anything spilling, cracking or flaking. Due to its size, I can glide the tube directly across my cheekbones or lids like butter. The brand recommends light strokes in one direction and this technique is really helpful for a gentle, even application. You can also warm up some product onto your fingertips and gently dab it on the skin—no brush or beauty sponge needed. It’s easy to blend without smudging other layers of makeup. 

When I discovered highlighters for the first time, I was drawn to powder formulas. I thought they offered the best finish on my combo skin, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the highlighter stick played well (if not better) against my favorites in my collection. Once I applied it on my face, I noticed the shine immediately and couldn’t believe that a balm didn’t make me look greasy or accentuate my textured skin. 

The product promises “ethereal glass skin” and it’s very vibrant on the skin, without being tacky (I was worried that the glitter might be too much). The best placement is definitely on eyelids, as seen by Nazlia Yunus above. It truly takes regular eyeshadow and adds a pop of shimmer that was very much needed—and so on trend for this season. 

The stick comes in six cute shades, making it a easy to experiment and blend shades together. My favorites were “Pink Opal,” “Citrine” and “Topaz”. These offer the right amount of shine without looking like a disco ball (or Guy Diamond from Trolls). I also appreciate that it works on all skin tones, especially black and brown complexions. 

The formula is also lightweight and hydrating on my skin. Due to hyaluronic acid and squalane, it doesn’t accentuate my pores or feel uncomfy for my combo skin. It’s dubbed as a serum-based highlighter, claiming to boost hydration by 59 percent and designed for all skin types. It provided a nice slip that wasn’t heavy on my skin even after a long day. 

I was really surprised that I like this balmy highlighter. If I had to nitpick a few things: The packaging is too minimal for my taste, especially considering that it’s $30. It’s just so different from the pop star we know and love that I can easily misplace them with my other highlighters. However, it’s not a dealbreaker. Also, the highlighter is not transfer-proof (which is what I would expect for a balmy product), can crease on the lids and doesn’t have much staying power. I would recommend having a good setting spray or powder to grip the product. But overall, with the boom of blush, it’s nice to see highlighters are making a comeback—and it starts with this bad boy right here. 

Fast Facts

• Shades: 6
• Key Ingredients: sea fennel extract, wakame extract, hyaluronic acid