Patrick Ta's New Highlighter Duos Gave Us a Sun-Drenched Glow

The 2016 vibes are high this summer. Kylie Jenner brought back her King Kylie era with pink hair, we have multiple contenders for the Song of the Summer, and highlighters have take the top spot as the must-have beauty product at the moment. Yes, you heard that right—highlighters are making a comeback, and in a big way. Okay, they never really went away, but to us powder highlighters will always be linked with the era of "Instagram makeup," for better or for worse.

However, Patrick Ta wants to change that. Just in time for summer, the makeup artist is re-inventing highlighter with his new Major Glow Crème and Powder Light Reflecting Translucent Highlighter Duos, the latest addiction to his beloved face compacts.

Ahead, all the details on the launch, plus team Byrdie's honest reviews.

The Inspiration

Highlighters have been a long time in the making for Patrick Ta. After all, even Ta himself admits that a great glow has become a signature of his. That said, he sites the problem that most have with highlighters (chunky glitter formulas that leave a streaky finish) as the inspiration to create his own. "Throughout my career, I was running into the issue that most highlighters would leave a cast or just sit on the skin instead of actually melting into it," he shared with Byrdie. "So, flash forward five years and dozens of highlighter formulations, and I’ve finally created a natural, glowing highlighter duo that’s infused with artist-level pearls, paired with a formula that's intentionally translucent and exactly what I’ve been searching for."

"I always get the most compliments on my skin when there’s a glow to it, and I think we all love compliments on our skin, not just on our highlighter which is what really inspired this collection," adds Ta. The highlighters come in five shades: My Love, a white pearl; Baby, a light pink; Sugar, a classic champagne; Daddy, a peachy rose gold; and Honey, a bronze. "[Highlighter is] a playful addition to anyone’s makeup, so the shade names were specifically inspired by that energy and the things I call my friends in family in real life."

If you've since swapped your powder highlighter for a 2024-approved cream or liquid, fear not. Ta knows powder highlighters have a bit of a bad reputation, but he promises that "this is not your 2016 highlighter—this is a much more modern way to glow."

The Formula

Just like Ta's beloved blush and bronzers, the Major Glow Crème and Powder Light Reflecting Translucent Highlighter Duos come in a dual compact with both a cream and powder formulation. His signature technique is applying powder first, then the cream, which he stands by for the new product. "The cream over powder technique for our blushes has become a staple artistry tip for the brand, and I knew I wanted to utilize the same technique for our highlighters to offer versatility and options for different looks."

The highlighters were made to achieve that natural, glowing-from-within look, and they err on the sheerer side. "I also knew I wanted a slightly translucent base color to allow your natural skin to show underneath with a hint of dimensional shine, which took time to perfect," he said. "I didn’t want it to look like there’s a stripe of highlighter on your face. It’s made to earn compliments on your skin, not just your highlighter."

The powder has a silky formula, while the cream has a sheer buttery finish that glides on like a topper. Ingredient call-outs include moringa and shea butter to create a blendable formula that melts right into the skin. Both the cream and powder include a combination of multifaceted pearls for a shimmery—but not glittery—effect on the skin. "The formula is intentionally translucent, texturally dimensional and infused with just the right amount of ultra refined shimmer," says Ta. "It’s something I’m so excited for people to introduce into their looks."

How to Use It

Contrary to popular belief, you can use highlighters on more than just the high points of your face. "As an artist, there’s so much multi-use with highlighter," Ta notes. "I use it on the high points of the face, down the bridge of the nose, and on decolletage." He instructs to start with your contour, and then apply powder blush. Before moving on to any creams, apply your powder highlighter, then go back in with the cream blush. To finish the look, add a cream highlighter on top. "I use a small, fluffy brush for the powder highlight for precise placement, and a blender sponge for the creme highlight to softly diffuse," he shares.

The Reviews

Star Donaldson, associate social director

"Patrick Ta's signature is to offer a cream, and powder product in one palette. I love this concept to have options but for this highlighter, I think the cream and powder work best together for glowy and seamless results!"

Ali Webb, associate editor

"See that glow? All Patrick Ta. I love a classic champagne gold when it comes to highlighter, so I opted for shade Sugar and it did not disappoint. Layering the cream and powder formulas together helped me to create a dewy result with radiant shimmer that I could build to my desired finish."

Derek Deng, video content creator

"This crème and powder duo is the skin-ification of highlighter—the two highlighters complement each other to make for a healthy, supple glow that doesn’t take attention away from the skin. It’s not a dramatic glow by any means, but it’s perfect for that no-makeup-makeup, sun-drenched glow."

Patrick Ta Major Glow Crème and Powder Light Reflecting Translucent Highlighter Duo