I Tested the Glow Product Behind a Celebrity’s Effortless Summer Radiance

Verdict: A Polished, Celebrity-Level Glow for Glow Skeptics

A celebrity glow product is a makeup or hybrid skincare item designed to give summer skin radiance that looks softly lit from within, rather than glittery or overdone, even when worn in daylight on bare skin or over full makeup.

My verdict up front: Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Highlighter is a polished, believable glow stick that suits people who like skin to look dewy and expensive rather than obviously highlighted. It is not a bronzer, and it will not replace your gradual face tanner, but it works well with both if you want that layered, celebrity glow finish. At £32, it feels fairly priced if you care about skincare-led formulas and A‑list endorsements, but overkill if you only wear makeup on weekends or already own several highlighters.

What impressed me most is how it fits into the broader world of celebrity glow products: liquid bronzing drops, gradual self-tanning drops, and tinted SPF serums. Used together, they can give warmth, dimension and gloss without the tell-tale shimmer stripe that often ruins the illusion of natural summer skin radiance.

What Makes Unreal Highlighter Different from a Bronzer or Tanner?

Unreal Highlighter is a balmy highlight stick, not a bronzer, built around a 92% skincare-led formula with multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E to plump, revive and hydrate skin. It is designed to be multi-functional, so you can wear it on bare, no-makeup days or layered over foundation for full glam. The stick format keeps it very travel-friendly, and there is a single shade, Glazed Goddess, a champagne tone described as universally flattering.

According to the brand, Glow-Light Mapping Mesh Tech™ diffuses and reflects light for a lifted, smoothed and blurred finish that mimics sunlight on the skin. In use, the texture feels like a nourishing balm that glides and leaves a glossy, iridescent trail with micro-fine shimmer instead of chunky glitter. That is important if you have uneven texture or acne-prone skin and usually avoid highlighter because it clings to bumps.

Bronzing Drops and Gradual Tanners: The Base of the Glow

To judge the Unreal Highlighter fairly, I paired it with two types of celebrity glow products that sit underneath: bronzing drops and gradual face tanners. Bronzing drops are fluid “liquid bronzers” or “glow drops” that blend into skin more effortlessly than cream or powder bronzers, making them ideal for novices. Some act as gradual self-tanners, developing colour that lasts a few days, while others behave purely as makeup to mix with skincare or foundation.

For a natural, non-shimmery base, one recommended option is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops, which give a dewy glow without visible glitter and double as a moisturising serum that does not pill with SPF. For those who like visible gleam, By Terry’s Brightening CC Serum in Sunny Flash is described as a cult, skin-warming glow product, while Ere Perez Peach Gel Bronzing Drops provide a sheer, buildable, hydrating formula with a more affordable price tag.

Gradual tanning face drops are the quiet heroes if you want warmth that survives multiple face washes. They are mixed into your regular moisturiser or serum at night, 2–3 drops at a time, then applied carefully over the face, temples and neck before washing hands. By morning, skin looks more even-toned and glowy without the drama of a full fake tan; brands such as Isle of Paradise with three undertone-conscious shades, Australian brand Three Warriors with added skincare benefits, and Bondi Sans sit in this category.

How to Apply for Natural vs. Dramatic Summer Skin Radiance

From a user’s point of view, the difference between natural and dramatic summer skin radiance comes down to placement and layering. For daytime, I like to start with bronzing drops: mix half a pump into moisturiser or smooth a pump over sunscreen to get a soft wash of warmth. On top of that, I tap Unreal Highlighter on the high points of the face—tops of cheekbones, bridge of the nose, Cupid’s bow—with fingers. Because the stick feels like a hydrating balm with a glassy, glazed finish, it reads as healthy skin rather than obvious makeup when used sparingly.

For a more dramatic evening look, bronzing drops can be mixed into foundation to sheer it out and add radiance, followed by a more liberal swipe of Unreal Highlighter along the temples and over the brow bone. On no-makeup days, you can rely on gradual face tanner for baseline warmth and use the highlight stick directly on bare skin, which the skincare-led formula is designed to support. In all cases, blending with fingers keeps the effect skin-like rather than streaky or metallic.

Is This Celebrity Glow Routine Worth It?

Where does this leave the average person who wants radiant summer skin without a vanity full of products? Unreal Highlighter earns its place if you like a glossy, hydrated finish and appreciate that it behaves more like skincare in a stick than a traditional, glitter-packed highlighter. The fact that it has already attracted fans like Jennifer Aniston and Sienna Miller, who rely on the three-step Unreal System for effortless golden glow, confirms its celebrity glow product status.

However, it works best as the “icing” on a glow routine built on bronzing drops and/or a gradual face tanner. Bronzing drops deliver flexible warmth that blends seamlessly into skin, while gradual tanning drops give a low-maintenance, long-lasting tint without the fear factor of traditional fake tan. If you are happy with a single-step tinted moisturiser, this trio may feel like unnecessary effort. But if you want that soft-focus, spa-level facial glow with believable, sunlight-mimicking radiance, this combination delivers more nuance and control than a one-and-done highlighter alone.

• Buy the Unreal Highlighter if you want a skincare-heavy glow stick that looks dewy and softly reflective rather than glittery.
• Skip the Unreal Highlighter if you prefer matte, shine-free makeup or dislike any glassy finish on the skin.
• Buy the Unreal Highlighter if you already use bronzing drops or a gradual face tanner and want a final step to add dimension and light.
• Skip the Unreal Highlighter if you expect one product to give both colour and glow, since it is a highlighter, not a bronzer or self-tan.
• Buy the Unreal Highlighter if you travel often and need a portable, no-mirror stick that works on bare skin and full glam.