Ear highlighter, the once-forgotten 2016 beauty moment of dabbing shimmer onto your lobes, is officially back, according to bustle.com. The revival started when a makeup artist known as @paintedbyesther began adding flashes of glow to her clients' ears, and Love Island's Olandria Carthen spotted the detail on TikTok.
Within a day, Carthen's video racked up nearly 300,000 likes, dragging a decade-old trend back into the group chat. Now, creators are calling it the cheekbone highlighter's cooler cousin, and the lobe strobe is sliding neatly into a wider body-glitter comeback.
Who's Actually Behind the Glow?
If you've ever wondered who started the whole ear shimmer thing, the short answer is Bretman Rock. Around 2016 and 2017, the beauty creator posted a tongue-in-cheek Instagram tutorial demonstrating the placement and joked that it "amplifies your hearing" when people talk smack. Influencers like Jaclyn Hill jumped on the look soon after.
This time around, makeup artist Ngozi Edeme, better known online as @paintedbyesther, is getting the credit. She's been applying ear highlighter to clients including singer Tyla, model Meret Manon, and Carthen, whose TikTok is what really lit the fuse.
How to Try Ear Highlighter Without Overdoing It
The good news: you don't need a special brush or a brand-new product. Any highlighter already sitting in your makeup bag will do.
For a softer take, follow Tyla's lead and press a little shimmer onto smaller spots like the tragus, antihelix, or the flat of the ear. Pairing it with the same shade on your face gives a cohesive, fairy-like finish that still looks intentional.
Want something louder? Sweep the highlighter across the whole ear the way Manon has worn it. The all-over shine reads bolder and more futuristic, perfect for a night out or a festival look.
Why Sparkle in General Is Having a Moment
Ear highlighter isn't flying solo this season. Artists including Edeme and Sophia Sinot have been pushing a wider body-glitter renaissance, with shimmer turning up on décolletage, shoulders, arms, legs, and necks. After years of barely-there, skin-like glam, makeup that looks like makeup again feels fresh.
That's the bigger context: people want their beauty routines to be playful and visible. A swipe of highlighter on the ear is a tiny, low-stakes way to join in.
What It Means for You
You don't have to go full disco ball to participate. The trend works with the products you already own, it takes about ten seconds, and it fades just like normal highlighter at the end of the night. If you're heading out, a little lobe glow is a fun finishing touch that photographs well and feels current.
For anyone in the safe-sex and sexual-health space, the takeaway is the same one we keep coming back to: small, confident choices are allowed to be fun. Wearing shimmer on your ears is no different from picking out a condom that feels good or planning a date-night conversation about boundaries. Thoughtful, low-pressure, and entirely your call.
Key takeaways
- Ear highlighter is back thanks to @paintedbyesther and a viral Olandria Carthen TikTok, per bustle.com.
- You can recreate the trend with any highlighter you already own, no new tools required.
- Lighter placement on the tragus and antihelix reads soft; full-ear coverage reads bold.
- The look fits into a larger body-glitter revival happening across social media right now.
Frequently asked questions
Who started the original ear highlighter trend?
Beauty creator Bretman Rock helped popularize ear highlighter around 2016 and 2017, according to bustle.com.
Whose TikTok brought ear highlighter back in 2025?
Love Island star Olandria Carthen called out the detail on her account, and the video pulled in nearly 300,000 likes within a day.
Do I need a specific product to try ear highlighter?
No. Any powder, cream, or liquid highlighter you already use on your face will work on your ears as well.
Is ear highlighter safe for sensitive ear skin?
Generally yes, but if you have pierced ears, eczema, or known reactions to shimmer pigments, spot-test the product on a small patch first and avoid open piercing holes.
How do I remove ear highlighter at the end of the night?
Use your usual makeup remover or micellar water on a cotton pad, then rinse. A gentle cleanser clears any leftover shimmer from the cartilage folds.