These Drugstore Highlighters Lend the Perfect Sun-Kissed Glow

When you generally need to get out the door in a flash, you might wonder if highlighter is a necessary step in your beauty routine. Here's the deal: You can file this product under optional, but highly recommended—especially if you want to achieve a dewy glow that mimics that coveted sun-kissed look.

"Highlighter is a way to play with the reflection of light to either brighten the skin, make it appear more hydrated, or to give the illusion of lifted, elongated, or more slender features," says Jenny Patinkin, a makeup artist in Chicago. Anyone can wear it, but the trick is in the placement. Strategically avoid areas where you might naturally get oily to ensure you glow instead of look slick or sweaty, she explains.

In general, you want to apply highlighter to all the "high" points of the face—the top of the cheekbone, the inner corner of the eye, directly under your eyebrow, above the arch of your brow, and on the Cupid's bow of your lips, says Amber Budd, a professional makeup artist in Minnesota.

But first, you'll have to pick the right one. The product comes in many varieties, including sticks, liquids, and powders, but which highlighter you choose depends largely on skin type and tone, as well as desired result. To help guide your search, we asked professional makeup artists to break it all down. They say you can depend on these drugstore face and body highlighters for the prettiest results.