Blog
4 Best Body Shimmer Oils for Luminous, Soft Skin
The best body shimmer oils happily do triple duty: They soften, sparkle, and leave your skin smelling amazing. With nourishing ingredients like argan oil, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and a blend of botanicals, these formulas deliver below-the-neck skin care with a glowy twist. Pearlescent mica—often in a mix of hues and sizes—adds just the right amount of shimmer. Think of it as the grown-up version of body glitter, minus the stickiness, greasiness, or over-the-top sparkle. While body shimmer oil works year-round, it especially shines (literally) in the summer, warming up skin with virtually zero effort. We tapped editors for their ride-or-die picks and checked in with a dermatologist to break down the benefits of these multitasking mavens.
Our Top Shimmer Body Oils
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30
Why we love it: Vacation’s Shimmer Oil SPF 30 dares to ask: What if sparkling like a disco ball also meant staying sunburn-free? The delightfully retro brand delivers with a formula packed with two sizes of gold mica glitter—one pearly and subtle, the other bold and light-catching—plus skin-loving ingredients like argan oil, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. The whole thing is cloaked in Vacation’s signature scent: a summery cocktail of coconut, pineapple, banana, and orange blossom. Just be sure to apply generously if you’re using it as your only sunscreen. For extra protection, layer the shimmery, dewy oil with the whipped cream-like Classic Whip Glow SPF 30.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’m not one to indulge in body oils, let alone shimmery ones, so I was very pleasantly surprised at just how subtle Vacation’s sheen and sparkle are, and how quickly it dries down—almost immediately. My biggest gripe—and honestly the reason why I don’t wear body oils in the first place—is how sticky they make my skin feel for hours afterwards. I rarely find myself at the beach, so that just isn’t practical. I, of course, love how nourishing the ingredient lineup is (peptides and HA, hooray!) The smell reminds me of fond summer afternoons spent at the community pool (a rare treat, since I could only go with my friend, who was a member)—but thankfully somehow more elevated. Plus! The packaging is super travel-friendly, and not heavy/bulk, so I definitely plan on taking this on my trip to Greece and Cyprus.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Active ingredients: avobenzone (2.9%), homosalate (5%), octisalate (4.9%), octocrylene (8%)
- Other ingredients: mica, peptides, hyaluronic acid, argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, marula oil
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 1
Most Buildable: Patrick Ta Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
Why we love it: The buildable, bronzable Patrick Ta Major Glow Nourishing Body Oil hydrates dry skin, warms, brightens, and shimmers like nobody’s business. Depending on your desired body glow level, you can layer this luminizer until it’s the perfect warmth for your mood. Golden, reflective pearls catch the light just right, while shea butter and mineral oils deliver long-lasting hydration. And the scent? Divine. A luxe blend of bergamot, sandalwood, and jasmine makes the whole experience feel that much more elevated.
“Summer is all about that radiant glow, and I love using the Patrick Ta Major Glow body shimmer on my décolletage and shoulders for an extra boost of luminosity. It also doubles as a body moisturizer, which is perfect for those hot days when I want to skip heavy layers.”—Bianca Richards, social media manager
- Key ingredients: acai oil, cupuassu butter, plant-based antioxidant blend
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 1
Best Splurge: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil
Why we love it: We can always count on Tom Ford for a worth-it splurge, and the Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil proves us right—again. The warm, slightly spiced fragrance sets it apart, amplified by body heat for an extra-sensorial experience. And since it’s a perfume oil, it packs more punch than its eau counterparts. The formula glides on light and silky, leaving behind soft illumination and glowing skin. Just be sure not to rub it in too much—doing so can dull the scent’s staying power. If you’re not feeling particularly spendy, grab a mini bottle. But don’t be surprised when you want to size up even before it’s empty.
“Tom Ford Soleil Neige was one of the first Tom Ford scents I ever added to my collection, and I was obsessed from the second I sniffed it. It’s fresh, radiant, and just so elegant. Now I use the Shimmering Body Oil too, it leaves the most beautiful, natural glow on my skin and carries that same signature scent I fell in love with. I’m planning to wear both on my wedding day—it’s that special to me.”—Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: jojoba seed, olive fruit, safflower seed oils
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 1
Best Smelling: Saltair Shimmer Body Oil
Why we love it: Saltair’s Shimmer Body Oil is multitalented, to say the least. Beyond the sparkly, light-catching goodness in every pump, this formula delivers serious hydration. A blend of fermented saururus, kukui, cacay, squalane, and other plant actives absorbs quickly and deeply to nourish, soothe, and boost softness. All those skin-loving benefits come with a golden, radiant finish—just massage a few pumps wherever you want the light to catch. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Saltair without an irresistible scent. The oil comes in three fragrance-shade duos: Santal Bloom, Golden Hour, and Pink Beach.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“If you’re looking for a little shimmer and glimmer that perfectly accentuates your summer tan, this is the product for you. I absolutely love the scent and wish every product I put on my body smelled like Santal Bloom. It’s hydrating as well and lasts well throughout the day. I can find some shimmering body oils and bronzers a bit too bronzy for my fair skin, but this is the perfect amount to give me a glow without looking unnatural.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Key ingredients: fermented saururus, kukui, cacay, squalane, blend of plant actives
- Fragrance-free: no
- Shades: 3
More body shimmer oils we love
- For a delicious dose of vanilla and all the shimmer, Ellis Brooklyn’s Shimmering Scented Body Oil is a perfect pick. Expect cozy notes of bourbon vanilla, vanilla Madagascar, amyris, and cocoa shell, plus a superfine champagne sparkle that gives skin a radiant gleam.
- The subtlety of French girl beauty products meets stateside oomph with the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil. This silky, illuminating oil can be used on both face (it’s a great compliment to your highlighter) and body, and dries down quickly for a transfer-free glow.
- Craving rich, hydrating botanicals? Moroccanoil’s Shimmering Body Oil delivers. Alongside its radiant, warm-toned shimmer, you’ll get a nourishing hit of argan and sesame oils, plus a healthy dose of antioxidants.
- Get softer, pearlescent, silky-smooth skin with L’Occitane’s Huile Scintillante Shimmering Oil, fortified with almond oil sourced from Provence (ooh la la). This fatty-acid-rich ingredient helps nourish, soften, and lock in moisture for a lit-from-within look.
Frequently asked questions
What does body shimmer oil do?
Body shimmer oil lends a subtle sparkle while offering the benefits of a traditional body oil. “A [body shimmer] has a smaller pearl pigment which gives the appearance of more of a sheen or glaze on the body,” explains Los Angeles-based makeup artist Gregory Arlt. “It’s such a great summer tool, but also beautiful year-round to illuminate the body,” adds bicoastal makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “Depending on your desired effect, shimmer oil can be super reflective, bringing attention to collar bones, legs, arms, and décolleté,” Bhatty adds that it can also enhance a tan.
Meanwhile, the skin-loving ingredients in a non-shimmery body oil provide myriad benefits. New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, MD, explains that a good body oil softens, moisturizes, and strengthens your skin barrier with ingredients you probably already recognize, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and blends of butters and botanicals.
What shade of body shimmer should I choose?
Go ahead and pick your shade of body shimmer based on your desired effect. Want bronzing vibes? Grab a bottle of something darker than your skin tone. Want to go more sheer? Opt for a non-tinted hue or one that more closely matches your skin.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best body shimmer oils, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team of in-house writers and editors, as well as contributors, along with special consideration from makeup artists and dermatologists. To learn more about our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
