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When it comes to glowing up—literally—the best body shimmers give your skin that radiant, fresh-from-vacation finish without crossing into disco ball territory. These formulas, which include body oils and creams alike, are a far cry from the ultra-sticky body glitter of our teen years (but will still satisfy your nostalgic, sparkle-loving heart). They're sheer, sophisticated, and seriously flattering on a variety of skin tones—and, with a bronze tint, can also complement your self-tanner game. Even better? Many are also packed with ingredients such as nourishing botanical oils, antioxidants, and even sun protection, making them as functional as they are fabulous.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Patrick Ta Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil, $52
- Best Moisturizing: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, $110
- Best Lightweight: Saltair Shimmer Body Oil, $24
- Best Tinted: Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer, $59
- Best for Body Contouring: Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Shimmer Highlight Lotion, $65
- Best for Travel: DIBS Beauty Status Stick, $38
- Best with SPF: Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30 Glow, $23
- Best Drugstore: ColourPop Sol Glow Oil Mini, $10
Whether you're heading to the beach, a sunset rooftop soirée, or just want to add a little shimmer to your everyday life, these glow-getters do more than dazzle. Read on for the best body shimmers to add to your routine, featuring makeup artist faves, cult classics, and multitasking staples.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- What’s the difference between body shimmer and body glitter?
- Is body shimmer good for your skin?
- Can I wear body shimmer every day?
- How do I choose the right shade of body shimmer for my skin tone?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review producers
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Patrick Ta Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
Patrick Ta
Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
Sephora
Patrick Ta
Allure social media manager Bianca Richards applying Patrick Ta’s Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
Bianca Richards
Why it’s worth it: We all want to look as fresh and glowy as if we just got back from a tropical vacay. (Right? Right.) Well, the Patrick Ta Major Glow Balm will give you that and more. Basically a highlighter in gloss form, it gives an almost wet, editorial shine that works equally well on the body and face. Think of it as the “model off-duty” glow that looks amazing under sunlight or flash photography. Keep in mind: Since the balm is packed with natural oils, you’ll want to be mindful of how you store it. If it becomes too soft or liquified, simply put it in the fridge for five minutes before applying it.
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
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“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
More to know
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- Available shades: 2
- Key ingredients: jojoba seed oil, shea butter esters, rice bran emollients
Best Moisturizing: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil
Tom Ford
Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis applying the Tom Ford Soleil Neige Body Oil
Ang Trakoshis
Why it’s worth it: If you could channel the vibe of a sun-drenched private island in a beauty product, the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil would be it. This cult-favorite formula delivers a radiant, golden glow with micro-fine shimmer that feels refined, not flashy (you’ll only feel like a 10 oz gold bar, not exactly look like one). The lightweight, fast-absorbing oil blends seamlessly into the skin, leaving it soft, hydrated, and lit with a warm luster that flatters almost every skin tone.
What truly sets this shimmery body oil apart is its warm, gourmand scent: a luxurious blend of white florals, amber, and creamy pistachio that lingers on the skin like the most elegant beachside perfume. It’s both a glow enhancer and a sensory indulgence.
Tester feedback from shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis
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"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
More to know
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- Available shades: 1
- Key ingredients: jojoba seed, olive fruit, and safflower seed oils
Best Lightweight: Saltair Shimmer Body Oil
Saltair
Shimmer Body Oil
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick applying the Saltair Shimmer Body Oil
Lexi Herrick
Why it’s worth it: If you’re in the market for a skin-first type of body shimmer, the Saltair Shimmer Body Oil brings a nourishing, clean-beauty approach to full-body glow. Infused with a blend of fermented botanical oils and plant extracts, including kukui, squalane, and fermented saururus oil, it hydrates dry skin and creates a dewy, healthy-looking finish. The gold shimmer is super fine, not glittery, and the lightweight texture sinks in fast without leaving behind a greasy film.
With notes of rose, creamy sandalwood, and jasmine, this shimmering dry oil smells like summer in a bottle. Apply immediately after your shower, while your skin is still damp, to help the plant-based oils lock in moisture.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
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“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
More to know
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- Available shades: 1
- Key ingredients: Kukui, cacay, squalane, and karanja oils, fermented saururus oil, plumeria flower extract, astaxanthin
More body shimmers we love:
Best Tinted: Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer
Fenty Beauty
Body Lava Body Luminizer
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Rihanna didn’t just bless us with music, fashion, and makeup; she also rewrote the rules of body glow with Fenty Beauty Body Lava. This beloved luminizer offers a radiant, just-stepped-off-the-beach sheen that instantly makes your skin look smoother, warmer, and more alive. The gel-based formula melts onto the body without feeling sticky or greasy, while light-diffusing micro-pearls deliver high-impact shine that catches the light in all the right places. The glow is merely just the beginning — Body Lava leaves behind an irresistible floral vanilla scent that lingers on the skin long after the shimmer sets, doubling as a subtle, summer-ready fragrance.
More to know
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- Available shades: 4
- Key ingredients: emollients, silica
Best for Body Contouring: Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Shimmer Highlight Lotion
Charlotte Tilbury
Supermodel Body Shimmer Highlight Lotion
Nordstrom
Revolve
Why it’s worth it: This is basically runway glow in a bottle. More body makeup than body cream, Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Shimmer Highlight Lotion combines tinted coverage with subtle shimmer for a more sculpted, post-vacay look. It's infused with botanicals, vitamins, and hydrating ingredients that refresh and moisturize the skin. The soft rose-gold tint reflects light beautifully, making it a red-carpet staple for celebrities and makeup artists alike, including celebrity MUA Gregory Arlt. “My all-time favorite is the Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body shimmer lotion,” he tells Allure. “It’s easy to apply, and makes the skin look expensive!”
For a bronze glow, apply a thin layer straight down the center of your arms and legs for a beauty optical illusion that gives the appearance of length and smoothness. The caffeine helps tighten and de-puff, while vitamin C-rich botanicals brighten over time, so don’t forget to massage it in for maximum skincare benefits.
More to know
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- Available shades: 1
- Key ingredients: wild pansy extract, rosehip oil, vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, caffeine, allantoin
Best for Travel: DIBS Beauty Status Stick
DIBS Beauty
Status Stick
DIBS Beauty
Revolve
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: If you love a more natural shimmer, the DIBS Beauty Status Stick is the kind of multi-use product that will earn a permanent spot in your bag. The balm-to-sheen formula gives skin a dewy, natural glow—no chunky glitter or tacky feel in sight. It’s loaded with skin-nourishers, such as mango seed, shea butter, and jojoba oil, so it hydrates while it highlights. Use it on shoulders, collarbones, cheekbones, and even eyelids or lips for a monochromatic, sunlit look.Glide this over your moisturizer for a full-body glow like no other, then dab it along the high points of your body and face.
More to know
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- Available shades: 3
- Key ingredients: mango seed butter, jojoba oil, shea butter, niacinamide, vanillin
Best with SPF: Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30 Glow
Vacation
Classic Whip SPF 30 Glow
Vacation
Why it’s worth it: If you’re a fan of the brand’s original whipped SPF, you will love Vacation’s multipurpose Classic Whip Glow. The mousse-like texture blends easily, dries quickly, and leaves behind a soft golden sheen, not to mention broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. It’s one of the rare sunscreens that actually makes you want to reapply, thanks to its whipped-cream packaging and addictive “poolside coconut” scent—and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
To use it, shake well and dispense upside down into your palm like whipped cream (yes, really). Because it contains vitamin E, it helps neutralize free radicals from sun exposure while moisturizing the skin. Good luck not slathering it on even in the dead of winter.
More to know
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- Available shades: 1
- Key ingredients: coconut and banana extracts, aloe vera, vitamin E
Best Drugstore: ColourPop Sol Glow Oil Mini
Colourpop
Sol Glow Oil Mini
Amazon
ColourPop
Why it’s worth it: Don’t sleep on this drugstore-priced favorite (that comes in a convenient mini size!). The ColourPop Sol Glow Oil is lightweight, fast-absorbing, and long-lasting—and it gives a luminous finish that rivals higher-end picks. With coconut, marula, and argan oils, it nourishes while delivering glow. It also comes in a generous range of tones, from champagne to opal to golden bronze.
Plus, it’s versatile. Mix a drop into your daily body lotion for a subtle, everyday gleam. Or for a more intense effect, layer it directly onto the skin after showering while it’s still slightly damp to seal in moisture and amplify the glow.
More to know
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- Available shades: 4
- Key ingredients: coconut, argan, and marula oils
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between body shimmer and body glitter?
Body glitter is all about high-wattage sparkle. According to Arlt, “a body glitter would have larger particles of pearl or glitter, to really be seen on the body.” (Think chunky, visible flecks that often stand out on the skin.) Yes, it’s fun for Coachella or New Year’s Eve, but it can sometimes feel sticky or transfer-prone for a regular day
Body shimmer, on the other hand, is more refined. “A shimmer has a smaller pearl pigment which gives the appearance of more of a sheen or glaze on the body,” explains Arlt. So, instead of sparkle, you get a smooth, radiant finish, like the sheen you'd naturally get after a day at the beach.
Is body shimmer good for your skin?
Yes, especially if you choose formulas that do more than just make you glow. Many modern body shimmers, like the ones on our list, are infused with skin-nourishing ingredients, such as jojoba oil, vitamin E, shea butter, and squalane. These can all help hydrate, soften, and protect the skin barrier. “In general, I stay away from products with mineral oil as they can be clogging to the pores and skin,” says Arlt.
Can I wear body shimmer every day?
Absolutely. As long as you’re using a formula that’s lightweight, non-comedogenic, and comfortable to wear, body shimmer can easily be a part of your daily routine.
How do I choose the right shade of body shimmer for my skin tone?
Just like with highlighter or bronzer, choosing the right shimmer shade is all about undertone and intensity. If you have fair to light skin, try champagne, opal, or soft rose-gold tones. For medium to olive skin, opt for warm golds and peachy tones. Deeper skin tones look stunning in bronze, copper, and warm amber shades.
Meet the experts
- Gregory Arlt, a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best body shimmers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out 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 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.