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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
There’s absolutely nothing better than slathering yourself in a shimmering body oil during the summer—if you haven’t tried it, you’re in for an absolute treat. Unlike liquid highlighters, a shimmering body oil immerses itself into your skin and leaves you incredibly glowy and hydrated. They’re also super easy to apply—you can use your hands or a brush if you prefer—and show instant results (hello, glow!).
Using different types of oil—marula, almond, and more—and arriving in a wide range of versatile shades, a finely-milled, shimmering body oil dispenses just the right amount of shimmer to your body to leave you with the most beautiful all-over glow. You'll want to find one that dries quickly so it won't transfer to your clothes. Though many are sheer, you can also find tinted options like bronze and gold. And, if it weren’t enough to convince you, they also have skincare benefits, too. Ready to take the plunge? Try one for yourself.
Read on for the best shimmering body oils that'll give you that perfect all-over glow.
Best Overall
Patrick Ta Major Glow Body Oil
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Patrick Ta
Defend the skin from free radical damage
Adds a youthful appearance
Luxurious scent
Pricey
Everything that Patrick Ta creates is nothing short of perfection and this body oil is no exception. Created in three neutral shades—A Vision, A Dream, and A Moment— and scented with a sweet, fragrant scent, you’ll find yourself left with a radiance similar to Ta’s celebrity clients—like Gigi Hadid. To apply, spray onto your hands or skin directly and blend by massaging into the skin.
Price at time of publish: $56
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, olive oil, squalane | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
ColourPop Sol Shimmering Dry Oil
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Colour pop
Highlights your highlights
Tropical aroma
Gentle on skin
Oils separate so requires shaking
Trust us, this shimmering body oil will feel way more expensive than it actually is. Luxe and lightweight, it’ll provide a delicious tropical coconut aroma, hydration—thanks to argan oil, coconut oil, and marula oils—and a multidimensional shimmer. To make your body oil look even better, explains Kelli J. Bartlett, an NYC-based makeup artist, apply it to the shin bones, clavicle, and tops of arms to bounce light and create an eye-grabbing glow.
Price at time of publish: $18
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, coconut oil, marula oil | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Combination Skin
Tom Ford Soleil Neige Shimmering Body Oil
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Sephora
Great, long-lasting smell
Gentle on skin
Lightweight
Tad pricey
Leave worries of breakouts behind with this lightweight body oil. Composed of an illuminating formula, your skin is left looking incredibly luminous—similar to a full-body facial. Fragranced with a delicious citrus floral musk scent, you’ll feel like you escaped to a tropical paradise every time you wear it.
Price at time of publish: $100
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, olive oil, safflower seed oil | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Skin
Omorovicza Gold Shimmer Oil
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Saks fifth Avenue
Included colloidal gold to calm and heal micro-damage
Firms skin
Boosts the production of collagen
Pricey
Hands down, if you have dry skin, Omorovicza’s hydrating and replenishing formula is for you. Established with calendula oil and vitamin E, it’ll calm and soothe irritation and fight free radical damage while stimulating collagen production. Ideal for dry and dull skin, the indulgent oil leaves your skin nourished with a shimmering luminance.
Price at time of publish: $82
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, rice bran oil, squalane | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.38 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Versatile Pick
Sol De Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Oil
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Sephora
Non-sticky & transfer-resistant
Blurs imperfections
Ultra-moisturizing
The smell
Don’t worry, this shimmering body oil is made to compliment every single skin tone. Arriving in three versatile shades—Master Flash, Copacabana Bronze, and Rio Sunset—it’ll give off a visibly gorgeous glow for all skin tones. Buildable and blurring, wearing it feels like a full-body pamper session.
Price at time of publish: $35
Key Ingredients: Cupuacu butter, acai oil, coconut oil | Scent: Yes | Size: 2.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Fair Skin
Anastasia Beverly Hills Shimmer Body Oil
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Sephora
Lightweight
Gives a sunkissed glow
Creates silky-soft skin
Glitter hangs all over the place
A gorgeous shimmery glow is just a simple spray away, thanks to this oil’s blendable formula. The single shade could work on all skin tones, but its pearlescent formula looks particularly smashing against lighter skin tones. Silky and lightweight, it emits a superfine mist that applies smoothly and gives off a delectable coconut vanilla scent.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil | Scent: Yes | Size: 1.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Oily Skin
Sunday Riley Fairy Godmother Shimmering Body Oil Gel
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Sunday Riley
Improves the appearance of aging or UV-exposed skin
Balances complexion
Absorbs instantly
Pricey
Leave greasy, oily skin behind with Sunday Riley’s revolutionary dry oil formula. Supercharged with brightening vitamin C, gardenia extract, and a slew of other good-for-you ingredients, it’ll fight signs of aging, nourish dry skin, and reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven redness. Plus, since its formula is a dry oil, it’ll instantly absorb to leave behind a subtle, tinted sparkle with zero greasiness whatsoever.
Price at time of publish: $48
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, gardenia extract | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Quick-Drying
Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile Shimmering Body Oil
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Sephora
Gentle, refined floral smell
Enhances skin's visible radiance
Provides a fine shimmer
Very pricey
We’ve all been there: running late, trying to look put together with less than 5 minutes to get ready. While we can’t stop the clock from ticking, we can help you achieve a quick, all-over glow—and that’s exactly what this body oil will do. I promise you it’ll dry super speedily—so you can throw your hair in a slicked-back ponytail and dart out the door. Enriched with jojoba oil, pomegranate seed oil, and shea butter, it’ll leave your skin extremely hydrated and perfectly soft. And it comes in a gorgeous multi-reflective sparkling hue.
Price at time of publish: $95
Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, squalane | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Dark Skin
Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer
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Sephora
Lightweight gel moisturization
Gives a dewy high-shine
Silky feel
Tad pricey
Brown Sugar—a glistening bronze—is an ultra-flattering shade for darker complexions. The super sheer tint of color and light-diffusing micro-pearls within the gel-based formula blend incredibly well with just a little bit of product. And, it’ll leave you looking super dewy, glowy, and luminized.
Price at time of publish: $59
Scent: Yes | Size: 3.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Moroccanoil Shimmering Body Oil
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Amazon
Infused with antioxidants
Gives a fine shimmer
Little goes a long way
Tad pricey
If you’re all about wearing body oil but have acne-prone skin then this one's for you. Its non-greasy formula will moisturize your dry skin, will boost your radiance, and give you a healthy glow—thanks to the soft pearlescent minerals within it. Also worth noting: it’s infused with Morrocanoil’s amazing signature scent—a blend of spicy amber and sweet florals—so you’ll find yourself repurchasing it over and over again.
Price at time of publish: $48
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, sesame oil | Scent: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Cruelty-Free
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin E Shimmering Body Oil
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Amazon
Blurs imperfections
Adds a subtle glow with equal shimmer
Absorbs fast
Tad pricey
Biossance’s formula is a favorite of many—and for a whole slew of good reasons. Made with a squalane-based formula, it’ll leave your skin super soft, hydrated, and visibly toned with just the right amount of shimmer sheen. Aside from being cruelty-free, it’s vegan, paraben-free, clean, and more, too.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, squalane | Scent: Yes | Size: 4.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
Known for its ability to leave skin hydrated, glowy, and radiant, shimmering body oils are essential during the summer months (only a few pumps are necessary). Created by celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta, the Major Glow Body Oil is our overall favorite. Aside from providing the glow for Ta’s clients (like Gigi Hadid), the formula comes in three neutral shades with a sweet, fragrant scent and applies like a dream. If you’re looking to save money, don’t fret—Sol’s Shimmering Body Oil has an incredible formula and super affordable price tag. For a shimmering body oil that looks fabulous on everyone, you can’t go wrong with Sol de Janeiro’s Glowmotions Glow Oil.
Shimmering body oils can be applied at any time, explains Bartlett, but look particularly amazing on exfoliated skin. Try exfoliating beforehand to really see the full results.
What To Look For in a Shimmering Body Oil
Finely Milled
It’s worth noting that not only shimmers are the same. “Look for finely milled mica—rather than large chunks of glitter—to give an overall sheen,” says Bartlett.
Color
No two shimmering body oils are alike—so double-check the color first. You need to decide whether you want a no color, bronze, or gold hue, explains Bartlett.
Ingredients
When trying a new product, try to patch test your skin first to ensure you won’t react to it. “Pay attention to the ingredient list to ensure you like the combination of oils used,” says Bartlett. She further explains you should also check for transferring (how quickly the product dries) too.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Rachel Dube has written for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there and has tested hundreds (if not, thousands) of beauty products during her career. While she mainly writes about beauty, she covers wellness and lifestyle, too. With summer on the horizon, she’s been on the hunt to find the best products to keep her skin glowy and hydrated—and shimmering body oils are on the top of her list.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough shimmer body oil from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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