13 Best Shimmering Body Oil Formulas for Glistening Summer Skin

It’s worth noting these are best applied as the last step in any body-care regime: body wash, exfoliant, lightweight moisturizer, then oil. Ready to pick one up for yourself? Below, the best shimmering body oils to consider for a radiance boost.

In This Story:

• What is a shimmering body oil?
• What is a shimmering body oil best for?
• What is the best way to apply and remove shimmering body oil?
• Is shimmering body oil safe for sensitive skin?
• Meet the Experts

Best Scent: Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil

• Why we love it: A classic. Flecks of gold and platinum leaf give the skin a glamorous sheen, while jojoba and olive oils keep it supple and moisturized. Tom Ford’s luxurious oil also has an irresistible scent, built around notes of bergamot, pistachio, and coco de mer, which lingers for about four to six hours.
• Key ingredients: Ethylhexyl palmitate, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, isohexadecane, jojoba seed oil, fragrance
• Size: 3.4 oz

Best Multipurpose: African Botanics Shimmering Gold Oil

• Why we love it: Infused with mother-of-pearl minerals, African Botanics’s decadent marula oil imparts an ethereal glow on skin. The lightweight, long-lasting formula can be used on the body and the face—you can even add it to your hair for a touch of shimmer and post-swim rehydration.
• Key ingredients: Capric/Caprylic triglyceride, dicaprylyl ether, isostearyl isostearate, marula seed, meadowfoam seed, baobab seed, Kalahari melon seed oils
• Size: 3.4 fl oz

Best for Aging Skin: Sunday Riley Fairy Godmother Shimmering Body Oil Gel

• Why we love it: Infused with antioxidants and brightening vitamin C, Sunday Riley’s glimmering, dry body oil adds radiance back into sun-exposed skin. Its Tahitian gardenia scent adds a tropical touch for when you’re daydreaming of vacation while counting down the days to your next out-of-office.
• Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, CoQ10, Tahitian gardenia extract
• Size: 3.4 oz

Best for Subtle Shimmer: Omorovicza Gold Shimmer Oil

• Why we love it: Rich in skin-softening oils, Omorovicza’s gold-flecked formulation tones the skin and restores its elasticity while pepping it up with a subtle, glossy sheen.
• Key ingredients: Gold, apricot oil, rice germ, and calendula oils, Vitamin E
• Size: 3.4 oz

Best French Pharmacy Find: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or

• Why we love it: The French pharmacy classic—available in a classic body oil and with shimmer—features a blend of seven botanical oils to hydrate the skin for eight hours, while its heady scent (a mix of vanilla, magnolia, and orange blossom) has almost universal appeal. With a luminous, satiny finish, the oil can bring a touch of gold to the face, body, and hair.
• Key ingredients: Hazelnut, argan, camellia, borage, Tsubaki, macadamia, and sweet almond oils; Vitamin E
• Size: 1.6 fl oz

Best for Face: Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil

• Why we love it: Packed with natural oils that hydrate and soothe skin after a day in the sun, Sol de Janeiro’s sweet-smelling formula—it’s scented with the brand’s beloved vanilla and salted caramel Cheirosa ’62 fragrance—gives the body and face a luminous, bronzed effect. To make the transfer-resistant oil last (and shimmer) for longer, the brand recommends skipping moisturizer before applying it.
• Key ingredients: Cupuacu butter, acai oil, coconut oil
• Size: 2.5 oz

Best for Body: Patrick Ta Major Glow Body Oil

• Why we love it: This quickly absorbing oil draws on vitamin C to brighten skin while giving the whole body a pearlescent glow. Its signature scent mixes white musk and saffron with notes of jasmine for a dreamy, garden-like effect.
• Key ingredients: Stabilized Vitamin C, vitamin E, magnolia bark extract, olive oil, squalane
• Size: 3.4 oz

Best Luxe Splurge: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Sparkling Body Oil

• Why we love it: The iconic floral, amber, and woody scent is just one highlight of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s decadent oil, which makes the skin glisten with crystal and gold powders. Meanwhile, sweet almond oil smooths limbs.
• Key ingredients: Coco-caprylate/caprate, isopropyl palmitate; Caprylic/capric triglyceride, sweet almond oil, fragrance
• Size: 6.8 fl oz

Best With SPF: Kopari Rose Gold Sun Shield SPF 45

• Why we love it: The broad-spectrum SPF has the feel of a lightweight body gel. It swipes on clear, leaving just a trace of rose-gold sparkle behind, and it has a summery guava-mango scent. Reapply every two hours to get a (rose) gold star for sun protection.
• Key ingredients: Hibiscus, macadamia, avocado, and coconut oils; Vitamin E
• Size: 5 fl oz

Best for Travel: MoroccanOil Shimmering Body Oil

• Why we love it: Formulated with antioxidant-rich oils, the nourishing formulation gives the skin subtle shine with pearlescent minerals. Its sweet and spicy scent mixes florals, amber, and musk, and its TSA-friendly size makes it ideal to tote along on a beach vacation.
• Key ingredients: Argan and sesame oil
• Size: 1.7 fl oz

Best for a Golden Glow: Costa Brazil Sol Sunlight Body Oil

• Why we love it: The oil is infused with rainforest-culled ingredients that calm and soften the skin; its gilded tint gives the body a golden-hour glow.
• Key ingredients: Kaya, cacay, patua seed, brazil nut, and babassu seed oils, bacuri butter, acai, passion fruit
• Size: 100 ml

Best Filtered Effect: Fenty Beauty Body Sauce

• Why we love it: Available in seven luminous hues, Fenty Beauty’s lightweight body tint blurs out imperfections while casting the skin in a luminous sheen. Resistant to sweat and humidity, the tint is the perfect thing to stash in your bag for a pool or beach day.
• Key ingredients: Butyloctyl salicylate, isododecane, butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, mica, hydrogenated poly (C6-14 Olefin)
• Size: 3.21 oz

Best Fragrance-Free: Refy Body Glow Highlighting Serum

• Why we love it: This viral beauty brand’s lightweight serum gives the skin a healthy, natural-looking touch of radiance. Packed with antioxidants and reflective pearl pigments, the fragrance-free formulation can be used all over the body.
• Key ingredients: Hydrogenated polydecene, tocopheryl acetate
• Size: 2.37 oz

What is a shimmering body oil?

As its name suggests, a shimmering body oil is one that lends a bit of shimmer to the skin, whether it’s through pearlescent minerals, platinum leaf, or other glittering materials.  Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California, explains: “A shimmering body oil is a cosmetic product that’s used to add radiance and shine to the skin, giving it a soft glow.” Meanwhile, makeup artist Brielle Pollara gives it another definition: “Shimmery body oil is the perfect accessory for summer,” she states.

In addition to glow, shimmering body oils can offer antioxidant protection as well as softer skin when packed with hydrating seed oils and natural butters. According to Shirazi, these formulas “are nourishing and moisturizing, as they reduce transepidermal water loss.”

What is the best way to apply and remove shimmering body oil?

To ensure an even application, “the best way to apply shimmering body oil is with a big fluffy makeup brush or your hands,” says Pollara, who adds that she loves to swipe it over her arms, legs, and chest in the summertime. “Once you want to remove it, I recommend using your favorite body exfoliation in the shower,” she says.

Is shimmering body oil safe for sensitive skin?

For those with sensitive skin, Shirazi suggests using a fragrance-free formulation to avoid irritation. And for anyone, “It’s important to make sure the skin is clean before applying oils to avoid trapping any dirt and debris underneath the skin, which can make breakouts more likely,” she cautions.”If you’re acne-prone, look for a non-comedogenic formula.”

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California.
• Brielle Pollara is a New Jersey-based makeup artist specializing in bridal, celebrity, and editorial makeup.