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19 Body Shimmer Oils That Will Make You Look Like a Gilded Goddess

Living your life like it's golden.

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body shimmer oils
Courtesy Fenty

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

All that glitters isn’t gold, except when we're talking about body shimmering oils. Imagine lying on a beach or by a pool, the sun kissing every gold fleck in your body oil and leaving you glowing (and tanned) from head to toe. Unlike regular body oils, shimmering body oils are a sexier option made with skin-loving natural oils, golden flecks, and tropical smells that are traditionally associated with the summer but may be used all year.

“Shimmer oil is used to highlight and accentuate areas of the skin. It leaves your skin sparkly, glowing, radiant, and hydrated. Shimmer oil can be used anywhere you want to glow—all over your face, neck, cleavage, arms, thighs, and shoulders. Focus on areas that naturally catch the light,” Gisaura Laporte, owner of Hair and Makeup by Gisaura at Sola Salons, tells ELLE.com.

Body shimmer oils come in all shades and functions, from bronzed-hued oils that double as self-tanner to oils with sun protection. If you need a new reason to buy a body oil, here are 19.

Best For The Perfume Collector

Tom Ford Soleil Brulant Shimmering Body Oil

Soleil Brulant Shimmering Body Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Smells amazing

Cons

  • A bit pricey

No vacation is complete without a Tom Ford Shimmering Body Oil. You’ve likely traveled with the OG scents—Soleil Neige and Soleil Blanc—but TF’s newest version deserves all the shine. The silky addition to the Soleil family smells like a walk on a private tropical beach and illuminates every part of the body the oil touches.

Best For Dark Skin

Vaseline Illuminate Me Shimmering Body Oil

Illuminate Me Shimmering Body Oil

Pros

  • Super affordable

Cons

  • Sheer pigment

Specifically designed with and for Black women, the formula is focused more on nourishment than the actual glow. The warm bronze shade complements deeper skin tones, while sweet almond oil and mineral oil impart a healthy sheen.

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Best For Sun Protection

Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Shimmering Body Oil SPF 30

Bum Bum Shimmering Body Oil SPF 30
Now 41% Off
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Contains SPF

Cons

  • Very sheer glow

Expand your Bum Bum collection with a shimmering oil that provides a subtle golden glow, softens the skin—thanks to coconut oil and cupuacu butter—and protects against the sun.

Best For Quick Absorption

Morocconoil Instant Radiance Shimmering Body Oil

Instant Radiance Shimmering Body Oil

Pros

  • Dries quickly

Cons

  • Sheer pigment

Morocconoil hair products always deliver soft, silky results for your strands, and its iteration of body oil is no different. The oil melts into your skin like butter to give you a kissed-from-the-sun radiance.

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Best For A Fake Tan

NARS Monoi Body Glow

Monoi Body Glow

Pros

  • Great for a quick tint

Cons

  • Consistency

The deep bronze color gives lighter skin tones the perfect fake-a-tan finish and accentuates the complexion of deeper tones. Perfect for those who want a subtle glow.

Best For Sensitive Skin

Anastasia Beverly Hills Shimmer Body Oil

Shimmer Body Oil

Pros

  • Radiant finish

Cons

  • Can feel greasy

Created with a nourishing cocktail of oils, ABH delivers on the shine and moisture with each pump. Laporte loves this oil in particular because of its lightweight finish. “It’s lightweight, never greasy, and illuminates with a golden glow finish. My favorite is that it’s dermatologist tested. I have very sensitive skin, so this is all I consider before using anything on my skin.”

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Best For Subtle Shine

Summer Fridays Pool Time Glowing Body Oil

Pool Time Glowing Body Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Nourishing oils

Cons

  • Sheer coverage

Be the main character of the pool area with Summer Friday’s sparkly oil, made of macadamia, jojoba, apricot kernel, sunflower oils, and a faint summer scent.

Best For Year-Round Wear

Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile Shimmering Oil

Rosa Nobile Shimmering Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Smells amazing

Cons

  • Very pricey

While most shimmering oils favor sunny, sunscreen-esque scents, Aqua di Parma’s version blends florals with musk for a more mature, sexy scent that can be worn past August.

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Best For Longwear

Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil

Glowmotions Glow Body Oil

Pros

  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Can feel greasy

If you prefer your body oils with a deep tint, add Sol de Janeiro’s Copacabana Bronze oil to your collection. Cupuaçu butter, açaí oil, and coconut oil are the star ingredients, so you’re getting moisture and glow all in one.

Best For Pigment

FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Body Lava Body Luminizer

Body Lava Body Luminizer
Now 50% Off
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Pigmented

Cons

  • Can feel sticky

We all want to look as bronzed and moisturized as Rihanna—here's the solution. The formula is more of a gel-like consistency but melts into your skin like oil without feeling greasy. A little goes a long way, so opt for a brush to sheer the product out instead of using your hands.

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Best For All-Over Glow

Patrick Ta Major Glow Body Oil

Major Glow Body Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Dries quickly

Cons

  • Strong scent

You should know a body oil from the glow God himself wouldn't disappoint. Patrick Ta beefs up the glow factor and delivers an impeccable sparkly glow that is sure to get you noticed.

Best For Woodsy Lovers

French Girl Organics Lumière Bronzée Shimmer Oil

Lumière Bronzée Shimmer Oil
Now 30% Off
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Mature scent

Cons

  • Sheer coverage

Lumiere traded in the typical summer scent for a heavenly aroma built around rose and sandalwood.

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Best Floral Scent

Rituals The Ritual of Karma Body Shimmer Oil

The Ritual of Karma Body Shimmer Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Light floral scent

Cons

  • Sheer coverage

Rituals’ shimmer oil has a light, subtle scent made from white tea and holy lotus. The sheer formula imparts a satin finish.

Best For Layering Fragrance

HUDA BEAUTY N.Y.M.P.H BODY DRIP Shimmering Dry Body Oil

N.Y.M.P.H BODY DRIP Shimmering Dry Body Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Smells amazing

Cons

  • Doesn't last too long

Huda Beauty’s expansion into the body oil category comes with the help of its sister brand, Kayali. Blending the intoxicating scent of Kayali’s Utopia Vanilla Coco fragrance and a mix of oils, the body shimmering oil is the perfect layering agent for fragrances.

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Best For Buildable Coverage

Truly Moon Lit Shimmer Oil

Moon Lit Shimmer Oil
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Buildable

Cons

  • Can get greasy

This body oil from Truly features skin-loving ingredients like witch hazel, turmeric, vitamin e, jojoba oil, and more that can be built up from sheer coverage to a blinding glow.

Best For Skin-Loving Ingredients

Sunday Riley Fairy Godmother Shimmering Body Oil Gel

Fairy Godmother Shimmering Body Oil Gel
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Fortified with CoQ10 for anti-aging and protection from pollution

Cons

  • Not super pigmented

Sunday Riley created a multipurpose body oil that not only helps you achieve a gorgeous glow, but addresses anti-aging and discoloration.

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Best For Subtle Tint

Bali Body Shimmering Body Oil

Shimmering Body Oil
Now 20% Off
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Can speed up tanning time

Cons

  • Needs time to dry

Bali Body’s Shimmering Body Oil is a weightless formula that leaves a soft bronze sheen and hydrates the skin.

Best For Dry Skin

SheaMoisture Goddess Body Shimmer

Goddess Body Shimmer

Pros

  • Super affordable

Cons

  • Scent can be overpowering

SheaMoisture’s body oil is basically a tropical oasis in a bottle. Featuring papaya enzymes and vitamin C, this body oil keeps your skin looking healthy.

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Best Drugstore Alternative

Pacifica Sea & C Glow Bronzing Oil SPF 20

Sea & C Glow Bronzing Oil SPF 20
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Affordable

Cons

  • Sticky

Bask under the sun comfortably while Pacifica’s bronzing oil protects you from UVA and UVB rays while you shine.

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