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
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
Best Overall: Patrick Ta Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
Patrick Ta
Major Glow Nourishing Bronzing Body Oil
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.
“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
- 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
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.
“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
- Available shades: 1
- Key ingredients: jojoba seed, olive fruit, and safflower seed oils
Best Lightweight: Saltair Shimmer Body Oil
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
“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
- 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
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.
- 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
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.
- 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
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.
- 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
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.
