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Radiant skin isn’t just for summer — shimmer oils can give you a dewy, head-to-toe glow year-round. "Shimmer oils are body oils infused with reflective pigments that moisturize while adding a glossy, sparkly finish," explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. Many also double as fragrances, and some even include SPF to help protect skin from harmful UV rays.
To help you find the best options, I teamed up with our Beauty Lab pros and analyzed hundreds of consumer reviews to bring you the top shimmer oils on the market right now.
Pros
Softens skin- Buildable glow
Cons
- Pricey
Butler praises this shimmer oil, enriched with sunflower seed, avocado and rosehip oils, for its ability to "immediately soften skin while leaving it with a rich, warm amber scent." She also highlights its fine gold shimmer flecks, which offer buildable coverage: "Apply a little for a subtle glow or layer it for a glossy skin finish," she says.
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Pros
- Dries down quickly
- Moisturizing
Cons
- Some find the oil to be thick
Fans of Saltair body oils will love this shimmer oil. It features the brand’s signature warm sandalwood and amber santal bloom scent, along with hydrating ingredients like kukui, cacay, squalane and karanja oils to leave skin soft and supple. Online reviewers say they love its "light shimmer without being glittery" and how beautifully it "dries down."
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3
Best Scent
Tom Ford Soleil Neige Shimmering Body Oil
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- Silver shimmer
Cons
- Some find the scent too subtle
"This luxurious body oil envelops skin in Soleil Neige, a sophisticated scent reminiscent of freshly fallen snow," says Butler. She highlights its fine, multi-hued silver glitter, perfect for a winter glow. Amazon reviewers agree, praising its long-lasting shimmer and silky texture. "There is so much shimmer in just one spray and the oil itself is so silky that you don’t need to apply that much," one reviewer said.
4
Best Dry Oil
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or Multi Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer
Pros
- Dries down quickly
- Multi-use
Cons
- May be too sheer if you're looking for color
According to the brand, this shimmer oil can be used on the face, body or hair. With over 1,000 purchases in the past month, Amazon reviewers says they appreciate its sheer application and non-glittery glow. GH Beauty Director April Franzino, also a fan of Nuxe’s original multi-use oil, adds, "The soft orange blossom, magnolia, and vanilla scent is heavenly — it feels like a little spa escape when I use it on my body or as a hair treatment."
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Pros
- Long-lasting and lightweight
- Has SPF
Cons
- Scent is polarizing
One GH staffer raves about this shimmer oil’s "lightweight formula that melts into the skin." She highlights its non-greasy, non-sticky texture and "divine coconut-banana scent," plus its SPF 30 protection. Ulta reviewers agree: "I tested this oil during a week-long beach trip and was impressed," one shared. "Despite hours of swimming, sweating and sand exposure, the shimmer effect remained noticeable (though slightly diminished), and I didn’t burn." Just remember to reapply SPF after swimming — or every two hours — to get the best protection.
6
Most Moisturizing
Kopari Beauty Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow Gel SPF 45
Pros
- Gives glow without too much glitter
- Has SPF
Cons
- Some find it greasy
The Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow Gel, despite its name, has more of a serum-like consistency than a true gel texture. Packed with hydrating ingredients like coconut and avocado oils, it gives skin a radiant sheen while providing SPF 45 for sun protection. Some reviewers mention that it takes time to dry and feels slightly heavy. One Ulta reviewer shared: "Smells amazing, gives a great healthy glow and best of all [offers] excellent sun protection. [It’s a] wonderful alternative to spray sunscreen, especially if you have dry skin!"
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How we picked the best shimmer oils
Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab pros and editors have decades of experience testing and evaluating moisturizing skincare products, including the best body oils. We relied on their expert recommendations to put together this list of the best shimmer oils. We also spent hours researching consumer reviews from across the web to ensure we were including highly-rated fan-favorite products, as well.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins teamed up with our GH Beauty Lab pros to curate this guide. With a wealth of experience writing about haircare, makeup and skincare, she also meticulously analyzed hundreds of consumer reviews to deliver the ultimate shimmer oil recommendations.
GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler, who holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University and has years of experience as a cosmetic chemist formulating skincare products for top beauty brands, also contributed her expertise to this article.
Cameron Jenkins
Staff Writer
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
Reviewed byChiara Butler
Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
