It’s not hard to notice the enormous influence that the ‘90s and ‘00s are having on the biggest summer beauty trends right now. From baby braids to frosted lips, Y2K looks are undoubtedly having a revival right now, so it was really only a matter of time until body shimmers joined the renaissance too. And, despite not having dabbled in body shimmers since my pre-teen years, it turns out that I’ve very much missed sparkling.
Unlike the chunky glitter gels of my youth, however, the new wave of body shimmers are so much more sophisticated. Offering up the most subtle of sparkle, these new formulations are all about imparting a beautiful sheen, deep hydration, and an abundance of glow to body and face.
Ready for gleaming summer skin? Ahead, the 8 best body shimmers to try.
The Best Body Shimmers, Listed
1. Best Overall: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Florale Dry Oil
2. Best Bronzing Body Shimmer: Sol de Janeiro GlowMotions Glow Body Oil Copacabana Bronze
3. Best Stick Body Shimmer: Hello Sunday The Shimmer One Mineral Glow Stick
4. Best Full-Coverage Shimmer: Vita Liberata Body Blur
5. Best Hydrating Body Shimmer: Moroccanoil Shimmering Body Oil
6. Best Body Shimmer for Glass Skin: Refy Body Glow
7. Best Affordable Body Shimmer: The Body Shop Coconut Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
8. Best Multipurpose Body Shimmer: Iconic London Prep-Set-Glow
1. Best Overall: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Florale Dry Oil
NUXE
Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Florale Multi Purpose Dry Oil 50m
I have been a long-time fan of the iconic Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, and it boasts a whole host of celebrity fans who adore the sheeny glow that it imparts on skin. And while the original dry oil and the bronze shimmer versions are brilliant, it’s the latest iteration—this shimmering floral edition—that has been the body shimmer I’ve been slathering on throughout summer. Brimming with moisturising plant oils, it manages to hydrate the driest of limbs without any greasy residue, while the subtle floral scent ensures you smell incredible too. Honestly, even without the beautiful rose gold shimmer, this would be a product worth investing in—but the light-catching sheen that it delivers is truly the icing on the cake.
2. Best Bronzing Body Shimmer: Sol de Janeiro GlowMotions Glow Body Oil Copacabana Bronze
Sol de Janeiro
Glowmotions Glow Body Oil Copacabana Bronze 75ml
Taking multitasking to the next level, this body shimmer will appeal if you like a side of sun-kissed colour with your sheeny skin. Smelling just as good as the brand’s iconic body mists, this oil is suffused with the trademark Sol de Janeiro summer scent—a sweet gourmand rich in vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood—so you won’t have to worry about layering fragrance on top. Fragrance aside, though, it glides onto skin to deliver a warm, bronzy glow flecked with a radiant gold shimmer for a truly beautiful finish. And if you prefer something with a little less pigment, there’s also a Rio Sunset version which has more of a soft champagne hue.
3. Best Stick Body Shimmer: Hello Sunday The Shimmer One Mineral Glow Stick
Hello Sunday
The Shimmer One Mineral Glow Stick SPF45 20g
This is a really innovative take on body shimmer—offering up all of the shine and glow that you’d want from a highlighter but with the broad-spectrum protection of a sunscreen. If I’m at any festivals or stadium concerts this summer then this will undoubtedly be in my bag. The product itself is a really hydrating blend of sunflower wax, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to soften and hydrate skin, and it contains just the right amount of shimmer to add luminosity without leaving you looking like a disco ball. The handy stick formula means it’s great for precise application too—glide it over cheekbones, collarbones or shoulders for an instant radiance boost.
4. Best Full-Coverage Shimmer: Vita Liberata Body Blur
Vita Liberata
Body Blur Medium 100ml
More like body makeup than a traditional translucent body shimmer, I’m including this in my round-up as I think it walks the line perfectly between a self-tan and a radiance-booster and Available in light, medium and dark versions to suit your skin tone, I find myself reaching for this product as soon as we emerge from winter and my legs are on show more. As someone that has very pale limbs and is notoriously clumsy, I’m often rocking a couple of bruises and this product manages to dial down any uneven tone with ease and leave skin subtly bronzed. The shimmer here isn’t majorly sparkly, it’s more of a subtle, light-reflective sheen that just makes skin look really healthy and bright. And, even better, it washes off at the end of the day so it’s doesn’t require the commitment of a traditional tanning product.
5. Best Hydrating Body Shimmer: Moroccanoil Shimmering Body Oil
Moroccanoil
Shimmering Body Oil
Dry skin? Look no further. This decadent body shimmer is made with a rich and nourishing blend of argan, olive and avocado oils to transform even the most parched of limbs into soft, silky delights. Hydration aside, this is a really impactful body shimmer too. Infused with pearlescent minerals, it adds a really expensive-looking glow wherever you apply it. Imagine you’ve just spent a fortnight relaxing in a 5-star resort in Ibiza and that’s the kind of luxurious sheen that I’m talking about.
6. Best Body Shimmer for Glass Skin: Refy Body Glow
As far from the opaque glitter formulations that I remember from my teenage years as you can get, this moisturising gel from Refy is the grown-up solution to body shimmer. Packed with reflective pearl pigments, the lightweight formulation glides over skin to give an almost lit-from-within glow—rather than anything obviously sparkly or shiny. In fact, this is more like a diffusing filter that cloaks skin with subtle radiance and shine. My only gripe? It’s so good that I’d love for it to come in a bigger bottle so that I can apply it even more liberally.
7. Best Affordable Body Shimmer: The Body Shop Coconut Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
Coconut Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
Typically speaking, I’ve found that it’s worth paying a little bit extra for a really decent body shimmer—and considering that a little goes a long way without most of them, it tends to be a worthwhile investment. This one from The Body Shop, however, turns that theory on its head—delivering a wam bronzy glow and a hint of luxurious golden shimmer without breaking the bank. Formulated with organic virgin coconut oil, it’s incredibly hydrating too, and the smell provides instant holiday vibes.
8. Best Multipurpose Body Shimmer: Iconic London Prep-Set-Glow
Iconic London
Prep-Set-Glow 120ml
Available in two shades—this shimmery champagne and a more terracotta bronze—this versatile body shimmer mist can be used in a multitude of ways. For the face, you can use this as the final step in your makeup routine to set your finished look in place while adding glowy finish. And if it’s a particularly hot day? It works well as a refreshing mist too thanks to the infusion of calming green tea, cucumber and chamomile. . However, it looks equally as amazing applied to bare skin too—providing a glossy sheen with a light-reflective shimmer running through it.
