How to Use Body Shimmers, According to Makeup Artists

When we tell you we love to lather ourselves in body shimmers and oils, we’re not being dramatic. Not only do they moisturize our skin, but they also make us look instantly glowy and sunkissed from head to toe.

The one problem, though? If you’re using a body oil or shimmer, you risk ruining your favorite clothes if you don’t apply them properly. To end this dilemma, we took our questions to the pros and spoke with makeup artists Natalie Dresher and Emily Mosby. They provided us with some incredible tips on how to prep the skin and apply body shimmers and oils to avoid accidentally ruin your outfit. Keep reading for their expert advice.

Exfoliate Your Skin

While exfoliating your skin every single time before you apply a body oil isn’t absolutely necessary, Dresher tells us that “Incorporating regular exfoliating as a normal part of your shower routine will allow for your skin to look healthy and vibrant [while wearing the body glow].” 

Mosby emphasizes the importance of exfoliating: “Exfoliating is a must, especially if you have an old spray tan or your skin is peeling. Your skin must be prepped correctly to make the glow look the best.”

You can use physical exfoliants like a loofah or dry brush or turn to scrubs and polishes. Alternatively, you can slowly introduce chemical exfoliants into your routine. Look for treatments with ingredients like salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, or glycolic acid.

Moisturize Your Body

Before slathering on a body shimmer or oil, it’s vital to moisturize your skin with a lotion, butter, or balm. “Moisturizing is vital before applying a body shimmer or an oil,” Dreshner says. “Otherwise, the shimmer will grip onto dry patches and look very obvious.”

Mosby shares the same sentiment: “I always like to moisturize beforehand with a body lotion or body butter. It softens the skin and allows the product to wear better and longer. It also helps the product apply evenly.”

Apply the Shimmer or Oil

If you plan on wearing body oil to moisturize your skin before bed, applying the product to slightly damp skin is best. However, if you’re planning to hit the town, this is where our advice changes: make sure your skin is completely dry. So, after applying your chosen moisturizer to your body, let it absorb into the skin entirely before rubbing your oil or shimmer all over. Dresher says, “Shimmering body oils should be applied on dry, well-moisturized skin so the shimmer doesn’t grip dry patches.”

Mosby’s pro tip? “Spray some hairspray—like got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray—on your skin before you apply the shimmer to provide an additional priming layer,” Mosby says. “That way, the product adheres specifically to that area.”

Set Your Shimmer or Oil

Just as we apply setting powders and setting sprays to seal our makeup, the same goes for body oils and shimmers. We suggest doing a patch test on your skin to ensure this approach works for you, but both Dresher and Mosby assure us that using setting spray and powder is a trick they’ve used on their clients for years, from models to brides.

“I love to set my body shimmers with a powder highlight,” Dresher shares. “This ‘sets’ [the formula] and prevents transfer to clothing. I also will mist my brides’ chests with a heavy-duty setting spray, such as Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.”

Mosby seconds this method, noting that her favorite setting spray is One/Size’s On Til Dawn Setting Spray. “I also recommend using a highlighter powder to set instead of a translucent powder to avoid dulling the shimmer and shine,” she says.

Choose the Right Fabric

Before throwing on your outfit, we urge you to thoughtfully consider the fabric you plan to wear. While most materials are compatible with body oils and shimmers, our experts say there are a few you want to avoid. “Silk is one fabric I would avoid using a shimmer or oil with,” Mosby says. “Silk stains incredibly easily–even water can stain this fabric—so I would not use any of these body products.”

Cotton and linen also stain easily but can be spot-treated if your body oil or shimmer transfers onto the fabric (make sure to clean the material as soon as possible). To reduce staining, Dresher says, “Always wait a few minutes for the shimmer or oil to dry down completely before getting dressed.”