DIY Shimmering Body Oil

If you want that sun-kissed glow all year long, this is the DIY recipe for you!

Now, I’m not talking about that body glitter from the 90s. You know, that chunky, sticky slime we all rubbed on that somehow ended all tangled up in our arm hair.

This is a soothing, skin-loving shimmering body oil that absorbs beautifully and leaves behind a soft, subtle shimmer. It makes your skin look healthy, radiant, and naturally glowing.

No glitter fallout and no greasy residue. Just smooth, hydrated skin with a fresh glow. You can use this on your shoulders, arms, legs, collarbones, or anywhere you want a little glow up.

Be sure to grab your free printable label at the bottom of the post!

Why DIY a Shimmering Body Oil

Picture it: it's summer. You walk into your favorite beauty supply store and the shelves have beautiful bottles of shimmering body oil all promising that you'll look like a beachy goddess.

And hey, most of them do deliver on the shimmer!

But at $30, $50, even $100+ per bottle, we can DIY it for pennies compared to those prices!

Plus you can customize the shimmer and you know that all the ingredients are skin-healthy.

DIY Shimmering Body Oil Recipe

Carrier Oil Options

Use your choice of carrier oils for your shimmering body oil. My favorite is a combo of argan oil and jojoba oil.

Here are the benefits of other common skin-friendly carrier oils:

how to use castor oil for beauty and hair and skin

Ingredients (also see ingredients notes below)

3 tbsp skin-friendly carrier oil(s) of choice from the above table
- My favorite is a mix of argan oil and jojoba oil
  - Learn more about argan oil and how to use it in this blog post
1 tbsp castor oil
- Castor oil will slightly thicken your oil making the mica more suspended (the mica will still settle and it will need to be shaken before each use)
- You can adjust the amount of castor oil. More castor oil for a thicker oil and less castor oil for a thinner oil.
  - Learn more about castor oil and how to use it in this blog post
½–1 tsp cosmetic-grade mica powder
- You can customize your shimmer by color and intensity
- My favorite shimmer colors are gold, bronze, champagne, or rose gold
½ tsp vitamin E oil
- Contains antioxidants and extends the shelf life of your shimmer oil
10–15 drops essential oils of choice (optional)
- My favorites are lavender, frankincense, and purification
- Order my favorite essential oils and get a discount code here

Instructions

Combine all ingredients
- You may need to whisk or shake to fully incorporate the mica
Pour into a dropper bottle or squeeze bottle
Print your free printable label below

Application Tips

Apply to damp skin after showering for better absorption and glow
Focus on collarbones, shoulders, arms, and legs
Start with a small amount—you can always layer for more shimmer
Shake before each use
Your shimmering body oil is shelf stable for 6-12 months

Ingredients Notes

Sometimes I see people add a starch like arrowroot to their body oil to make it less greasy. I don't recommend this. The arrowroot can get clumpy or gritty and it can dull your shimmer. Instead opt for carrier oils that absorb quickly into your skin (see table above).
Sometimes I see people add an emulsifying wax to their body oil to make the mica suspend in the oil and not settle at the bottom. Emulsifying wax binds water and oil together, allowing them to mix. Since this recipe doesn't have added water, an emulsifying wax won't be effective. Instead try to thicken your oil with a thick oil like castor oil to slow down settling.