Best Body Shimmer for Glowing Skin: Powder vs Drops vs Body Oil
If you love glowing skin, there are more ways than ever to add shimmer to your makeup routine.
Body shimmer powders, liquid shimmer drops and shimmer body oils can all create that lit-from-within finish, but they feel very different on the skin and work best for different occasions.
The answer depends on the kind of glow you want, how you like your skin to feel and where you plan on wearing it.
At Glitter Girl, body shimmer is kind of our thing, so here is the difference between powder shimmer, liquid shimmer drops and body oil — and how to choose the right one for your glow routine.
What is body shimmer?
Body shimmer is a makeup product designed to reflect light and give your skin a luminous, radiant finish.
You can apply it to areas such as your:
- shoulders
- collarbones
- décolletage
- arms
- legs
- cheekbones
Depending on the formula, body shimmer can give anything from a barely-there glow to a full statement sparkle.
The three most common types are shimmer powder, liquid shimmer drops and shimmer body oil.
Powder body shimmer
Powder shimmer is one of the easiest ways to add instant sparkle to the skin.
Unlike a liquid or oil, it sits lightly over the surface of the skin and catches the light as you move.
Our Stardust Shimmer Puff is a powder body shimmer housed inside a soft puff, so there is no loose pot, brush or complicated application. You simply tap it onto the skin wherever you want to glow.
The Stardust Shimmer Puff contains 40g of shimmer and is designed for more than 1,000 applications, making it especially useful if you love adding body shimmer regularly.
Powder shimmer is best for you if you want:
- instant sparkle
- a lightweight finish
- easy application
- a buildable glow
- shimmer on your shoulders, chest, arms or legs
- something you can quickly apply before heading out
It is especially good for concerts, festivals, parties and nights out because you can go from a subtle glow to a much more noticeable sparkle in seconds.
Liquid shimmer drops
Liquid shimmer drops sit somewhere between skincare and makeup.
Rather than creating an oily layer across the skin, Glitter Girl's Stardust and Sunset Shimmer Drops are water-based, lightweight formulas designed to blend into the skin.
Both contain vegetable glycerin, along with ingredients including propylene glycol and arginine. Your current formulas are designed to leave the skin feeling hydrated, smooth and soft rather than heavy or greasy.
This makes shimmer drops a particularly good option when you want your skin itself to look luminous rather than simply adding sparkle over the top.
Our two current shades give completely different glow effects.
Stardust Shimmer Drops create a soft pink-pearl glow that works beautifully on the face, cheekbones, collarbones and body.
Sunset Shimmer Drops create a warmer golden finish for more of a sun-kissed glow.
Both can be applied lightly for a subtle finish or built up when you want more impact.
Liquid shimmer drops are best for you if you want:
- hydrated-looking skin
- a smoother glow
- a lightweight, non-greasy finish
- shimmer for both face and body
- something that blends into your makeup
- a more natural-looking luminous base
You can also mix a small amount into your makeup or apply them across the high points of the body before adding powder shimmer over the top.
What about shimmer body oil?
Shimmer body oils can create a beautiful glossy effect and are particularly popular when you want skin to look very dewy.
However, they create a different finish to a water-based shimmer drop.
Oil-based formulas generally leave more of an emollient layer on the surface of the skin. It can also feel heavier or increase the chance of transfer onto clothing.
But if you're getting dressed for dinner, a concert or a night out and don't want an oily finish against your clothes, lightweight shimmer drops can be a more practical option.
That difference is one of the reasons we created our Shimmer Drops as a lightweight, water-based formula rather than a traditional shimmer oil.
You still get radiant, light-catching skin without needing that heavy oil feel.
Powder vs Drops vs Body Oil: which should you choose?
If you want the simplest answer:
Choose powder shimmer when you want noticeable sparkle and instant application.
Choose liquid shimmer drops when you want your skin to look hydrated, luminous and glowy without feeling greasy.
And if you really love glow?
Use both powder and drops.
Our favourite way to layer body shimmer
This is the combination we love most.
Start with Stardust Shimmer Drops or Sunset Shimmer Drops across your shoulders, collarbones, arms or legs.
Blend the drops into your skin and give them a moment to settle.
Then lightly tap the Stardust Shimmer Puff over the areas where the light naturally hits.
The Drops create the luminous base, while the Shimmer Puff adds extra light-catching sparkle over the top. Your existing shimmer-puff guide already recommends this layering technique for a more intense glow.
It works particularly well for:
concerts, festivals, birthdays, dinners, girls' nights, events and anywhere you know there will be flash photography.
Which Glitter Girl shimmer is right for you?
If you love a cooler, pearly glow, choose Stardust.
The Stardust Shimmer Drops have a soft pink-pearl finish, while the original Stardust Shimmer Puff creates a luminous pearl shimmer.
If you prefer a warmer, sun-kissed finish, choose Sunset Shimmer Drops for a golden glow.
Or layer your favourites together depending on the look you're creating.
The bottom line
There isn't one single best body shimmer — there is a best formula for the finish you want.
Powder gives you instant sparkle and lightweight shimmer drops give you a hydrated-looking glow without the heavy, greasy feel traditionally associated with body oils.
For us, the best glow routine combines both: a lightweight shimmer base underneath and a soft dusting of shimmer over the top.
Because sometimes one layer of glow just isn't enough.
