Have you ever wondered how the stars always look so darn shiny on talk shows? Body highlighter—aka, shimmery body lotion. There are a lot of brands that have shimmer products and bronzing oils now, but they’re actually really easy to DIY. Short of sprinkling yourself in glitter (which I’m not opposed to!), this homemade lotion with shimmer will give you a warm, sparkly, but still subtle glow.
The best part about making your own shimmer lotion is that you can tailor it to your exact skin tone. If you have cooler undertones, a paler gold or even slightly silver shimmer will be far more complementary than a bronze-colored powder, which has the potential to pull very orange and Jersey Shore—not what we’re going for here!
Ingredients
- Your favorite lotion. I used Aveeno, my favorite everyday lotion. Or make your own lotion!
- Any mineral highlight or shimmer powder. If you can’t find a cheap one, you can use eye shadow that has some sparkle. Look for a warm tone rather than a silver color.
- A jar or travel bottle
Instructions
Select your shimmer:
- Eye shadow: I added some sparkly white eye shadow just to see what it would do since I was worried it would make me look ashy. But combined with the warmer color of the mineral shimmer powder, it just added some extra sparkle!
- Highlighter: This is also a great way to use up a broken powder highlighter. We’ve all accidentally dropped our fave highlighters before, right? Sometimes, you get lucky and it’s totally fine (phew). But other times, we’re not so lucky, and the whole thing has shattered. RIP, highlighter! If you’ve got a highlighter that you’ve been putting off re-pressing, this is the perfect way to give it new life.
- Mica or glitter: Mica powder is a popular choice as it comes in various colors and particle sizes, giving it a subtle, iridescent shimmer. Cosmetic-grade glitter can also be used, but make sure it’s finely milled and safe for skin application.
Prepare shimmer powder: Make sure that whatever powder you use is already well broken up before adding it to the lotion—if it’s still in big clumps, it’s going to stay in big clumps when you mix it in. It won’t evenly distribute, and you’ll be left looking patchy if you try to put it on your skin without first blending it properly.
If you are using eye shadow, you can scrape with a knife. Start small with about a ¼ teaspoon and add more as needed. A little goes a long way!
Prepare lotion: Put your lotion in a jar and sprinkle in the powder. Stir until the color is uniform.
Add shimmer powder: Use a piece of paper folded in half to cleanly pour your shimmer powder into the jar instead of getting it everywhere! Start with a small amount of shimmer and gradually add more until you achieve the desired level of sparkle.
Mix well: Mix well to evenly distribute the shimmer throughout the lotion.
Test: Test a small amount of the shimmer lotion on your skin to ensure the shimmer effect is to your liking. Adjust as needed.
Usage
While you can use your homemade shimmer lotion all over your whole body for intense, disco ball-like radiance, you can also definitely apply it to strategic areas to mimic that all-over glow. Across the collarbones to the shoulders (especially if you’re wearing an off-the-shoulder top) brings a whole new glow to your look.
A little tiny bit blended out over your cleavage brings a subtle hint of attention to your girls—if you want it. All over the legs lends an “I just came here from the beach” vibe.
Wherever you decide to use it, it’s a surefire way to make your skin look super radiant. Want more of a sun-kissed look? Try bronzer lotion.
And for a little extra spreadability and gorgeous dewiness, feel free to add a little bit of your favorite oil to the mixture. Sweet almond, jojoba, and grapeseed oils are perfect for this. Adding pure oils adds more intensity and shine to skin than a lotion would. So, if you want to shine like a diamond, don’t forget the oil!
FAQ
If you want a more noticeable sparkle, you can try using a natural mica glitter. Just be careful not to let it puff into the air while using it because it’s not great for the lungs.
This is a temporary lotion, so it may rub off on clothes. Use it sparingly and avoid applying to skin that comes in direct contact with clothing.
That depends on the ingredients you use. If you use a natural body lotion and nontoxic shimmer eyeshadow, it shouldn’t irritate your skin or clog pores.
