If there is one product that's getting a lot of attention lately, it's bronzing drops. As a beauty editor, you can't get into a conversation about them without someone asking if the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops are actually worth the TikTok hype and their sold out status. If you're someone who finds self-tan too fussy (or for fear of turning orange) bronzing drops are a great alternative to give you an instant glow that washes off at the end of the day.
Often in a serum-like texture, bronzing drops can be used in multiple ways. You'll often see them being mixed with moisturiser or foundation to add a warmth to the skin, or worn alone on bare skin to add a deeper radiance. The liquid formula means you can customise the depth of your tan by adding more or fewer drops into the mix.
With the success of Drunk Elephant's bronzing drops, several brands have come out with their own takes, such as E.l.f., Isle of Paradise. Jones Road and Fenty Beauty. So, we decided it was high time we put the most popular ones to the test and find out which are the best bronzing drops of them all.
What Are Bronzing Drops?
Unlike self-tanning drops, which develop on the skin to give you a tan over a few hours, bronzing drops give you an instant glow that washes off at the end of the day. Depending on the formula, they can be mixed into your moisturiser, SPF or foundation for a subtle hue, or used on their own to give your skin a deeper bronzed glow. They're ideal for days when you might not want to wear a full face of makeup, but still want a little radiance in your complexion. Bridging the gap between makeup and skincare, you'll often find bronzing drops infused with skincare ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin E) in a serum consistency that blends effortlessly into your skin.
How We Tested the Best Bronzing Drops
To help find the best tubing mascaras out there, I enlisted the help of the Who What Wear UK team, testing the bronzing drops across different skin tones. We chose the most highly rated bronzing drops from different retailers and across budgets, and we have shared our honest reviews for each alongside before and after pictures. Ready to find the best bronzing drops for you? Scroll ahead for our tried and tested favourites.
What Are the Best Bronzing Drops?
- Best Overall: Fenty Eaze Drop'Lit All-Over Glow Enhancer (£29)
- Beauty Editor's Pick: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops (£34)
- E.l.f. Bronzing Drops (£12)
- Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded Illuminator (£53)
- Isle Of Paradise Sunny Serum (£16)
- Jones Road Gel Bronzer (£32)
- Templespa Lovely Day Bronzing Gel (£26)
- Lumene Liquid Bronzer (£28)
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops (£32)
- L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion (£12)
- Morphe Hot Shot Sun Drops (£17)
- Self Glow By James Read Tinted Tan Drops (£18)
- Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops (£25)
1. Best Overall: Fenty Eaze Drop'Lit All-Over Glow Enhancer
Rating: 9/10
Price: £29 Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
You can mix the drops into the foundation, but I decided to try it out on its own. I used my favourite foundation brush to apply it and was instantly happy with how much brighter my skin looked. It gave my face a more ‘lit from within’ glow that lasted all day without being glittery. It also had surprisingly decent coverage, covering the larger dark spots on my face, meaning I could wear it on its own on my ‘no makeup’ makeup days. The shade worked well on my skin but I do wish there were a few more deeper shades. I understand that the drops have a lighter coverage to suit all skin tones, but I do feel like once I tan after a holiday, the drops would look a bit too light on my skin on their own. At these times, I’d have to mix them into my foundation or use them as primer.
At £29 I would definitely purchase these drops. A few drops go a long way and I love that it's a non-sticky formula that doesn’t dry out my skin or leave patches of glitter like a lot of other options on the market, with the only con being the limited shade range.
2. Beauty Editor's Pick: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops
Rating: 8/10 Price: Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
Turns out, there is a reason this little bottle is often lauded as a make-up-bag must-have. But before I get into my review, some info for you. The Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops are a makeup-and-skincare hybrid that you can mix into any serum, moisturiser, SPF, or face oil for a glowy and bronze-y tint. They have quite a shimmer to them, and the product comes out of the bottle fairly dark—but don't let that put you off, as it blends and mixes beautifully into the skin. It also features active ingredients that help to protect your moisture barrier and balance pH levels, all in a bid to reduce the affect of pollution on the skin.
Now for my honest thoughts. These drops only come in one shade—there are no alternatives depending on skin tone. There are other products in the Drunk Elephant liquid drops family, but only one bronzing option. I applied a three drops to my normal facial SPF and mixed them together with my finger on the top of my hand. Then, I applied the mixture all over my face and neck, focusing especially on the forehead as that's where I tend to either burn or get a bit of colour in the UK.
In the photos, I haven't applied makeup over the top, but later in the day I did and I was pleased with the glowy, lit-from-within results. It was incredibly easy to apply (no cringey tanning marks left on my hand or fingers!) and worked well with my skin tone, but it's worth noting that there is no coverage with the drops, so if you're looking for something that also helps to cover blemishes etc, this isn't for you. I like a very natural makeup look, and was really pleased with how my skin looked without anything on top, leaving me with just a slightly more radiant look than pre-drops. Later that day, my friends also complimented how bright and glowy my skin looked, which is always a bonus!
One thing I would mention is that I was expecting a bit more colour from these drops. Perhaps a bit more of the product mixed into my SPF would work, but I personally feel like if your primary goal is a bronze boost, there are other products on the market that hit that mark better. These are what to reach for if you're after a more subtle, healthy glow and shimmer, with all the added benefits of hard-working skincare, too.
Price wise, I wouldn't call these affordable and the bottle is small, but a little goes a long way, and I think if you're using it every few days or so, you'd get a lot of use out of one purchase. I'd definitely buy these again, and am really looking forward to using them while I'm on holiday too.
3. E.l.f. Bronzing Drops
Rating: 8/10 Price: Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
I opted for the shade Rose Gold, which seemed like the best option for my fairer skin tone. The brand advises mixing the drops in with your daily moisturiser for the best results, so that's exactly what I did. You definitely don't need a lot (I added around three drops and probably could have done with less) in order to get a sun-kissed finish. I was so impressed by how pigmented the formula was but I will say that using too much could definitely give that slight orange look. Another thing to note is that the liquid formula does come out quite quickly, so it can be a little more tricky to tailor the colour to suit you.
In terms of application, these bronzing drops blended like a dream and were quick and easy to rub into the skin. The formula contains lots of skin-loving ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, marula oil, raspberry seed oil and vitamin E. I loved the finish result, and the best bit was that thanks to my new golden glow, I felt a lot more confident to skip my foundation and instead just applied my concealer, powder and a little bit of highlighter. All in all, if you're looking for affordable bronzing drops that will make it look as if you've just stepped off the plane after a two week vacation, then these are the ones for you.
4. Westman Atelier Super Loaded Illuminator
Rating: 8/10 Price: Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
The formula includes clean, good-for-your-skin ingredients like avocado seed oil, tsubaki oil and vitamin C which are all super hydrating and will help to even out skin tone with continued use. As I don’t typically wear base makeup, I tried the drops on their own over my normal moisturiser and SPF (applying both with a brush and my hands to compare). I found the drops to be sheer with some shimmer, but not glittery which was ideal. The drops were easily blendable and I was obsessed with the ‘your skin but better’ healthy glow I was left with throughout the day without looking oily.
For me, the only things to note are that I found the formula really needed to be shaken before applying (as it seemed to have separated in the bottle) but this wasn’t really a sticking point for me. Coming in at a cool £53 for 30ml of product, I’d hesitate to repurchase and could argue that there are more affordable options out there, but if you’re looking to invest in natural looking bronzing drops that offer day-long radiance then Westman Atelier’s Liquid Super Loaded would be a fantastic option.
5. Isle Of Paradise Sunny Serum
Rating: 8/10 Price: Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
On the days I didn’t want a full face of makeup, I opted to mix a pump with my moisturiser or mix a little into my usual skin tint. A head’s up that one pump delivers a lot of product, so I ended up with some excess—which I would buff down onto my neck and décolletage for a more uniform glow—so go easy when pumping out the product. You can easily use this on its own and apply with fingertips or a buffing brush; I favoured the latter to really blend the pigment into my skin.
I was worried the shade might be too dark and glitzy, especially on my skin (while I tend to tan naturally on my body, my face usually stays the same colour and goes freckly in the summer) but I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely it bronzed my skin and imparted a glow as opposed to shimmer—it actually matched the natural tan on my body quite seamlessly. It lasted well throughout the day without getting too shiny or separating on my skin. The formula also boasts a range of skincare ingredients including niacinamide to improve the skin tone, jojoba oil to soothe the skin and squalane to hydrate. Overall, I think this is a great affordable bronzing product.
On my skin tone, applying it neat onto the skin is too dark for my liking, but it would suit medium and deep skin tones well. Bronzing drops aren't something I usually use in my routine, but, on the days I want to look a little more bronzed, I’ll definitely be keeping this on standby to mix with my usual moisturiser or skin tint, and as a way to add a glow to my shins and décolletage too.
6. Jones Road Bronzing Gel
Rating: 8/10 Price: Shade Range: Pros: Cons: Customer Review: Our Verdict:
I was assigned Jones Road's Bronzing Drops, which I was over the moon to try. After reading rave reviews on it, I had been wanting to get my hands on it for a while. The brand was founded by acclaimed makeup artist Bobbi Brown, so my expectations were high from the get go. Because of this, when it arrived in the post, I tore it open and went straight into testing mode.
Perhaps it was my overzealous first attempt but I really didn't like this product when I initially tried it. The pigment was stronger than I expected it to be and I found that it was too much of a contrast with my pale complexion. Bearing in mind I had the lightest of the three shades in the range. The next time I went in, I did so with a brush, and found that a lot of the product ended up getting lost in the bristles. Speaking with my colleague, Eleanor Vousden, we were chatting about how Bobbi Brown loves to apply makeup with her fingers, and perhaps that was the best way to distribute this product. So, for my third attempt, I applied a small amount to my fingertips and gently began to blending it onto my cheeks. This was when everything changed.
With each blot, my face was bestowed with the sun-kissed glow that everyone else was raving about. A little bit of this formula really does go a long way, so although the bottle might seem small, I do think it will last for a very, very long time. The droplet dispenser can be tricky to get the perfect amount of product from, so I've been squeezing with caution and adding more if required. Applying it to my cheekbones, hairline, the bridge of my nose, and my jawline for a bit of contour, it instantly makes my skin look more radiant and healthy. It's glowy without being shimmery, which is precisely what I want from a bronzer. I also like adding it to my moisturiser for a more subtle, all-over finish. Unlike other cream bronzers which seem to disappear from my face as the day goes on, I did find this formula has more staying power. My advice? Go easy and it's hard not to like the payoff of this product.
Shop More Bronzing Drops We Love
7. Templespa Lovely Day Bronzing Gel
Templespa
Lovely Day Bronzing Gel
If you want something ultra lightweight that you can wear on bare skin or mixed with your moisturiser, this is a great option that melts in with zero stickiness. The gel texture makes it ideal for oily or combination skin types, and it leaves a subtle glow that's best suited to fair, light or medium skin tones.
8. Lumene Liquid Bronzer
Lumene
Liquid Bronzer
Not only are these drops so cute, but the formula inside is so good that one reviewer said it had replaced their luxury bronzer. They come in two shades, and boasts a vegan formula that includes hydrating Nordic algae, radiance-inducing Nordic willowherb and soothing vitamin E. The dropper makes it easy to tailor how tan you want to go, and they blend effortlessly into the skin.
9. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
I've been using these for a while on the days when I don't want to wear makeup, but require a hint of colour in my complexion. And I really rate them. They're the tinted version of Glow Recipes OG Watermelon Glow Drops, and these are the most serum-like of the bunch, delivering a sheer sun-kissed veil to the skin while adding non-greasy hydration. They also contain niacinamide, which is great for soothing the skin.
10. L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion
L'Oréal Paris
Lumi Glotion
When I spoke to Simone Ashley recently, she said that these were one of her favourite products for achieving a glow. I'd liken them to a glowy moisturiser with a subtle tint, which can be used alone, as a primer underneath makeup or as a highlighter on cheekbones. There are four shades to choose from, and at £12, they're one of the more affordable options around.
11. Morphe Hot Shot Sun Drops
Morphe
Hot Shot Sun Drops
Morphe has one of the most extensive shade ranges in this list, with six shades to choose from, ranging from soft honey to deep chocolate. A little goes a long way, and they are really easy to blend into makeup or moisturiser, leaving a radiant glow to the skin.
12. Self Glow By James Read Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
Self Glow By James Read
Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
Want an instant glow and a lasting tan? Celebrity tanner James Read has cleverly formulated tinted self tan drops , which gives you both an immediate subtle tan, as well as developing on the skin to leave you with a longer-lasting glow. Designed to be mixed into moisturiser, serum or your SPF, you can tailor the amount of drops depending on how deep you want to go, and the tint gives the skin a subtle warmth while it develops.
13. Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops
Indeed Labs
Nanobronze Bronzing Drops
I've heard people saying that these bronzing drops are even better than a certain one that has gone TikTok-viral. This vegan formula can be mixed with your skincare or makeup for a sunkissed glow, and contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and a pea extract which helps to enhance the bronzing effect.