(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
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.
(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
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: 4 Shades
Pros: Hydrating, offers a subtle glow and coverage, ‘no makeup’ makeup finish
Cons: Shade range could be extended further
Customer Review: “Very glowy and hydrating, great alternative to the D-bronzi drops. I use this with my normal skin tint and it adds a nice bronzed glow. A lot of product in my opinion too!”
Our Verdict: I tried out Fenty Beauty’s Eaze Drop’Lit All Over Glow Enhancer. It’s available in 4 shades and I tried out the darkest shade, ‘Bronze Jasper’. I have dry skin with spots of hyperpigmentation here and there, so I usually stay away from glow drops as they don’t provide much coverage and can often leave flaky patches of glitter on my skin. Fenty’s glow enhancer is a lightweight, skin-care-based formula that promises to give a subtle glow and simultaneously hydrate the skin. It contains vitamin E, prickly pear extract and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate as well as pomegranate peel extract to brighten the skin over time.
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.
Fenty Beauty
Eaze Drop’lit All-Over Glow Enhancer
2. Beauty Editor’s Pick: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops
Rating: 8/10
Price: £35
Shade Range: One shade
Pros: Delivers a healthy glow, lends well with skincare products, contains skincare ingredients,
Cons: More expensive than most, only one shade option
Customer Review: “I love this product, it isn’t streaky or patchy at all. And you can decide how much of a bronzing effect you want by mixing more or less moisturiser into it, and changing the amount of product you actually mix. Although it is kind of expensive I still recommend as I think it should last a while.”
Our Verdict: Let me start by saying I love any sort of bronzing product. Traditional fake tan, gradual glow builders, tanning drops, tints… the list goes on and on. And because of this, I’ve tried A LOT of products over the years, resulting in a few go-to favourites that I rarely shy away from. So, when it came to testing bronzing drops for this month’s Deep Reviews, I knew I’d be coming in with high expectations and a scrupulous eye for detail. A product I’ve never tried, however, is Drunk Elephant’s cult bronzing drops, which has earned itself high praise from beauty editors and experts alike over the years, not to mention has gone viral multiple times on TikTok.
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.
Drunk Elephant
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
3. E.l.f. Bronzing Drops
Rating: 8/10
Price: £12
Shade Range: 3 shades
Pros: Affordable, pigmented, range of shades, infused with skincare ingredients
Cons: Runny formula can make getting the right amount tricky
Customer Review: “These bronzing drops are a versatile and affordable addition to any makeup routine. These drops provide a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow that can be easily adjusted to your desired intensity. The lightweight, blendable formula mixes well with foundation or moisturiser for a seamless application. It dries quickly and leaves a smooth, radiant finish without any greasiness. Perfect for achieving a bronzed look year-round, the e.l.f. Bronzing Drops are a must-have for glowing skin on a budget.”
Our Verdict: I’ve always been a bit wary of bronzing drops. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bronzed glow, but in the past I’ve found that they can make me look a little bit too orange. However, it seems that the formulas have come a long way over the years, as more and more brands are coming out with their own drops that promise a natural, radiant finish. One brand that particularly caught my eye was E.l.f. Not only are the brand’s bronzing drops super affordable, but they come in three different shades and are advertised as more of a tinted serum.
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: £53
Shade Range: 3 shades
Pros: Can be used in multiple ways, skincare ingredients, easy to blend, natural-looking glow
Cons: More expensive than others, may not be suitable for oily skin
Customer Review: “Peau de Soleil is the only bronzing drops I’ve found that are not “yellow”, it’s more of a warm red-brown tone and I quite like it for my fair skin—I normally only use a couple of drops and mix it with my foundation. The only thing I’ve found is that if I use too much, other products slip a bit on my skin, even on my cheeks—it might be better for normal/dry skin types than my combination skin.”
Our Verdict: Bronzing drops haven’t cemented themselves as a staple in my makeup arsenal, so I was excited to try Westman Atelier’s Liquid Super Loaded Illuminator which is described as a complexion enhancer with longer term skincare benefits. This product comes in three shades, and as it isn’t pigment based, they can all be used for different purposes. I opted for Peau du Soleil which offers more of a golden glow and definition as I thought this would work best with my skin tone.
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.
Westman Atelier
Liquid Super Loaded Illuminator
5. Isle Of Paradise Sunny Serum
Rating: 8/10
Price: £13
Shade Range: One shade
Pros: Affordable, can be used in multiple ways, contains skincare ingredients
Cons: Can pump out too much product, may be too dark for fair skin
Customer Review: “Really like this, gives a subtle tanned look. Other reviews say it is glittery which it isn’t it has a glow but no shimmer or glitter effect. It does pump a large amount which is annoying but if you very gently press it (without letting the pump go all the way down) a small amount comes out for you to add gradually (a little goes a long way). I would recommend for summer, great for holiday and no make up days.”
Our Verdict: As a huge fan of Isle Of Paradise (the Tanning Water is my ride or die self-tan—I’ll rarely use anything else) I had high hopes for the Sunny Serum. On first impressions, the serum, which is creamy in texture, appears quite dark when it comes out of the pump and has a golden pearl shimmer to it—but fear not, it does sheer out on the skin and isn’t glittery. It comes in one universal shade, and the brand recommends using it in several ways, from mixing it with moisturiser or foundation, wearing alone or as a primer, as a highlighter and even to use on the body for an instant bronze glow wherever you may want it.
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.
Isle of Paradise
Sunny Serum
6. Jones Road Bronzing Gel
Rating: 8/10
Price: £32
Shade Range: 3 shades
Pros: Buildable colour, easy to blend, has good staying power, a little goes a long way
Cons: More expensive than some other market options, dropper makes it difficult to fully control product distribution, lightest shade was quite dark if not used sparingly
Customer Review: “I’m not usually a bronzer person but something compelled me to try this and it’s totally the thing I needed and didn’t realise. It’s so easy to apply, doesn’t streak, and the formula is amazing. Even if I’m not wearing any makeup I still put some of this on after moisturiser and sunscreen for a subtle healthy glow… It’s perfection.”
Our Verdict: I have a love/hate relationship with bronzer. Yes, I want that healthy-looking, I’ve-just-spent-two-weeks-in-Spain glow but, more often than not, the bronzers I’ve tried in the past, even products with stellar reviews, always wind up looking too orange on my skin. I am very, very pale. That or they’ve always been too sparkly, and the last thing I want is to look like I’ve just dipped my face into a bowl of glitter. So, when I was asked to take part in this edition of Deep Reviews, I was both excited and reserved. Would I finally find my perfect bronzer? Well, it’s certainly a contender…
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
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.
