13 best bronzing drops for an instant sun-kissed glow

The product that started the craze, Drunk Elephant’s D-bronzi sunshine drops are as good as everyone says they are. Powered by peptides, fatty acids and nourishing oils such as marula, the skin-loving formula has an almost silky texture. Very lightweight, it’s easy to blend, whether in your moisturiser or directly onto your face (a brush helps around the hairline).

It gives an instantly bronzed look, without a hint of orange, and I love to use it as liquid contour on my cheekbones and forehead. Similarly, it can be applied anywhere else on the body for a touch of bronze, with just one drop going a long way. The drops also have impressive longevity, lasting all-day without any smudging or patchiness. Yes, this is a relatively pricey pick but, if you love an instantly bronzed look, you won’t regret the splurge.

Revolution rarely disappoints with its budget alternatives to cult products (think the Charlotte Tilbury-inspired viral miracle cream). Now, the brand has launched a stellar competitor to Drunk Elephant’s bronzing drops. The Revolution drops give skin an instantly bronzed finish that can be customised, whether you mix it with your moisturiser or apply it straight onto your face.

Blending make-up and skincare, the formula nourishes skin on application, thanks to its blend of squalene, grapeseed oil, and hyaluronic acid – but it felt a little drying, compared with some other formulas.

Considering the price, I was impressed by how well the tint lasted throughout the day, with just a couple of drops providing ample coverage. Plus, to help with colour-matching, it’s available in two shades: scorched light/med and bronze spice.

You can always trust Elf to provide pleasingly affordable versions of premium-priced viral products. The budget brand’s bronzing serum gives a sun-kissed glow with just two drops, being far more pigmented than other formulas on the market. While the product can be applied alone for a more tanned finish, blending it with your moisturiser in the morning gives a far more natural look (with not an orange patch in sight).

The drops are formulated with nourishing ingredients such as sunflower seed oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth. With three shades available, for more universal colour-matching, at this price, you can’t go wrong.

Launched earlier this year, Isle of Paradise’s sunny serum provides a fast track to a natural-looking bronzed finish. It’s designed to be mixed with your moisturiser or applied alone – I prefer the former method, for a subtler, more even tan.

The thick liquid consistency has a skin-blurring effect, delivering instant bronze and glow. Lightweight and easily blended, it’s powered by ingredients such as niacinamide, squalene and jojoba oil, to simultaneously nourish and hydrate skin.

I felt I could even forgo foundation in favour of the illuminating formula, but it works just as nicely as a primer under makeup; a highlighter after makeup, or even as body bronze (a little on your collarbone has an immediate effect). Versatile with instant benefits, Isle of Paradise’s sunny serum is a new makeup-bag hero.

Jones Road’s bronzer boasts a luxurious gel-based formula that’s super lightweight and blendable. The sheer tint comes in three shades – light, medium and dark – and contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, for a hydration boost.

Giving skin a sun-kissed glow, the formula isn’t drying at all, and you can use as few or as many drops as you like, for a fully customised bronzed complexion (don’t be scared of the formula’s deep pigmented colour). Even just one drop on each cheek can give a naturally contoured look that can be blended with a brush. Providing a holiday glow in a bottle, the product’s warm, dewy effect meant I could comfortably forgo foundation.

St Tropez’s new sunlit face tint has a thinner consistency than other bronzing drops, which means that a little goes a long way. You only need a small grape-sized amount for full coverage, and it blends out easily. It feels lightweight, too; it sinks into your skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

The sheer coverage leaves a natural, subtle, bronzed finish. It doesn’t settle into fine lines or pores, instead helping to even out your skin tone and mask blemishes. The tint is quick-drying, so you can apply it in the morning and follow with makeup straight after. Plus, your skin feels soft and hydrated after use, thanks to star ingredients like hyaluronic acid and butylene glycol.

Setting it apart from instant bronzing drops, St Tropez’s formula develops into a deeper but still natural-looking tan in around four hours. This is the best investment for those who want an instant hint of tan that only gets better throughout the day.

Read the full review of St Tropez’s sunlit tan

Bondi Sands has channelled two decades of tanning expertise into its instant bronzing drops. The serum formula is packed with hydrating ingredients, such as squalane and capuacu butter, that melt into skin without clogging pores. Delivering an instantly bronzed look (or a subtler glow when mixing with moisturiser), the product has the same blurring and filtering effect as a tinted BB cream. It’s not the easiest to blend, however, so, I’d suggest using a brush rather than fingers.

The perfect pick-me-up for dull-looking skin, it’s a great lightweight substitute for foundation or concealer – particularly when on holiday. While it hasn’t got the most long-lasting coverage (it began to fade towards the end of the day), considering the price, this is a minor gripe.

This gel is something of a cult favourite. A primer that doubles up as a highlighter, the formula gives skin a holiday glow. The lightweight product is water based, so it’s perfect for those who want a subtle look, as it isn’t too pigmented or super obvious. Giving skin a shimmery and luminous look, a little goes a long way.

Available in two shades, “starglow” is a substitute for a highlighter and gives skin a dewy, healthy sheen. The slightly more pigmented “sunglow” gives a more bronzed look. Both are infused with papaya seed oil, vitamin C for brightening, and rosa canina fruit oil for nourishment. A great product to have in your arsenal, the barely there formula is ideal for anyone who doesn’t like the feeling of layered products on their skin.

Available in four shades, Fenty’s ease drop’lit formula blurs skincare and makeup, for the perfect colour-matched glow. Boasting a lightweight consistency, the drops can be mixed with your moisturiser or used alone. I found using it alongside my moisturiser didn’t really make much difference to my complexion but when used alone at the end of my routine, it gave a radiant no makeup glow. The effect is super subtle, with a nice skin-blurring effect, providing a little more coverage than your average tint. Formulated with skin-nourishing ingredients, such as glycerin and prickly pear extract, the product softens and hydrates skin.

After trending on TikTok and gaining huge popularity in the States, L'Oreal Paris’s “glotion” is now available in the UK. This bronzing lotion works amazingly as a blurring primer, helping to create both a texture and colour base for your makeup. The deeper shade does look quite brown when you first apply it to your face, but don’t be alarmed – with a bit of rubbing, it blends in seamlessly.

The consistency is more of a moisturiser than drops. The lotion offers great versatility, too, as the brand states it can be used instead of, underneath or even on top of makeup. You can even use it on your legs, for a much-needed hit of bronzy colour this summer.

My one gripe is that, despite being infused with glycerin and shea butter, it isn’t the most hydrating product. I’ve put on my face. However, the way my makeup sat on top of this product definitely made up for the lack of hydration.

A bronzing take on Glow Recipe’s best-selling watermelon glow drops, the brand’s niacinamide hue drops feel more like a serum than a skin tint. Super hydrating and kind to skin, this product slots seamlessly into your existing routine. Easily blended with a moisturiser or directly onto your face, it’s got a lightweight gel consistency that doesn’t dry out skin.

One pump delivers a natural-looking tint, while two or three give a fresh-off-the-plane bronzed look. The drops also have a slight shimmer, giving your face a healthy-looking glow. I like to apply a pea-sized amount on my cheek bones, for a contoured look.

Tan Luxe is known for its luxurious formulas, and its super gloss bronzing drops are no exception. Boasting an oil-based lightweight consistency, the formula has a slight shimmer to it, illuminating the natural contours of your face. Just two drops provide sufficient coverage (helping to justify the price), giving your face a patch-free tan, while firming and smoothing. Better yet, it includes SPF 30 protection. The bronzed tint lasts all day, with skin feeling super hydrated. It also sits nicely under makeup, thanks to its silky formula.

This innovative formula is packed with impressive skin-loving ingredients – tea extracts nourish and hydrate skin, while the active bio-cherry fruit essence visibly smooths and instantly bronzes skin. I was surprised at how light the formula is, and it dries quickly with no stickiness.

It’s best applied with a foundation brush for blending across the face and neck, but it can also be used on the body – think of it as a quick fix for pale arms or decolletage, as it can wash off easily with water at the end of the day. Yes, it is pricey, but if you’re only using it in areas that need a little love, you’ll find a small amount goes a long way.