My Friends Think I Went on Vacation, But I Just Swear By This Subtle Sun-Kissed Skin Hack
No self-tan necessary.
There is heavy snow falling outside of my New York City apartment as I sit down to write this. My clanking radiator is working overtime to keep the freezing temps from creeping into my room, and yet I’m still crouched over my computer in a few extra layers to preserve any bit of warmth. Without booking an impromptu plane ticket to a sunsoaked island, I’m forced to wait out the wrath of this never-ending winter—and though my skin may feel cold after just one minute outside, it doesn’t have to look it.
I was a self-tanning fiend from my college years into my early twenties, but as I age out of my post-grad style, I’ve found myself embracing winter-pale skin more than I used to. (However, I just received a necessary reminder from my sister to tantour more often—sisterly love.) Though I don’t reach for the self-tanning drops quite as much these days, I do add a different type of warmth-enhancer to my morning routine to save my corpse-like complexion—and that, my friend, is bronzing drops.
Generally concentrated liquid formulas with deep, yet sheer pigmentation, these drops are made to be added to your usual moisturizer, sunscreen, or foundation to warm up the color and give your skin a healthy glow. “Bronzing drops are great because they instantly warm up the skin and add a subtle glow, especially in the winter months when our complexion can look sallow and dull,” says celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Jeanine Lobell. “They should melt in seamlessly and mimic a natural, sun-kissed warmth,” she adds.
I’ve personally tested a handful of these bronzy elixirs in the quest for sunless warmth, and I’ve polled a handful of celebrity makeup artists for their personal recommendations, tips, and tricks. Below, the eight worth considering for year-round summer skin.
The Best Face Bronzing Drops, At a Glance
- Best Overall: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
- Best Luxury: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
- Best Budget: Hard Candy Just Glow Luminizer
- Best with SPF: Vacation Studio Tone 3-in-1 Drops
- Best Glowy: Summer Fridays Bronzing Drops
Best Overall: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
Pros: Skincare-boosted, dewy finish, customizable color
Cons: None I can think of
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Cocoa extract, Matrixyl 3000 peptide blend, chronocyclin
There’s a reason the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops went mega-viral a few years back—they’re the best in the category. Super buildable thanks to its potent formula (which increases the warmth of your glow with each drop), packed with skin-loving ingredients like peptides, cocoa extract, and antioxidants, and extremely versatile, this formula offers a realistic bronze and plays nicely with practically any base. “They give believable warmth without heaviness—perfect for clients who want glow without looking overly made up,” says professional makeup artist and educator, Lauren D’Amelio Ventre. Celebrity makeup artist Brielle Pollara also calls these out as a favorite because they can be worn alone “without turning your face into a different shade,” as well.
Customer review: “It's the perfect amount of color (I have VERY pale skin and freckles). I'm a self-tanner addict, and when I don't have time to self-tan or am taking a break from it, I grab a pea-sized amount of this stuff and I look alive again! It's sheer and you look sun-kissed… it's perfection!”
Best Luxury: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
Pros: Weightless feel, options for deep skin tones, infused with skincare
Cons: Quite pricey
Skin type: All, including sensitive | Key ingredients: Prebiotic moisturizing complex, carrot oil, amino-infused active blend
It was a close fight between these Westman Atelier drops and the Drunk Elephant formula, which clinched the first spot only because it’s slightly less expensive. While Westman Atelier’s bronzing drops may come at a higher price, you’ll soon realize how worth every cent this formula is once you smooth it into your skin. The supremely lightweight formula is practically undetectable—blending flawlessly with any base of your choice for an all-over wash of color, while also being easy to use as a concentrated bronzer. I love that it comes in several different hues (as most bronzing drops are usually only available in one), and that the formula is boosted with skincare ingredients like carrot oil, prebiotics, amino acids, and more. Oh, and did I mention it dries down into a natural matte? Score.
Customer review: “Obsessed with this lightweight blendable formula. It actually makes you look bronzed and sun-kissed in a beautiful, elegant way. No fake orange here!”
Best Budget: Hard Candy Just Glow Luminizer
Pros: Low-priced, has skincare components, glowy finish
Cons: Some shoppers report accentuated fine lines, not as long-wearing as others
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, grapeseed oil
You might think that bronzing drops are a pricey category based on our first two picks, but experts swear by this skincare-infused, $9 buy from the drugstore. Though actually a luminizer, Ventre recommends the shade Bronze Glow for all skin tones craving a hint of warmth and luminosity. “It adds warmth with refined luminosity rather than heavy pigment, making it ideal for mixing into foundation or tapping onto high points of the face,” the makeup artist explains. “I appreciate that it gives glow without visible sparkle; it reads smooth and radiant both on camera and in person.”
Customer review: “I'm enjoying this glow face luminizer. It goes on evenly and isn't greasy or oily and looks pretty under makeup. It provides a nice, soft, radiant glow. It's a very good deal for the price.”
Best Applicator: Saie Dew Bronze Liquid Bronzer
Pros: Beginner-friendly, easy to blend, hydrating formula, larger shade range
Cons: Not typical “drops”
Skin type: Normal, dry, sensitive | Key ingredients: Plant-derived glycerin, licorice root extract, silica
Beloved by celebrity makeup artists, the Saie Dew Bronze is a standout in the bronzer category, period. Though this product isn’t technically a “drop,” two artists recommended it because of its subtle, realistically warm results that are easy to achieve, even for beginners. “The applicator makes it easy to apply if you’re new to liquid bronzer,” explains Holm. Its blurring, yet hydrating formula leaves the skin looking quenched and painterly smooth, without the glittery mess we’ve found in some liquid bronzers. “It’s ideal for softly sculpting while maintaining a luminous, skin-like finish,” adds Ventre. Holm says you can also skip the applicator apply it to the back of your hand before blending in with a brush, if you so choose. But when used normally, Holm calls it a staple in her “five-minute-out-the-door routine”.
Customer review: “Seriously so good. I’ve been wanting a liquid bronzer and have tried so many products before and nothing, NOTHING has been this good. New lifetime customer, I love it.”
Best with SPF: Vacation Studio Tone 3-in-1 Drops
Pros: Protects skin from UV rays, buildable warmth, versatile formula
Cons: Not as deep as some of the others
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Ferulic acid, collagen peptides, ceramides
If you’re in the camp of relying on multitasking makeup products, join the club. Who has time for a skincare routine, followed by SPF, and then makeup, anyways? Lobell and I recommend the Studio Tone 3-in-1 Drops from Vacation—a skin-warming, hydrating, and SPF 50-boosted formula that we both regularly use in our day-to-day routines. “My hands-down favorite is Vacation Studio Tone 3-in-1 Drops,” says Lobell. “They’re never blotchy, the shade is perfect for adding that ‘I just got a little sun’ effect, and they’re incredibly easy to apply and blend,” she explains. It’s a hybrid chemical and mineral formula, which means it both absorbs sun-blocking ingredients and physically shields the skin while evening out tone. Win-win!
Customer review: “I have tan brown skin, and the biggest difference I noticed with these bronzing drops was how much they helped even out my skin tone. I used them pretty infrequently because I wasn’t looking to tan more, just to subtly balance my complexion, and they did exactly that. The formula is lightweight and blends easily, giving a soft, natural warmth without looking orange or muddy. When I used just a small amount, it added a healthy glow and helped smooth out uneven areas without making my skin look darker. I also appreciate that it includes SPF 50, so it felt like a functional step in my routine rather than just a cosmetic product.”
Best for Fair Skin Tones: Caliray Sundrip Serum Bronzer
Pros: Lightweight texture, glowy results, blurring finish
Cons: Not buildable or deep enough to service deep skin tones
Skin type: Normal, dry, combination | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, matrixyl 3000 peptides, vitamin E
People with fair skin know the struggle of finding bronzers that don’t look muddy or orange on their skin (speaking from personal experience), but I’m happy to report that Caliray Sundrip Serum Bronzer is a great option for those with pale complexions. Professional makeup artist Rose Siard recommends this “serum-like” formula because of how light and easy it is to blend. “It gives warmth without looking muddy or heavy,” she explains. It’s also comparatively lighter in color than some of the others we’ve tested, making it a sheerer wash on light to medium skin tones—but perhaps too light for those with deep skin. Keep scrolling for our recommendation there.
Customer review: “This product is unbelievable! The way it feels on the skin is dreamy. It gives a great tan base under any of my foundations, and it easily blends and melts into skin. I apply two pumps for my face and neck. It doesn't just give a glow, it gives a flawless airbrushed effect. I will rebuy this forever!”
Best for Deep Skin Tones: Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops
Pros: Hydrating formula, blurring finish, engineered for deeper undertones
Cons: Some shoppers report streakiness
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Cacao seed extract, glycerin
If you have deep skin and find it hard to locate bronzing drops that actually suit your tone, I urge you to turn your attention towards this glowy pick from Indeed Labs. Specifically designed for deeper skin tones, this cacao seed extract-enhanced formula works on all skin types and utilizes an array of warm gold and red tones to offer the look of realistically sun-warmed skin. Siard highlights the formula as “incredibly thin, easy to work with, and very pigmented,” so you only need a few drops to get the glowy blur you desire. Because it’s lightweight, the product is quite buildable—meaning you can add more drops to your favorite moisturizer or serum to enhance the color and build more intensity.
Customer review: “As a brown-skinned girl, this really helped my skin tone get an even complexion! I look so glowy and bronzed that this is a perfect product for the winter, and [it] applies smoothly with my moisturizer. 100% a dupe for the Drunk Elephant drops!”
Best Glowy: Summer Fridays Bronzing Drops
Pros: Natural dewy finish, boosts hydration, soothes skin
Cons: Wish there were deeper shades
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, tiger grass
Another one of Holm’s recommendations is the Summer Fridays Bronzing Drops. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and buildable bronzy pigment, these drops are both tone-evening, glowy, and calming. “These have a serum-like consistency, giving skin a super dewy, bronze glow,” says Holm. “There are days when this is the only thing I put on, I love how it instantly warms up the complexion.”
Customer review: “These drops lend a gorgeous shimmery glow to my skin. They scream sun-kissed without the requisite UV exposure.”
What to Look For in Bronzing Drops for Your Face
- Formula: Experts across the board agree that not only should the formula of your bronzing drops be light, but it should also come with extra skincare benefits, like hyaluronic acid for increased hydration or antioxidants for its calming properties. Extra points if they have protective perks, like SPF.
- Undertone: "If bronzing drops pull too orange or too ashy, they instantly look artificial," says Ventre. "A great formula enhances warmth in a way that feels believable and dimensional rather than flat."
- Versatility: The goal of bronzing drops is that they can be easily mixed into any complexion or skincare product without causing pilling or streaks, so versatility is a top priority. "The best bronzing drops can be mixed into foundation for an all-over glow, tapped onto the perimeter of the face for warmth and lift, or sheered out over bare skin for that effortless, vacation-inspired radiance," Ventre explains.
How should you apply bronzing drops in your makeup routine?
There are a few ways to apply these drops, and a few methods for makeup infusion. "For an all-over glow, mix one to two drops into foundation or moisturizer before applying," instructs professional makeup artist Catrina Breitweiser. "For targeted warmth, tap onto the temples, cheekbones, and along the hairline after foundation."
There's a certain step to incorporate them into, as well. "Apply your bronzing drops after your foundation or tinted moisturizer, before you apply your blush," says Holm. "I like to blend using a really dense brush, blending upwards to help lift the face."
If you have any bronzy residue left over on your hands or brush, Ventre recommends rubbing it onto your neck, décolletage, and below. "They’re also beautiful on the body, mixed into lotion and swept over collarbones and shoulders for a cohesive glow." For the most natural, seamless blend, Breitweiser recommends finishing off the look by pressing the product into the skin with a wet sponge.
Which is better, bronzer or bronzing drops?
There is no "better" in this situation, only preference—not to mention that bronzer comes in many forms, one of them being bronzing drops. Liquid bronzers tend to be better for people with dry skin, or anyone who wants something lightweight and dewy for hot summer weather. These are often more pigmented and offer more potent color placement. Cream bronzers are similar and can be found in potted or stick forms to deliver richer pigmentation than sheer bronzing drops, and even some liquid bronzers.
Powder bronzers are the most traditional, and perhaps some of the sheerest, depending on the formula. You can finish off your look with a light sweep of powder bronzer to lock everything in, or you can intensify the look by blending the powder over your cheekbones, temples, and jawline to define the shape. It merely comes down to application preference and the desired result—but ultimately, you'll likely use a combination of two in your makeup routine.
How We Chose
We found the best bronzing drops for the face by testing a handful of popular formulas ourselves and interviewing five celebrity makeup artists for their top recommendations and application tips. From there, we decided which formula felt the most deserving of our categories before moving forward with the eight above, each serving a different purpose, but achieving the same bronzy glow. We also answered some of the internet's burning questions about bronzing drops for the face to give you a comprehensive buying guide ahead of your next shopping spree.
Our Experts
- Ash K. Holm is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist and the co-founder of the wellness and aesthetics spa Dripology.
- Jeanine Lobell is a New York-based celebrity makeup artist and the founder of the makeup brand Neen.
- Brielle Pollara is a New Jersey-based celebrity makeup artist and the owner of Brielle Beauty Co.
- Catrina Breitweiser is a professional makeup artist and the founder of Makeup by Catrina and MBC Cosmetics.
- Lauren D’Amelio Ventre is a professional makeup artist, educator, and beauty entrepreneur.
- Rose Siard is a professional makeup artist, content creator, and the founder of Rose and Ben Beauty.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
