When I want a little extra sun-kissed color—sans the actual UV damage—I turn to the best bronzing drops. Think of them as a temporary alternative to tanning waters, offering all the warmth of a tan without the commitment of actual self-tanner. Per celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein, these bronzing formulas are particularly worthwhile for those who find “that traditional bronzer formulations go muddy or patchy.” And for those with fair skin, they can be blended in undetectably—meaning “you can really control the application to achieve your desired effect,” she says.
Better yet, bronzing drops often come in a range of shades, making it easier to avoid a dreaded orange finish. Not to mention, they’re wildly versatile thanks to their more natural, transparent look, according to celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose. You can wear them “directly on bare skin or with a tinted moisturizer or a very sheer lightweight foundation,” he explains.
Vogue’s Favorite Bronzing Drops
- Best for Dry Skin: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops, $58
- Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Bronzing Drops, $13
- Best for Face and Body: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops, $39
- Best K-Beauty: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops, $36
- Best for a Subtle Glow: Summer Fridays Bronzing Drops, $32
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Ciele Bronze & Protect SPF 50, $36
However, the category can get a little confusing; there are plenty of products marketed as bronzing drops that are really just glow enhancers or skin-perfecters. Personally, I’m a firm believer that if it doesn’t make you look at least a little more tan, it’s not a bronzing drop. That distinction is important.
Here’s how I use them: My acne-prone skin-care routine always manages to keep my face a bit paler than the rest of me. So, instead of carrying multiple complexion product shades, I add a drop or two of Ciele’s bronzing drops into my usual foundation for a perfect match. For a more targeted approach, I’ll also dispense a drop onto the back of my hand like an artist’s palette, then apply it across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose with a stippling brush. The result is a post-vacation radiance that’s never streaky, dull, or heavy. Ahead, a look at the bronzing drops we’d recommend—for every makeup look and coverage preference, from shimmery to radiant without the sparkle.
In This Story
- What do bronzing drops do?
- How to use bronzing drops?
- How do bronzing drops differ from tanning drops?
- How We Tested
- Meet The Experts
Best for Dry Skin: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
- Why We Love It: A favorite of super model Helena Christensen, Westman Atellier’s hydrating bronzing drops help to achieve freshly-tanned look. “They lend a glow to the skin and help me build a believable tan on a variety of skin tones,” Gerstein previously explained in our bronzers guide, emphasizing the formula’s superb blendability. These drops nourish skin with a combination of tsubaki oil, avocado seed oil, and squalane, while reflective mica delivers a subtle glow. Plus, the pigment and weight make it excellent for all-over color, or applied to the cheeks and forehead for targeted bronze. Just remember to shake well before using!
More To Know
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, mica, corn starch, carrot sativa seed oil, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E.
- Shades: Four
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Radiant
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating and buildable formula | Formula isn’t entirely non-comedogenic, so may not suit acne-prone skin |
| Provides a believable just-tanned look, with long-wearing results |
Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Bronzing Drops
- Why We Love It: Those who want to lean into a bronzed glow, without breaking the bank, will appreciate e.l.f.’s viral formula. Across the four shades, each doesn’t hold back when it comes to shimmery glow thanks to micro pigments. Meanwhile, the formula blends vitamin E with raspberry seed, sunflower seed, and marula oils.
More To Know
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, marula oil, vitamin E, glycerin, raspberry seed oil
- Shades: Four
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Radiant
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Affordable price point | The blend of oil-based ingredients isn’t suited for acne-prone skin types |
| Hydrating formula packed with botanic oils |
Best for Face and Body: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops
- Why We Love It: This skin-care-inspired serum sets out to nourish and protect skin while imparting a sheer wash of color on the face, décolletage, and shoulders—making it a favorite of Gerstein’s. “I like that the drops contain niacinamide, which is a great ingredient for smoothing the appearance of the skin,” she says, noting that they layer beautifully beneath makeup. Also inside are peptides, antioxidants, and fatty acid-rich oils, which deliver healthier skin over time in addition to an immediate, gold-tinted finish.
More To Know
- Key Ingredients: Cocoa extract, peptides, white tea extract, vitamin F, niacinamide
- Shades: One
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Radiant
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating and antioxidant-rich formula | Extremely limited shade range |
| Sheer, buildable bronze | Some find the formula to be a bit oily |
| Multi-purpose bronze |
Best K-Beauty: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
- Why We Love It: The finish of Glow Recipe’s bronzing drops is more sunkissed than bronzed, and is sheer enough for even pale skin tones. The formula is packed with skincare-grade ingredients like niacinamide for brightening and centella asiatica for calming. Of course, there’s the brand’s signature blend of hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract for added hydration. Mica adds a subtle glow, and the formula is sheer enough for even the fairest of skin tones.
- Editor’s Experience: “Glow Recipe’s bronzing drops are incredible for no-makeup days because they treat, illuminate, and even tone without any fuss. I rarely leave home without applying it.” —Kiana Murden, senior beauty shopping writer
More To Know
- Number of Shades: 1
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Dewy
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A true skin-care makeup hybrid, acting as a serum with a subtle tint | Some find the watermelon fragrance to be a bit strong |
| Transparent, buildable tint |
Best Long-Lasting: Tan-luxe The Face Illuminating Self Tan Drops
- Why We Love It: Those looking for something with a bit more staying power than traditional bronzing drops may want to consider self-tan drops instead. Tan-Luxe’s formula transforms your moisturizer or hydrating serum into a customizable self-tanner—a few drops mixed into your favorite skin-care product develop into a natural-looking glow. The formula is infused with nourishing ingredients like glycerin, vitamin E, and aloe for added hydration. Just remember: because this isn’t makeup, the more drops, and the longer you wear it before rinsing will result in a deeper tan—and don’t forget to wash your hands afterward unless tanned palms are part of the plan!
More To Know
- Number of Shades: Four
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, raspberry seed oil, aloe very leaf juice, hydrolysed silk protein, caramel, vitamin E
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Natural
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| No typical self-tanner smell | Some find the finish can be a bit patchy |
| Mixes easily with skin-care products | |
| Non-comedogenic makes it suitable for acne-prone skin types |
Best for a Subtle Glow: Summer Fridays Bronzing Drops
- Why We Love It: Like a California sun in a bottle, Summer Fridays’s serum-like bronzing drops melt seamlessly into skin or mix effortlessly with your moisturizer or foundation—just make sure to give the bottle a good shake before applying! While the formula contains pearlescent pigments, they never translate into obvious shimmer on the skin. Instead, the finish is fresh, natural, and convincingly sun-kissed. On the skin-care front, hyaluronic acid and glycerin help draw in and lock in moisture, while soothing tiger grass helps support the skin barrier and calm the look of irritation.
More To Know
- Number of Shades: One
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, tiger grass, centella asiatica lead extract
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Dewy
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating, lightweight formula | Only one universal tone, which may not suit deeper skin tones |
| Vegan, cruelty-free | Contains only one-potential pore clogging ingredient |
| Natural, dewy finish |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Ciele Bronze & Protect SPF 50
- Why We Love It: You’ve surely heard of a tinted SPF, but have you heard of a bronzer with sun protection? Now you have! “Every Ciele formula is non-comedogenic, acne-safe, and built with non-nano mineral SPF, so protection is seamlessly integrated into the complexion step,” founder and celebrity makeup artist Nicki Deroset tells Vogue. “It allows you to layer your sun protection throughout your makeup routine—because realistically, most people aren’t applying enough. SPF on its own.” The bronzer offers semi-sheer pigment in just two surprisingly stretchy shades.
- Editor’s Experience: “Is this my all-time favorite bronzing drop? Why, yes, it is. There’s really nothing not to love, from its non-comedogenic formula to how seamlessly it blends into the skin. I alternate between applying a drop directly onto my cheeks and nose, or mixing it into my usual complexion products. I’ve historically shied away from bronzers, because I have a neutral undertone, and I often find them to pull to orange on me. This, however, perfectly mimics the way my skin naturally tans. Every time I wear it, someone inevitably asks if I spent the weekend at the beach.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
More To Know
- Number of Shades: Two
- Key Ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, niacinamide, mica, iron oxides
- Opacity: Semi-sheer
- Finish: Natural
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Free from fragrance, talc, phthalates, and sulfates | Limited shade range |
| Non-comedogenic, clean, and cruelty-free formula | |
| SPF 50 sun protection |
Best Natural Finish: Typology Bronzing Drops T34 2% Vitamin E + Apricot Extract
- Why We Love It: Typology, the luxe French brand known for it’s simple and clean formulas, offers bronzing drops perfect those who take a more skin-first approach to makeup. Their bronzing drops strike a nice balance between complexion enhancement and a light sun-kiss. The lightweight formula is 95% naturally derived, blending vitamin E with antioxidant-rich apricot for hydration and free-radical protection. Plus, the formula is totally fragrance and silicone free.
More To Know
- Number of Shades: One
- Key Ingredients: Mica, glycerin, propanediol, vitamin E, apricot kernel oil
- Opacity: Sheer
- Finish: Natural, slightly radiant
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Almost entirely naturally-derived formula that’s acne-safe | Limited shade range |
| Natural, yet subtly luminous finish |
Everything You Need To Know
What do bronzing drops do?
Bronzing drops lend a warm, radiant finish to skin, but still look natural and subtle compared to their powder or cream counterparts, according to Barose. “They’re ideal for someone who likes their complexion makeup to be more bare and sheer,” he says. The formulas are infused with varying levels of pigment, and some even contain skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to hydrate), niacinamide (to soothe and brighten), and squalane (to smooth).
While they’re called bronzing drops, depending on the exact hue, they can double as highlighter and even lend a gleam to blush in a pinch. Because they’re liquid, Barose cautions against layering them over cream and powder foundations, which can lead to caking. Instead, they’re best paired with similarly lightweight makeup, like tinted moisturizer or liquid foundations.
How To Apply Bronzing Drops
The beauty of bronzing drops is that they’re particularly forgiving—and versatile. Gerstein recommends thinking of them “as a layer in your skincare, so that you really work the product into the skin, including the neck and décolleté,” she says. You can also blend a few drops with your moisturizer for the most seamless effect.
As part of your overarching makeup routine, meanwhile, Barose recommends applying moisturizer, a base layer of tinted moisturizer or liquid foundation, and then your bronzing drops. “Apply one drop on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin, then blend it in with a damp sponge or buffing blush,” he says. “Try mimicking how the sun naturally hits your face.” He also recommends adding a few drops directly to your liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer before applying it to boost its warmth.
Gerstein, for her part, likes to follow her bronzing drops with a cream- or powder-based bronzer. “I find that layering the different finishes provides the most authentic-looking warmth to the skin,” she says.
How do bronzing drops differ from tanning drops?
Bronzing drops add a subtle gleam to skin, but depending on the exact shade, they can also highlight and give skin a rosy look. They’re usually sheer and subtle, designed for a more minimalist effect—and, of course, they’re a makeup product, so they wash off with makeup remover.
Tanning drops, meanwhile, use dihydroxyacetone, or DHA; this reacts with keratin, a protein in the skin, to release pigment in superficial layers of skin. The result is a temporary tan that can last for days. They also typically don’t include light-reflective ingredients, and therefore don’t necessarily look luminous.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts, from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians, to gain professional insight into the industry’s standout products—those these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate thoughtful edits.
When it comes to bronzing drops, we selected the best based on the following criteria: ingredients, shade, opacity, and ingredients. To do this, we paired our tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which to recommend. Read more about our testing methodology.
Meet The Experts
- Nick Barose is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Jane Fond, Kim Cattrall, and Heather Graham.
- Nikki DeRoest is a Los Angeles–based celebrity makeup artist and men’s groomer and a cofounder of Ciele Cosmetics. Her roster includes Phoebe Dynevor, Zoey Deutch, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Grace Van Patten, Benito Skinner, and more
- Suzy Gerstein is a New York based celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Leighton Meister, Julie Bowen, Tory Burch, Helena Christensen, and more.