You know what goes great with an ice-cold Aperol Spritz and balmy summer weather? Gleaming, sun-kissed skin. There’s an undeniable mood boost that comes with catching your reflection in the living-room mirror and seeing bronzed shoulders. The thing is, no matter how much we love that golden glow in the summer, we’ve come a long way in understanding just how dangerous the sun’s rays (and tanning beds) are for our skin. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to find some of the best alternatives for a flawless faux glow. Enter: self tanning drops.
Nowadays there are lots of believable self tanner options on the beauty market — made even more satisfying by the fact that the tanned glow can be achieved in the dead of winter and without any risk of skin damage. After years of testing lotions, mousses, and invisible tanning waters, we’d argue that some of the best formulas — with zero downsides in application — are self-tan drops. You don’t need a mitt or new skin-care routine to use them: Just mix these bronzing drops into your daily moisturizer, smooth the concoction onto your face or body, and check back in a few hours for a noticeable glow. Scroll through for our favorite foolproof self tanning drops, ahead.
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If you’re looking for a less permanent pretty hint of color, these bronzing drops from Drunk Elephant will do the trick. You can mix this tinted serum into your morning moisturizer or foundation for a natural bronzed glow that easily washes away when you cleanse your face in the evening.
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Bronzing Drops with Peptides, $, available at Sephora
Formulated with niacinamide and vitamin E to soothe and protect skin, these glow drops from St. Tropez are suitable for the face and body. Top up the level of bronze as you wish to deepen your glow and the summery tan will develop over four to eight hours.
St. Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops, $, available at Sephora
Customize your level of sunless glow with these nourishing self tanning drops from Korean beauty brand, JOAH. With two shades to pick from, you can start by choosing a serum that matches your skin tone. Then add the drops to your go-to moisturizer or body lotion and watch your sunkissed faux glow gradually develop and deepen over time.
JOAH Golden Daze Sunless Tanning Drops, $, available at Joah
One of the most-hyped self tanners on the market, Isle of Paradise’s Self Tanning Natural Glow Face Drops come in three shades — light, medium, or dark — so you can customize your glow from barely bronzed to “I just got back from vacation” (even if you can’t remember the last time you stepped on a jet bridge).
Isle Of Paradise Self Tanning Natural Glow Face Drops, $, available at Sephora
Maya Chia’s buildable self tanner will not only subtly grow a golden glow, but also nourish your skin at the same time. Packed with antioxidants, this tinted serum will work to hydrate your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles when you mix it in with your daily moisturizer.
Maya Chia Tinted Antioxidant Hydration + Gradual Sunless Tanner, $, available at Credo Beauty
Derived from herbal tea and formulated without any synthetic additives, these CLEANTAN drops live up to the label, leaving your skin a few shades darker without any chemical smell or streaking.
CLEANTAN Black Tea Tanning Drops, $, available at The Lab & Co.
The more drops you use, the deeper your tan will be — so go slow and remember to scrub your hands after you mix the liquid into your moisturizer or serum.
Tan-Luxe THE FACE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, $, available at Sephora
Indie and Black-owned beauty brand Foxie Cosmetics makes vegan skin and body-care products using only sustainable and fair-trade ingredients. A must-try? The bronze glow drops that nourish skin with rose hip and walnut oils, while leaving behind the faintest golden shimmer (not glitter) for an instant gleam.
Foxie Cosmetics Goldtone, $, available at Foxie Cosmetics
Fans love Tanologist drops for the price and packaging — a 30 mL bottle is just $222 and will last you well through the year. Another win: The formula has a refreshing eucalyptus scent, which helps cut the telltale self-tanner smell.
Tanologist Drops, $, available at Revolve
James Read’s water-based serum is formulated with a blend of aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to give dry skin a boost of moisture and prevent the tanner from clumping, streaking, or seeping into dry patches.
James Read Tan H2O Tan Drops Face, $, available at Revolve
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