One of life’s cruel ironies is that nothing makes you look as radiant and healthy as sun-kissed skin, yet few things are more damaging to your skin than the sun. At best, it results in wrinkles, dryness, and uneven skin tone. At worst, you could develop skin cancers, including the deadly malignant melanoma.
Spray tans and self-tanners can keep you from looking like Casper’s cousin, but unless you go to a professional or know how to apply it correctly, you could wind up more “Oompa Loompa orange” than golden goddess. Plus, a DIY tan can be messy and streaky and may rub off on your clothing or sheets. Powder bronzers offer an easy solution for adding instant color to your face, but what about the rest of your body?
Enter bronzing drops, a customizable liquid alternative that falls somewhere between self-tanners and bronzing powders and can provide instantaneous results or a gradual glow-up. Add them to your face or body moisturizer for a subtle sheen, mix them in your foundation to even out your skin tone, or apply them over your makeup to highlight and contour. Many formulas have good-for-your-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid that offer benefits that last long after the color fades. Think of them like liquid sunshine, giving you all the radiance without the harmful rays.
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops $38
Like all the Drunk Elephant products, the D-Bronzi ™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops are made without using the “suspicious-six” ingredients. They can be combined with other Drunk Elephant serums and moisturizers to create your own “skin smoothie.” Chock full of skin-nourishing oils, vitamins, and antioxidants, it packs a punch against environmental stressors while immediately and effectively increasing skin hydration. The result is a beautiful, bronzed, beachy glow that leaves skin looking and feeling smooth. Plus, the fully recyclable packaging of this and all Drunk Elephant products makes for a cute and colorful medicine cabinet.
Tan-Luxe Super Gloss Illuminating Bronzing Drops $34.30
The gold, or should we say bronze, standard in self-tanning products, Tan-Luxe Super Gloss Illuminating Bronzing Drops, gives you the natural glowing color that the company is known for, but without the waiting game of its self-tanners. Along with that instant gratification, this three-in-one serum gives you the skincare benefits of squalene and hyaluronic acid, the skin tone-enhancing benefits of a light foundation, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. Vegan and cruelty-free, that’s a lot of bang for your bronzing buck.
Versed Mood Lighting Glow Drops $19.99
When you are in the mood for something subtle, apply a drop or two of Versed Mood Lighting Glow Drops in Golden or Bronze, or customize your own “golden bronze” with a drop of each. Less expensive than some other brands but just as effective, it plumps and protects the skin thanks to moisture-retaining peptides and barrier-strengthening antioxidants. Cruelty-free and vegan, it delivers a soft, luminous, lit-from-within glow.
Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer $32
More of a gel consistency than an actual liquid, you apply Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer the same way you apply bronzing drops—one dot at a time. Available in several shades to suit all skin tones, this product blends seamlessly into the skin, under and over your favorite makeup. If you want to amp up the WOW factor, mix it with Milk’s award-winning Bionic Glow and get ready to shine! Skin-enhancing, “superhero” ingredients like hyaluronic acid, mushroom extracts, and vegan collagen keep skin feeling as healthy as it looks.
L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops $14.59
These lightweight drops may not deliver instant gratification, but the glow is worth the wait. Mix them with your nighttime moisturizer and wake up looking like you just returned from vacation. Layer on the buildable color until you achieve your desired results, whether sun-kissed and sexy or bronzed and beautiful. Hyaluronic acid keeps sunny skin soft and supple.
St. Tropez Luxe Tan Tonic Glow Drops $42
A leader in the sunless tanning industry, San Tropez has been bronzing the bodies of some of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers for years. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a star to shine like one. These tonic glow drops, made with natural skincare ingredients, go on effortlessly and provide a natural color that develops over four to eight hours. Ideal for all skin types, it gives you that “just back from vacay” vibe without ever leaving home. Ready for your close-up?
Remember, a little goes a long way when applying your bronzing drops of choice. In other words, the more you use, the more you glow. To avoid looking like an Oscar statue, start with clean, dry skin and one or two drops blended into your other products. Also, make sure you double-check the SPF. While some bronzing drops offer sun protection, others do not, so slather up with your favorite sunscreen or grab a cute sun hat before taking your glow on the go.
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