From illuminating bronzing drops to pigment-packed liquid bronzers, discover the best glow-giving products for a sunkissed finish
It’s hard to beat the feel-good boost that comes with a sun-kissed glow, but if you’re keen to avoid excess sun exposure, you might be looking for something to create a flawless faux bronze in your bathroom.
Enter: bronzing drops and liquid bronzers. These little beauties can help create that golden, lit-from-within look, without the sun damage. They’re basically summer in a bottle, ready to use all year round, and we simply can’t get enough.
What are liquid bronzers & bronzing drops?
Liquid bronzers and bronzing drops are complexion enhancing make-up products, which add a pop of bronze colour to your face and body. As well as including pigments for that all-important colour payoff, formulas can include skin-friendly ingredients, such as hydrating hyaluronic acid, squalene, shea butter or glycerin.
What should I look for in a liquid bronzer or bronzing drops?
Choosing the right shade is an important step for finding your new favourite liquid bronzer or bronzing drops, and this might require a little experimentation.
If possible, try a formula in-person to see how it looks on your skin, or check out a range of photos online to find a model that has a similar skin tone and type to you. A good rule of thumb is to choose a colour that is one or two shades darker than your own skin tone, and has a similar undertone to your skin (cool, neutral or warm).
Consider the finish that you’d like to go for as well. Some formulas will give a high-shine, metallic finish, while others may have a much more subtle sheen. If you’re after a product you can wear every day, you might want to opt for a glitter-free finish, or you might decide to go for a more intense look for a special occasion.
If you have sensitive skin, allergies or particular skin concerns, read the product information to check whether the formula will meet your requirements. For example, you might select formulas that have been dermatologically tested, are suitable for all skin types, or are non-comedogenic (this means it won’t clog pores).
What’s the difference between bronzing drops & tanning drops?
Wondering whether tanning drops or bronzing drops are right for you? Let’s take a look at these two glow-getting options and what they do.
Tanning drops are designed to leave a lasting bronze to your skin, through active ingredient DHA, in the same way as the self-tanner you’d apply to your body. That means the skin-deepening results last for a long time, even after the tanning drops have been washed off.
Bronzing drops give your skin a gorgeous, but shorter-term, glow. They sit on the skin more like make-up than self-tanner, and can be worn alone, mixed with moisturiser or foundation, or used instead of powder bronzers. At the end of the day, bronzing drops and liquid bronzer can be washed away with your usual make-up remover.
How to use liquid bronzers & bronzing drops
Liquid bronzers and bronzing drops can be used in a variety of ways. You can use them to add an all-over golden glow, as a contour to add depth and dimension, or to highlight the areas that the sun would naturally hit, such as the cheekbones, nose and forehead.
Most bronzing drops and liquid bronzers are buildable, so you can start with a small amount, then increase as needed if you want a more intense bronze colour.
So, are you ready to discover our pick of the must-have liquid bronzers to lock in that gorgeous glow? Scroll down and get ready to *add to basket*…
Best for nourished, gold-tinted skin
Try: e.l.f Bronzing Drops
• Size: 30ml
We’re obsessed with these Bronzing Drops from e.l.f. Not only is this a must-have staple in our make-up bags, it also packs in some serious skincare benefits into the innovative formula. It’s a tinted serum which blends beautifully with your favourite moisturiser or oil, and can be used on the face or body.
It’s formulated with antioxidant-rich vitamin E and sunflower seed oil for a nourished, cared-for finish. Plus, choose from three golden-hour inspired shades to give skin a subtle shimmer: copper gold, pure gold or rose gold.
Best hydrating bronzing drops
Try: Indeed Labs Nanobronze™ Bronzing Drops
• Size: 30ml
• Gluten-free
• Talc-free
• Vegan*
Add an instant dose of sunkissed warmth, no matter what time of year it is, with Indeed Labs Nanobronze™ Bronzing Drops. Give dry or dull skin a gloriously illuminated finish with the tinted serum, which can be applied alone for an intense pop of pigment, or mixed with moisturiser for a more subtle, sheer wash of colour.
Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps skin, while natural pea, giant kelp and cacao extracts reduce redness and protect skin from daily stressors. If you prefer your make-up to have minimal scent, this is a great bronzing choice for you, as the formula is fragrance-free.
Best for instant radiance
Try: Revolution Bright Light Bronzing Drops
• Size: 23ml
Looking for a serious glow up? You’ll want to try Revolution Bright Light Bronzing Drops. Available in two sheer shades that are suitable for a wide range of skin tones, it’s a sure-fire route to instantly sunkissed skin. The formula includes a hydrating infusion of squalene, hyaluronic acid and grapeseed oil to help moisturise skin.
You can use these glow-giving beauties in four different ways. Apply the formula alone after your usual skincare routine for a natural-looking bronze finish, or mix a few drops with your favourite foundation for a sun-kissed base. You can also blend with your moisturiser or primer to boost your skin’s hydration levels while adding extra radiance, or apply to targeted areas to contour your cheekbones, nose, jawline and forehead.
No matter how you choose to incorporate it into your make-up routine, you’ll love the softening, soothing effect – so you can get that just-back-from-holiday glow in moments.
Best for blendable, buildable colour
Try: Maybelline Sunkisser Blush
• Size: 5ml
Can’t choose between blusher and bronzer? Get all the benefits of both with Maybelline Sunkisser Blush. The pigment-rich, blendable, buildable formula melts seamlessly into the skin to add a gorgeous flush of cheek colour. It’s effortless to apply – simply dot the liquid formula on to the skin using the doe-foot applicator, then use your fingers, a bronzer brush or a base sponge to blend in.
There are eight shades to choose from, ranging from brighter pinks for a juicy colour pop, to a more classic glowing bronze for a sunkissed finish.
Best for an all-over glow
Try: L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion
• Size: 40ml
After a subtle hit of mood-boosting colour? Meet L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion, your secret to a healthier, brighter complexion all over. The formula is enriched with glycerin and shea butter to provide up to 24 hours of hydration, plus an illuminating tint of colour to enhance skin’s natural glow. Plus, the sensitive skin-friendly formula is available in four shades to flatter all skin tones.
Best budget-friendly bronzing drops
Try: 17. Bronze Drops
• Size: 15ml
Ramp up the radiance without breaking the bank with 17. Bronze Drops. With a weightless-yet-creamy texture, it adds a glorious shimmer to skin in seconds. The three shades, from deep to light, are designed to enhance a range of skin tones and add a beautiful suntanned look. The vegan-friendly* formula is enriched with vitamin E, and it’s suitable for all ages.
Best serum with bronzing benefits
Try: Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum
• Size: 30ml
Easy to use? Yep. Nourishing formula? You bet. Added skincare benefits? You guessed it – that’s another box checked. If you want a dewy, sunkissed complexion, you can’t go wrong with this lightweight bronzing serum. It’s packed with active ingredients, including niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture, squalene to deeply hydrate, and jojoba oil to soothe and reduce redness.
Pop it on as a primer before your make-up routine, mix it in with moisturiser for a bronze-boosting base, or apply all over the body for instant illumination.
Best for an iconic bronzed glow
Try: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Drops
• Size: 30ml
No bronzer drop round-up would be complete without these beauties from Drunk Elephant. Beloved by internet beauty gurus and professionals alike, this formula has gone viral on social media for so many reasons. Not only do Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Drops add a gorgeous glow to skin, the formula is packed with skin-loving goodies too. Omega-rich virgin marula, black currant seed oils and vitamin F (fatty acids) work to replenish and support the skin barrier.
If you want to shield skin from pollution and environmental stressors, Drunk Elephant have you covered, too. They’ve included a blend of antioxidants which help to boost skin’s defences, so you can go about your day knowing that your skin looks incredible and it's protected, too. Now that’s what we call a skin saviour.
Best for sensitive or blemish-prone skin
Try: First Aid Beauty Bronze + Glow Drops with Niacinamide
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan*
Searching for bronzing drops that won’t cause a breakout? This skin-loving formula from First Aid Beauty is sure to hit the mark. It’s formulated with 5% niacinamide and designed to be non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.
You’ll love the lightweight texture, which blends seamlessly, layers effortlessly and feels invisible on the skin. It’s dermatologically tested, silicone-free and suitable for sensitive skin, too. Glow-giving drops with added skincare benefits? Sign us up, immediately!
Best versatile bronzing drops
Try: Milk Makeup Bionic Sunkissed Liquid Bronzer
• Size: 17ml
• Vegan*
• Fragrance & gluten free
Make all your bronzing dreams come true with Milk Makeup Bionic Sunkissed Liquid Bronzer. The weightless liquid formula is seriously versatile, and can be amped up for a more intense, bronzed look, or applied sparingly for a sheer, soft sunkissed effect.
The brand is beloved for their easy-to-use products, and this one is no exception, giving an effortless, streak-free and shimmer-free finish. It’s kind to skin, too, with hydrating hyaluronic acid, reishi mushroom and snow mushroom extracts, along with plant-derived vegan collagen that helps to improve the look of skin texture. The results? Plumper, smoother-looking skin with a lovely, warmed-by-the-sun look.
