Despite what we all know about the damaging impact of the sun’s rays on skin health, there’s just something about the bronzed glow a touch of sun imparts.
The good news is, these days it’s easy to get the look without spending time unprotected in the sun and risking skin cancer and premature aging.
It’s easy enough to apply a sweep of cream or powder bronzer to your cheeks and temples, but sometimes that isn’t quite enough, or you want a more all-over glow for your face and décolletage.
If you’re put off by the smell of fake tanning products, or the risk of lasting mistakes from patchy application of gradual tan, there’s another good option available in the form of bronzing drops.
What are bronzing drops?
Bronzing drops are liquid bronzer designed to be applied all over your face, neck and chest to mimic the look of a sunny natural tan.
Available in either slightly shimmering or simple tinted pigments, they offer a highly concentrated liquid formula that blended into skin creates a believable, temporary bronzed colour. Unlike self tan or fake tanning products that contain active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that leaves lasting colour, bronzing drops wash away cleanly at the end of the night.
It means you can go for a tanned look for a few hours only, or use bronzing drops each day as part of your makeup routine over summer for a slightly deeper tone. They’re versatile and allow you to customise the level of tan or glow you want.
What’s more, many products also contain skin-boosting ingredients that provide care and hydration for skin so they offer more than simply colour.
So popular is the approach, one of the most popular products to use, Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops is a consistent sell out. With a viral following on social media, many rave about the products’ ease of use and nourishing ingredients, including omega-rich virgin marula and blackcurrant seed oils that help with the dewy look and include antioxidants to protect skin.
There are also plenty of more accessibly priced options that provide similar results.
How do you use bronzing drops?
Using bronzing drops is quite simple. Although it’s worth checking the advice on the product you’re using, there are a few common approaches.
They can be used without or without makeup, under your foundation or even mixed into your foundation for extra glow.
- Add a few drops (start with one or two and adjust as needed) to your moisturiser, foundation, or serum on the back of your hand or a palette.
- Blend the mixture together thoroughly.
- Apply the mixture evenly to your face or body. You can use your fingers, a makeup sponge, or a dense-bristled makeup brush for application.
- Layering: For a deeper tan, you can gradually layer the product, adding more drops to achieve your desired level of bronze.
Remember to start with a small amount and build up the intensity gradually to avoid applying too much product at once.
You can also use the bronzing drops as you would a regular bronzer, by applying to the high planes of your face only, where the sun naturally hits, and blending well.
The best bronzing drops to try
L-R: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops; Bondi Sands Be Bronze Bronzing & Hydrating Serum; Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee; MCoBeauty Super Glow Bronzing Drops; By Terry Tea To Tan Face And Body
