The 14 Best Self-Tanning Drops of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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You don’t need Ibiza to get a beach bronze
People / Alli Waataja
We all know the importance of layering up your skin with SPF, but you can’t deny how good a bronzy summer glow can look and feel. But thanks to easy-to-use self-tanning products like tanning drops, it’s now easier than ever to get sun-kissed skin without stepping foot outdoors.
It’s easy to fall into the expensive trap of spray tans (or the harmful effects of tanning beds) when trying to achieve that Kardashian-level faux glow, which is why we wanted to try out self-tanning drops for ourselves. We trialed these products in a myriad of ways — with testers using some at home for two weeks, editors sharing their go-to glow-inducing drops, and professional makeup and tanning artists sharing their tried-and-true favorites after years of using them on celebrities.
What’s nice about self-tanning drops over other kinds of tanning products is the ability to add them to a pump of your favorite moisturizer or serum, so you know it not only will work with your skin but will also leave you with a deeper, more glowy hue over time.
“Making sure you find the perfect self-tanner that matches your skin tone and undertones is crucial in making sure your tan appears natural,” explains celebrity makeup artist Ariel Tejada, who glams the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Rosalía, to name a few.
Oftentimes many self-tanning drops will react to the pH of your skin, crafting a shade that compliments your natural tone chemically. However, some other formulas will change the depth of your tan depending on the amount of drops you add to your moisturizer, which acts as a diluting agent and a customizable formula all in one. Added too many drops? Simply add more lotion — or a few more drops if you’re looking for a deeper bronze.
After trying these darkening drops out on our own and talking to celebrity makeup artists and tanning experts, these are the 14 best self-tanning drops that we tested for a seasonless glow.
Best Overall: St. Tropez Luxe Tan Tonic Glow Drops
Pros
This self-tanner can be used on both your face and body, which is surprisingly uncommon for tanning drops.
It’s trusted and recommended by celebrity makeup artists who are known for their clients’ bronzy looks.
The formula is long-lasting, giving us a glow for days and requiring minimal repeat applications for maintenance.
Cons
It has an arguably high price for the amount of product you’re getting (just a little over one fluid ounce).
St. Tropez is well known for its tanning mousse, but the Tan Tonic Glow Drops stole the show when it came to our experts and editors. “When I want to add the appearance of [a] natural looking sun tan to my legs or arms I add a few drops of the St. Tropez tanning drops to my favorite body oil or lotion,” shares celebrity makeup artist Kindra Mann, who’s worked with stars such as Renée Zellweger and Glen Powell. PEOPLE’s director of commerce, Lindsey Metrus, also fell in love with the glowy results she achieved with this product: “After trying these drops on my face, I was somehow still tan days later, even after showering and washing my face multiple times. I love them,” she says, praising the product’s longevity.
What separates these drops from the crowd is the inclusion of niacinamide and dual molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which pull their weight to even the skin tone, smooth over fine lines, and give the skin a more youthful glow. This formula is also pumped with vitamin E and echinacea, two supplements that soothe the skin and provide topical care. It’s recommended that you add self-tanning drops to your daily moisturizer, but these drops are customizable enough that you can use a drop or two alone on the skin (and add more to deepen the shade — just add moisturizer to dilute the tone).
Most self-tanning products require you to wash off the product after a certain amount of hours, but there’s no need for that with the Tan Tonic Glow Drops. Your tan will develop on its own over four to eight hours and can be used as is — no fuss, all glow. While we do wish the bottle was a little bigger for the price, this is a product we wouldn’t mind repeatedly buying (especially during the pale winter months).
As a product that personalizes your bronze, nourishes your skin as your tan develops, and works for the face and body, we can see why so many pros choose these drops as their favorite.
Size: 1.01 ounces | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin E, echinacea, dual molecular weight hyaluronic acid | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 1-6 drops
Best We Tested: Bondi Sands Pure Self Tanning Drops
Pros
The serum is fragrance-free, which is a plus for those with sensitive skin.
Its vitamin-enriched formula makes this product not only a conduit for a bronzed complexion but also a total skincare step.
Its skin-friendly ingredients play nicely with most skin types.
Cons
Those in the market for an express tan won’t like having to let this product sit for six hours.
If you’re a skincare fanatic and want a tanning product that can do it all, then you’ll want to shift your attention towards the Bondi Sands Pure Self-Tanning Drops. This colorless and fragrance-free formula is designed to play nicely with several skin types and blend seamlessly with your moisturizer, which we found when we tested them in the real world.
Implementing this step into our routine was easy, requiring between four and 12 drops to evenly tan our skin (though we found that six drops were perfect). Not only did this product leave us with a glowing tan, but it gave us an extra dose of hydration. The serum is fortified with hyaluronic acid for suppleness, vitamin C for brightening, and vitamin E for soothing — a mixture when combined with the bottled bronze that develops as the hours progress is game-changing.
We recommend doing your typical skincare routine before adding these tanning drops into the mix, as it’s advised to not add any other products on top of the serum until six hours have passed. After this, you can wash your face and body as usual. However, don’t forget to wash your hands right after applying the serum to your face, because nothing is less fun than accidentally-tanned hands.
Size: 1.35 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 4-12 drops
Best Budget: L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self Tan Drops
Pros
These are some of the best-priced self-tanning drops that we’ve been able to find (that don’t leave you blotchy or streaky).
The formula creates a custom color based on your pH levels and the amount of drops that you add to your skincare.
It’s easy to find at your local drugstore or order online.
Cons
You can’t use this product with serums or moisturizers that contain AHAs or retinol.
Real tans can be harmful and fake ones are usually pricey, so budget-friendly products like the L’Oreál Sublime Self-Tanning Drops are the perfect solution. This formula is not only customizable to your unique skin tone but also hydrates and plumps your skin thanks to its hero ingredient of hyaluronic acid. It’s also compatible with your go-to moisturizer or serum (so long as they don’t contain AHAs or retinol), which means that you can boost your hydration levels while getting your glow on.
You can reach a customizable shade of tan by adjusting the amount of drops that you add to your moisturizer. The product’s instructions recommend five to seven drops for a slightly bronzed look, while eight to 10 are sufficient for a deeper glow — just be sure to apply them before bed so you can wake up to a beautiful bronze in the morning. No matter what look you’re trying to achieve, you’ll get a glow that suits your skin with this tailor-made self-tanner.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredient: Hyaluronic acid | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 5-10 drops
Best Drugstore: Sol by Jergens Deeper By The Drop Face and Body Serum
Pros
You can pick up these drops at your local drugstore.
It has a lower price point, which is great for beginners and cost-conscious shoppers.
The gentle formula is safe for both your face and body.
Cons
It requires a lot of product to attain a deeper shade (11-15 for the darkest bronze), so you may go through this bottle more quickly than others.
We wish that it came in more shades for deeper skin tones.
Nobody knows faux bronze better than a makeup artist to the stars. So when asked which self-tanning drops Tejada recommends, the MUA revealed that the SOL by Jergens Deeper By The Drop is a favorite. “[The drops] work with your skin to create a tan that is custom and perfectly suited to your unique skin tone so it always looks natural,” Tejada explains. Our testers loved this product at home, too, noticing a subtle, transfer-resistant tan after a couple of hours that gave them a realistic bronze. Plus, this serum is formulated for both the face and the body, so you can safely mix a few drops in with your moisturizer without worry of breakouts.
We’d love to wake up with naturally contoured cheekbones, and Tejada has figured out how to do just that by applying the drops like makeup. “I love to tan-tour with Deeper By The Drop — I mix a few drops of the tanning serum in my moisturizer, and I apply on the places that I want to have contoured (i.e., nose, cheeks, jaw, etc.),” the MUA explains.
While we do wish that this product came in deeper shades for those with darker skin tones, we like that its depth of color can be customized with more or fewer drops. Kardashian glam team-approved tanning drops at a drugstore price? Sign us up.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Coconut water, winter cherry extract, acai palm fruit extract | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 3-15 drops
Best Wash-Away: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
Pros
This temporary bronzing product provides an instant tan with no waiting period necessary.
You can wash it off at the end of the day, which is great for the non-committal tanner.
Its formula is a hydrating and plumping addition to any moisturizer, liquid foundation, or sunscreen you choose to add it to.
Cons
Someone who is looking for a gradual, developing tan that lasts multiple days won’t find that in this little bottle.
You may know Drunk Elephant for their viral skincare products, but did you know that they also make temporary tanning drops? The D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops are designed to be applied for an instantaneous glow and be washed away after you are done for the day. This cocoa extract-heavy concoction is made to craft a shade that is unique to your skin with a pH-reactive formula that also nurtures the skin barrier while protecting you from environmental pollutants. With its skin-loving blend of platinum peptides for plumping, chronocyclin for nourishment, and the aforementioned cocoa extract, these drops are engineered to not only instantaneously bronze but improve the smoothness of your skin as well.
To use, all you need to do is shake the bottle well and add a few drops to your face cream, oil, or serum. These dark, gold-tinted drops will melt into the skin to create a buttery glow that serves as a great base for your makeup when you need that extra touch of (faux) sun. If you’ve found yourself indoors more than you’d like to or simply wish you could achieve that European summer glow, then these wash-away drops could be the perfect contender for you.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Cocoa extract, platinum peptides, chronocyclin | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 1 drop/pump
Best Natural Tan: Sephora Collection Gradual Tanning Drops Face and Body
Pros
These drops are fragrance-free, which is great for those with sensitive skin.
Its overnight results deliver a subtle and natural-looking tan (no orange cast over here).
The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, a plus for a large demographic of shoppers.
Cons
This doesn’t deliver the deepest of bronzes, so someone looking for a significant tan won’t be impressed by the lightly sunkissed look they’ll get after using this product.
If you’re a self-tan newbie, you may want to start with something a little more mellow to get adjusted to your glow, which is why we like these drops from the Sephora Collection. This product, which can be used on both your face and body, develops a natural-looking tan overnight with its DHA-infused formula (a natural ingredient that temporarily tints the skin).
Depending on how deep you want your tan to be, you can add anywhere from two to eight drops to your moisturizer to achieve a bronzed, glowing complexion. Its hyaluronic acid base claims to hydrate the skin while DHA works to temporarily deepen your skin tone, leaving you with a plant-based bronze that’s way better for you than the sun. Just be sure to wash your hands after rubbing in this lotion, as this formula can leave a dark stain on your palms.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-8 drops
Best Investment: Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops
Pros
It’s easy to achieve a customized tan with fewer drops.
The lightweight formula is free from several irritants and fragrances.
Its vitamin-enriched ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, make this a hydrating and plumping add-on to your skincare.
Cons
It’s a pretty small bottle for the price you’re paying.
A common worry with self-tanning drops is that your skin will look streaky once the pigment develops, but we’re happy to report that that wasn’t the case when we tried the Lux Unfiltered Bronzing Drops. Free from parabens, sulfates, fragrance, and a slew of other unsavory ingredients, this formula works well with many skin types and blends seamlessly with your moisturizer to give your everyday skincare an extra touch of glowiness.
It only took us about 15 minutes to see the tan start to develop on our skin, but you can leave it on for longer or add more drops to your moisturizer to get a deeper bronze. Plus, we liked having this product as a step in our skincare routine outside of its tanning agents due to its skin-loving formula, which includes vitamin E, hyaluronic acid serum, coconut water, and more.
And what’s better is that you don’t need 10-plus drops to achieve a deeper shade, as you can get the most out of your bronze with just six (and even less if you want a medium or light tan). So even though this product is on the pricier side, you don’t need much to get the most out of this small bottle — stretching your money and your tan.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Pomegranate extract, coconut water, passionfruit oil, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-6 drops
People / Sarah Felbin
Best for All Skin Types: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Pros
The formula is non-comedogenic, which is ideal for any skin type (but especially those with acne-prone skin).
Full of soothing and regenerative natural ingredients, this product is akin to a luxe skincare step.
We never experienced streakiness or blotchy pigmentation after the tan developed.
Cons
Both the face and body drops are pretty expensive — and sold separately.
What’s better than a non-comedogenic product that sinks seamlessly into the skin and delivers a year-round tan? The Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops are specifically formulated for use on the face, meaning that this serum is not only guaranteed to develop a rich tan but also hydrate and even the skin. These drops are packed with nourishing and regenerative properties thanks to the inclusion of antioxidant-rich raspberry seed oil and vitamin E with the soothing addition of aloe vera.
You can craft a customizable tan (based on how many drops you add to your face oil or moisturizer) that also doubles as a skincare product thanks to the hydrating nutrients infused into this serum. Fear not for your skin type — no streaks or settling present here thanks to its ability to work seamlessly with normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin.
Along with “The Face” are drops made for “The Body,” a serum just as hydrating but differentiated by the addition of Tan-Luxe’s Cellutone Complex. This serum aims to tighten the look of your skin and miraculously minimize the appearance of cellulite. Between The Face and The Body drops, Tan-Luxe has an unbeatable quality that’s worth the splurge.
Size: 1.01 ounces | Key Ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, aloe vera, vitamin E | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-12 drops
Best for Sensitive Skin: St. Moriz Advanced Pro Formula Tan Boosting Facial Serum
Pros
Its formula is safe for gentle skin thanks to the absence of fragrance and pore-cloggers.
The pigment won’t transfer onto clothes or bed sheets, which makes it virtually mess-free.
Its easy-to-use and colorless formula is a less intimidating product for beginners to start with.
Cons
Though these drops work on all skin tones, people with deeper complexions may want more color options than just this one.
For those with sensitive skin, it can be extremely worrisome to try out a new skin product. However, there’s no need to fret about this when it comes to the St. Moriz Advanced Pro Formula Tan Boosting Facial Serum, a tanning drop bottle recommended by Tarryn Feldman, celebrity makeup artist to Reese Witherspoon and Kelsea Ballerini. “The formula is very gentle, so it’s a great pick if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin,” Feldman says. Fragrance-free and non-abrasive, these drops are absent of common skincare irritants like unnecessary fragrances and pore-clogging ingredients. “It’s super easy to use [and] so great for beginners as well. It also doesn’t transfer so I don’t have to worry about it getting everywhere,” she adds.
This non-transferable serum is the perfect place to start for those who are just starting to get into the self-tanning scene thanks to its streak-free formula. The physical drops are also tintless, so they won’t get onto your sheets or pillow if you like to apply them before going to bed. Not only is this a surefire way to gain a glow with breakout-prone skin, but it’s ideal for someone who’s just dipping their toes into the waters of self-tanning.
Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Citric acid, aloe vera leaf extract, glycerin | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 3-6 drops
Best Tone-Evening: Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops
Pros
Those who have fair or cool skin tones can achieve a faux glow without looking orange.
Its colorless formula doesn’t transfer or stain even the whitest of bed sheets.
The drops dry down with your moisturizer, feeling refreshing rather than greasy.
Cons
We really can’t pick out something we don’t like about these drops.
The ever-famous Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Glow Drops took TikTok by storm for a reason — their versatile tone-evening formula is why these drops have become a staple in tanners’ arsenals. The glorious (and non-orange) glow that this product provides is known to even your skin tone and prevent blotchiness while still delivering that golden look we all strive for. Plus, you can also nab these drops in several shades and a formula that’s specifically made for your body.
“I'm fair and self-tanners can look harsh on me,” shares Dwyer Frame, PEOPLE's senior vice president of commerce. “The fair version here works well for me and I use about two to four drops per body part. The color lasts a long time, even after swimming in the pool or ocean!”
Frame raves about how effortless it is to use these drops, especially if you’re a beginner. “The application couldn't be easier with this product. I put a few drops in my moisturizer and I am left with a streak-free, sun-kissed glow,” she says. Getting a natural-looking glow has officially never been smoother!
Size: 1.01 ounces | Key Ingredients: Glycerin, avocado oil, chia seeds | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-12 drops
Best for Dry Skin: James Read H2O Tan Drops Body
Pros
This hydrating formula is great for those who experience dry skin.
Its ingredient list is free from parabens and sulfates, which is ideal for sensitive skin.
You need very few drops of this serum to get a golden glow.
Cons
This small bottle isn’t made for your body (and you’d probably waste all of it trying to fully tan).
It can be hard to find a self-tanner that works well on dry skin, as many products will settle into dry patches and accentuate those areas rather than smooth them over. The James Read H2O Tan Drops are a must-have for anyone who has a dry complexion, as this product’s hydrating properties are amplified when melded with your favorite moisturizer. Its hero ingredients include soothing aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, castor oil, and water so each drop can feel like a drink of water for your skin. Better yet, its paraben- and sulfate-free formula makes this more a gentle product than others, which is ideal for those with sensitive skin.
While some self-tanners require multiple drops to achieve a deeper shade, a little goes a long way with our pick from James Read. All you need is one to four drops based on the amount of lotion you have in your hand, which will help you achieve a customizable tan for your skin tone — ideal not only for those of us with dry skin, but blemish-prone, mature, and combination skin, as well.
Size: 1.01 ounces | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, castor oil, water | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 1-4 drops
Best Regenerative: Tanologist Face + Body Drops
Pros
This product is rather affordable in comparison to some of the others on this list.
Its versatile formula can be used on both the face and body.
With ingredients such as vitamin C and aloe vera, this product is not only nourishing but stimulates the production of collagen, as well.
Cons
You’ll have to wait several hours to see the golden glow of this product.
When you break down the formula of Tanologist’s Face and Body Drops you’ll find a rich abundance of antioxidants, which are beneficial for your skin in terms of repair and regeneration. Key ingredients like aloe vera, pink grapefruit, goji berry, and juniper come together to create a blend that is both soothing and protective for the skin barrier while also generating new cells thanks to collagen-stimulating vitamin C. Not to mention, it imparts a realistic, non-muddy color.
"In the warmer months when my body is a bit darker from sunless tanner, I like to mix a few drops of this self-tanning liquid with my moisturizer,” Metrus shares. “It gives off the most natural, non-orangey bit of warmth that makes it look like I was just on a Caribbean island.” Not only this, but it has some staying power as well — lingering for a couple of days after just one application.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, pink grapefruit, goji berry, juniper | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 1-12 drops
Best Soothing: Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face
Pros
This product is non-transferable, so you don’t have to worry about staining your fabric.
Infused aloe vera works to soothe irritated skin while gradually bronzing.
The customizable formula reacts to the pH of your skin to deliver a shade unique to you.
Cons
You have to reapply this product several times a week to maintain your glow.
Let’s face it: our skin is often not (if ever) perfect. We have days with breakouts, sunburns, dryness, and more — and Clarins understands this. The Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster touts aloe vera extract as one of its main ingredients, which works to calm and hydrate irritated skin. It’s supplemented with Clarins’ self-tan complex, which is composed of two natural plant sugars (DHA and erythrulose), which create the golden glow that develops on your skin. Tejada recommends finding a tanner that matches your undertones, and fortunately, these oils react to the pH of your skin to customize a tan that’s just right for your coloring.
While you don’t need much of the product (just two or three drops) to achieve a healthy-looking tan, you do need to reapply the tanner about three or four times per week to maintain the color. However, we don’t mind adding a few tanning drops to our moisturizer a few times a week to keep up our glow. And with this product’s skin-loving properties, it’s hard to go wrong with this pick from Clarins.
Size: 0.5 ounces | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera extract, DHA, erythrulose | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-3 drops
Best Serum: Typology Self-Tanning Serum
Pros
Its nourishing formula puts skin health at the forefront, acting as a supplement for your normal skincare routine.
The ingredients are completely vegan, which is a benefit for many shoppers.
It dries down into a fragrance-free product, sparing you the chemical scent that most tanning products have.
Cons
This product tends to sell out pretty quickly, so it might be hard to come by.
People who seek out vegan ingredients in their cosmetics will like the look of the Typology L31 Self-Tanning Serum, especially its formula full of natural tanning agents, such as DHA, carob pulp, and buriti oil. These naturally-derived ingredients work together to activate your skin’s natural tanning process, known as melanogenesis, to leave you with a lasting tan without a stitch of harmful UV rays.
We liked that this serum was able to bronze us quickly — this rinse-free color can show up after only six hours, but we opted for an overnight tan, which allowed us to wake up with a glow that lasted us quite some time. In fact, we used this serum twice in one week and felt as if we looked too tan.
Though you can use these drops by themselves, we added them to a pump of our moisturizer to get an even spread. Our complexions came out looking even, non-streaky, and glowier than usual — plus, there was no trace of a fragrance once the moisturizer fully absorbed into our skin. Our tester even vowed to keep buying this once their bottle ran out.
Size: 1 ounce | Key Ingredients: DHA 10%, carob pulp extract, erythrulose, buriti oil | Customizable: Yes | Drops Needed: 2-6 drops
People / Paden Reich
Things to Consider When Buying Self-Tanning Drops
Spending a day in the sun without proper protection is all fun and games until skin damage comes into play, which is why getting your bronze out of the bottle is a safer bet (and allows you to be tan all year long). Picking the drops that are right for you can be a tough feat, but we have a few criteria to keep in mind that will help solidify your search.
Undertone
Being able to identify the undertone of your skin is a tough job, but an important step in narrowing down the shade of drops that is right for you. Many tanners have color correctors in their products as well, which is useful to know once you have an idea of your skin tone.
“When you use a self-tan with a color corrector, purple will cancel out orange tones, green will cancel out red tones but it will also cancel out orange and yellow hues as well,” celebrity tanning artist Sophie Evans explains. “As soon as the tan fully develops and your first shower has taken place, you are left with a color that has been derived from your own pigmentation and body chemistry, with the idea that any color correctors will block any fake, orange-looking hues.”
Ingredients
As with any beauty product, the ingredients that make up the gorgeous glow you are adding to your skin will want to be taken into consideration before you make that purchase. Many brands have chosen to move toward “cleaner” beauty, which usually involves the usage of natural oils and sources of pigmentation.
Oftentimes many natural (and temporary) dyes like cocoa extract and soothing agents like aloe vera are used to create a plant-derived tanning experience — two ingredients you’ll find in several of these drops. As a product that’s made to sink into the skin, you’ll want to make sure that you know what you’re absorbing.
Compatibility
The best way to self-tan with drops is by mixing a few in with a face moisturizer, serum, or oil. However, you’ll want to make sure that the drops you are using are not only compatible with the products that you already use but that they work for your skin type.
But be warned — tanning drops will not prevent sunburn, so if you choose to wear them before going out for the day, make sure you add them to your SPF for a bit of color (while blocking your skin from the actual sun). To avoid breakouts or dryness, be sure to look into the type of skin that each drops work best with to find your perfect fit.
Your tan should both feel and look good, so paying attention to the compatibility between your self-tanners and the skincare you already own is key.
How We Tested
We set out to find the best self-tanning drops on the market by consulting professionals, trying several different products out in our PEOPLE Tested lab, and purchasing a few of our own. Several products, including the St. Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops, SOL by Jergens Face and Body Serum, and St. Moriz Tan Boosting Facial Serum were suggested by celebrity makeup artists and tanning experts who have used these products on both themselves and clients. Several others were tried in our own homes for a lab test period of two weeks, whereas others that were purchased by ourselves were put to the test for several months.
Application: To prep, we cleansed and exfoliated our skin, including our bodies if the product could be used outside of our faces. We followed each product’s instructions and only used them as directed — diluting them with moisturizer, applying them at night or in the morning to let the products develop, and reapplying them as frequently as needed (some products required daily application, while others were only necessary twice a week).
Tan Development: We washed our hands after every application to prevent excess staining and waited for our tans to develop, recording how long it took to see results versus what the manufacturer claimed. Because tanning drops develop gradually and do not need to be washed off like a regular self-tanner (unlike the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops, which come off with makeup remover), we were able to go about our days without waiting around eight hours to shower, unlike mousses and airbrush tans.
Overall Value: From there, we rated the products we tested based on ease of application, transfer resistance, tan longevity, and consistency, rating each from one to five (one being the lowest performance and five being the highest). We averaged the scores and compared them to one another to decide which drops were really worth investing in and which were better left on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use self-tanning drops?
There’s no right or wrong way to use self-tanning drops, but there are some ways that are recommended by beauty experts. Most products tell you to add a few drops of the potion to your daily moisturizer, but that’s not the only way to get a glow.
“I like to add tanning drops to my face oil at night. It works great and I wake up looking like I just got back from the beach,” shares Feldman, who’s crafted bronzed looks for many celebrities in her time as a makeup artist. However, Evans advises you to take caution when it comes to certain types of moisturizers that you use in tandem with your drops. “If you choose to mix with a moisturizer, try to avoid moisturizers that are true oils as they can interfere with self-tan development,” Evans explains.
If you prefer a more direct approach, you can take another page out of Evans’ book and apply it directly to your skin for a robust tan. “I apply any eye serums/creams then I add a few drops directly onto a clean makeup brush and smooth over my face ensuring every area is covered. I even fade out at my earlobes and always apply under and over the eye area,” she shares.
How do self-tanning drops work?
Self-tanning drops work like any other self-tanner, but the special part about this type of product is the customizable aspects of it. Most of these drops are made to develop over a few hours, but some are more immediate and wash away after a day of wear, like the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops.
“How you get an area lighter or darker is all to do with how many drops you use to cover, [as] the self-tan is in a concentrated form,” Evans explains. Depending on what the instructions detailed on your drops’ bottle indicate, you should dispense as little or as much (as the packaging recommends) into your moisturizer or serum. Then, you simply blend it into your skin like your normal moisturizer or buff it out with a brush like Evans.
How long do self-tanning drops last?
Depending on the product, your tan should last between one and three days without needing reapplication. However, some are more long-wearing, like the Tanologist Face and Body Drops, as opposed to the Drunk Elephant wash-away drops, which are removed after a singular wash. Most drops are made to last for a day or two at least, though washing your face, removing your makeup, and sweating will all play a part in how long and how well your tan remains on the skin.
As always, be sure to do a patch test before trying the product all over your body. “The only way to really tell how good a self-tan will be is to do a patch test; a good self-tan will look good on the skin from initial application,” Evans says. “I would always avoid a self-tan if it feels sticky. It should be formulated with premium ingredients that absorb effortlessly into the skin without causing any transfer.”
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Alyssa Brascia is a commerce staff writer for PEOPLE specializing in fashion and beauty. She has also written shopping stories for other Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, and Southern Living. For this piece, she interviewed celebrity makeup and tanning artists to get their insights and advice on the best self-tanning drops on the market (and the ones they use on their famous clients). She also pulled from the insights collected by the PEOPLE Tested lab, where real people tested self-tanning drops and came back with their real, unfiltered thoughts about each.
Meet Our Experts
Ariel Tejada is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist who boasts a client list that includes Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Rosalía.
Kindra Mann is a celebrity makeup artist based between New York City and Los Angeles. Mann is called on by movie stars such as Renée Zellweger and Glen Powell, to name a few.
Tarryn Feldman is both a celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist with clients in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City. Her decorated roster includes Reese Witherspoon, The Bachelorette alum Hannah Brown, and Chrissy Metz.
Sophie Evans is a New York City-based celebrity tanning artist for model Ashley Graham and the original ambassador for self-tanning products brand St. Tropez.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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