Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops vs. E.l.f.’s $12 version: Which is best?

Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, CNN and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Learn more

This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.

Bronzing drops are arguably the easiest way to fake a tan. The fool-proof product doesn’t involve any developing time or guesswork like self-tanners; instead, they add an instant and noticeable bronzed effect with just a few small drops.

Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi drops went viral for their super glowy but not overtly shimmery bronze tint and have been a favorite for a couple years. But now there are lots of bronzing drops on the market, from skin care and makeup brands alike, along with a lot of variation in formulas. Some are more water-y and loose, while others are more concentrated and apply like a gel. Some may pill when layered with other products, and some blend seamlessly.

E.l.f. Cosmetics’ Bronzing Drops are a new launch this year, and they’re the closest match we’ve found to Drunk Elephant’s product (and a fraction of the cost). Just how similar are they, though? Read on as we compare the shade, formula, application, price and more.

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops vs. E.l.f Cosmetics Bronzing Drops at a glance

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops

Looking for an instant tan sans the self-tanner? Drunk Elephant's D-Bronzi drops are your best bet. The glowy, peptide-infused serum enhances the skin, providing a beautiful bronzed look.

E.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops

These bronzing drops come in three flexible shades for a subtle sun-kissed tint. The formula is enhanced with vitamin E and sunflower seed oil to keep skin moisturized.

We recommend mixing them with your moisturizer, tinted moisturizer or foundation for an even application.

They launch on Ulta's website on June 8.

Quick comparison

Easy, effortless and instant glow

The biggest benefit of bronzing drops is that they create an instant tanned effect. You don’t have to wait for the shades to develop like self-tanner (or get stuck with a dreaded orange complexion). As soon as you blend them out, you’ll see a sun-kissed glow. And if you apply too much, you can easily wash your face or remove it with a makeup wipe and start over.

The D-Bronzi drops remain a fan-favorite because the concentrated formula has a gel/serum consistency that’s intended to be mixed in with your moisturizer. E.l.f. went for a nearly identical approach. Both formulas come in a travel-friendly bottle that dispenses the product in small drops.

I give some extra points to E.l.f. for launching with three flexible shades. The Rose Gold is made for light to medium skin tones, Pure Gold for light to tan and Copper Gold for medium to deep. The three shades are actually quite close, and I think different skin tones could get away with wearing any of them, but the difference is in the undertones. Drunk Elephant also offers pink and gold tinted drops, but they are sold as separate products and neither seem to be quite the hit that the original D-Bronzi drops are.

Side by side, the original D-Bronzi shade and E.l.f.’s Copper Gold are the closest shade match. Both have a golden-bronze color with a pearlescent finish. When mixed in with moisturizer or the base of your choice, the colors become sheer and illuminating.

The biggest difference is the price — the E.l.f drops are less than a third of the cost of Drunk Elephant’s. It’s not the first time the drugstore brand has duped a viral beauty product for much cheaper. Both bottles are 1-fluid ounce, so you’re getting the same amount of product, but paying a lot more for Drunk Elephant.

Flexible application

Both formulas are buildable, so you can go as light or intense with the bronzing effect as you want. Whether you go for Drunk Elephant or E.l.f., they can be applied with the same technique: For a sheer glow, mix just a drop or two in with your moisturizer or complexion product. For a deeper bronze tint, mix in more of the bronzing drops.

Although the drops were made to be added to a base product, you can also apply them directly over your foundation like an all-over bronzer. The Drunk Elephant drops tend to set faster when applying them alone like this, so you’ll want to blend them out quickly. The E.l.f. bronzing drops are a bit more forgiving.

I’ve also used both as a highlighter, tapping the bronzing drops onto my cheek bones with my fingers and then blending out with a fluffy makeup brush. This creates a more concentrated glow on top of my blush.

Skin benefits

Drunk Elephant launched its bronzing drops as a makeup and skin care hybrid. Along with the bronzed tint, the serum-like formula provides protection from pollution thanks to the antioxidant enriched formula. Cocoa extract, chronocyclin (an anti-aging chronopeptide that helps the skin optimize vitamin D activity) and a variety of natural plant extracts and oils (black currant seed, marula seed, green tea leaf, grape seed) provide these antioxidants.

E.l.f.’s formula is more pared-back when it comes to skin care ingredients, although the inclusion of sunflower seed oil, vitamin E and marula seed and raspberry seed oils add a conditioning effect.

Bottom line

Save your money and go with E.l.f. While I have tons of respect for trailblazing products and brands — Drunk Elephant truly deserves the credit for popularizing bronzing drops — at the end of the day, I want a product that can perform and save a few bucks. E.l.f.’s bronzing drops do just that. They provide a glowy, tan, illuminated look with minimal effort and a reasonable price tag.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com