I Tested 20 Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops Dupes—and These 9 Are *So* Good

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As much as I love a viral TikTok beauty trend, I absolutely don't love how these viral trends make my favorite products sell out. Call me a gatekeeper! See if I care! Sry, but it's annoying AF to run out of my favorite setting spray or concealer and not be able to get my hands on a new one because the Internet became obsessed with it and snatched up every last one. Case in point: My beloved Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops, which are barely ever in stock thanks to the latte makeup trend. So in effort to find an available alternative, I went on the Great Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops Dupes Search of 2023—and I found some gems, y'all.

I love the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, but after incorporating these dupes in my makeup routine, I actually prefer some of them over the original for different circumstances and occasions, like mixing with my foundation or moisturizer, mattifying my oily skin, or matching my skin tone. But don't get it twisted: I tested dozens of bronzing drops dupes, and only these nine passed my very-rigid tests. Peep just some of my faves below:

Keep scrolling for the best Drunk Elephant bronzing drops dupes of 2023, according to my testing (ahem, I am a beauty editor after all). And if you need some extra help deciding which one will be right for you, read on for a breakdown on choosing the best dupe for you.

D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops

Ah, the lil bb that started it all. But what exactly are these drops, you ask? Well, they're basically a hybrid skincare/makeup product that improves skin health (thanks to hyaluronic acid and barrier-friendly peptides) *and* gives you a shimmery, bronze glow. Although they can be worn under makeup or as a liquid bronzer, they're meant to be mixed with foundation or moisturizer for a seamless, ultra-glowy look.

Listen: I'm not one for believing the hype usually, but these are pretty fantastic, thanks to the lightweight texture and soft, shimmery finish. There are no chunky glitters in the formula—just a super-fine mica that gives your skin a nice sheen when the light hits it. Truly, my only complaint about them is that they only come in one shade, so if you're very fair or tan to deep, these likely won't work on you.

• Key ingredients: Mica (shimmers), black-currant-seed oil, peptides, hyaluronic acid

• Number of shades: One (plus rose and gold versions)

• Size: 1 fl oz

One customer writes: "I have a really pale face but my body is more tan, and this product perfectly evens out my skin tone and looks great alone. Also great if you don't want to use self-tanner on your face, just use this. I'm never not going to repurchase, this is now a staple product for me."

Bronze Face Glaze Gel Cream

Of all the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops dupes I tested, this gel-cream bronzer from InnBeauty Project is the closest to the real thing. In my opinion, it's basically a dewy, rich serum with bronze pigments that gives my skin both a sheen and a tan look. And because the consistency is fairly thin and transparent, you can easily cocktail it with other products, like just the Drunk Elephant drops. Pro tip tho: I always dab this on my collarbones and shoulders to make me look ~sunkissed~. And FWIW, I legit swear by the original InnBeauty Project Face Glaze, which is an even better dupe of the the Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid IMO.

• Key ingredients: Squalane, ceramides, hyaluronic acid

• Number of shades: One

• Size: 0.85 oz

A Sephora shopper says: "It's sooo pretty and gives the skin the most gorgeous glow! You can use it as a liquid bronzer to add dewy warmth to the skin, or mix with moisturizer, primer, foundation, and even cream or liquid blush to turn them into a tinted product and add shimmery glow. I didn't even realize how many uses I would find for this product but now I use it in one form or another pretty much every single day."

Back From Vacay Bronzer

This is technically an actual liquid bronzer, but it's still thin enough that you can use it the same way you would the Drunk Elephant drops. They have quite a bit more pigment though, which makes them perfect to use an ultra-glowy bronzer, either all over your face or just in the hollows of your cheeks, jawline, and forehead.

My favorite way to wear this is by underpainting (you know the foundation technique that went viral by Hailey Bieber's makeup artist, Mary Phillips, where she applies contour, bronzer, and blush before foundation for a seamless, blended look). I just dab a pump of bronzer over the areas of my face that naturally get the most tan. Then, I'll dot concealer where I want some extra coverage, and va-voom—my cheeks are lifted and bronzed, bb.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, mica (shimmers), cocoa seed extract

• Number of shades: Three

• Size: 0.56 fl oz

A review from a customer reads: "I mix this with my moisturizer and it looks like I laid in the sun for hours. Totally has replaced my self-tan routine and is so much kinder to my skin! Smells amazing too!"

Super Gloss Instant Bronzing Face Drops

A day didn't go by this summer where I didn't smear these bronzing drops on my skin. They have a super-glowy finish that gives my medium skin tone a slight bronze tan. But what I love the most is the added sunscreen in the formula.

Now this SPF 30 this isn't enough to be your only form of sun protection (unless you're completely dousing your face in it, which... more power to ya), but it's great for mixing with or layering with your regular face sunscreen for a lil added protection.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, argan oil

• Number of shades: 1

• Size: 1 fl oz

A Sephora buyer writes: "This is the bronzy summer glow I didn't know I needed! These drops go on so smoothly and can be built up. I apply them over moisturizer or mix them with other sunscreens and the result is beautiful. It blends in to a natural glow, and the shimmer is very subtle."

Mood Lighting Luminizing Glow Drops

So if your skin is pale and the Drunk Elephant drops are too dark for your skin, definitely take a look at these drops from Versed. They're filled with the same good-for-skin ingredients (hi, peptides and polyglutamic acid, a humectant that's said to be even more hydrating than hyaluronic acid), but the formula is way more transparent, making it a better fit for fair skin tones.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, sweet almond oil, polyglutamic acid (hydrating)

• Number of shades: Two

• Size: 1 fl oz

A customer's review on Target: "I had to try this, because I often like a clean look in the summer. I have used it mostly with my moisturizer and mix it up, or I apply by itself after moisturizer. It gives a soft glow, and I love it."

Eaze Drop'lit All-Over Glow Enhancer

Fan of Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter? Same, which is why I'm obsessed with this glow enhancer from Fenty. It's basically the perfect hybrid of the Flawless Filter and the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, and gives your skin a dewy, almost-filtered look, but with a little extra color. It has visible shimmers, but they're so ultra-fine that you just notice a slight sheen on your skin—no chunky glitter effect. Plus, it's available in four shades from a light, rose-y tone to a deep bronze. I love the Honey Citrine shade on my medium skin, FYI!

• Key ingredients: Dimethicone (smooths), mica (shimmers), hyaluronic acid

• Number of shades: Four

• Size: 1 fl oz

One customer writes: "After using this almost daily, I am so incredibly impressed. If you want the bronze and glowy look this is for you! I use it by itself since I don’t wear foundation, and it is beautiful."

Nanobronze Bronzing Drops

When my skin was washed out and dull last winter, I'd dab these bronzing drops on my cheeks and forehead with a makeup sponge to give me a bit of color. The formula is pretty identical to the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, in my experience, and TikTokers agree (just look at the 10+ million views on these drops). The only difference is that these are a bit more pigmented, so they work better as a liquid bronzer than lightweight drops that you mix with an existing formula. But the shade, the shimmer, and the overall look? Practically the same as Drunk Elephant's but for a solid $10 less.

• Key ingredients: Mica (shimmers), squalane, hyaluronic acid

• Number of shades: One

• Size: 1 0z

An Ulta shopper says: "It goes on great with your moisturizer. Feels good, blends well, and gives a nice natural glowing tan colour. I will be using this all summer long."

Bionic Sunkissed Liquid Bronzer

The Drunk Elephant bronzing drops only come in one medium-toned bronze shade—so if your skin tone is deeper but you still want to add that shimmery glow to your skin, try this option from Milk. It comes in four shades, two of which are for deep skin: Invincible, a deep bronze (which TikToker @thebbedit used here), and Mind Reader, a very-deep red-toned bronze (see all of the shades swatched next to each other to compare).

These are a bit less shimmery than the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, but they're filled with oils and emollients that still give your skin a dewy, moisturized look. And because they have a thin, liquid consistency, they're super easy to mix into other products like the Drunk Elephant drops.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil

• Number of shades: Four

• Size: 0.6 oz

One review reads: "At first when I saw the product, I thought it would be too dark, but it blends in and gives a seamless contour/ bronze. I look like I just came out of the sun."

Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter

Sure, this is more of a highlighter than bronzer, but when I use the Sunglow shade, it gives my skin that same juicy, shimmery look that I get from the Drunk Elephant drops. TBH, though, the best thing about these drops is how lightweight and transparent they are. They're actually mostly made with water, so it feels like legit nothing on my face and doesn't irritate or break out my sensitive skin. And the shimmers are micro-fine, which sits really well on my skin texture. Basically, a hero Drunk Elephant dupe if you've got acne scars like me.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, rosehip-seed oil, mica (shimmers)

• Number of shades: Two

• Size: 1 oz

A buyer with combination skin says: "I searched the Drunk Elephant drops in store and immediately could tell they would make me orange, emphasize my texture, and were dehydrating. I also tried the L’Oréal and broke out. These are the only bronzing drops that my skin likes and don’t make me orange. I mix them with my skin tint every day and will def buy the full-size."

True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer

When the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops are sold out, why not save yourself a few bucks and try this beloved dupe from L'Oreal Paris? This shimmery lotion is a bit deeper and has a smidge more pigment than the Drunk Elephant drops, so it is better worn under makeup or tapped on top for a bronze-y effect, IMO. (I like the thin consistency of the Drunk Elephant more for mixing, FYI). But I can attest: They're very similar, aside from the L'Oreal Paris dupe being half the price.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, dimethicone (smoothes), mica (shimmers)

• Number of shades: Four

• Size: 13.5 fl oz

A customer's review reads: "I have used this product both under makeup and by itself. It leaves my skin looking dewy and glowy without being greasy. It absorbs very quickly too! I get a lot of 'your skin looks great' comments whenever I put this stuff on."

How to choose the best Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops dupe:

Check the shade range.

The best part about all the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops dupes is that there's a bigger shade range than the sole singular shade from DE. Some dupes offer sheerer, lighter shades with rose or golden undertones that are ideal for fair or cool skin tones, while others have deep, red-hued bronze shades for dark skin.

Consider your application preferences.

Some bronzing drops are great for mixing in with moisturizer or foundation to add a subtle glow to your skin, which also makes application majorly easy (just drip a few drops on your hand and mix with a brush or sponge). But if you'd prefer to just keep your makeup steps separate, then definitely go for a Drunk Elephant dupe that's got some more pigment and can be stippled on as a liquid bronzer.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from setting powders to summer makeup trends. She’s an authority in all makeup categories but an expert when it comes to bronzing drops after testing and reviewing dozens of different versions to find the best.

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