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Anyone who has attempted to self-tan knows that the face is one of the hardest areas to get right. But with face tanning drops, looking overly orange or streaky is a thing of the past. These pigmented liquid formulas are designed to be mixed with moisturizer to create a custom tanning blend.
Best of all, you control the level of tan you create; just want a bit of warmth? Go for a drop or two. Want to amp it up? Add a little more. As you apply your moisturizer morning and night, your skin will gradually get a bit warmer and warmer.
Whether you’re looking for a bit of bronze or a full-on vacation-worthy glow, these are the 11 best self-tanning drops for the job.
Tan-Luxe
The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Pros
- Nourishing ingredients
Cons
These tanning drops for the face combine raspberry seed oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E to hydrate skin as it bronzes.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"A little goes a long way, and it's so worth the price—looks natural and tan, not orange at all."
Size | 1.01 oz/ 30 mL |
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Color | Light/Medium, Medium/Dark |
Pros
- Fragrance-free
- Hydrating formula
Cons
Add to your radiance with these best-selling bronzing drops from Pai Skincare that wash off with your makeup. And since they contain hyaluronic acid, lemon fruit water, and sea kelp, these drops are also ideal for brightening and plumping skin.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"Great consistency, buildable for the summer, but not too intense for the winter. I love mixing it with a light moisturizer underneath my primer for an even layer of color." —Kyla
Size | 1 fl oz. / 30 ml |
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Colors | Bronze, Champagne, Rose Gold |
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Pros
- Transparent formula
- Hydrating ingredients
Cons
These buildable vegan tanning drops from Bondi Sands are completely colorless and fragrance-free. Use four to 12 drops per application, depending on how deep you want your tan.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"These are my favorite to use on my face. I don’t love to use the regular tanners on my face because I have very finicky acne prone skin. For my body, I always use the light/medium foam and when I use this, it always matches my body glow perfectly." —Erica
Size | 1.35 fl oz. / 40 mL |
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Colors | One Shade |
Pros
- Can be used daily
- Skincare ingredients
Cons
If you prefer not to disrupt your skincare routine too much, consider this daily hyaluronic acid and antioxidant serum, which also happens to provide gradual self-tanning benefits.
Size | 30 ml |
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Color | One Shade |
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Pros
- Non-comedogenic and alcohol-free
Cons
Coco and Eve's Bronzing Face Drops have nearly a five-star rating from over 700 customers, with one describing that the coveted drops, "gave me an awesome glow to my skin and smell amazing!"
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"I love this self-tanner. It gives my face a great glow and I even feel like my skin is healthier. I never write reviews but I just love this stuff! It applies evenly with moisturizer and gives just the right amount of tan without being orange or over-bearing. It also smells good which is nice. If you’re on the fence, do it!" —Jane
Size | 1.8 fl oz. |
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Colors | Medium, Dark |
Pros
- Pro-approved
- Antioxidant benefits
Cons
Celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hurkman swears by these facial bronzing drops for her own five minute face."I use the Lux Unfiltered No. 12 Bronzing Face Drops on myself to add a soft natural tan to my face," she tells BAZAAR.com. "It helps speed up my makeup process, since I usually don't need foundation after it sets in."
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"I love these drops!! They do tan your skin slowly over time, but mostly I’ve noticed a huge difference in the radiance and clarity of my skin. I’ve had no acne, the tone is more even, and it even glows! Couldn’t be happier!" —T.B.
Size | 30 ml / 1 fl oz. |
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Colors | One Shade |
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Pros
- Contains hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
Just add two to three drops of this paraben- and sulfate-free glow booster from Clarins to your holy-grail moisturizer to quickly enhance your bronze.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"A winter skin mist have. Super easy to use! Not streaky at all. Just a couple drops in my regular moisturizer and I have sunkissed skin without the damage. Isn't orange and lasted longer than I expected." —Les26
Size | 0.5 oz |
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Colors | One Shade |
Tan-Luxe
The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Pros
- Has skin-firming Cellutone Complex
Cons
Here's the body version of Tan-Luxe's popular tanning drops, which features a complex created to help firm skin while adding a soft glow.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"Love that I can add this to my regular fave moisturizer. Also the smell is the least offensive of ANY tanner I’ve tried and it goes away within 20 minutes." —Macooba
Size | 1.69 oz/ 50 mL |
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Color | Medium/Dark, Light/Medium |
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Pros
- Comes in three buildable shades
- Can use on face and body
Cons
Not only do these bronzing drops enhance your glow, their formula also helps to color-correct skin once you've added them to your product of choice.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"The natural glow tanning drops have been my ride or die tanning product for years!! It never fails to make me bronzed, glowy and hydrated! So easy to apply and streak free!" —camenzulis
Size | 1.01 oz/ 30 mL |
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Color | Light, Medium, Dark |
Pros
- Tanning active derived from natural sugars
- Budget-friendly
Cons
Over 3,500 Amazon customers agree: These oil-free tanning drops are a must-have for a year-round glow, since you can customize your tan with up to 15 drops for your face and body.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"I honestly was a little worried since it’s clear and does smell like self tanner. However, this stuff is amazing! I waited till the morning to wash my face. It was the perfect tan! Few recommendations: Make sure you do your neck and chest area too! I avoided any type of product on my face." —Shellie
Size | 1 fl oz. |
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Color | One Shade |
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St. Tropez
Luxe Tan Tonic Glow Drops
Pros
- Skincare ingredients help plump and smooth skin
Cons
Created by the tanning experts at St. Tropez, these drops for face and body develop over four to eight hours, and are suitable for sensitive skin.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"I have never tried tanning drops before and I absolutely love this product! It smells good, doesn't break my face out, and love the results. I have very sensitive, oily skin so I never use anything to tan my face, but this does it for me! I also love that I don't have to wear much makeup at all when I use these drops." —Kady
Size | 1.0 oz |
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Colors | One Shade |
Drunk Elephant
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops
Pros
- Wears like makeup
- Works for face and body
Cons
If you're a Drunk Elephant super fan, try combining one drop of this tanner with two drops of their Virgin Marula Oil, and a pump of B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum for the ultimate bronzed and dewy look.
What the Reviewers Are Saying:
"It’s very easy to apply with my moisturizer and has a nice matte finish. It stays on really well, even through my workout class and doesn’t really transfer. It’s perfect for those no makeup days or to use when I don’t want to wear foundation." —mvbeautys
Size | 1 oz/ 30 mL |
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Colors | Bronze |
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Tiffany Dodson
Associate Beauty Commerce Editor
Tiffany Dodson Davis is the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Don't ask her to choose a favorite fragrance—it's like picking a favorite child. As one of the brand's resident shopping experts, she specializes in trend forecasting, testing the latest beauty and wellness launches, and curating bookmark-worthy commerce guides. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in SELF Magazine, Bustle, and Teen Vogue. She's also been tapped as a commerce and beauty expert for The Business of Fashion, NPR’s Life Kit podcast, and more.