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20 best facial tanning drops for a foolproof faux tan
Get yourself a golden glow ASAP
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Unless you've managed to bag yourself some sun somewhere more reliable than the UK, chances are your complexion may be looking 50 shades of greige right now.
The good news is that it's never been easier to get a sunless tan. Enter: facial tanning drops. They're foolproof when it comes to achieving an even faux tan and require minimal effort to apply; we're talking no mitts required.
To see which tanning drops provided the best, long-lasting colour, without any patchiness or staining, our team tested out a few leading brands to see which are the ones worth buying.
These are the self-tanning drops that made the cut, but scroll down to read our detailed reviews.
How do you use self-tanning drops?
If you're a fake tan rookie or have been burned in the past (let's not even go there), tanning drops will be a game-changer.
They're totally customisable depending on the look you're going for — the rule is: the more drops, the deeper the tan — and they can be applied using a number of different methods.
‘You can also combine the drops with your daily moisturiser for a lighter finish,’ Michaella Bolder, St. Tropez’s tanning and skincare expert, explains. ‘Avoid using any exfoliating products directly before applying tan and don't use it in conjunction with vitamin A or retinol.
‘Any exfoliation must always take place at least a few hours before you apply a new layer of self-tan. And ensure you avoid any oil-based shower gels or moisturisers ahead of tanning, as the oil will act as a barrier.’
It should take between two to six drops to get an even tan, and they can be applied morning or night.
Are tanning drops better than gradual tan?
Tanning drops and gradual tan are both great options if you want a bespoke your glow and prefer to develop a natural-looking tan over time. But which formulation is better is really down to personal choice.
Tanning drops allow you to totally customise your glow – adding as much or as little colour as you'd like. You can also mix them into your favourite moisturiser to create your own custom gradual tan.
Do you need to wash off face tanning drops?
If you've got a packed schedule and need your tan to develop ASAP, tanning drops are a great solution, as they don't need to be washed off and will gradually develop throughout the day. So, you can apply after the gym, without having to worry.
How we test facial tanning drops
We trialled 20 of the most popular tanning drops to find the ones that leave skin looking golden and sun-kissed, with minimal effort. Each tester assessed ease of application, whether there was any patchiness or streakiness in the finish, and – crucially – the scent.
In the Women's Health Lab we used our Digi-Eye machine to visually assess how evenly the tan faded over a period of seven days.
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Denny is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has an in-depth knowledge and background in beauty and PR. She has spoken on panels with Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) and has worked with many beauty brands as a commercial model. Since joining in October 2022, she has worked on numerous testing categories including over 18 different brands for vitamin C serums, scalp scrubs, shampoos for dry hair and many more. She has over 20k followers on TikTok where she shares beauty and fashion tips otherwise better known as Denny Daily.
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