During the colder months, I miss the natural glow I get in the summer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an avid wearer of SPF year-round (UVA rays are one of, if not the most, biggest contributors to fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation) and I don’t typically tan too much on my face anyway, however, I feel I just look a little healthier in the summer months, even if it is down to the longer days spent outside, or a regular routine of self-tanning when I have my arms and legs on show. During the winter, however, my self-tanning routine goes out of the window as I practically live in a uniform trousers and high-neck jumpers, which only really leaves me with my face on show. And that’s a lot of tan admin for so little show, am I right?
For that reason, I’m a fan of any self-tanning drops or bronzer that can give my face a healthy glow, stat. So when I was scrolling on TikTok recently, I happened to notice a lot of buzz around Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi Anti-pollution Sunshine Drops. It’s a makeup and skincare hybrid with a bronze tint that you can mix into your serum, moisturiser or face oil to give your skin a little extra oomph on the days when your complexion feels a bit lacklustre. I’ve even seen people use these neat on the skin for a bronzed effect, and people are also mixing them in to their SPF to get a glow without the damaging effects of the sun.
As with anything on TikTok, I’m a little sceptical when products are hyped up. It’s easy to get swept up in the noise and make an impulse purchase. As a beauty editor, I encourage anyone to make considered purchases. Do I need these bronzing drops? No. But am I intrigued to try them? You bet. Like any product that goes viral, these also went out of stock pretty quickly. They’ve just come back into stock on Space NK, so if you’re keen to try them, now is your chance. But if you want to know if they’re really worth it before making the plunge, you can read my honest thoughts ahead.
When you first open the drops, it’s easy to be apprehensive about the shade that comes out of the nozzle. It’s a caramel-like bronze liquid that looks shimmery, but rest assured, this isn’t going to make your skin look like a disco ball nor a wotsit. Even if you apply this directly onto the skin, it sheers out so well and pretty evenly too. That being said, I do prefer to mix this in with a little moisturiser for a subtle glow, and I find it’s way easier to blend out with a makeup brush for a believable tan. But you can still use your fingertips if your prefer.
The formula itself is silky and water-like in texture, and dries down to a radiant finish which is neither dewy nor matte. It just makes your skin look like you’ve been in the south of France for a week and just emerged from a fancy facial. While it doesn’t give coverage like a foundation would, it does make my skin look more even and radiant that I’d happily wear it on its own on the days when I don’t want anything on my skin. It’s worth noting that its an instant tan and won’t give you a semi-permanent glow like a self-tanner would, but it’s a good way to unlock a tan without waiting for it to develop.
So, are the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops worth it? Although its subtle in the images, this really does make my skin look healthier and glowy IRL. I like that I can still see my skin through the tint and it doesn’t feel heavy on, but it still manages to even out my complexion a little, making it perfect for days when I don’t want a full face of makeup on but still want a touch of colour. I’d definitely need to still wear concealer on any red areas, but all-in-all, I really like the results.
As for its longevity, this also holds up well on my combination skin. It didn’t separate on the oily areas around my nose but equally didn’t cling to any dryness. To give it an even bigger test, I wore this to a spin class and I was surprised by how well it held up. It didn’t separate or go patchy, and I couldn’t see any transfer even when I dabbed my face with a towel. Which is pretty impressive.
Up Next, The 12 Best Cream Bronzers to Help You Achieve the Perfect Winter Glow
