20 best face tanning drops for 2024, tested on 450 women (original) (raw)

1

Best facial tanning drops

Tanologist Face Drops

Score: 92/100

Designed to be mixed with your skincare, makeup or body cream, these tanning drops are easy to apply and 100% customisable. There's no offensive biscuity tan smell and testers liked the easy-to-follow instructions.

It gave an even and natural looking tone, without any streakiness. “Everyone remarked on my healthy glow… and it looks perfectly natural on my very fair skin,” said one satisfied tester.

The only slight niggle from our panel was that the drops are transparent, making it hard to see how much you’re using, but that's a minor quibble.

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2

Best tanning drops for face and body

Tan-Luxe The Body Fake Tan Drops

Score: 92/100

Just a few drops are enough to create an even, natural glow here. Testers said the formula spread very well and “developed into a lovely colour”. Some found it faded more quickly than they would have liked, but it's easy to top up.

Simple to dispense from the pipette, our panel liked how well the drops blended with their moisturiser, too. One tester even said they were “some of the nicest tanning drops I’ve smelt”, which is a big achievement when it comes to self-tan.

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3

Best tanning drops for all skin tones

Isle of Paradise Self Tan Drops Medium

Score: 90/100

Suiting a range of skin tones (with light, medium or dark options), this formula has a good consistency, is easy to apply and doesn't leave a messy residue.

It creates a believable tan, with one tester with fair, freckly skin commenting: "These drops gave me an even tan without looking orange." It’s also long lasting — almost a week for some testers — develops naturally and has a fresh cucumber scent.

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4

Best tanning drops for dry skin

Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self Tan Drops for Face

Score: 90/100

If being able to apply without a tanning mitt while still avoiding fake-tanned palms is of prime importance to you, this product may be the answer, as it didn't stain our testers' hands at all.

Testers described the formula (which includes hydrating hyaluronic acid) as non-greasy, saying it gave an even tan on their face, which developed quickly. It's easy to use and apply, and our panel said they loved the look it gave them — sun-kissed and glow-y, without a hint of orange. Some did find they needed to use a lot of product to reach the desired tone, though.

Key specifications

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5

Clarins Self Tanning Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

Score: 88/100

As the name suggests, this product gave testers a radiant, even and golden boost of colour, and it mixed well with their moisturiser. Some even noted that their skin felt more hydrated after using it.

Testers were happy with how the tan built up with repeated application and said they'd recommend it to friends. Some commented that it had more of a traditional fake tan smell, which they felt was fine on their legs, but they weren't so keen to use it on their face or arms.

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6

Oskia Adaptive Tan Drops

Score: 87/100

Worried tanning drops aren't for you, especially when it comes to your face? Enter Oskia's adaptive drops. The colour develops evenly, to give a warm, healthy-looking tan, with all our testers pleased with the natural results.

There wasn't any transfer onto their bedsheets, either. Ticking even more boxes, there's no smell and coverage was even. However, some testers noted the instructions weren’t clear, and found themselves wishing for a bigger bottle.

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7

Skinny Tan Facial Tanning Drops

Score: 86/100

If you're always chasing that "summer holiday smell", these tanning drops have a delicious coconut scent that will transport you to sandy shores, while also giving you an even, easy-to-build tan.

The vegan formula develops over six to eight hours and adds a little shimmer as well as a tan. Everyone agreed it wasn't at all patchy or flaky, and the drops were easy to apply. All said their tan lasted a good amount of time before fading, while our lab test showed it faded fairly evenly over the course of a week.

These drops leave a tint behind for some guide colour too, which our testers appreciated for precise application. So much so, all agreed they'd use these again in the future.

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8

Beauty Pie Gradual Tan Drops

Score: 86/100

If you're not familiar with Beauty Pie, it's an optional membership service that allows you to buy its products at a discount as you're purchasing direct, with no middleman. For example, these winning tanning drops will cost you just £12.50 if a you're a member, but £21 if you don't want to sign up.

The drops earned rave reviews from our testers for creating a streak-free tan, with all agreeing it wasn't too orange for their skin tone. Our lab test found the tan faded evenly, while testers said it left their skin more hydrated, too.

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9

Best for travel

Coco & Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist

Score: 85/100

Since its launch, this mist has been one of the brand's top-selling products, and our beauty team was bowled over by how easy it is to build into any routine.

The fine spray is as refreshing as it is tan-enhancing, and you can spritz before your morning SPF or just before you put your head on your pillow, and it doesn't seem to rub off.

Our panel praised the micro-mist technology and said it was great for taking with you on your travels for a top up on the go.

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10

Best for beginners

Rose & Caramel Unity Bronzed Face Tanning Drops

Score: 85/100

Calming aloe vera makes this a dreamy addition to any wind-down routine. Skin will feel soothed and inflammation from any sun exposure should be reduced – plus you'll have a healthy glow come morning.

For our panel, the best bit was the buildable, gradual nature of the tan, with many noting how easy it was to mix with their moisturiser to achieve a warm, dewy-looking complexion without any patchiness. Perfect for beginners or fake tan first-timers.

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11

St Tropez Luxe Tan Tonic Glow Drops

Score: 84/100

This formula combines skin barrier-boosting niacinamide with hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening vitamin C to leave you not only with a great sun-kissed glow, but healthier skin in the long-run too.

Testers appreciated how quickly the drops absorbed into skin, with everyone agreeing they didn't leave any stickiness behind. They mixed easily into moisturiser, and almost all agreed they provided a natural-looking tan.

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12

Best natural/nature-identical formulation

Tropic Skincare Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum

Score: 84/100

This buildable formulation does exactly what it says on the bottle — creates little drops of sunshine to soak your skin in a warm-hued glow. The natural tanning agents mimic the skin's natural melanin to make the tan look more natural, too.

The drops are coloured by the caramel in the formulation, so you can see what you're working with when applying and achieve a more even tan. Although not instructed to on the packaging, some testers — after mixing it with their moisturiser of choice — used contouring brushes to achieve a more sculpted-looking complexion.

The sorbet-like scent was a real winner among with our panel – it comes from the passionfruit extract inside and is enough to transport anyone to the tropics. Our testers also praised the staying power of their tans after use.

Key specifications

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13

St Moriz Professional Prime & Glow Face Tan Serum

Score: 83/100

The citrus smell of this serum had some testers sold at the very first drop, and the effect of the formulation didn't disappoint either.

The instant shimmer from the glistening liquid left our panel pleased with their glow straight away, but some would have preferred a little more punch when it came to the tone of the tan.

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14

Best tanning drops for sensitive skin

Green People Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops

Score: 82/100

Claiming to last for up to five days, our testers appreciated how kind these drops were to sensitive skin; they weren't too drying and proved to be irritation-free.

Application was easy without any patchiness, and our panel all experienced a flake-free tan. Providing a natural-looking base, the texture was non-greasy and all said their tan faded evenly, too.

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15

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops (medium glow)

Score: 82/100

With two shades to choose from — 'medium' and 'dark' — these drops provided a fairly customisable tan. All our testers found that their tan gradually built up with repeated application, with almost everyone saying there was no orange undertone in sight.

Everyone's skin stayed hydrated, and these drops performed well in our lab test for even fading over the week. The tan was streak-free for most, with one tester describing the result as "a nice healthy-looking, natural colour".

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16

Best easy-to-use facial tanning drops

Dr Sebagh Self-Tanning Drops

Score: 82/100

Yes, it's one of the pricier options on our list, but the ease of application made up for it.

Everyone thought the packaging made dispensing the precise number of drops needed really simple, while the formula itself mixed well with moisturisers and was easy to blend into the skin. The tan itself was patch- and flake-free for almost all our testers, who said the shade developed and faded evenly.

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17

Sienna X Tanning Drops

Score: 81/100

Looking to slowly build your tan as you go? These are the tanning drops for you. Everyone was happy with how many applications it took to achieve their desired tan, with all finding that the shade gradually developed with repeated applications.

The scent was also hardly noticeable. However, the tan wasn't the most even when it came to fading in our lab test.

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18

Best facial tanning drops for no transfer

James Read Gradual Tan - Click & Glow Tan Drops

Score: 80/100

Cheat a holiday glow before you even hit the beach with this travel-friendly option. Our entire panel found the drops easy to apply evenly across the face, with most agreeing that the clickable dispenser provided just the right amount of product.

The tan itself didn't go patchy and didn't cause dryness or trigger irritation. The best part? Most didn't spot any stains or marks on their bedsheets, towels, clothing or hands after application. All our testers also said the shade wasn't too orange either.

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19

Best anti-ageing facial tanning drops

COOLA Sunless Tan Face Serum

Score: 80/100

Skin naturally gets dryer as we age, which can make fake tan application all the more tricky. This serum aims to provide a streak-free application for more mature skin thanks to a hydrating formula packed with argan oil, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

Did it work? Everyone agreed the product absorbed quickly, with many noticing more hydrated skin after use. The tan itself was orange hue-free for most, with one tester saying their skin felt “smooth and beautifully plumped" as a result of using the drops. Worth the price tag, then.

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20

Best budget facial tanning drops

Makeup Revolution Glow Illuminating Hyaluronic Face Tan Drops

Score: 78/100

A steal at under £10, testers loved the natural tan that developed after using these drops, and there was no unpleasant scent either. The shade itself wasn't too orange for most, while all testers were pleased that the tan didn't crack or flake on their skin.

Everyone found it easy to mix the drops in with their moisturiser, too. It wasn’t the best for a patch-free fade in our lab test, but most testers said this wasn't an issue for them.

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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.