Drunk Elephant ignited the trend in a big way with its D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops, £34. Dubbed “sunshine in a bottle”, the product went viral on TikTok many times over and was constantly out of stock last summer (even now, there’s a one-product limit when you order it on LookFantastic). Lucky for us, many makeup brands have caught onto the hype and brought our their own versions of the cult product. Happily, there’s something for every budget.
Ahead, our editors tested out the most-hyped Drunk Elephant bronzing drop dupes on the market, in case you aren’t able to get your hands on the OG. We’ve considered factors like blendability, staying power and, of course, whether it helps you achieve a bronzed glow that looks natural and flattering on a range of skin tones.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Tanyel Mustafa, Senior Writer
Product I tried: e.l.f. Bronzing Drops (in Pure Gold), £12
“I love makeup and often get compliments on how I use it but even I’m not the biggest fan of bronzing drops. I find them fussy to use and often they give me the biggest makeup no-no: a face that looks a different colour from my neck. However, this offering from e.l.f is pretty intuitive to use and gives a less dramatic tanned look than other drops I’ve tried. There are also small shimmer particles in there that leave the face glowy, not glittery.
“For reference, I used the lightest gold shade available. I’m enjoying them now especially as my body is a lot more tan than my face (this is just the way I catch the sun). I mix them into my usual face tint, which is great news for my bank account: This year I won’t need to hunt out a darker foundation I’ll only use for three months.”
Shop e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f. Bronzing Drops (Pure Gold), $, available at e.l.f. CosmeticsPhoto courtesy of tanyel mustafa.
Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Product I tried: Benefit Dew-la-la Liquid Glow Highlighter (in Nova), £34 £25.50
“I am a newbie when it comes to any kind of tanning makeup so I was quite relieved to read that Benefit’s new take on the bronzing drop is more similar to a liquid highlighter with a built-in tan — which I’m way more comfortable with — and has a sheer texture that can be easily applied with the tip of my fingers. I tried Nova, the medium tan shade, and was impressed by how it cast a subtle, golden halo effect on my skin. It added a soft luminosity to the high points of my face, such as my cheekbones and brow bone, without overdoing the shimmer.
“What really sealed the deal for me was how dewy my skin felt after having it on all day: The product is almost like a serum, packed with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide (which reduces redness caused by UV exposure) and hyaluronic acid (which rehydrates the skin). I carried a healthy, pearly sheen well into the night and got a few comments about how nice my skin looked, even without any additional makeup on.”
Shop LookFantastic
Benefit Dew-la-la Liquid Glow Highlighter, $, available at LookFantasticPhoto courtesy of venus wong.
Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
Product I tried: Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50 Bronzing Super Glow Drops, £33
“I had previously given the brand’s highlighter — Queen Screen SPF 50 Super Glow Drops Illuminating — a whirl in an article on the best tinted sunscreens but found the pigment particles to be hefty, making my face look glittery rather than glowy. Happily, I can report that the bronzing version of these drops is so much more subtle. One pipette-full took my face from dull to sun-kissed, all without the UV damage. In fact, it protects the skin with broad spectrum SPF 50. In this product, the iridescent pigment seems more finely milled so the glow is believable. The colour deepened throughout the day, though, so instead of using this as an all-over face bronzer, I’ll keep it to my cheeks, forehead and nose. It has actually replaced my blush!”
Shop Space NK
Ultra Violette Ultra Violett Bronzing Super Glow Drops, $, available at Space NKPhoto courtesy of Jacqueline Kilikita.
Victoria Montalti, Associate Fashion Writer
Product I tried: Kosas Glow I.V. Vitamin-Infused Skin Enhancer (in Boost), £35
“I’m not one to wear foundations or tinted moisturisers because I don’t like the feeling all over my face, so I usually get my glow from skincare (like face oils) and highlighters. But I was eager to try Kosas’ bestselling glowy ‘skin enhancer’, since it can be used on its own or mixed into other skincare or makeup. I decided to dot it all over my face and rub it in with my fingers after my skincare routine and SPF, and before my concealer. One pump was enough to cover my whole face and I was pleasantly surprised by just how lightweight and sheer the formula is.
“It melted so nicely into my skin that it didn’t even feel like there was a layer of makeup all over my face. It gave me a sun-kissed glow and I liked that the subtle, pearl-like shimmer made me look glowy, rather than oily. The best shade for me was Boost, which is a bit darker than my already-tanned skin, and it was perfect. I’d recommend opting for a darker shade if you want a bronzed look but go with your true shade if you’re just looking for a glowy base or want it to serve as your highlighter.”
Shop Revolve
Kosas Glow I.V. Skin Enhancer, $, available at RevolvePhoto courtesy of victoria montalti.
Humeara Mohamed, SEO Writer
Product I tried: Revolution Bright Light Bronzing Drops (in Bronze Spice), £9.99
“I generally love a glowy bronzing formula, and I’m an avid user of Saie’s Glowy Super Gel and L’Oréal’s Glotion (both sheer, dewy formulas). I don’t have huge expectations as I only use bronzing drops as primers under my base, on top of SPF, so I don’t mind if they don’t have SPF or a huge amount of coverage.
“Revolution’s iteration, then, came as a surprise. It’s very different from the formulas I usually go for; it’s opaque and boasts a full-coverage formula. Because I wasn’t expecting this, I opted for the darker shade, which was then way too dark for me to use alone on my skin. Instead, I mixed it with my moisturiser for a deliciously bronzed look — no sun damage here! I’ve also really taken to using this as a bronzer; I simply apply it to the back of my hand and then dab a brush into it before applying to my face. The metallic-matte, full-coverage finish works really well in this way. It seamlessly melts into skin, doesn’t feel oily or sticky, and a little goes a really long way. I’ll genuinely be using this all summer long.”
Shop Beauty Bay
Revolution Beauty Bright Light Bronzing Drops, $, available at Beauty BayPhoto courtesy of Humeara Mohamed.
Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Product I tried: Saie Glowy Super Gel (in Starglow and Sunglow), £16
“I’m a big fan of Saie makeup (I’m also wearing the brand’s Glossybounce Lip Oil in Dip here). As much as I love experimenting with makeup, my daily routine is simple: fresh skin, a neutral lip and fluffed-up brows and lashes. Since my skin is naturally oily, I don’t love hyper-dewy makeup — but Saie’s Glowy Super Gel doesn’t look like makeup; it looks like natural, hydrated skin. I’m wearing it alone on bare skin here but also love to mix it with my foundation to sheer out the coverage and add a hint of lit-from-within radiance. When I get a tan in the summer, I go for the Sunglow shade; I use Starglow, a sheer champagne, for a subtle highlight.”
Shop Cult Beauty
Saie Glowy Super Gel, $, available at Cult BeautyPhoto courtesy of karina hoshikawa.
Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Product I tried: Morphe Hot Shot Sun Drops (in Money Honey), £17
“Morphe has finally launched its long-awaited Sun Drops and I’m going to be honest here: This product performs like a foundation to me, albeit in a smaller bottle. The formula is noticeably denser than the other bronzing drops I’ve swatched, and the pigment is strong. In fact, when I first applied the Money Honey shade (a light warm bronze), I was slightly taken aback by how orange my face looked, especially compared to my neck.
“However, I will say that the colour sinks into the skin nicely and because the finish is more on the matte side, it lent a more convincing ‘freshly tanned’ look than the glowier options in this roundup. I looked like I had just spent a few hours at the beach. Since the formula contains glycerin (an ingredient that draws moisture to the skin) and vitamin E (which helps trap water within the skin), my makeup didn’t look dry or cakey for the rest of the day. I recommend putting Sun Drops on your neck as well as your face to balance out the shade difference.”
Shop Selfridges
Morphe Hot Shot Sun Drops, $, available at SelfridgesPhoto courtesy of venus wong.
Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
Product I tried: L’Oréal True Match Lumi Glotion (in Medium Glow), £11.99 £9.59
“L’Oréal unveiled its Lumi Glotion at just the right time for me: ahead of spring, when I’m keen to dial down the makeup coverage so that my skin feels comfortable and fresh, rather than greasy and suffocated. Plus, I’d heard great things from R29’s SEO writer, Humeara. I love how easily this glides on without clinging to dry patches or around spots.
“The first time I tried it, I was dealing with a cluster of painful breakouts. Instead of accentuating them, it evened out my skin tone beautifully, leaving behind a subtle, bronze dewiness that wasn’t obviously shimmery. So much so, I only needed a dab of concealer here and there. On my light olive skin, Light Glow (902) is typically more of a match than Medium Glow (903), which I’m wearing here, but I accidentally caught the sun this weekend (don’t worry, I was wearing factor 50) so it works. I like to apply this product with a brush — exactly like it’s a foundation — for more of an even finish.”
Shop LookFantastic
L’Oréal True Match Lumi Glotion, $, available at LookFantasticPhoto courtesy of Jacqueline Kilikita.
L’Oréal Blackett, Unbothered UK Editor
Product I tried: Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops (in Bronze), £18.99
“Three words I’d apply to my skin right now would be ‘glowy’, ‘dewy’ and ‘bronzed’. I absolutely love the result of Pai’s Bronzing Drops. I am a fan of anything that brings out the richness of my skin tone so I tend to use heavy-duty body bronzers like Fenty Beauty Body Lava to transform me into a shiny, bronze sculpture during the summer months (I admit I can be heavy-handed). Pai boasts that its bronzing drops are ‘totally customisable’, making them ideal to use on your face. I achieved both a subtle highlight and a more intense wash of gold that looks incredible on deep brown skin.
“The brand recommends applying a drop in your moisturiser or, for more intensity, gently dabbing one or two drops on your cheekbones. I dived in headfirst, also applying the super pigmented drops on my collarbone and shoulders for that glistening effect. The formulation feels really hydrating and luxurious, and I appreciated how easily the drops blended into my skin. I will definitely be including this product in my beauty arsenal this summer.”
Shop Cult Beauty
Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops, $, available at LookFantasticPhoto courtesy of L’Oréal Blackett.
Esther Newman, Affiliate Writer
Product I tried: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop’Lit All-Over Glow Enhancer (Honey Citrine), £29
“As a pale gal, I’ve never had much luck with fake tan. One particularly traumatic experience involved my year 11 prom, a patchy spray tan, The Only Way Is Essex levels of orange and several hours of scrubbing myself raw to even it out. Ever since, I’ve steered clear of the stuff, even gradual tanning and bronzing drops. So to ease myself into the tanning world, I chose to test out Fenty Beauty’s Eaze Drop’Lit which, according to reviews, is one of the most natural-looking bronzing drops on the market.
“I can safely say that I agree with the reviews — this stuff is all you need for a light sun-kissed glow and touch of warmth and colour. I wore it alone under a light, tinted moisturiser and topped it up along the areas where you catch the sun naturally (cheekbones and nose). It layers really nicely, is easy to blend (I recommend using your fingers), doesn’t pill under or on top of other makeup and isn’t so shimmery that it looks inauthentic. I’ll pull this out as the weather heats up for a no-makeup summer look.”
Shop Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop’Lit All-Over Glow Enhancer, $, available at Fenty BeautyPhoto courtesy of Esther Newman.
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