With summer in full swing, it's especially important to protect your skin from the sun — no exceptions.

We trialled 28 brands of tanning drops with over 450 beauty testers 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.

How do you add bronzing drops to your routine?

The visual difference between the two-drop mixture (left) and four-drop mixture (right) is obvious. It’s easy to use I like to recommend mixing drops with moisturiser on the top of a flat surface or between your fingers then blend with a large foundation brush for a matt finish," says Bolder. The more hydrating formula also makes tanning drops a great option for those with drier skin, too. 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 might be wondering why you can't just use your good old body tanner on your face. But facial tanning drops are specifically designed to deliver both glow and some skincare benefits, too. They'll develop over just a few hours to leave you looking beautifully bronzed. How long will my tan last for?

Unlike fake tans, liquid bronzers work similar to a complexion makeup product, meaning they don't stain your skin. All they do is add saturated bronzing pigments such as iron oxide and mica (that can also include shimmer for that highlighter-looking finish) that are buildable, easy to blend and safe for your skin. We asked Michaella Bolder, St. Tropez tanning and skincare expert, for her tips on how to make your tan last for longer. “ Exfoliation is an essential first step — exfoliate at least a few hours before you apply a new layer of self-tan,” she advises. “It's also important to avoid using any oil-based shower gels or moisturisers ahead of tanning, as the oil will act as a barrier to the tan and prevent it from developing. If you’re craving a tan though, the good news is that you don't need to risk damaging your skin to achieve a subtle, believable bronze, as face tanning drops are an easy and effective way to get some golden colour. You’re bound to have seen them taking over your TikTok feed, thanks to the customisable non-cheese-puff-looking tan they produce. Another time, I mixed the same amount of tanner into Facetheory’s Relaxing Night Cream but used way too much moisturizer. Though the amount of cream slowed down the application and absorption process, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the drops provided the same tanning effect and weren’t diluted or made streaky by the moisturizer. I’d say these are fool-proof. Just make sure you wash your hands right after you're done applying the drops to your face, as you may run into an issue with them staining your hands. The tan is, in fact, customizable

Reviews

In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we used a Digi-Eye machine to visually assess how evenly the tan faded over a period of seven days, giving each product a score out of five.