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. 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. for Fake tan for the entire body may look great and give you that gorgeous golden glow, but, admittedly, can be a little bit of hassle to apply evenly - which is why we can’t get enough of tanning drops for your face.

Fun fact: Self-tanning drops were kinda the OG bronzing drops. But unlike the original formulations (which were rough), today’s self-tanning drops no longer smell like burning hair or leave your skin splotchy the next day. One of my favorites? This serum from St. Tropez that I keep on my vanity at all times, because it’s so easy to grab and use in the morning. What We Don’t Love: You’ll need to apply more than 12 drops to get SPF protection, which may be too sparkly for some.

We’re huge fans of this California-cool brand, and this glow drop formula delivers a “day spent surfing” radiance while helping your skin to work its best. That comes courtesy of emogreen, an ingredient that works to balance the skin’s microbiome, a key component of skin health — without that balance, your skin could be impossibly dry and susceptible to irritation. It also features a blend of rich oils to help your skin soak up the luminosity without enhancing any flaky texture. Bronzing drops provide sun-kissed color and luminosity to your skin to mimic a natural sun tan. They can be used without or without makeup, and they can even be mixed into your makeup. Bronzing drops make bronzed skin attainable year round, and they do so without harmful sun damage.

Our panel of more than 450 testers tried 28 brands of tanning drops over a two-week period to find which ones left skin looking sunkissed with minimal effort. In addition to using the True Match Lumi Glotion before you apply your makeup, you can also use the liquid highlighter after you’ve applied your makeup, on the high points of your face. Use your fingers to lightly dab it on the skin for a seamless blend.

2. Cheap bronzers under £5

To spice up a matte foundation, mix it with a dot of this liquid highlighter to transform the formula into one that is luminous and hydrating. If your foundation is too light, mix in a little bit of the True Match Lumi Glotion in Deep to deepen the shade and add a subtle glow. As mentioned, the best tanning drops are incredibly versatile and can be applied in a number of ways. Vitamin F (Linoleic and Linolenic Acid): This mix of soothing fatty acids works to improve skin's texture and suppleness while helping sooth signs of sensitivity.

Avoid mixing tanning drops with products that contain active ingredients like retinol or exfoliating acids, as they may interfere with the tanning process or cause uneven results,” she warns. You can either get a cheap bronzer in a powdery compact - perfect for tossing in your bag daily - or go for a hydrating liquid bronzer formula. My favorite way to use The Body Shop Honey Bronze Drops of Sun is mixed in with my morning moisturizer. On my light-medium skin, 1-2 drops applied this way adds the slightest touch of bronze, creating a very natural sun-kissed look. Anymore than that, the bronzed effect becomes a lot more noticeable – like I’d just spent a day out in the sun and gotten a natural tan.For those who love Fenty for more vibrant products like the powder highlighter, keep in mind that you’re not going to get the same level of intensity from Drop’lit. This truly is not a liquid highlighter but a subtle luminosity booster. While this may disappoint some who like a serious gleam from their shimmer formulas, we appreciate this glow enhancer for its more subdued finish, as it makes for a more versatile addition to one’s makeup kit. When choosing the right bronzer for you, you can either buy a formula with a matte, natural-looking finish, or add an ethereal quality to your skin with a bronzer that has a shimmery, dewy glow. Whether or not you look for a “clean” formula is up to you. But remember — your skin is your biggest organ. “Everything you put on it absorbs and affects you,” cautions Thomas. “The FDA really only regulates what is put into nail products and hair dyes, but not self-tanners or products that alter skin tone, so you need to read the ingredient label and make sure that what you are applying is not going to affect you negatively.” K, now that I’m a ~bronzing drops girl~, I pretty much only want to bronze my face with lightweight, liquid drops. Which, apparently, Armani Beauty understands because they launched this pigmented, liquid bronzer that feels just like bronzing drops but adds the same shading and dimension as my usual bronzer. FYI, these don’t have any shimmer in them, so they’re not going to make you look dewy or shiny at all. But honestly, I love the matte look, especially on my oily skin. Also, I’ve recently been lightly tapping a drop of pigment across my eyelids, á la the “latte makeup” trend, rather than pulling out my eyeshadows, and I’m seriously in love with the finish.