A makeup artist’s guide to bronzing drops and gradual face tanners
Image via @veronikamoreira_/instagram
Words by Lara Daly
Get your glow on.
If you’re someone who wears sunscreen on your face everyday, gold star for you. If not, this is your reminder that Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world – so strong you can get burnt in as little as 11 minutes on a summer’s day.
But you didn’t come here to be lectured on wearing sunscreen, you’re smart and you do it already. You probably clicked on this story because like me, you find yourself in a conundrum this time of year, where daily sunscreen use has left your face a couple of shades lighter than your body.
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Luckily it’s an easy fix. As a makeup artist and editor, I’ve tried literally all the bronzing drops on the market. They’re sometimes called ‘liquid bronzers’ or ‘glow drops’ or ‘skin tints’, but basically, their purpose is to subtly warm up your skin tone. Unlike a cream or powder bronzer, bronzing drops are weightless and blend into your skin effortlessly, making them perfect for the ‘wtf my face looks really pale’ situation.
There’s an ever-expanding range of bronzing drops available now, some that fall into the gradual self-tanner category (meaning they develop and stain your skin for a few days) and others that fall into the makeup category, usually with skincare benefits added.
If it sounds confusing, it soon won’t be since I’ve neatly categorised them for you below. And even if you don’t have the sunscreen problem, I think everyone looks better after a bit of (bottled) sunshine!
For a natural glow, if you don’t want shimmer
If you’re shimmer-adverse or simply not a fan of sparkling in the day time, the best option I’ve tried is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops, which leaves a very dewy but non-glittery glow on the skin. I like that it acts as a moisturising serum as well and it doesn’t make my sunscreen pill.
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For work or a low-maintenance beach day, blend a pump of this over your sunscreen, or mix half a pump into your sunscreen and blend it over your face. For night time or events, it plays really nicely mixed into the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.
For a natural glow, if you don’t mind shimmer
If you really want your skin to gleam, the By Terry Brightening CC Serum in Sunny Flash is a top shelf classic. It’s expensive ($130 AUD for 30ml) but nothing compares to its illuminating effects – it makes your skin look expensive. I like to mix half a pump into moisturiser or sunscreen, or layer it under my foundation for extra warmth. In the height of summer, I wear it on its own when I’m going out at night.
Another great, more affordable option is the Ere Perez Peach Gel Bronzing Drops. The colour is sheer and buildable, it feels super hydrating, plus it smells like yummy natural skincare.
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For a one-and-done, with added SPF
A tinted moisturiser with sunscreen is great, a tinted moisturiser with sunscreen and a hint of liquid bronzer? Genius. Recently, the FJ team was sent the new Mecca Cosmetica In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF 30. Daisy, our Assistant Editor has been wearing her shade (Golden) every day lately, “The tint makes my skin look a bit more dewy and even-toned,” she tells me. Holly, our Branded Content and Production Coordinator has slightly fairer skin and is loving the shade Sunlight.
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For a more permanent solution (that won’t leave you orange)
By now, I’ve convinced so many friends to use gradual tanning face drops. Even the men. It’s way less scary than actual fake tan, you just add a few drops (start with one to two, build to three or four) to whatever moisturiser or serum you use at night, mix it together in your hands and apply to your face, blending down your neck.
You’ll wake up to glowing, more even-toned skin. I have a few favourites; James Read H2O Tan Drops has a nice olive undertone, Bondi Sands has two shade options with added skincare benefits, while Eco Tan Face Tan Water is even more lightweight, you swipe it over the skin with a cotton pad and leave it on overnight.
For more on summer beauty tips, try this.
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