Available shades: 1 | Key ingredients: niacinamide, squalane, jojoba oil | Who it’s for: normal to oily skin types
Best Glowy Sunscreen: Innbeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow SPF 43
Why it’s worth it: Tanning for a bronze complexion is a bad idea for a laundry list of reasons, so get glowing without searing your skin with harsh UV rays by slathering on Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF 43. This glowy sunscreen has a 100% mineral-based formula that, unlike other mineral-based finds, has a transparent, illuminating finish. It’s basically a cheat code for an instant lit-from-within appearance. To keep the glow going, this fragrance-free pick is spiked with vitamin C and antioxidant-rich rice bran extract to brighten skin and peptides for their firming, plumping benefits.
“If it’s special to find a sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast, it’s damn near miraculous to find one that’s also a mineral formula,” features director Dianna Mazzone Singh says of the 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner. “This one blends seamlessly and leaves behind a beautifully dewy finish.”
Available shades: 2 | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (14.2%), vitamin C, rice bran extract, peptides | Who it’s for: anyone, including sensitive skin types
Best Golden Tint: Iconic London Instant Sunshine Bronzing Drops
Why it’s worth it: If you want to shine like 24-karat gold, add a few drops of Iconic London’s Instant Sunshine Bronzing Drops—a versatile true-gold shade that compliments a wide range of skin tones—into your routine. This shimmery tint can be used as a striking highlighter on your face and body or all over when mixed with a moisturizer, sunscreen, or body lotion for a head-to-toe glow.
Available shades: 1 | Key ingredients: chamomile extract, marigold flower extract, lavender water, mica | Who it’s for: anyone who wants a golden glow
Frequently Asked Questions
What do bronzing drops do?
In their most basic form, bronzing drops are pigmented drops that temporarily boost the warmth and glow of your natural complexion. “Bronzing drops are a lightweight, liquid bronzer that you can either add to your favorite moisturizer, serum, or foundation,” says Florida-based makeup artist Allison Kaye. You can also wear them alone. Some bronzing drops have so much glow, that you’ll want to apply them as a highlighter to the high points of your face or even on your body. Regardless of how you want to use it, we promise you’ll love how these drops instantly warm up your complexion and give you a radiance like no other.
How do bronzing drops differ from tanning drops?
The main difference between the two is that bronzing drops are temporary and rinse down the drain once it’s time to wash your face while tanning drops usually have a semi-permanent pigment. The latter relies on dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar that safely darkens the skin. However, like many bronzing drops on the market, tanning drops especially made for the face usually contain nourishing ingredients like skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and glycerin for a dewier, more radiant finish.
How do I choose the right shade of bronzing drops for my skin tone?
Unlike contouring, which is meant to intensify the look of your face’s natural angles, bronzing adds warmth and color to your skin. As a rule of thumb, your bronzer shouldn’t be tangerine-level in warmth, but finding the right shade depends on your skin’s natural tone. “Be sure to avoid bronzers that appear overly orange or red-toned in the pan, as it will only come across more intensely when you apply it to the skin,” New York City-based makeup artist Elisa Flowers previously told Allure.
