It’s been a bit of a lacklustre summer so far by all accounts. Rainy days have far outweighed the sunny ones, and subsequently my complexion had started to looked sallow, and less alive than it usually does in the summer months. While Daisy Edgar-Jones and Dua Lipa are getting by with help from 1) a great make-up artist, and 2) faux freckles, I have found my own personal secret weapon to create luminous and sun-kissed skin, rain or shine.
Bronzing drops (or liquid ) have long been a favourite of mine to achieve a believable colour. Instead of (which semi-permanently deepen skin’s colour), I love bronzing liquids because they can be applied in the morning and washed off at night – self-tanners, on the other hand, can dry out the skin and often mottle as they fade off. Liquid bronzers also boast more staying power than the average bronzer compact.
It’s safe to say that I’m a fan. Some of my longtime favourites – including Dr Hauschka’s Translucent Bronzing Tint and Sensai’s Bronzing Gel – are joined this year by a new wave of bronzing drops, which bestow the gift of sunshine on the face without the risk of sun damage. Some excellent new formulas include Morphe’s Hot Shot Sun Drops, E.
L.F.’s Bronzing Drops and RMS Beauty’s SuperNatural Radiance Serum, all of which come in relatively flat bottles with a pipette applicator, making the products as easy to travel with as they are to apply.
On days when I just want to lift my complexion – and do little else – I apply drops straight after I’ve put on my which creates a dewy, luminous effect. I look like me, only much, much healthier. When I want to subtly contour and add dimension to my skin, I buff a couple of drops over areas where the sun would naturally hit, using a densely-bristled brush – I love MAC’s 170 Synthetic Rounded Slant Brush.
If I’m going for full tan mode, I mix a few drops in with my foundation for a long-lasting, sun-baked glow. Since you only really need a couple of drops each time, the pots last for ages, making them a good value beauty buy for the summer and beyond. As well as getting a good brush, my biggest tip is to seek out matte formulas.
Avoid shimmer at all costs, as it will leave you looking sparkly and metallic, rather than bronzed. And if you really want to bring al fresco joy to your skin, get on board with the – the two tips combined offer instant freshness and luminosity. You’re welcome.
The best liquid bronzers.
