Glowing skin is always in, which is why bronzing drops are on the rise. Case in point.
Unpopular opinion, but I don’t rush to beauty aisles to pick up self-tanning products. Nuh-uh, my skin is far too sensitive and far too fair to want to risk it to be sun-kissed. With dry skin added to the mix, powder bronzers are a dime a dozen.
The new, natural-bronze-goddess quick fix? The e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops that’ll only cost you a dozen $1 bills.
You can say the new April 2024 *drop* (ha!) is one I’m all about. Like the rest of TikTok who has been singing bronzing drops’ praises en masse in nearly every video on my FYP, I nearly fainted when I heard the news that one of my favorite drugstore beauty brands — one that’s actually freaking awesome — forayed into the easy-to-apply, versatile liquid bronzing space.
RELATED: e.l.f. Cosmetics review
“Our community has been begging us for bronzing drops, and now it’s time to glisten up!” Nicole Faulkner, aka, “Lipsticknick,” senior director of artistry and events at e.l.f — an Emmy award-winning professional makeup artist, educator, and influencer with more than 15 years experience in the beauty world, exclusively told the New York Post. “Bronzing Drops, our bronze-in-a-bottle serum, comes in three inclusive shades to create a warm, sun-kissed complexion and delivers antioxidants to help soothe and nourish the skin, all at an accessible price point of $12.”
e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops
Pros:
- Formulated with antioxidants to help reduce UV damage and stimulate collagen and elastin production, per a 2017 study
- Offers a rich, natural bronze that’s buildable, working well on fair skin especially
- Budget-friendly price, allowing it to be reachable for most shoppers
- Non-comedogenic, thanks to the addition of sunflower seed oil, so it won’t clog pores and is advantageous on acne-prone skin
Cons:
- Does not dispense out of the bottle in the most elegant way when dropping them onto your hand instead of directly on the face (though not a dealbreaker); for best results, shake the bottle before each use
- Takes a bit longer to blend into the skin on areas where you may experience hyperpigmentation
The e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops are available in a trifecta of colors: Copper Gold, Pure Gold and Rose Gold. Copper Gold is apt for medium to rich skin tones, Pure Gold is beneficial to light and tan skin tones and Rose Gold is chief for fair to medium skin tones. However, all skin tones can benefit from all shades as each is buildable and can, essentially, double as a highlighter or a darker contour.
“We’re launching with three warm shades — Copper Gold, Pure Gold and Rose Gold — so everyone can get the glow,” Faulkner noted. “Your skin (and your wallet!) will also thank you because our bronzing drops are available at just $12, whereas other options on the market can run you close to $40!”
This comes at no surprise because e.l.f. SKIN has always been committed to offering premium-quality skincare at OMG prices, that are clean, cruelty-free, vegan and made in Fair Trade Certified factories. “We made sure this launch would be an epic addition to any skincare routine,” she added.
Our review
You’ve likely heard of the brand through TikTok or by word-of-mouth: “Have you tried this drugstore brand?! It’s so good!” Even e.l.f. Cosmetics itself knows its hype is well-deserved, propelling its dynamic team of beauty enthusiasts from debuting rockstar product after rockstar product.
“Our products are top-quality and really speak for themselves, but our community always takes it to the next level by organically sharing and quickly propelling us to viral status,” Faulkner said, commenting on how the brand has seen an uptick in its TikTok-viral orb. “Our community is hyper-engaged, and we know our commitment to premium quality, inclusivity and accessibility resonates strongly with them. Our team also works hard behind the scenes to strategically create and pulse out engaging content that is on-trend and drives engagement with our community and beyond.”
I’m no novice to the world of cream makeup products. In fact, a select few good ones that I’ve been using for months, like the Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops and the MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush in the “Beverly Hills” shade, encouraged me to try cream bronzer once and for all.
When unboxing the three shades of the Bronzing Drops that I practically ran to the FedEx truck for, I instantly loved the packing and size. The tube fits completely in the palm of my hand, allowing it to be a phenomenal travel beauty item that I’ll surely be taking with me on my upcoming vacations. Not to mention, I instantly knew I’d be tossing it into my beach bag for lounging by the pool or reapplying for a quick after-pool touch-up.
“The natural, glowy ‘no makeup’ makeup look is one of the reasons why bronzing drops are surging in popularity; they provide an easy way to achieve an effortless, radiant complexion,” Faulkner explained. “Opposed to other bronzing products, bronzing drops offer a customizable approach to bronzing, allowing users to control the intensity of their tan with just a few drops mixed into their existing skincare or makeup routine. It’s also one of the ways to get that bronzed glow without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays.”
How I apply the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops
Beyond the instant glow I noticed in just a few seconds, the $12 product layers beautifully atop the skin. After my go-to routine of using a creamy cleanser, vitamin C serum and a eye cream, I mix in the Bronzing Drops with either Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Cream ($69) or Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream with TFC8 ($300) and it looks beyond captivating. From the natural glow to the dewy moisturizing look, the affordable Bronzing Drops are *chef’s kiss*.
How to apply? You can either dispense the new bronze formulation directly onto your face or on the backside of your hand to cocktail it with a moisturizer, thanks to its ergonomic nozzle that spews out your one-way ticket to Golden City. What’s great about these drops, unlike some I’ve used from a brand known for a humungous wildlife animal (you know what I’m getting at), the formulation isn’t as runny and, as a result, stays put on your skin until you decide where and how you’d like to blend it.
While the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops require a bit more rubs into my cheekbones, forehead or chin area to fully absorb, the result is eye-catching and one you’ll want to replicate ten times over. Pro tip: I’d avoid applying the product to some areas of the face where you may experience hyperpigmentation; because my skin is so dry, my jawline was a spot I didn’t find the product to be all too flattering — unlike the hollows of my cheeks — though I still blended the product with my fingers to my neck area before moving on to additional products.
One of the best parts about the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops is that you don’t necessarily need additional products to make your skin look elf-ing amazing (sorry, I had to). Especially when the temps rise to more summertime weather, I’ll be dolloping on some bronzing drops ahead of my facial sunscreen, with my most-used option for every day being the e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($14). It’s a budget-friendly alternative to some other brands that end in an exclamation point, BTW.
Better yet, the Bronzing Drops are incredibly pigmented without being goopy or too contrasting on fair skin tones. The Copper Gold shade, while designed with medium to rich skin tones, just so happens to be my favorite of the three shades, a true testament to how well the product looks once blended.
I also love using the Bronzing Drops following my loose powder if I’m going full glam for the evening because, after all, why can’t you be sun-kissed and feeling a bit more confident with a golden tan at night? Once I dust off the Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder in the “Translucent” shade ($38) or my new favorite HUDA BEAUTY Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder in the “Cherry Blossom” shade ($38) that’s unreal for pink undertones, I drop some of e.l.f Cosmetics’ bronzing magic to my skin. The result is spectacular.
To continue with my go-to makeup look after e.l.f. Cosmetics’ latest bronzer addition, I’ll top the apples of my cheeks with the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush in the “52 Ecstasy” shade ($39). At this point, I find that I don’t really need a highlighter but, if you’re looking to add a bit more pizzazz to your final look, I recommend either the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Seeker Champagne Gold Powder Highlighter in the “Sun Idol” shade ($38) or the as-seen-everywhere-on-TikTok Benefit Cosmetics Cookie Highlighter ($35).
The formulation
The formulation of the Bronzing Drops is one that glowed my mind. It skews more on the side of a tinted serum than a physical bronzer because of how you’ll achieve that second-skin look flawlessly. It’s apparent that the brand intended for its newer launch to be mixed with other skincare products or to enhance your makeup. Either way, you can’t hold me back from these $12 drops for too long.
“We recommend adding one to three drops to your favorite oil or moisturizer (our Holy Hydration! Face Cream is a great option),” Faulker tipped off. “Mixing them allows for a flexible glow, with the option to adjust the intensity by adding more drops for a deeper bronze.”
What’s more, I love the addition of sunflower oil. Because it’s ‘non-comedogenic, it won’t clog your pores and is advantageous on acne-prone skin. It also nourishes and moisturizes the skin with antioxidant-rich vitamin E. And yes, the sunflower oil is rich in antioxidants as well.
“Our Bronzing Drops feature an antioxidant-rich formula infused with vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, plus marula oil and raspberry seed oil to nourish skin with each wear,” Faulkner listed. “Additionally, they’re perfect for a variety of skin types including oily, dry, and combination skin.”
Oh, and because everyone raves about antioxidants not only for your skin health but for your nutritional health, I decided to do my own research on the benefits for the skin. According to a 2017 study published by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, using products formulated with antioxidants helps reduce UV damage, stimulate collagen and elastin production and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The bottom line
The e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops are a staple in anyone’s beauty trove. Interestingly, I use and enjoy them more than the TikTok-viral Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand ($9) the brand previously set forth on the market. The all-over glow is buildable, customizable and available in three colors to experiment with.
It’s important to note that, depending on your skin tone, you may need more or less of the product, let alone find another shade works best for you. That’s another reason why the product coming at a $12 price point is fantastic; I can use Copper Gold as bronzing drops for my entire face, while Rose Gold can double as a highlighter. In essence, the quality, skincare nourishment and final natural bronze look is one I’ve never experienced — for the price — from any other brand.
How we tested
Because the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops recently launched, the Post Wanted team was lucky enough to be sent products from the brand in advance of its inaugural drop. As soon as I was able to get my hands on it — and drop it all over my face — I haven’t stopped.
First, I began by testing each shade all over my face using the skincare routine I described in the review: cleanser, vitamin C serum, eye cream and then mixing in the new Bronzing Drops to my moisturizer of choice. I also tested the bronzing drops a fair amount without the vitamin C serum, as I wanted to see if the e.l.f. Cosmetics resulting glow was a direct cause of using the Bronzing Drops.
Additionally, I used the bronzing drops following my loose powder to see how it worked into a makeup routine, as it has a tinted moisturizer feel. To top it off, I swatched the product multiple times on my hand, took note of if it budged throughout the day (it didn’t) and then felt confident and well-versed enough to formulate a well-rounded review.
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest and greatest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include reviewing the viral Korean beauty brand, Cosrx, and testing dermatologist-recommended acne cleansers. Victoria has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.
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