We tried the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops on three different skin tones - and the results were surprising

It's been years since the product launched but the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops reviews still peg the serum as one of the best of its type. and wanted an in-depth rundown of whether they're, you've come to the right place. After thoroughly testing this highly favored liquid bronzer for a week, I can confidently share my thoughts on its formula, glowy bronze effect, and all of the skin benefits and changes I felt and saw. 

While it won't do the job of the best fake tans, the subtley but very warmly pigmented drops are known as a great temporary alternative to some of the best fake tans for the face - bestowing a flattering warm glow that washes off with your cleanser in the evening.

And our team are sold. So, if you're anything like me and curious to know if these bronzing drops actually give you a natural 'sunshine in a bottle' glow and if this buy is worth adding to your skincare routine, then keep reading.

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops review

First impressions

Drunk Elephant is known for aesthetically pleasing and fun packaging. So, the gorgeous white box with a black and white printed interior that landed on my door was no surprise. 

The D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops themselves come in a hard, square-shaped plastic bottle with a bronze-colored twisting cap. The brand posted on Instagram in 2021 about this new packaging. The updated design is supposed to make it easier to dispense the product while being 100% recyclable. Although many of the comments from users are ones begging the brand to bring back the original plastic pump tube, I found the new design easy enough to use. I simply twisted the cap open and squeezed a few drops onto my fingers.

How does it perform?

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This bronzing serum is packed with nourishing ingredients such as cocoa extract that provides antioxidants and soothing benefits, platinum peptides and chronocyclin, another peptide that reduces the appearance of wrinkles, plus vitamins E and F and virgin oils. These ingredients are all formulated to hydrate and protect your skin. 

The skin and beauty brand prides itself on only using skin-benefiting ingredients in all its products and leaving out what they call "the suspicious 6," which are essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). 

When it comes to the drop's formula, I found it to have a silky and water-like texture as with most serums, which is great for layering with makeup and mixing with your best face moisturiser and other skin products, something the brand recommends.

Kenedee Fowler - former Digital Shopping Writer at woman&home

I'm not going to lie. When I first applied this mixture, I was a little disappointed. I didn't see the glowy and bronzed look everyone was raving about. But my face did feel smooth and hydrated. I have a similar complexion to the bronzing drops, and even though the brand claims it works for every skin tone, the bronze effect may be more prominent on fairer complexions. 

But after wearing this product throughout the week, while going to an outdoor festival, lounging around the house, running errands, and applying it as a base to my best foundation, I started to notice a sun-kissed glow. Plus, my skin felt so soft and buttery to the point I couldn't believe it was my face I was touching. Looking at the photos, you might not see a huge difference between the before and after. But, in real life and looking in the mirror, I can definitely tell how much more hydrated and glowy my face looks. 

And how does it wear throughout the day? After the first few hours, the drops start to absorb and give a natural glow from within, which I feel the moisturiser plays a role in. It's important to note that this works more like a serum and tinted moisturiser than a concealer or foundation. So if you want to cover dark spots or circles, I recommend using this as a base under your foundation for a more hydrating makeup look.

Aleesha Badkar, Beauty eComm Editor at woman&home

Like Kenedee, I was a bit underwhelmed on first application, but throughout the day, I did notice the extra warmth to my skin, making it look like I'd just caught the sun in all the right places.

Whether I wear it alone with moisturiser or under a skin tint or foundation, it adds a very subtle and very flattering warmth that I've come to love.

Fiona Mckim, Beauty Channel Editor at woman&home

All I can say is, when I wear this everyone tells me how glowy I look!

How to use Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops

The brand suggests using the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops with any moisturiser, serum, oil, or even your best facial sunscreen - I opted for Drunk Elephant's Protini Polypeptide Cream. This cream is formulated to restore younger-looking skin and reduce any lines, wrinkles, and signs of sun damage. I added a few bronzing drops to the Protini cream, mixed the two, and then applied it to my face using my hands, just like I normally would with a face moisturiser.

Drunk Elephant makes it known that this is an all-over liquid bronzer. Giving you the option to apply it to your legs, arms, shoulders, and chest just like you would with fake tan.

How does it compare?

While the serum made a big splash when it landed a few years, it's not the only one of its kind. A great competitor is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops Tinted Serum, which acts less like a fake tan and more like a glowy finishing serum.

Boasting niacinamide, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid and watermelon, it acts more like skincare than the Drunk Elephant does, making for a more hydrating product - so definitely a good option for those with dry skin. And at £3 less for 10ml more, you get a bit more for your money too. It won't leave you with a natural-looking tan like the D-Bronzi drops, but it does have a warm, glowy finish that'll give them a run for their money.

Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops review: W&H verdict

Now for the big question of my Drunk Elephant bronzing drops review, are they like sunshine in a bottle? In short, yes. I did notice my skin appeared warmer, more glowy, and hydrated. I loved being able to moisturise and protect my skin with my usual skincare while achieving a subtle 'suntan' look. 

I usually get oily in the area of my T-zone, but even with the peptide cream, I didn't experience excessive oil, just a natural moisturised glow. So whether you have combination skin, oily, or dry skin, these drops should work for all skin types.

Even across the different skin tones of our team, the drops held up. Each skin tone with a warmer, natural tanned-looking finish that was subtly noticeable. However, I would prefer a darker shade option to be available so that I could get a more obvious bronzed effect on my darker skin tone.

So, should you add the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops to your cart? If £35 is in your beauty budget, I would. The brand does deliver what they promise via a vacation-like glow without consequences on the skin.