Belinda Bennett
Jun 19, 2022
Updated: Jan 11
If money is a bit tight and your face is lacking a summer glow, tanning drops are a quick and inexpensive route to that goddess look.
Of all the self-tan products on the market, this one is the easiest to use. You can achieve a perfect tan in your sleep. I'm not kidding.
So, whether you want to go all-out bronze or simply take the edge off a pasty complexion, these serums - yes, serums - are a great buy.
For this feature, I tested Revolution's Brighten Tanning Serum. The aim was to take my very fair skin a few shades darker for the holiday season.
This is what I discovered...
If you only want to bronze-up your face and neck, why splash out on a spray tan? Tanning drops will last longer and give you more control over the depth colour. What's more, you can achieve a tan in the comfort of your own home - without having to make a journey or strip off in front of a stranger.
Generally, you can expect a spray tan to last for around a week. One bottle of tanning drops could last you as long as a month.
Self-tan drops are nothing like the tanning creams of yesteryear. For a start, they smell great. And you won't find marks on your pillow in the morning. This is the fuss-free way to get an all-year-round glow.
Ever woken up looking like you have been Tangoed? Me too! Well, tanning drops will save you that worry. They allow you to build a tan gradually over the course of few days to a week. You are in charge. You can stop and start using this product to maintain your perfect level of colour.
Because tanning drops work gradually, the tan is buildable. That means you can achieve a deeper tan simply by continuing to apply it. The product comes in a dropper bottle, giving you complete control over how much product is used in each application.
Self-tan drops deliver an even, streak-free tan. What's more, the product will not settle in pores. If you have combination skin or are prone to blackheads, this is great news.
Tanning drops are applied as part of a skincare routine. Simply use it in the same way as a serum.
Because the active ingredient, DHA, is in a serum, beauty brands have been quick to ensure products deliver more than a tan. Many come with great added extras, like Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin E and even Aloe Vera.
I have had some disastrous encounters with tanning products in the past. It's the curse of having a complexion that is a whiter shade of pale. Legs that looked like streaky bacon was nowhere near my worst experience. I've looked orange. I have resembled a new potato that has been rolled in Bisto. Once, the outcome was so bad that I had to have a professional facial. That unexpected expense was the result of a self-tanning lotion that decided to settle in every pore on my nose. I woke up one morning peppered with unsightly black dots.
Oh, the lure of that golden goddess look... Another time, I was on holiday at a spa hotel in Torquay and decided to have a spray tan between checking out and driving back to Dorset. Big mistake. The person doing the spray tan was tall, blonde, beautiful and young - which, to be honest, made me feel uncomfortable. Well, old.
Having to strip off and step into paper undies, turn this way and turn that way... It was humiliating. Afterwards, I had to hang around in a loose robe to ensure the tanning solution was dry before I got dressed. It was all to no avail. I ended up looking like I'd spent the weekend on a Commando course. And by the time I realised, I was 50 miles away.
As you can imagine, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the new kid on the block (tanning drops). I assumed they would be almost the same as self-tan lotions. I imagined a horrible, lingering smell, a mess everywhere and the almost obligatory streaks.
What a pleasant surprise I was in for!
I decided to use the product at night and, according to the the brand's marketing, could expect to build a tan over a week. That first night, the end of the week couldn't come soon enough!
This product is a proper serum. It is clear, effortless to apply and smells amazing. I decided to exfoliate my skin in the mornings, so the drops were fitted into my evening schedule between gentle cleansing and moisturising. I noticed a difference after the first use.
Unfortunately, temptation got the better of me... The second night, I applied the drops after cleansing but did not use a moisturiser. I waited half an hour and applied some more. I woke up in the middle of the night and, oops!, did it again. The following morning, I woke up very bronzed indeed. A little too bronzed. I noticed people doing a double-take when they clapped eyes on me at work.
After laying off the tanning serum for a night, the colour was just right. I have worked out that, for me, I only need to use a few drops before applying moisturiser.
Revolution Beauty's Brighten Tanning Serum retails at around £11.99. It is sold in a 30ml dropper bottle. I purchased this product. Alternative brands include Skinny Tan and Isle of Paradise.
Tanning drops are a good alternative to the traditional spray tan and messy tanning lotions. Customisable, they let you decide just how much you want to glow. With sunbathing a complete no-no due to the damaging effects of UV, it is great to know there is an affordable and reliable option now available.