Sick of sacrificing your skin to achieve a faux facial glow? Then don’t! Designed to be mixed into your favourite moisturiser, our Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops deliver a gorgeous, customisable tan without drying the skin, clogging pores or causing breakouts. Hydrating, alcohol-free and non-comedogenic, the hyaluronic acid-infused drops play nicely with most moisturisers – but we’d be lying if we said they don’t have favourites.
So, to make sure you’re getting the most from your Bronzing Face Drops, read on. We’ve picked the best moisturisers to pair with our little drops of liquid sunshine for plump, soft, hydrated skin – and a supercharged glow that goes on and on!
(Pssst. Not sure exactly how to get started with tanning drops? Read this article on everything you need to know about using Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops first.)
Pick #1: Sand & Sky Tasmanian Spring Water Hydration Boost Cream
Teamwork makes the dream work, and this duo is the ultimate tag team for a fresh, glowy look! Packed with powerful aquatic ingredients, the Tasmanian Spring Water Hydration Boost Cream from cult skincare brand Sand & Sky is the ultimate hydrator. With naturally occurring minerals and antioxidants, Tasmanian Spring Water helps to strengthen the skin barrier, fight pollution and boost natural radiance, as red algae extract eliminates dryness, and fermented sea kelp smooths wrinkles and supercharges repair.
Sound pretty amazing? Well, then you’ll be chuffed to know the refreshing gel-cream formula blends beautifully with our drops! Bursting with complementary ingredients, both formulas are water-based, which means they mix together perfectly, glide on smoothly and absorb instantly for the ultimate hydration hit. Both prods are also infused with multiple types of hyaluronic acid (5 in the tan drops, 2 in the moisturiser) – and these work at different levels to supercharge hydration and leave skin soft, supple and naturally radiant!
While the Hydration Boost Cream is full of goodness, it’s also totally free of common tan-faders, such as AHAs, salicylic acid and retinol. So, you can quit worrying about your moisturiser gobbling up your glow.
And guess what? We’ve paired up with Sand & Sky to give you the all-new Glowy Face Tan Set – including your favourite tanning face drops and the latest A-Beauty moisturising sensation!
Pick #2: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Want to revitalise and firm your skin while boosting its glow? Then pair your tanning drops with Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Cream. Like a protein shake for the face, this award-winning protein moisturiser strengthens and tones the skin, while also moisturising (duh) and helping reduce signs of sun damage. An ideal addition to any anti-ageing arsenal, it’s full of high-performing exotic ingredients like antioxidant-rich Pygmy Waterlily Stem Cell Extract.
However, the hands-down hero of the formula is the signal peptide complex – a power ingredient boasting nine signal peptides that bind moisture to the skin. Simply mix in your Sunny Honey Face Drops as often as needed for a plumper, bouncier and beautifully bronzed complexion.
Pick #3: CeraVe Moisturising Cream
You don’t always have to spend up big for great results, and this budget-friendly moisturiser from CeraVe is perfect for parched, sensitive skin. Packed with ceramides – the lipids (fats) that occur naturally in the skin and constitute 50% of its barrier – the rich, gentle formula helps strengthen and nourish the skin for a healthier, smoother appearance. Especially when paired with our facial tanning drops!
Alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid, the moisturiser contains a unique blend of skin barrier-boosting ceramides to help seal moisture in, and lock impurities out. And, while rich, you can rest assured that it’s fast absorbing, non-greasy and easy to mix.
Pick #4: Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream
On the more luxurious end of the scale, there’s Sunday Riley’s Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream. Rich in those trusty barrier-boosting ceramides, this luscious but lightweight cream helps to hydrate skin and lock in moisture, eliminating any dry-skin discomfort. As Vitamin F boosts lipid levels, coconut reduces water loss, beetroot extract smooths, and red algae extract locks in hydration. Packed with antioxidants, pomegranate sterols quench and protect thirsty skin, for smooth, radiant and youthful results. Go on, give it a glow!
Pick #5: The INKEY List Peptide Moisturiser
Rounding out our Bronzing Face Drops-friendly moisturiser list is another winner from The INKEY List. Packed with hydrating peptides, the Peptide Moisturiser is a downright saviour for dry, depleted skin, or anyone concerned with signs of ageing. Supporting natural skin-plumping collagen and boosting hydration, it helps to reduce wrinkles for a youthful, smooth and comfortable complexion.
Our recommendation? Use at night* with 2-3 tanning drops mixed in, and experience newfound radiance by morning.
* Tan drops can be used morning or night, but they do take a few hours to develop. We therefore suggest applying in the PM, so no product will melt off at the gym, or rub off when you apply makeup.
Moisturising Ingredients to Boost Your Glow Further (Plus Others to Avoid)
Moisturiser ingredients that help to hydrate, smooth and promote a glowing complexion work well with tanning drops. Specifically, we recommend looking out for moisturisers that contain:
- Antioxidants – by neutralising free radicals (formed thanks to things like pollution, smoke and UV radiation) antioxidants help to brighten the skin the prevent premature ageing.
- Hyaluronic acid – drawing moisture to the surface of the skin, HA is a highly prized hydrator that helps keep skin healthy and supple.
- Peptides – these short chains of amino acids are the building blocks of collagen, elastin and other proteins in the skin. Signalling the skin cells to perform a range of important functions, they promote a plump, smooth, calm and hydrated complexion.
- Ceramides – particularly beneficial for dry and sensitive skin, ceramides are lipids (fats) that occur in the top layers of skin and make up 50% of the skin barrier. In skincare, lipids help to strengthen the skin, reduce dryness and prevent irritation.
While these guys are winners, ingredients that chemically exfoliate the skin are best avoided if you want an even, long lasting facial tan. This means steering clear of AHAs such as glycolic or lactic acid, and salicylic acid – a BHA that is common in products for acne-prone skin. Accelerating skin renewal, products containing retinol can also fast-track your fade.
If you can’t avoid these ingredients (exfoliation is, after all, super important for a clear, smooth complexion!), ensure you top up your tan more regularly for an even, streak-free glow.
Top up Your Facial Tan with Tanning Drops
Fact: Fake tan on the face tends to fade faster due to twice daily cleansing and the use of active skincare ingredients like AHAs. If you’re working out daily, you might also be washing your face more often – further fast-tracking the fade.
To make sure your face matches the skin on your neck and body, tanning drops are your BFF. Simply add 2-3 drops of our hydrating Bronzing Face Drops to your moisturiser (ideally at night) for a natural, buildable glow that keeps going.
Check out tan guides & tips here!
Written by: Pip Jarvis
Edited By: Vidhya
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