Are the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops Worth the Hype? I Put Them to the Test!

Everyone’s talking about Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops, but do they live up to their reputation? Here’s my honest experience with the Drunk Elephant bronzer drops!

Get “sun-kissed” skin without the sun damage. ☀️

It seems like all of social media is raving about the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops. It’s the hot beauty product that many influencers are branding a “must-have.” Needless to say, it sells out super fast every time it comes back in stock.

Is the product really worth the hype? I had to find out for myself. The first time I saw a bottle available, I snatched one up and put it to the test! Before I jump into my review, here’s what you need to know about the product.

What exactly are the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops?

These drops give you a temporary sun-kissed glow without the skin damage that can happen when sunbathing. The product isn’t generally used like traditional bronzer or contour where you place it on a few specific places on your face. Instead, you’re supposed to mix these drops with a cream, serum, or oil and apply it all over like a self-tanner. The effect is temporary and will wash off at the end of the day.

Many users are ditching their foundation altogether and just using these bronzing drops with moisturizer. It’s no wonder why they are loving this product thanks to the powerhouse ingredients!

Here are a few of the star ingredients:

• Peptides – These promote elasticity and help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Cacao extract – Contains antioxidants to protect against environmental stressors and premature aging.
• Fatty acids, vitamins and oils – These nourish skin and encourage hydration. Two of the major oils used are black currant seed oil and virgin marula oil (listed as Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil on the packaging).
• Chronocyclin – This mimics the antioxidant power of Vitamin D.

The drops also have a skin-friendly 4.8 pH balance and are made without what Drunk Elephant calls “the suspicious 6,” the top ingredients they feel are at the root of common skin issues. That means this product. contains no essential oils, silicones, chemical sunscreens, SLS, fragrances + dyes, or drying alcohols. 🙌

If you’re not familiar with Drunk Elephant, the brand is known for making clean, cruelty-free, vegan products that come in sustainable packaging. The company is an upscale skincare brand so keep that in mind when you see the price tag.

These drops are currently selling at a price of $38 for a 1 fl. oz. bottle!

How to apply Drunk Elephant Bronzer Drops.

To apply the product, add a few drops to your favorite serum, oil, moisturizing cream, or even liquid foundation. Mix it together and apply evenly over your face.

If you still need a little extra glow, I recommend you go back and apply it in the spots you typically would with your bronzer. Do this slowly as using the product alone can sometimes look patchy. The product does have a learning curve so if you decide to buy it, play around with it to find the best application for you.

Here’s what happened when I applied Drunk Elephant Bronzer Drops to my face.

The photo of me on the left is with only moisturizer on and the right is after I combined 3 drops with my foundation and applied the mixture to my whole face:

Here’s how I put them on…

I first tried just mixing the product with my moisturizer and applying the combination. It lacked coverage and I did not like the way that looked. My skin tone appeared uneven and any problem areas were much more prominent. I quickly washed it off and tried again.

The second time, I applied my moisturizer as normal. Then, I added 3 hearty drops of the product into my favorite foundation and mixed it up until my foundation turned a slightly warmer tone. Next, I applied my foundation as I normally would.

My initial impression…

The effect was VERY subtle. It was also a tad orange so I was afraid to add another layer to my whole face. Instead, I squirted a bronzing drop onto my finger and added just a teeny bit to my cheekbones and temples. After blending it out, my face did have that natural, sun-kissed effect that the product promised. The product seemed to work exactly how the company intended, and since I only had to use a little bit of the product each time, I do think a bottle will last a long while.

That being said, the product did not wow me. I truly think a similar product or traditional bronzer could achieve the same effect at a fraction of the cost. I’m not too worried about missing out on the star ingredients as many are found in other skincare products like serums and anti-aging creams.

A heads up for those eczema or sensitive skin…

These drops contain oils and mica as two of the main ingredients. Mica is often used in cosmetics because it helps to blend ingredients together and it also has a light-reflecting quality that can provide a shimmer.

I try to avoid products with a significant amount of mica because dermatologists say that it may irritate sensitive skin or exacerbate acne. This is most likely to occur when used in mineral powder products. These may be liquid drops, but mica has affected my skin health before and according to Healthline, it’s a product to avoid if you have eczema. So far, I haven’t noticed much irritation but I did have some dry patches after using the product.

It’s also worth noting that there is controversy regarding child labor and the mining of mica, so there may be ethical reasons to avoid this ingredient, as well. If you’re worried about ethics or have super sensitive skin, consider skipping the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops and opt for something with little or no mica instead. Also, check out this list of brands that use ethically-sourced mica.

If you do not have sensitive skin, you will probably handle mica just fine. Many people do and it’s considered safe for cosmetic use. It’s actually in a ton of products that you’re probably already using.

Despite some reviewers saying the product clogged their pores, Drunk Elephant says their bronzing drops are appropriate for all skin types including oily complexions. The company conducted a study with 32 people and 87% said their skin still felt smooth and hydrated after using the product for 4 weeks so the product seems to be non-irritating to the majority of users.

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What are the best Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops alternatives?

If you’re not ready to drop $38, don’t sweat it. You can still achieve a sun-kissed look! There are several great products similar to these Drunk Elephant Bronze Drops and they are way more affordable! Here are my top 5 picks:

1. L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion

This super affordable alternative is a hit with many. It’s less orange than Drunk Elephant drops and the price is right. Though it doesn’t contain any mica, it also doesn’t include the peptides or hydrating oils of the Drunk Elephant drops so keep that in mind. It does contain shea butter to lock in moisture and it can be applied alone, under foundation, or on target areas like cheekbones.

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2. Indeed Labs Nanobronze Bronzing Drops

This may be the best alternative for Drunk Elephant bronzing drops. The formula is clean and vegan plus the packaging is sustainable. It’s a tinted serum that works to combat dull skin and it contains cacao extract similar to Drunk Elephant. It’s also supposed to reduce redness over time and protect against environmental stressors. It does contain mica as the 5th ingredient so be aware if you have sensitive skin.

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3. Versed Mood Lighting Luminizing Glow Drops

These glow drops are a vegan and pregnancy-safe option! It feels and acts like a serum and it’s supposed to plump and hydrate your skin thanks to the peptide polyglutamic acid which is similar to hyaluronic acid. It can hold 4000x of its weight in moisture! Plus, this product uses blackberry extract which is high in antioxidants. It does include a minimal amount of mica, but as one of the last ingredients versus one of the top. Reviewers with sensitive skin have rated it highly and seem to be able to use this product without issue.

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4. Saie Super Get Lightweight Dewy Moisturizer

This clean and cruelty-free option contains rose hip oil and vitamin C that provide antioxidants and help brighten and moisturize skin. You can mix it with your skincare, use it as a spot treatment, wear it as a primer, or use it as body shimmer. For a similar effect to the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, I recommend using the Sunglow shade. The Starglow shade is more of an illuminator.

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5. Tanologist Sunless Self-Tanning Drops

Looking for an option that may last a little bit longer? Unlike Drunk Elephant bronzer drops that wash off, these tanning drops last around 48 hours. They have clean ingredients and you mix them with your moisturizer for a natural glow. These mica-free drops contain hydrating ingredients like pink grapefruit and goji berry plus calendula which calms skin. Just be aware that this product has a strong smell.

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Or try one of these highly-rated traditional bronzers…

• 100% Pure Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer – $40
• Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer – $30
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Bronzer – $28
• Well People Supernatural Stick Bronzer – $22
• LYS No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick – $19
• Lush Charisma – $18
• HAN Pressed Powder Cocoa Radiant Bronzer – $18
• Revlon’s SkinLights Prismatic Bronzer – $13.99
• Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Bronzer – $4.99

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My final thoughts on Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops…

I preferred mixing the Drunk Elephant bronzer drops with foundation instead of with just a cream or serum. I also liked the look better when I applied a little extra to my cheekbones and temples.

This product is probably best for those with fair, or light-medium skin tones. I have pretty fair skin and I had to add extra drops to my cheeks just to see the product appear in pictures. I’m afraid these drops might not show up well for those with darker skin. If that’s you, I suggest trying a traditional bronzer like Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer or an affordable foundation like Born to Glow by Nyx.

So, are Drunk Elephant bronzing drops worth the money?

Many people think so. The drops are very highly-rated, have plenty of skin benefits, and users claim one bottle lasts a really long time! If you’re a fan of Drunk Elephant skincare or you love clean, cruelty-free products, and tan-looking skin, then this product might be for you.

Personally, I will not spring for these drops again. For $38, the results were too underwhelming. For that price tag, I wanted to be blown away. Instead, when I looked back at my before and after photos, I had a hard time telling when I was wearing the product. When I could tell, I thought I looked a little orange.

As my moisturizing cream and serum already contain peptides, nourishing ingredients, and vitamins, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the skincare benefits of Drunk Elephant either. I truly believe a similar effect (if not better) can be achieved with a more affordable option and that’s what I plan to buy next time.

If I change my mind, I’ll be sure to update this review!

I’m just one person. Check out these other helpful reviews!

We all have different skin tones, sensitivities, and skill levels when it comes to applying makeup. I wasn’t over the moon with the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops but Hip2Save’s Paige LOVES them and so do thousands of other people! To help you decide if they are worth a try, check out some other reviews.

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