The best bronzing drops for a summer glow, according to celebrities

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For stars and their glam squads, bronzing drops are the new gold standard for getting a sun-kissed glow sans harmful UV rays.

Unlike traditional powder alternatives, the luminous liquid formulas are designed to mix seamlessly with skincare or makeup for an added radiance boost.

Below, we’ve spotlighted seven top options, all approved by celebrities and star makeup artists — from Kendall Jenner’s drugstore beauty must-have to Gayle King’s Sports Illustrated shoot secret.

(And if it’s a full-body bronze you’re after, be sure to check out our guide to the best self-tanning sprays, too.)

Best overall: Saie Glowy Super Gel

Stars like Kristen Bell swear by Saie’s tinted moisturizer, so its perhaps no surprise the clean beauty brand packs a punch in the bronzer department, too. Sold in two shimmering shades, its lightweight formula’s designed to “feel like nothing and look like everything” — whether mixed with foundation or applied on the collarbones, chest, shoulders or legs.

While this particular formula has yet to pop up on celebrities’ Instagram grids, it’s only a matter of time; Gwyneth Paltrow’s such a Saie fan, she even invested in the brand.

Page Six Style’s review: “As a pale person, I’ve always been wary of bronzing drops and feared that adding any pigment would make my face much darker (and more orange) than my body. However, I recently tried out [this] super-lightweight luminizer packed with skincare ingredients — in Sunglow — and was shocked at how thin, even and glowy the product was. It feels like nothing beneath my makeup but adds just enough color to look like I have a Healthy tan, not an Oompa Loompa audition.” — Melissa Minton, Page Six Style Senior Writer/Editor

Best TikTok pick: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops

Want to get ready like Alix Earle? The social media sensation’s used Drunk Elephant’s viral sunshine drops in several of her “GRWM” videos, including one where she showcased her glam routine for a night out in Miami.

Tate McRae is also a fan of the formula — which contains hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants — and featured it in her recent Vogue “Beauty Secrets” breakdown.

Best drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion

Ahead of red carpets, applying this luminous formula is a must-do — or should we say, must-dew? — for stars like Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria and Coco Jones.

Martha Stewart’s makeup artist Daisy Foye told People she uses the formula “every day” on the lifestyle icon, including for her history-making Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot.

“It’s how she gets that dewy look, like she just got a facial,” she added. “I’m obsessed with it.”

Shoppers are equally obsessed; Lumi Glotion’s racked up a 4.6-star rating out of over 37,670 largely glowing Amazon reviews. (Plus, according to the brand, a bottle is sold every 14 seconds.)

Best serum: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops

Nothing says summer quite like a fresh slice of watermelon. And for some, these watermelon-scented glow drops are just as synonymous with warm weather.

They’ve earned a 4-star rating out of over 1,000 Sephora reviews — plus a glowing TikTok endorsement from self-proclaimed “accidental beauty influencer” Bethenny Frankel.

The podcast host dubbed them the “best bronzing drops, period,” raving that they “go on just like a bouncy hydrating serum … you’re instantly more tan and glowy.”

“I look like I just went on a vacation in 10 seconds; these are excellent,” Frankel added of the drops, noting that they don’t need to be mixed with moisturizer or makeup.

Best bronzing wand: Dolce Glow Contour Sculpt + Glow Self-Tanner Stick

While not applied by the drop like others on this list, Dolce Glow‘s new self-tanning contour stick provides a similar bronzed boost with a far more targeted application. Created by celebrity spray tan artist Isabel Alysa — a longtime go-to for the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and brand investor Miley Cyrus — the formula functions as self-tanner, bronzer and contour all-in-one.

Hailey Bieber’s already a fan, as she swiped some on as part of her “peachy beachy summer makeup” look in a recent YouTube video.

Best for mixing with moisturizer: Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops

To get Gayle King glowing for her 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover shoot, makeup artist RaeDawn told Page Six Style she applied this luminous formula all over as body makeup.

While she mixed it with her brand’s Balaeyon Dew Revive Stick ($28) — which once appeared on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list — it can also shine on its own.

Best vitamin C: Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded Drops

Makeup artist Gucci Westman spent decades working with stars like Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston before launching her own beauty brand — and it’s no surprise the products are a huge hit with celebs.

Packed with ingredients like Vitamin C and antioxidants, this “complexion enhancer” does double duty as skincare — and can be tapped onto the high points of the face for a midday glow boost.

Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping

This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable Celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carPet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.