Do Tanning Drops Work? My Honest Tropic Sun Drops Review

So, do tanning drops actually work? Yes, they do, and after several months of using Tropic Sun Drops I’m still reaching for the bottle most mornings. If you’re after a natural, buildable glow without the orange disasters of traditional fake tan, these are well worth a look. But there’s more to it than that, so let me explain properly.

Being pale of skin and being cursed with looking like I’ve been freshly dug up of a morning, I’ve had a vested interest in all things tanning since my teens. Tanning drops came onto my radar last year, and with a Tropic seller alive and kicking in my street WhatsApp group, I decided to take the plunge and try Tropic Sun Drops.

After putting these through their paces for the past month (and documenting every step of the journey), I’m here to give you the lowdown as to whether or not these little bottles of liquid sunshine live up to the hype.

What Are Tanning Drops Anyway?

Before I share my experience, let’s clear up what we’re actually talking about here. Tanning drops are essentially concentrated self-tanning serums that you mix with your regular moisturiser to create a customised tan. Think of them as the middle child between gradual tanning moisturisers and proper fake tan, they give you more control than the former but are way less faff than the latter.

The clever bit about Tropic’s Sun Drops is that they contain something called plant allo-melanin, which basically mimics your skin’s natural pigment production. It’s supposed to be like your skin is having a lovely conversation with the tan, rather than being slapped with a coat of orange paint (we’ve all been there, haven’t we?).

My  Tropic Sun Drops Before and After Photos

This is me on day one, looking like I’ve spent the entire British summer indoors (which, let’s be honest, I probably had). My skin was its usual pale self, not necessarily a bad thing, but I was craving that healthy glow you get after a week in the Med.

The above photo shows me after only an hour of applying the tanning drops with my moisturiser. I think you can already see a slight glow kicking in? This is obviously before applying any make up.

And here I am at the end of the day! I’m genuinely shocked at how natural this looks. I’m wearing nothing on my skin (so not my usual foundation) apart from some highlighter and a sweep of blusher. There’s no harsh line at my hairline, no orange undertones, and most importantly, I think it actually looks like I’ve caught some sun rather than fallen face first into a packet of Haribo Tangfastics. Along with the tanning drops, I do also use some bronzing make up, such as either Benefit Hoola or ELF Bronzing drops.

How Long Do Tanning Drops Take to Work?

This was probably my biggest question going in. With three kids and approximately 2.5 minutes to myself each morning, I needed something that would work without requiring me to set my alarm for 4am.

The realistic timeline looks something like this:

• First 2 to 4 hours: Honestly, not much to report, but a slight glow happening. Maybe a tiny hint if you squint in good lighting?
• 8 to 10 hours: This is when things start getting interesting, you’ll notice a subtle warmth to your skin
• 24 hours: The real magic happens here. You wake up looking like you’ve had a proper night’s sleep!

How Long Do Tropic Sun Drops Take to Work Specifically?

Now, Tropic claims their drops start working within 10 hours, and I’d say that’s pretty bang on, though I think they actually start working sooner. I applied mine as part of my morning routine, and within a few hours there was definitely a noticeable difference. Not dramatic, we’re talking subtle glow rather than Marbella bronze, but enough that one of my clients actually commented on how well I looked.

The full colour development took until the end of the day for me (so again, quicker than stated), and I was being quite cautious with the amount I was using. If you’re braver than me (or naturally darker), you might see faster results if you use more.

How to Use Tanning Drops Properly

How to Use Tanning Drops Properly

Right, this is where I went a bit wrong initially, so learn from my mistakes! Here’s what actually works:

My preferred method:

1. Do your normal skincare routine up to moisturiser
2. Pop your usual amount of moisturiser on the back of your hand (I’ve used Nivea Soft Cream for years!)
3. Add 2 to 3 drops of the Sun Drops (seriously, start small, though I actually use quite a bit more now as I like the slightly darker colour!)
4. Mix them together with your finger
5. Apply to face, neck and décolletage as you normally would
6. Wash your hands immediately, trust me on this one!

Some people prefer applying in the morning, and I personally found this worked better for me, although you could apply in the evening as part of your usual skincare routine. I didn’t find that it interfered with my make up particularly, so it’s personal preference as to when you apply the tanning drops.

The consistency is quite thin and serum like, so it mixes beautifully with pretty much any moisturiser. I’ve used it with my trusty Nivea Soft, and it worked fine.

What’s the Difference Between Oral Tanning Drops and Serum Drops?

There can be quite a lot of confusion when it comes to this, so let me clear it up because it’s actually quite important.

Serum or topical tanning drops, like Tropic’s, are applied directly to your skin mixed with moisturiser. They work by temporarily staining the surface layer of your skin, and results are visible within hours to days. They’re completely safe and widely available.

Oral tanning drop supplements are pills or liquids you take by mouth, usually containing ingredients like beta carotene or other carotenoids. They work from the inside out by affecting your natural pigmentation, take weeks or months to show results, and are more controversial, so they need a bit more research into safety before you try them.

Tropic Sun Drops are definitely the topical variety, you’re not drinking anything here! They work purely on the surface of your skin, which is why the results are both quick and temporary.

Tropic Fake Tan vs Tropic Sun Drops, Which Should You Choose?

If you’re standing in front of the Tropic range wondering whether to go for the Sun Drops or one of the full body fake tan products, here’s how I’d break it down.

Sun Drops are designed for your face, neck and décolletage. They’re not really built for covering your arms, legs or anywhere else you’d normally fake tan. If you want a subtle, everyday glow for the school run, work, or just looking a bit less like a ghost in winter, the drops are brilliant for exactly that. They mix into your existing moisturiser, so there’s no extra step in your routine, no mitts, no waiting around for it to dry before you get dressed.

A full body fake tan, on the other hand, is what you’d reach for if you’ve got a holiday, a wedding, or an event where you want your face to match the rest of you. It’s more of a ritual, exfoliating beforehand, applying with a mitt, waiting to develop, and it gives you a much deeper, more even colour across your whole body.

For me, the two aren’t really competing products, they’re solving different problems. I keep the Sun Drops in my everyday routine for that lived in glow, and if I’m jetting off somewhere I’ll do a proper full body tan a day or two before we go so my face and body match. If you only want one or the other, think about whether you’re after a daily subtle lift (Sun Drops) or a head to toe holiday glow (full body fake tan).

Common Mistakes When Using Tanning Drops (That I Definitely Made)

Let me save you from my rookie errors:

Mistake 1: Going heavy handed on day one. I was so excited that I used about 5 drops on my first go. Big mistake. I looked like I’d been slapped with a biscuit. Start with 2 to 3 drops, always.

Mistake 2: Not mixing properly. Just adding drops to your face and rubbing them in equals patchy disaster. Always mix with moisturiser first on the back of your hand.

Mistake 3: Forgetting my neck. Classic rookie error. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a tan coloured face mask. Always extend down your neck and décolletage.

Mistake 4: Orange palms. I got cocky and didn’t wash my hands properly after the first application. Spent the next day explaining to everyone why my palms looked like I’d been eating Wotsits with my bare hands.

Mistake 5: Expecting instant results. These aren’t filters, people! It takes time to develop.

What I Love About Tropic Sun Drops

The natural caramel guide colour: this is genius! The drops have a slight caramel tint so you can actually see where you’re applying them. No more missing patches or uneven application.

The scent: unlike some fake tans that smell like someone’s opened a tin of biscuits in a chemistry lab, these have a lovely tropical scent. Very subtle, not overpowering.

Buildable results: you’re in complete control. Want just a hint of colour? Stick to 2 drops. Feeling brave? Go up to 4 or 5. It’s like having a bespoke tan service in a bottle.

Skin benefits: the formula contains passion fruit, coconut water and aloe vera, so it’s actually doing your skin some good while it’s tanning you. My skin felt softer and looked brighter even beyond the tan.

No streaks: honestly, this was my biggest fear. I’ve had some disasters with fake tan in the past (don’t even get me started on the time I looked like a zebra for my friend’s wedding). But these blended seamlessly.

What Could Be Better

The price: at £22, they’re not cheap. You can get tanning drops for a fiver from the drugstore. That said, a little goes a long way, the bottle has lasted me months and I’ve barely made a dent in it.

The learning curve: it took me a few tries to get the amount right. The first couple of applications were either too subtle or too much.

Temporary results: this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the tan does fade quite quickly. You need to keep topping up every few days to maintain the colour.

What’s Changed Since I First Tried These

I first wrote this review back in September, and I’m still using the same bottle now, which tells you everything you need to know about how far 2 to 3 drops a day actually goes. Through autumn and winter, when I’ve had a lot less natural colour to begin with, I found I needed slightly more drops to get the same effect as I did over summer, probably 3 to 4 rather than 2 to 3. The guide colour has been a genuine lifesaver on darker mornings when I’m applying it half asleep before the school run.

My eldest actually pinched a few drops of mine before her school disco recently, much to my horror when I went to do my own face the next morning and the bottle felt suspiciously light! It survived being shared between us though, which says something about how forgiving the formula is even when someone else is having a go with it for the first time.

How Tropic Sun Drops Compare to Other Tanning Drops

I know what you are really wondering – how do these stack up against the other tanning drops out there? Here is how Tropic compares to some of the most popular options on the market.

Feature	Tropic Sun Drops	Tan-Luxe The Face	Isle of Paradise Drops
Price	22 GBP	35 GBP	20 GBP
Size	30ml	30ml	30ml
Shade options	One universal shade	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark
Vegan	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guide colour	Yes, caramel tint	No	Yes, colour-coded
Best for	Natural glow, sensitive skin	Customisable depth	Colour-correcting
Available at	Tropic ambassadors	Boots, Lookfantastic	Boots, Superdrug

What sets Tropic apart for me is the guide colour – being able to see exactly where you have applied makes such a difference when you are half asleep on a Tuesday morning. The plant allo-melanin formula also feels gentler on my skin than some of the others I have tried. That said, if you want more shade options or prefer to pop into Boots rather than ordering online, the other brands have their advantages too. 

The Science Bit

The key ingredient here is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the same active ingredient in most self-tanning products. According to Cancer Research UK, DHA is considered safe for topical use, and the British Skin Foundation is clear that self-tanning is a much safer way to get colour than UV exposure. Tropic’s plant allo-melanin and tropical extracts add a bit of extra hydration on top, which is a nice bonus rather than the main event.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Try These

Perfect for:

• Fake tan newbies who want to ease into it
• Anyone who’s had orange disasters in the past
• People with sensitive skin (though always patch test!)
• Those wanting a natural, buildable glow for the face only
• Busy parents who need something quick and foolproof

Maybe give them a miss if:

• You want dramatic, dark tan results quickly
• You’re on a tight budget
• You prefer the ritual of applying proper fake tan
• You want something for your whole body, in which case look at a full body fake tan instead

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tanning drops with any moisturiser?

Yes. Tanning drops work with most moisturisers, though thinner formulas tend to mix better than very thick creams.

Will tanning drops break me out?

Tropic Sun Drops are fragrance free and alcohol free, which helps reduce breakout risk. I have sensitive skin and had no issues, but always patch test first.

How long do tanning drops last on skin?

The tan lasts around 3 to 4 days before fading noticeably. It fades evenly without patchiness, which is a big plus.

Can I wear makeup over tanning drops?

Absolutely. Let the drops absorb fully first, then apply makeup as normal. Foundation actually looks better over a tanned base.

Do tanning drops work on pale skin?

Yes. I’m naturally very fair and these gave me a believable, natural glow rather than an obvious fake tan. Start with 2 to 3 drops and build up.

Do tanning drops work without sun exposure?

Yes, completely. They don’t rely on UV at all, the colour comes purely from the DHA reacting with your skin, so they work just as well in the depths of a British winter as they do on holiday.

How does Tropic’s gradual tan compare to a full body fake tan in terms of how long it lasts?

Tropic Sun Drops tend to fade a touch faster than a proper full body fake tan, around 3 to 4 days versus closer to a week for some body formulas, simply because you’re applying a lighter, more diluted amount each time. The trade off is that topping up is so easy it barely feels like a chore.

How They Compare to Other Tanning Products

I’ve tried quite a few self-tanning products over the years (you can check out my other beauty product reviews here), and these really are in a league of their own.

Compared to traditional fake tan, they’re so much easier to apply and far more forgiving. Compared to gradual tanning moisturisers, they give you much more control and faster results. They’re like the Goldilocks of tanning products – just right!

Tanning Drops – My Final Verdict

So, do tanning drops work? In my experience, absolutely yes. After several months of regular use, Tropic Sun Drops have become a staple in my morning routine. They’re quick, foolproof, and give me that healthy glow without requiring a 6am alarm or a degree in fake tan application.

Are they worth £22? For me, definitely. The bottle lasts for ages, the results look genuinely natural, and I haven’t had a single orange palm incident since I learned to wash my hands properly. They’ve given me the confidence to go makeup-free on the school run, well, almost. I still need my trusty mascara.

These aren’t going to transform you from pale to Marbella bronze overnight, and if you want serious depth of colour across your whole body, a traditional fake tan might suit you better. But for a natural, buildable glow on your face that makes you look like you’ve actually slept and maybe had a nice weekend away? Tropic Sun Drops are brilliant.

Have you tried tanning drops before? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

 

Have you tried tanning drops before? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

If you’ve enjoyed this review, you might like to check out my other beauty product reviews where I test everything from skincare to makeup with the same honest approach.

Updated June 26