When should I use tanning drops? Can you put tanning drops directly on the skin? Do you have to wash tanning drops off?
Learn how tanning drops work and get glowing with our easy to follow tutorial.
Key points:
- Tanning drops are an easy, safe way to develop a natural sun-kissed glow
- They can be mixed with moisturiser or body lotion and you can control the depth of tan by adding more drops
- As with all self tanning, exfoliation is key to achieving an even glow
- We recommend Green People’s Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops, which give a lovely colour and can be used on face and body
What are tanning drops?
Tanning drops are skin care products that you mix with moisturiser or body lotion before applying to the skin.
Suitable for use morning and evening, they’re an oh-so-easy way to get a natural sun-kissed glow before a holiday or a night out.
The best thing about them is that they don’t require sun exposure to work, or exposure to UV tanning salon lights to work, meaning you can get your glow without risking premature ageing or sun damage.
Here’s a summary of some of the main benefits of using tanning drops over sunbeds or other self tan products
- Tanning drops are a safe, sunless tanning method
- Tanning drops are easy to use and reapply
- With tanning drops, you are in control of the depth of your tan
- You don’t have to wash tanning drops off; just mix and apply
- Tanning drops absorb quickly, meaning you can sleep with them on the skin
- Mixing tanning drops with moisturiser gives a smooth, streak-free tan
Customise your glow
Glow your way! Master your tan intensity with our natural and organic, non-streaky tanning drops for the face and body. With Erythrulose working alongside DHA, this is home tanning made easy.
Mix a few drops with your serum, moisturiser or body lotion and a subtly sun-kissed tan will appear within hours. Prefer a deeper tan? Just add more drops!
Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops 30ml
Glow from head to toe with our scent-free certified organic tanning drops
£40.00
“These drops are quite magical, a tiny amount goes such a long way, lovely natural looking sun kissed tan.” Louise, verified buyer
How do tanning drops work?
You’ll know when our natural tanning drops are working, as their two tanning actives will soon start to give your skin a soft, subtle, bronze glow.
The tanning actives we use in our Liquid Gold Tanning Drops are:
- DHA
DHA is natural tanning agent that’s derived from sugars. When it is applied it reacts with peptides in the outer layers of your skin, causing the skin to develop a tan-like shade.
- ERYTHRULOSE
Erythrose has a similar self-tanning effect to DHA but develops a little slower. It is also longer lasting so, a great choice for a pre-holiday self tan.
Our natural and organic tanning drops are pregnancy-safe and vegan-friendly. They are also unscented, making then suitable for those who are sensitive to artificial fragrances.
Charlotte’s top tip: “For a speedier glow apply your tan drops day and night!”
Are tanning drops suitable for sensitive skin?
Fake tans are known for their synthetic scents, which can irritate sensitive skin. They can also contain drying alcohols. But with our certified organic tanning drops, you don’t have to worry.
Say goodbye to streaks and synthetic fake tan smells, these dermatologically tested tanning drops are strictly scent free and are clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin.
And there’s no need to panic about patchy, uneven application!
With no drying alcohol and plenty of Seaweed, Aloe Vera and Tara Bush added to keep skin soft and supple, your tan will develop evenly without clinging to dry patches.
To further encourage and smooth and even tan, prep your skin first. More about that in the next section.
Discover certified organic, natural tanning drops
Ditch the sun damage and dial up the radiance. Firm and glow with our unscented, age-defence tanning drops.
Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops 30ml
Glow from head to toe with our scent-free certified organic tanning drops
£40.00
“I love that these drops are so easy to use: and you can adapt them to how much of a golden glow you want. Just a couple of drops in the winter so you don’t look too pasty or another drop or 2 to give you a lovely tan in the summer. Easily mixed with your favourite moisturiser.” Val
How to use tanning drops
Are you unsure whether to apply tanning drops in the evening or the morning? Tanning drops are best used at night. Because they absorb fast and don’t need to be washed off, you can sleep in tanning drops without worrying about staining your sheets.
Say hello to sunless radiance and goodbye to self tan streaks. Get a flawless fake tan in just three steps with our tan drop tutorial.
STEP 1: SHAVE AND SMOOTH
Ready to prep your skin for tan drops?
Shaving removes the top layer of skin, where your tan develops. To help your tan last longer, shave your legs before using tanning drops.
If you aren’t shaving then exfoliate the skin before you apply your tan drops.
You can use any of our natural facial scrubs to prepare your skin. Choose our skin-polishing Soft Buff for the face or our Exfoliating Mitt or summer-scented Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub to exfoliate your body. Enriched with Aloe Vera, it is oh-so hydrating and perfect for encouraging a smooth self tan.
STEP 2: MIXING YOUR TANNING DROPS
Once you have smoothed your skin, blend a few tanning drops with your favourite face cream or body lotion. The beauty of Liquid Gold Tanning Drops is that because they are unscented, they can be blended with any face or body cream that does not contain SPF.
Not sure how many tanning drops to use? A little goes a long way. Blend 1-5 tanning drops with face serum or cream, or 6-10 drops with body lotion.
More drops = a deeper tan.
If you’re new to self tan, start with just a couple of drops and then gradually build your way up to a deeper tan.
STEP 3: APPLYING TANNING DROPS
Now, all you need to do is smooth your tanning drops and skin cream blend into your skin.
You can use our tanning drops on your face and body. Regardless of how many drops you add, the skin should absorb your tanning drops within 10 minutes.
"I love that these drops are so easy to use: and you can adapt them to how much of a Golden glow you want. Just a couple of drops in the winter so you don’t look too pasty or another drop or 2 to give you a lovely tan in the summer. Easily mixed with your favourite moisturiser"- Val, verified buyer.
Tanning drops dos and don’ts
Ready to glow? Here’s a recap of the tanning drop dos and don’t
Do
- Shave & exfoliate first
- Mix with moisturiser
- Protect your skin with SPF the following day
Don’t
- Apply tan drops directly to the skin
- Wash your tan drops off
- Use with skin care that increases cell turnover, e.g. retinal
Other ways to tan the skin
If tanning drops aren’t for you, we offer lots of other ways to enhance your skin’s tan using natural tan activators.
SELF TAN
Need to tan fast? Our fast-acting DHA self tan develops a streak-free tan in less than 3 hours and the 150ml bottle is ideal for tanning the torso and limbs.
Self Tan Lotion 150ml
Tan easily at home with this natural and organic self tan lotion
“Absolutely love it. Goes on smoothly, makes my skin soft and gives a really natural, even colour.” Lauren, verified buyer
SUN CREAM SPF15 WITH TAN ACCELERATOR
Boost your tan as you protect your skin with our SPF15 Edelweiss Sun Cream with Tan Accelerator. A 2-in-1 SPF with tan accelerator this uses Inositol, from the Carob tree, to speed up the tanning process by almost 25%, giving you a faster tan and faster protection.
And there’s more benefits to come. Inositol has also been shown to reduce tan fade by as much as 50%, perfect for holding onto your holiday tan for longer!
“This cream offers the perfect way to acquire a sun tan without damaging the skin. I've used it for the last couple of years, and it really does exactly what they say it does.” Jane, verified buyer
Would you like help choosing the best tanning product for your natural skin care routine? Or do you need a hand finding the best moisturiser for tanning drops? Our UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350 or via a direct message to @GreenPeopleUK.
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has over 30 years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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