The Bronzing Product That Changed My Routine

(No, this is not a sponsored post!)

Back when I was on the hunt for the best tinted mineral SPF that wouldn’t break me out (you can read all about that journey here), I was also desperate to find a self-tanner for my face that would give me the perfect bronzed glow without upsetting my skin. While I love a good day in the sun, I wear so much SPF that I know a nice face tan will never come naturally. I’m doing my best to maintain my skin without Botox or other aesthetic treatments and I know that too much (or even just a little) sun exposure would come between me and the healthy skin I’m trying to protect. 

I must have tried dozens of self-tanning drops on my face. I tried the cult favorites, the products mentioned deep in the Reddit threads, the brands that other influencers who I trust swear by, and everything in between. I put the ingredients into ingredient-checking websites to ensure they were either completely non-comedogenic or had low comedogenicity and I prioritized super clean brands. Despite all of the experimentation and fact-checking, I was always left with two options: a self-tanner that didn’t actually change the color of my skin at all, or one that broke me out. It was so frustrating that I got to the point of considering whether I should try making my own because it seemed like the perfect–or even just good enough–product simply didn’t exist. When I spoke with expert product developer Melissa Souto, who I interviewed here, she suggested that I might be allergic to dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the sugar-derived compound found in almost every self-tanning product, and it is responsible for reacting with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin, darkening it temporarily. 

Given that finding a DHA-free self-tanning product with any kind of efficacy would be close to impossible, I decided to pause my search. I relied on my Saie Dew Bronze to give me the glow I was looking for, though I wasn’t always excited to use it. 

A couple of weeks later, I discovered the best bronzing product I’ve ever used: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops. It turns out I wasn't the only devoted obsessee because these drops were sold out everywhere for months. When I first heard about them, I drove to Sephora only to find out that they were completely sold out in my shade (and the two closest to my shade) but they still had some in their tester bottles. The store associate gave me two samples to take home with me and I stretched those for as long as humanly possible. The drops were sold out on Amazon, Sephora, Westman Atelier’s website, and all other beauty retailers that carried the brand. Luckily for all of us, they’re back now!

What I immediately loved about the Westman Atelier drops was that they were a cooler tone of brown. Almost every other bronzer has warm undertones, giving that orange-y tint that screams “this tan isn’t real”. The product is also very blendable and buildable. You can use it as a targeted bronzer, as I often do, or you can mix it into your tinted SPF or moisturizer for an all-over glow. A friend uses a drop or two in her foundation during the summer months so that it matches her summer tan! While the colors look a little intense online, they’re pretty sheer in real life which makes them highly buildable and customizable to get just the right shade. I’ve found that it’s one of my longest-lasting makeup products (so many clean beauty brands have products that are wonderful but only for the few hours that they stay on) and that my skin almost feels better after using it. It works perfectly with my other products (tinted SPF, blush, and highlighter) and the bronze glow is so natural I can almost trick myself into thinking I just spent an afternoon by the pool instead of inside, working. 

If it’s not already obvious, these bronzing drops are the highlight of my glow routine. I’m still on the lookout for a highlighter that doesn’t have too much glitter or shimmer and isn’t too sticky, and a blush that has all-day staying power, but I’m thrilled to have found a bronzer I love. The only way it could get any better is if it actually had skin-enhancing qualities, but for now I’m happy with it just the way it is. And just for any avoidance of doubt–Westman Atelier did not ask me to write this review. I’m just that excited about sharing this recommendation with you. 

Do you have any favorite glow-enhancing products? I’d love to fall in love with even more products the way I have with this one!