Why Caudalie Self-Tan Drops Are the Best French Buy

April 1, 2025

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Why Caudalie Self-Tan Drops Are the Best French Buy

The weather might be getting warmer, but as someone who works a 9-5 office job, I can’t say that my tan will be improving anytime soon. However, as a beauty editor, I’ve become pretty good at faking that sun-kissed glow to make it seem as if I’ve spent all day basking in the sunlight. In fact, I like to think of myself as an expert when it comes to the best fake tans, especially when we’re talking about facial self-tanning drops.

If you didn’t know, self-tanning drops are one of the easiest ways to add a bronzed glow to the skin, and it means you don’t have to worry about exposing your skin to the sun’s harmful rays. Instead, add a couple of these drops to your moisturiser and watch your complexion transform before your very eyes.

I’ve tried my fair share of self-tanning drops over the years, but when I heard that one of my favourite French pharmacy skincare brands, Caudalie, had just launched its own version of the popular product, I practically raced to checkout. After giving them a go, I can confirm that they lived up to my every expectation. Intrigued to know more? Keep on scrolling for my full review…

Caudalie Vinobronze Self-Tan Sun Drops Review

The Formula

So, time to get into the nitty-gritty. New from Caudalie, these drops feature the brand’s signature organic grape water alongside 100% natural-origin DHA to help add a natural-looking tan to the skin. They are free from soap, alcohol and synthetic fragrance, and are even suitable for sensitive complexions.

Two things that I noticed straight away when using this product was that it didn’t dry out my skin like most tanning products do, and it also didn’t have that off-putting scent that a lot of tanning drops can have. From the get-go, this formula gets a big yes from me.

Junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay testing the Caudalie Vinobronze Self-Tan Sun Drops

The Application

So, onto the application. Although the formula is important, if a tanning product is hard to apply, it immediately puts me off. I’ve had too many tanning disasters to count over the years, and these days all I want is a product that is quick, easy and fool-proof. Luckily for me, Caudalie’s new tanning drops tick all the boxes.

The formula is housed in a small bottle with a pipette-style applicator, and the brand advises adding two to six drops of the product into your face cream or serum, depending on your desired result. You can exfoliate your skin before applying your face cream or serum, but this isn’t essential. However, making sure that you are applying the product onto clean skin is key for an even finish. I like to start in the centre of my face and blend my cream outwards, before taking the product down onto the neck. All I have to do is wash my hands afterwards, and I’m good to go.

The Results

Eight Hours After Applying the Caudalie Vinobronze Self-Tan Sun Drops

Junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay testing the Caudalie Vinobronze Self-Tan Sun Drops

As you can see, this product adds a subtle, sun-kissed glow to the skin and makes my complexion look so healthy. I tend to apply three or four drops as I like a really natural finish, but you can increase the amount if you want a deeper tan. Plus, you can regularly reapply the product to maintain your tan for as long as you want.

I can say with 100% certainty that these tanning drops have become an essential in my spring and summer skincare routine. Not only is the product one of the easiest things I have ever used, but I love how it develops over time. After a couple of hours I had already noticed a difference, and after letting the tanning drops develop for a whole day, I was in love the finished result. In fact, they make my skin look so glowy that I’ve managed to skip foundation all together and went out yesterday evening wearing only concealer, powder and blusher. Let’s face it, I don’t want to have to faff around with full-coverage foundation in the warmer months, and thanks to Caudalie, now I don’t have to worry.