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Don’t get me wrong. I love a good bronzer. And whilst there are some brilliant cream bronzers and bronzing drops out there, as an oily-skinned beauty editor, they don’t always sit too well on my skin. The same goes for powder or matte bronzers, which can sometimes make my skin look too flat. The point is, it’s hard to find a bronzer that can make my skin look like I’ve just returned from a beach holiday without resorting to self-tanning drops. Just when I thought I’d exhausted my options, I rediscovered my bottle of By Terry Tea to Tan and realised that water bronzers are the best way to achieve a believable glow.
What Are Water Bronzers?
Water bronzers are water-based and have a golden or bronze tint. Their lightweight consistency means that they apply like watercolour pigments, leaving a soft, translucent hint of colour that feels and looks weightless on the skin. You can buff them into bare skin for a sun-kissed glow, or apply over makeup as you would a bronzer for a realistic tan without the heaviness or cream or powder formulas that tend to sit on the skin. Instead, these sink in like a second skin and leave a bronzed stain that lasts all day and is usually transfer-proof too.
They’ve become my favourite way to fake a tan without resorting to self-tanners, and they stay put better on my skin than other bronzers do (especially during all the heatwaves we’ve had). Ahead, I’ve rounded up the best water bronzers I’ve tried that deserve a spot in your makeup bag too.
The Best Water Bronzers
1. By Terry Tea to Tan Face and Body
By Terry
Tea to Tan Face and Body
Pros
- Leaves skin with a natural-looking bronze tint
- Can be worn alone or with makeup
- Can be used on face or body
- Matte formula and transfer-proof
Cons
- Dries fast, so you need to buff it in quickly
- Just one shade
ByTerry’s Tea to Tan was the original bronzing water that launched in 2014, and it remains a total beauty icon amongst beauty editors today. The water-based formula has a sheer, bronze tint that can be used in so many ways. You can apply it on bare skin for a veil of sunkissed colour, buffed over makeup with a brush as a lightweight bronzer or mixed into your moisturiser for a dewy glow. It’s totally matte without any shimmer, but leaves a subtle glow to your skin and is long-wearing and transfer-proof. You can even use it on your body as an instant tan if you want a natural-looking glow elsewhere. Because it’s so lightweight, it leaves you with the kind of well-rested glow that looks like you just returned from a week abroad. It also comes in a smaller travel size if you don’t want to commit to a full-sized bottle—but trust me, once you’ve tried it, you’ll never return to your powder or cream bronzer again.
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2. Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Colour Wash in Heatwave
Pros
- Sheer bronze tint provides a realistic glow
- No glitter or shimmer
Cons
- Comes in just two shades
- Often out of stock
I’m willing to say it: the Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint is one of my favourite products that’s launched all year. It has the rollerball pipette applicator as the Colour Wash Blush Tints (£44), and these watercolour-inspired bronzers impart a sheer wash of bronze before setting into a long-lasting stain. The formula is packed with activated sea water, antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and hydrating coconut water, leaving skin with a juicy, fresh-looking glow even after the colour has set. It comes in two shades, including Tan Line, a warm medium bronze, and Heatwave, a deeper bronze that I love to sweep on my cheeks, forehead and nose for a wash of believable bronze colour.
3. Refy Water Bronzer
If you want to top up your tan on the go, then this Refy compact is a great option. Sitting inside is a cushion that’s infused with a water-like texture with a bronze tint and goes onto the skin with the transparency of watercolour pigments. You can tap your makeup brush into it and layer up to your desired colour without fear of it ever looking heavy like some cream or powder bronzers can, and it also has a mirror, which is handy to have when you’re out and about.
Pros
- Range of shades for all skin tones
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- It can dry out quickly, so consider keeping the seal in tact in between uses
4. Whind Marrakech Sun Instant Glow Tinting Water
Whind
Marrakech Sun Instant Glow Tinting Water
If you want something that sits more in the skincare category than makeup, then this tinted serum is a great choice to consider. Unlike tanning drops, these won’t develop into a tan and leave you with a semi-permanent glow. Instead, you get an instant wash of colour that rinses away at the end of the day. It uses erythrulose (a botanical alternative to DHA—the tanning ingredient that you usually find in self-tan) and caramel to give your skin a naturally bronzed tint, and it can be layered to your desired intensity, without that tell-tale smell you sometimes get with tanning drops.
Pros
- Tinted serum delivers a natural-looking wash of colour
Cons
- Doesn’t leave a permanent colour
5. Self Glow By James Read Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
Self Glow By James Read
Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
This bronze-tinted serum can be mixed into your serum, moisturiser or makeup to give you an instant bronzed veil of colour whilst the self-tan formula develops throughout the day. It’s easy to tailor the shade by adding one or more drops, so you can achieve the glow of a day at the beach or two weeks away if you crave a deeper glow.
Pros
- Can be mixed into your skincare or makeup for a tailored glow
- Instant colour is a great alternative to standard tanning drops
Cons
- Tan can take a few days to build
How We Tested
As a beauty editor with over a decade of experience in beauty, I’ve tested a lot of bronzers. I’ve been testing the best bronzer waters over the past few months to find the formula that work to deliver to most natural-looking glow, whether worn or bare skin or with makeup.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
