I Stopped Wearing Foundation, Began Using Tanning Drops Instead

Earlier this summer, I stopped wearing foundation. It wasn't out of anything noble, like a statement against beauty standards. Actually, I'd just gotten my nose pierced, so I was trying to minimize the amount of bacteria I was introducing to the area through makeup sponges and brushes.

I began avoiding my typical foundation and tinted moisturizer to speed up my piercing's healing, but I still wanted to look put together for work and social gatherings.

So, I turned to tanning drops and discovered my daily makeup-free routine.

I've been dabbling in self-tanning products for much of my adult life and have tried a gamut of products like St. Tropez's bronzing mousse and Jergens' tanning lotion. Last fall, after using Isle of Paradise's self-tan water spray, I bought the brand's face drops, which cost $32 from Isle of Paradise's site or $29 from shops like Sephora.

Admittedly, until about July, the drops mainly went unused. I applied them here and there but didn't incorporate them into my routine meaningfully.

That is until I was hunting for something — not foundation — to even my skin tone and give me a glowy, dewy look. I started using the drops regularly around late July and haven't worn foundation since, except for a friend's wedding.

The drops come in light, medium, and dark, and I go for the medium. Typically, I mix a drop or two into my face lotion right after I shower and have a natural-looking tan within a few hours.

Before work or a social outing, I'll put a stroke of highlighter on my cheekbones and fill in my eyebrows, and within 15 minutes, I'm out the door — with a no-makeup look I feel confident in. For a long time, I hated meeting up with friends for a night out without makeup, but now I think my skin looks clear, and I love how I look.

Plus, whereas it seemed I'd break out after I applied foundation, I haven't had any stubborn zits in weeks, and I've had no problems with my nose ring.

While I certainly haven't sworn off foundation for good — I still love a full-coverage look for events — I've found my signature low-maintenance skin-care routine.