How Do Tanning Drops Work? The Real Science Behind Topical and Drinkable Tanning

Everyone loves a good glow but not everyone loves UV damage, sticky mousses, or streaky results. Enter tanning drops, the game-changing formulas that promise a flawless, natural tan without the sun. But the big question is: how do tanning drops work? And do drinkable tanning drops actually deliver the same glow from within?

Let’s break down the science, the ingredients, and the truth behind this new era of tanning from melanin stimulation to carotenoid-based glow enhancers.

Before we start you may want to read What are tanning drops

The Basics: How Do Tanning Drops Work?

Tanning drops work by triggering a safe, surface-level reaction with your skin. The key ingredient in most self-tanning drops is DHA (dihydroxyacetone) — a sugar compound derived from natural sources like beets or sugarcane.

When DHA is applied to the skin, it reacts with amino acids in the outer layer (the stratum corneum). This reaction, known as the Maillard reaction, creates pigment molecules called melanoidins, which darken the skin’s surface.

It’s essentially the same gentle chemical process that gives baked bread its golden crust — only here, it’s designed for your skin.

This layer naturally sheds over a few days, so your tan fades gradually without streaks. Because the colour sits only on the top layer, there’s no damage to deeper skin cells or melanin reserves — making it completely UV-free and safe.

That’s how topical tanning drops deliver such natural, controllable results: the more drops you add, the deeper your glow.

What About Drinkable Tanning Drops? Do They Work?

Here’s where things get interesting. Drinkable tanning drops (sometimes called tanning drops you drink, oral tanning drops, or tanning drops under tongue) are the next evolution in bronzing technology. Instead of tinting your skin from the outside, these drops work internally — by supporting your body’s natural melanin production and enhancing carotenoid levels in the skin.

So yes, drinkable tanning drops do work, but they work differently. Let’s unpack exactly how.

How Do Drinkable Tanning Drops Work?

In short: they help your body tan itself naturally.

When you take drinkable tanning supplements, they often contain a combination of nutrients like:

• L-tyrosine – an amino acid that’s a building block for melanin

• Copper and zinc – essential minerals that activate enzymes in the melanin pathway

• Vitamin E and C – antioxidants that protect skin and improve pigment stability

• Beta-carotene and other carotenoids – plant pigments that enhance your skin’s golden undertone

These ingredients work together to stimulate melanin synthesis — meaning your skin produces more of its natural pigment safely, without UV damage.

Unlike topical tanners that colour the skin’s surface, oral tanning drops subtly influence your baseline tone over time, giving a natural, even glow from within.

The Role of Melanin: Your Body’s Natural Colour System

To understand how drinkable tanning drops work, you need to know a bit about melanin.

Melanin is the pigment that determines your skin, hair, and eye colour. It’s produced by specialised cells called melanocytes, which sit in the basal layer of the skin. When stimulated (normally by UV light), these cells create melanin and distribute it to surrounding skin cells to protect them from UV damage.

Drinkable tanning drops replicate this process — but without sunlight. By feeding your body the nutrients it needs to make melanin more efficiently, they help your skin achieve a warm, even tone naturally.

Think of it like training your skin to “tan smarter,” not harder.

The Science of Carotenoids: Nature’s Glow Filter

Here’s a secret most people don’t know — a healthy, radiant tan isn’t just about melanin. Carotenoids play a huge role in how your skin looks.

Carotenoids are natural pigments found in colourful fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and apricots. When consumed, they deposit in your skin and subtly alter its undertone — adding warmth, brightness, and that “lit-from-within” glow.

Studies have shown that people with higher carotenoid levels in their skin appear healthier and more attractive, even without sun exposure.

Drinkable tanning drops often include carotenoid-rich ingredients or extracts like beta-carotene and lycopene for this reason — they give your complexion a golden, healthy glow that complements melanin-based tanning perfectly.

This is why ingestible tanning is more than a gimmick — it’s a nutritional approach to beauty that supports both skin health and colour.

Why Tanning Drops Under the Tongue Are Effective

You’ll often see tanning drops under tongue instructions — and there’s a reason for that.

When you take oral tanning drops sublingually (under the tongue), the ingredients are absorbed directly into your bloodstream through the mucous membranes, bypassing the digestive system.

That means:

• Faster absorption

• Better nutrient delivery

• Higher bioavailability (your body uses more of the active ingredients)

This makes sublingual use one of the most efficient ways to take drinkable tanning supplements, ensuring the vitamins, amino acids, and carotenoids go straight where they’re needed.

Topical vs. Drinkable: Which Works Better?

Both work — but in different ways, and for different goals.

For the most balanced, believable tan, many people now combine both: topical tanning drops for instant glow, and oral tanning drops for lasting, internal tone enhancement.

It’s the perfect synergy — inside and out.

Why Ingestible Tanning Is a Real Trend (Not a Fad)

Ingestible beauty — also called “nutricosmetics” — has exploded in recent years. Consumers are realising that healthy skin starts from within.

From collagen drinks to hyaluronic acid capsules, the next logical step was tanning supplements — and drinkable tanning drops are leading that revolution.

Why it’s here to stay:

1. Skin health first: No UV exposure, no premature ageing, no inflammation.

2. Total-body results: You’re not limited to where you apply it — your entire complexion benefits.

3. Time efficiency: A few drops under your tongue or in your drink — that’s it.

4. Longevity: Internal melanin stimulation lasts longer and fades more evenly than surface tanning.

5. Science-backed ingredients: Nutrients like carotenoids and tyrosine are clinically linked to improved skin colouration and protection.

The modern glow-up isn’t about faking colour — it’s about optimising what your body can already do naturally.

Do Tanning Drops Really Work? The Honest Answer

Yes — both topical and drinkable tanning drops work, when used correctly.

Topical drops deliver immediate results through external pigmentation, while drinkable tanning drops gradually enhance your natural tone over time by supporting melanin and carotenoid balance.

Just like skincare, consistency is key. Drinkable tanning supplements aren’t a one-time quick fix; they build results over days and weeks. But once your skin’s pigment levels are optimised, you’ll notice a healthy, warm tone that lasts longer and looks more natural than any spray tan.

The 2 Damn Dark Approach

At 2 Damn Dark, we don’t follow tanning trends — we lead them.

Our range of both topical tanning drops and drinkable tanning drops are vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the UK with premium ingredients designed to work with your body, not against it.

We combine proven science — melanin support, carotenoid antioxidants, and hydration boosters — into clean, effective products that help you glow your way.

Whether you apply it or drink it, our formulas ensure your glow isn’t just surface-level — it’s cellular. It’s real, radiant, and damn dark.

Final Thoughts

So, how do tanning drops work?

• Topical tanning drops create colour through a safe reaction between DHA and amino acids in your skin.

• Drinkable tanning drops work by stimulating your natural melanin and enhancing carotenoid levels from within, giving your skin a natural, healthy glow.

Together, they form the future of safe tanning — combining surface science with internal nourishment.

If you’ve ever wondered how tanning drops you drink work, or why tanning drops under tongue are trending, now you know: it’s because ingestible tanning is the smarter, safer, more scientific way to glow.

The tan of tomorrow isn’t sprayed on or baked in — it’s built from within.

And that’s the 2 Damn Dark difference.