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Budget Beauty Junkie

I once heard a song that had the lyric "summer is a drug that makes everyone beautiful." Right about this time of year, I realize how true that is. After weekends at the beach or poolside, we're often in good shape from being outdoors and active, as well as sporting a nice tan (despite daily use of SPF 25) and some great sun-highlighted hair.

After Labor Day, that time outside is severely limited for me, but I'd still like to maintain the summery glow just a few weeks or months longer, especially because Richmond's lovely climate allows summery fashions to be worn well into fall. In addition, many retailers are putting summer-themed products on sale to clear out space for holiday makeup and other items, so great bargains can be found. This month, I tried out self tanners, bronzers and other products to help you make the transition.

Occasionally during the month, I would ask my significant other for a second opinion. Most of the products looked just fine, he thought, but still questioned why I thought they were necessary. He (like many men, I suspect) wondered why there is such a premium on tanning. I reminded him that self-tanner and bronzer are both safe ways to look healthy and glowing without the skin damage and risk of skin cancers associated with tanning outdoors or at the salon. Also, some sun exposure occurs when we're not really paying attention, leaving uneven tan lines that can be covered up with a sunless product. Even still, he has a point – natural beauty, whether pale, tan or deep, is the most attractive of all. Sunless Tanning

All self tanners contain the chemical dihydroxy acetone (DHA). It reacts with the protein in your skin cells and produces the color change. Self tanners have a list of do's and don'ts attached, and by following some simple rules, you can improve your chances of a great result to almost 100 percent.

Before:

Do use a sugar scrub (or scrub gloves) to exfoliate.

Do shave legs, underarms with a moisturizing shave gel.

Don't use a salt scrub after shaving – as the old saying goes, it's like rubbing salt in a wound.

Don't forget to moisturize knees, elbows and ankles.

During:

Do pay attention to color guide, if any

Don't rub up and down to prevent streaks. Instead, work your fingers in a circular motion.

Do give yourself plenty of time to allow the product to dry. Standing in front of a fan helps. In a pinch you can use a hair dryer on a no-heat setting.

Don't put on jeans or other tight-fitting clothes, or you run the risk of rubbing off the product before your tan develops.

After:

Do: wash hands

Don't skip scrubbing under nails with a nail brush.

Do moisturize hands.

Since all self tanners contain DHA, it's really the formula of the lotion or liquid that sets them apart, as well as the package. Beauty brands have wasted no time trying to differentiate their self-tanner from all the others on the shelf. I tried several for this month's column, and picked some of the best for different users. For the Control Freak

Banana Boat EveryDay Glow SunDial, $11.99

Several brands have introduced dual-chamber self tanning lotions. The idea behind them is that one can adjust the ratio of self tanner to moisturizer, thus customizing the lotion to the user's desired skintone. This particular package boasts 10 blend ratios from a "hint of glow to deep bronze" but only recommends five settings as the optimal range. It takes a few pumps to ensure both chambers are flowing freely, which wastes a bit more product than I'd like. I set the ratio to the middle of the optimal range for the first application. The good news is the lotion blends easily and a surprisingly little amount is required for good coverage (I used two pumps per leg and one on each arm). The bad news is that, for some reason, the container is just awkward to operate. The button is small, and one "pump" has about half an inch of travel, which is difficult to do even if the hands aren't slippery from applying the lotion. It might be easier to dispense the product into one hand and then apply, but the instructions don't mention that method. For the Self-tanning Newbie

Hawaiian Tropic Instant Island Glow $8.99

This is a new sister product to Hawaiian Tropic's Island Glow daily self-tanner. I was glad to find out that it possesses the same low odor formula, and absorbs easily to provide a gradual tan after a few applications. There are several factors that make this perfect for the beginner. The color guide gives an instant bronze color and makes it easier to tell if you missed a spot. The second is the gradual, daily formula which eases the user into bronze-ness. It takes up to a week of daily applications to achieve the deepest tone. My biggest complaint is that there are only 3 ounces of product for the price. Sneakily, Hawaiian Tropic has included a pot of lip balm that attaches to the bottle cap, making the bottle look taller and bigger. Instead of going to all that fuss and expense, why not just make the bottle bigger? For Bridesmaids, Brides, and Belles of the ball

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze $8.99

This product is not a daily self tanner. This means there is a much higher level of DHA, giving a deeper tan with fewer applications. This is a sort of gateway product, because it still includes a color guide for an instant glow (in case your special event is happening, say, tonight), but it is still a very good self tanner that will leave the skin very bronze after a few uses. The bronze color guide looks nice and deep, and also has a hint of gold shimmer. For everyday use, the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze untinted lotion is also very good, and should satisfy those looking for the deepest level of tan. It is very important to exfoliate well and apply evenly with this product. I'm far from a self-tanner newbie, and I still had some streakage on my shins. Hair

When chasing that endless summer, there's no reason to stop with the skin. Hair and makeup can also benefit from a bit of "summer in a bottle."

My hair lightens several shades during the summer months, and often I get "roots" (or what looks like it) after my hair has grown out and not been exposed to the sun. A semi-permanent hair color such as Clairol's Natural Instincts ($9.49) is an easy way to even out the color, without completely covering up the natural highlights from the sun, or further damaging hair that might be weakened from the pool, wind, or sun. I chose shade12A, Navajo Bronze. Generally with semi-permanent shades, which don't include any peroxide, it's best to stay close to the natural hair color. It's also a really good idea to remember that the chosen shade will look very dark until two or three shampoos later. Even with this shade, advertised as "light caramel brown" my hair was an eggplant purple shade until the next day. Use a clarifying shampoo (color will visibly run down the drain the first few times) until it's acceptable. Makeup

Bronzers for the face are the last piece of a summery look. There are many formats – loose or pressed powder bronzers, as well as gel or cream. Almay Smart Shade Bronzer ($9.99) is a rather quick drugstore imitation of Smashbox O-Glow. Both supposedly adjust to the wearer's skintone. Remember mood lipstick? This works about as well. The cream itself is white, but it quickly turns brown when applied on the skin. Seems like magic, or at least advanced chemistry, right? On closer inspection, there are tiny granules of bronzer that break apart, tinting the previously white lotion. Nice try, Almay. In any case, this smart shade is thankfully subtle, and easy to apply, but I won't buy it again because of the gimmicky nature of the product.

For another level of bronzing, I tried Milani's XL Bronzer ($9.99). The XL description is apt, as the disc is almost 4 inches in diameter. The package includes a medium and a dark shade, although I generally just swirled the two together, et voila, easy bronze glow. I found this product to be almost as great as my gold standard bronzers – Cargo and Bobbi Brown. Generally, matte or slight shimmer bronzers look the most natural, while shimmery products need more precise application. The price compared to the amount of product is ridiculously affordable. Amy George is an urban planner by day, a graduate student by night and a full-time devotee of all things beauty and perfume related. She keeps track of her latest beauty finds at modernatelier.blogspot.com.