Budget Beauty

Sunless tanners have come a long way, which makes getting a convincingly natural-looking tan at home so easy. Or is it? With a little practice, patience and finesse, we think it's entirely possible. Here's a simple 4-step process to help you get started:

Hop in the shower and scrub down from head to toe with a great exfoliator. Right now, I'm loving Bain De-Luxe Foaming Body Scrub ($4.20) in Verbena. Prior to tanning, don't forget to shave, which is another form of exfoliating.

Lightly moisturize, paying special attention to dry spots like ankles, elbows and knees. Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion ($8.59) does the trick for me every time. If you use a moisturizing body wash, you could probably skip this step. Some say it interferes with the tanner, I say you get a more even tan.

Apply tanner to the desired areas in small, circular motions. Use sparingly on those tricky knees, ankles and elbows. I know you're supposed to wear gloves, but I feel like I have better control using my bare hands. Have a wet cloth handy so you can wipe your palms immediately afterwards without washing the tanner of the top of your hands. Personally, I only use self-tanner on my legs, and I'm happy with the results I get from L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion ($8.54).

Let your tanner dry completely before getting dressed or coming into contact with anything - about 15-20 minutes (don't rush it!) Fix streaks by exfoliating the area once the tan has totally developed. Keep your fake bake from fading by moisturizing often.

What's your favorite sunless self-tanner?

It's Clinique Bonus time at Lord & Taylor! Click the image above for more details.

Nothing can give your face instant color and a healthy, radiant glow quite like the perfect blush, and that's why I'm dedicating this week's budget skincare post to my all-time favorite blush: L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Blush.

This product and shade (I wear Neutral/Innocent Flush) was personally recommended to me by none other than Reggie Wells during my stint at Harpo, who just so happens to be Oprah's makeup artist. Yes, I'm name dropping but it won't happen again. (No other names to drop.) And I mention this simply because it just goes to show that sometimes a little expert advice goes a long way. I don't think I would ever have picked a color this orange-y for my fair complexion, but ya know what? It's perfect. So that's point number one: True Match blush comes in 12 different shades, so you have a good chance of finding one that's right for you.

Another great thing about this blush is that it goes on ever-so-lightly, but not so light that you can't see it. I don't even have to tap off the excess powder before applying (I still do out of habit, but it's really unnecessary.) You can build it up for evening, or just do a quick pass for bright color that lasts all day.

As I see it, the basic function of a facial moisturizer is to keep water in the skin - something that many budget skincare products can certainly accomplish. But when it comes to my precious face, I'm willing to look beyond the drugstore aisles and spend a little more, which is why I've been using Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for years.

This popular moisture "drink" was developed by Clinique’s dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance for very dry skins, or skins dry in the cheeks, and comfortable to oily in the T-zone. Despite the changes my skin has undergone over time, I find that this formula keeps my skin smooth, soft, and clean-feeling, not oily. (Although natural oils are good for your skin, the sensation of oily skin isn't pleasant.) It also creates a perfect base for applying all other makeup.

Clinique's facial moisturizer is not exactly cheap, but it's still a great deal when you consider that a small dab goes a long way, so a big bottle of this stuff (4.2 oz) - which costs $23 - will last you many months. And let's not forget some moisturizers cost triple that price (or more). I also buy my bottle during Clinique Bonus time so I really feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

There's just one problem: While I don't have any complaints about Clinique moisturizer's quality or reliability, I'm getting a little bored using the same ol' product day after day, year after year. I'm also beginning to wonder whether I need something with more fancy "anti-aging features," you might say. I should note that DDM does not contain SPF, which may be a plus for some, and a problem for others, depending on your stance on wearing sunscreen daily.

So tell us: What's your favorite facial moisturizer? Does the price matter? How much are you willing to spend when it comes to getting healthy, radiant skin?

>> Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion at Sephora.com, $23

Stila fans have a big reason to smile: The cosmetics company with a cult following recently launched BeautyCrunch.com, an authorized resource for some of the most sought-after vintage stila products. It's the smart place to look for hard-to-find items and discontinued shades.

Take a peek...we spotted some super super deals, like this starter brush set (right), originally $75 now just $30.

P.S. Get free shipping on any order of $50 with coupon code INTRO

Summer is officially on the horizon, and that means it's time to prep our legs for some serious show time. While I don't like to shave (who does?) I've found two products that make this necessary task as painless as possible: Gillette Foamy Sensitive Skin Shaving Cream and the Gillette Mach3 Razor.

Yup, they're marketed to men, but these two drugstore gems work wonders for ladies who want smooth, silky legs (or underarms, etc.). Gillette Shaving Cream has a rich, creamy lather that spreads easily and rinses clean for a close, comfortable shave. At under $2, it's also cheaper than most women's shaving creams/gels/lotions.

As for the Mach3, I couldn't live without this thing. I've had mine since college (not soo long ago, but long enough). I've tried it all - disposables, Nair, Venus, Sensor - and nothing gives you a better shave, sans nicks or irritation. The blades stay sharp for a ridiculously long time, and when they lose their edge, you simply swap them out (another money saver in the long run!).

So while Gillette may claim to be "the best a man can get," it's, well, the best a budget babe can get, too.

How do you get your legs silky smooth for summer? Share your favorite products, tips and techniques in the comments.

Dear Budget Babe,

I've often heard (and read) that hair care is the one thing we fabulous women shouldn't scrimp on; and, up until this point, I haven't. However, as a newlywed and recent college graduate who now has expenses in spades, I just can't bring myself to pay the usual $20+ a bottle for shampoo, conditioner, etc.

Do you have any product suggestions that will keep my hair shiny and healthy, and my wallet happy?

Dear Savvy Reader,

I think great hair is largely determined by 1) genetics, 2) diet and lifestyle (i.e. the foods you eat, whether or not you smoke, how stressed you are, if you're taking any medications, etc.) and finally, in last place, 3) the haircare products you use.

Don't get me wrong: I love experimenting with different shampoos and conditioners, I love the packaging, the fun botanical ingredients, the pretty fragrances and colors, but let's face it - they all use the same few basic ingredients. What I have found is that the differences in quality are very subtle, and that cheap shampoos and conditioners are just as good as expensive salon brands. I wish it weren't so - I wish I could find a pricey product that gives me the strong, lustrous hair you see in commercials, but it just ain't gonna happen.

So without further ado, my all-time favorite cheap shampoo and conditioner is Pantene Pro-V. The shampoo leaves hair clean without overdrying, and the conditioner is super rich and creamy. A small dab goes a long way. Neither has an obnoxious lingering fragrance.

I recently rediscovered another old classic after spotting it in my friend's shower (it was in plain sight, I swear): Suave Naturals. My friend has AMAZING hair, so when I learned she used Suave I was all over that. I bought a bottle of the Suave Naturals water lily and aloe conditioner and it's fantastic. Great texture, no residue, no nasty perfume smell.

Lately, I've also been trying to learn more about organic/natural/eco-friendly bath and beauty products that are still budget-friendly, so I've tried the store brands at both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and I must say, they're solid products. I especially like the Whole Foods 365 brand mint shampoo and conditioner - tingles the scalp, smells great, works great. What's more, they're economical and supposedly better for you and the environment.

Beyond shampoo and conditioner, I'm a big fan of Sunsilk styling products. If you want to spend more on say, deep conditioning treatments or products that defrizz and define your tresses, I'd say invest in the products that work best for your hair - this is where I've found that products tend to vary more noticeably by brand and price.

What are some of your favorite hair care products? Does the price matter? Share in the comments...