Bronzing On A Budget

So... it seems that summer is more than halfway gone – but who wants to give up that gorgeous glowy bronzy look? Not us!

Which is why were just thrilled right down to our bikini bottoms to discover there really are some too –fabulous budget bronzers available that can not only give you that glow clear through October, it won’t cost you your food budget to get the glow!

Now bronzers are not to be confused with self tanners, which provide semi-permanent color much like a real tan (and, unless you strike the right one could also leave you looking like a giant Cheese Doodle). And we’re also not talking about the all-over gel bronzers, which always seem to make everyone look like they just ate chocolate pudding with a toddler.

We in fact are singing the praises of powder bronzers – like blush only …bronzy! In the past, lots of these products were either muddy, too dark, too orange, or just too heavy so the end result looked cakey and fake-y. In fact unless you spent almost as much on a bronzer as you would on a trip to Bermuda, most weren’t very convincing.

Surprise! There are now the most incredible crop of inexpensive (and some really cheap!) bronzers that not only have great color, but also great texture, so they go on smooth and won’t go in your pores leaving black speckles all over your skin!

After trying a fair sampling of what’s out there for a bargain price, we came up with this list of what we found to be the absolute best bronzing bargains for the money – and honestly, you almost can’t go wrong with any of them!

1. IsaDORA Bronzing Powder Compact - $14.00 - Our fav! So smooth and finely milled it’s like sprinkling sunshine on your skin! It comes in 9 fabulous shades – with and without iridescent flecks of gold. So, if you’re under 35, “go for the gold”; over 35, stick with the matte shades, which make your skin look MUCH younger! Our favorite shades: Highlight Tan and Highlight Bronze.

2. Clinque Almost Bronzer - $28.50 – It’s a bit of splurge, we know, but what makes it such a Cheap Chic bargain is that you can’t seem to use it up! Our model –cam beauty spies report they have been using it daily for two months – and there’s hardly a dent in their compact! Plus the color is sheer and lightweight, and the bronzing really lasts all day. Even better – you can touch up right over it and it won’t get cakey! In two shades, each compact features a lighter and darker version. Will not age your skin or accentuate wrinkles! Yay!

3. ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder - $3.00 – This dual pan compact gives you a warm, shimmery, cocoa colored bronzer, paired with the perfect shade of Rosy-peachy-afternoon-in-the-sun blush for a year-round combination that keeps the glow going indefinitely! A touch of iridescence in this product means it accentuates some lines and wrinkles so it’s not quite right for over 35 skins. But, if you’re younger, go for it – you won’t find a better bronzing bargain!

4. Fake Bake Bronzing Compact - $17.95 – This bronzer has been around forever - and many of the models we’ve worked with swear it’s the world’s best-kept bronzing secret. The reason? It works! And it works on pretty much all skin types. While it’s not really promoted as a product that changes according to your skin tone, we swear it does (or, maybe it’s just doing some wowie-zowie optical illusion, we’re not sure). But either way, it seems to look just perfect on every one – probably the reason it only comes in one color! Plus it won’t go in fine lines so it’s perfect for all ages and stages of skin!

5. Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer - $10.99 – This is one of those products that features tiny squares of lots of different colors that you swirl together to get a perfect shade of bronze for you. And you pretty much can do that! The look is lighter than the other bronzers mentioned, depending on where you concentrate the brush, so it’s perfect for ultra fair skin. So if you’re looking for a lighter shade of bronze, in a finely milled powder that won’t age you even one day, this is it! Plus – 30 SPF protections! In 3 colors, but we love Sunkissed best!

ECO-Bargain Alert: If you want to be eco-gorgeous while you’re bronzing, say “no” to the plastic shopping bags and instead tote your goodies home in a JOEY bag. These ingenious re-usable totes are as light as a feather, tuck-away into their own carry case (small than your make-up pouch, guaranteed) then whip open in a snap, to carry all your shopping goodies home in eco-friendly style. Made from parachute-like material they last 4-ever too! So do your part for the environment and lug those beauty buys home in eco-cheap-chic style. Starting at $5.00 for one, up to $20 for the set!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
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