Being bronze in the summer isn’t a convenient side effect of frolicking on the beach all day… it’s a lifestyle choice. The one thing that can stop your golden tan dead in its tracks?… Money. For two reasons: first, if you need to make money, you probably have a job, which means you aren’t able to lay out every day and perfect your awesome glow. And two, not having money makes it really difficult to maintain a healthy, natural-looking sunless glow – all that self-tanner and bronzer adds up! (Unless of course you snag today’s $30 sunless tan on The Right Deal or win today’s Perricone no-sun tanner prize in the Tweet-a-Thon.).

The solution to your tanning vs. money conundrum: DIY Organic Bronzer made with household cooking ingredients and your favorite essential oil. Keep your skin safe and tan all summer long without playing hooky from work or breaking the bank on expensive, department store bronzers. Plus, you’ll be avoiding harsh chemical fillers often found in heavy-duty bronzers and powders. For the crafty beauty junkie inside you, here’s how to make your own organic bronzer in a convenient compact:

Recipe and images courtesy of Elizabeth Seward

Ingredients

• Cinnamon Powder
• Powdered Sugar
• Essential Oil
• Empty Make-up Case (or small mixing bowl)

How to:

1. Choose an Empty Makeup Case

2. Pour in Cinnamon

3. Add Powdered Sugar

Pour some powdered sugar into the case. The amount will depend on how light you want the mixture to be for your skin.
4. Mix Together

Mix the powders together. Use a paint brush or eye shadow brush for this part.
5. Add an Essential Oil

Mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender, jasmine etc) into the mix. Not only will this leave it smelling good, but it’ll bond the powders together and keep them firm in the case.
6. Apply

Apply with a fluffy brush in upward, circular motions along cheeks, forehead, chin and bridge of your nose… and enjoy!

At the Carefree & Spa Week Party on June 20th, Allure Magazine Editor-at-Large Abbie Kozolchyk spoke on behalf of the mag and shared some summer beauty tips, trends and ideas with the lucky guests.

Our 7 Favorite Beauty Trends from Abbie:

Side Braid: Pull back wavy hair and shift it over to one side of your neck, letting face-framing pieces fall free. The undone look has been seen on the likes of Rihanna and Blake Lively.

Pretty Pony: Lightly tease the section of hair between the temples to add a little height, then secure hair into a tight ponytail just below the center of the head. (Abbie says any pony that sits higher than your ears will make you look like a high school cheerleader, so beware.) Wrap a one-inch section of hair around the base of the ponytail to disguise the hair elastic.

Half-Up/Half-Down: Part hair naturally and bring a 2-in section of hair from above each ear to the middle of the back of your head and secure with a clear elastic band. Soft, romantic and chi like Allure’s July cover girl, Fergie.

Bronzer, Everywhere: Brighten lids and add a little depth and definition with your usual facial bronzer. Dip a shadow brush in your regular facial bronzer, swipe it over your lids up to your crease, and you’re done.

Orange Lip Gloss: It’s a fresh, summery alternative to classic red that’s easier to wear than lipstick. (Nars Lipgloss in Wonder)

Teal Polish: A bright shade of teal has the same pop-art feel as fluorescent shades without being as in-your-face. Plus, this shade really pops with a golden tan (real or fake). (Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Fairy Teal)

Lip Stain: Match a cool berry or a sheer pink shade with flavored lip balm with spf30 for a protected look that lasts all day and that you don’t have to think about.

Photos via Allure.com

If I knew what sound leopards made, I would do it right now because this brand new Dolce & Gabbana  multi-tone powder palette is sizzling! You’re going to need a fantastic bronzer to highlight all the hard work you’re about to do by the pool this summer, so if the phrase “Italian Summertime Collection” romances you like it does for me, this is pretty perfetto. Be one of the first to try out the new collection featuring the Animalier bronzer; this Saturday (right before the world ends) at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, the one and only Pat McGrath and her team of makeup artists are taking appointments! Here’s your invitation:

Who: World-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath will debut the new Italian Summertime Collection and must-have Animalier Bronzer from Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship location in New York City.

What: McGrath and her team of make up artists who work backstage at Dolce&Gabbana’s Milan Fashion Shows, will conduct personal consultations with customers to recreate the looks of the runway, featuring the Italian Summertime Collection and Animalier Bronzer. McGrath will share beauty tips and makeup application emphasizing the modern femininity of Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up.

When: Saturday, May 21st - One-on-one consultations by appointment only: 12 to 5:30

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Fiftieth Street - Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up Counter, On One

Contact: Customers may schedule an appointment by contacting: 212.940.4949

If you follow us on Twitter or are a fan of us on Facebook, you’ve probably seen that we like to pepper you with questions about all kinds of crazy things. We always like to hear your responses – but I think the question we asked this week might have garnered our biggest response yet.

You see, we wanted to know what your favorite drugstore standbys are – whether you swear by a $3 blush, a $5 eyeshadow palette, or $2 makeup removing towelettes, the aisles of the drugstore are full of treasures waiting to be discovered. Well, we got SO many responses that we’re going to be doling them out over the next week or so!

Today, we’re tackling powders and bronzers – this was a category where we had a lot to say, but you ladies and lads knew just where to look in the aisles of Walgreen’s and CVS to find cheapy products that buff and bronze with the best of them.

Spa Week Daily’s picks
1. Physician’s Formula Bronzer, $12.95 at drugstore.com
2. L’Oreal Tru Match Powder, $10.95 at drugstore.com
3. Bonne Bell Glimmer Bronze, $3.96 at drugstore.com
4. Jane Be Pure Mineral Pressed, $6.99 at drugstore.com
5. Wet’n'Wild Bronzzer Compact, $2.99 at drugstore.com
6. Rimmel Stay Matte, $5.79 at drugstore.com
7. Maybelline Shine Free Oil Control, $5.29 at drugstore.com

Reader picks
7. Coty Airspun Face Powder, $6.99 at drugstore.com, @bestwendy
8. e.l.f. Face Powder, $1.49 at drugstore.com, @coutortured

It’s not too late to make your voice heard – comment, tweet, or post your drugstore faves of any type, and see them here over the course of the next week!