There is no such thing as "too much makeup" the same way there is no such thing as "too expensive" at the drugstore.  Found a dollar in your pocket?  Remembered your keys?  Recycled some paper?  Celebrate by treating yourself to a cheap treat at the drugstore.  

The main reason I love gradual self-tanners is because I moisturize every day anyway.  Why not get a little glow out of it?  And let's face it - tanners require a solid evening of work (exfoliation!  tanning! drying!  re-exfoliating the overdone spots!).  Sometimes a girl just wants the tan without the trying.

 Jergens Natural Glow, $7.75

This tube of bronze ambition is both a respectable moisturizer AND a perfectly-toned gradual tanner in one.  I'm always surprised at how many gradual tanners are flops at moisturizing -- even when they claim  to on the tube -- but this one is perf.  Plus the glow it gives is a glammy, "I've been back from my tropical vacay for about a week now" sun-kissed hue.  Works in about a week, so a little patience is required. Meanwhile, love how soft your skin is!

 Jergens Natural Glow Express, $7.49

Everything I love about Jergens Natural Glow -- in a faster-acting formula!  Let's double time it, girls!  Like the original, this gives skin a subtle sunny glint (and still has the candy smell of the original!), only this  works in 3 days versus a full week.  My only gripe?  Jergens, what's with the 4 oz size?  Is this for babies?  Put this in the same full-size 7.5 oz tube as the original, mkay?

Nivea Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer, $7.49

Wow, such a busy little product.  Unfortunately, the "firming" bit is a little gradually-gold lie.  But as if to make up for that, the moisturizer is phenomenal.  This formula is made with grapeseed oil and not only does it smell delish, it sinks into your skin and makes you feel like buttah.  Golden buttah, no less.  Note that while the bottle says 3 days, that's about as true as the firming claim.  I saw results in a day (whoo!).

 L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion, $10

You can use it on your face as well as your body, and it's got a really, really good bronze-brown undertone.  I also got the most dramatic results with this versus any of the others I've tried. Plus, once you hit your color, you only need to use this a few times a week.  The only con?  Because it's darker than the other formulas, beware the rough patches.  Your elbows and knees may need a little exfoliation first.

 Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, $10

This one is cheating.  It's not really a gradual tanner, but it ROCKS.  I first discovered this about 5 years ago, way back when self-tanners weren't doing anything but turning you orange and making you smell like vinegar and cow pies.  I fell in LOVE with it then and have loved it ever since.  The spray can be a little messy (I step into my shower stall to apply), but it goes on smooth, feels silky and is packed with vitamin K to help gradually fade skin marks.  So long, pantyhose!