I'm pretty wary of self-tanners. I seem to be the one person (other than Lindsay Lohan) who just can't get it right - too orangey, too streaky, too fake. And don't even get me started on that smell! Ugh.

The newest product from Clinique's Self Sun line, Touch of Bronze™ Moisturizing Body Lotion, promises to put an end to that problem. At $18.50 for a 5oz tube this stuff should have applied itself, in my not-so-humble opinion. But hey, I'm a sucker for new stuff so I gave it a whirl. And I'm glad that I did.

The effect was very gradual and natural. It didn't turn me orange, it barely smelled and it absorbed well, yet left my skin feeling smooth. And the biggie - it didn't streak! After a few days, I had a completely natural looking "summer tan" effect, without looking like an Oompa Loompa.

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I admit it - I don't really like Avon products. I guess I just associate it with my grandma and stinky bottles of perfume she always had in her bathroom, my favorite of which was shaped like a little black poodle.

Summer’s right around the corner, and just like everyone, my winter skin needs a little buffing to look sundress ready. Given my opinion of Avon as being more for the blue-haired set, I was pretty ambivalent about placing an order when the office Avon sales rep came calling. However, I was really pleasantly surprised by the Planet Spa Napa Valley Vineyard Crushed Grape Seed Body Polisher.

It has a wonderful, true grape seed scent - not fake or plastickly smeelling. The scent fades quickly after bathing, too, so it doesn't compete with your perfume or lotion. This is a very dense scrub that lathers slightly when you add water. It worked well on my rough elbows and knees, but was gentle enough for my delicate decolletage. I think I may be changing my mind about Avon!

Pros: Pleasant scent, leaves skin soft and smooth. Moderate price - $9.50, and you can order directly online rather than hunting around for an Avon sales rep.
Cons: Scent does not last, if you're looking for that. For me, that was a plus - others may disagree.

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During the month of June, enter to win some of makeup artist Pat McGrath's favorite items from the fall 2008 fashion shows. Items include a basket filled with more than $650 worth of makeup from Cover Girl, Max Factor, Nars, Benefit, and more. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

June 2: Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Triple Smoothing Body Lotion
A deep moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids to eliminate rough patches. The first 500Allure readers to enter at noon EDT will receive one free.



June 3: Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller
The gel glides on with a roller ball, delivering provitamin B5 to smooth lines. The first 500 Allure readers to sign up at noon EDT will receive one free.



June 4: FHI Heat Paddle Brush
The sturdy paddle and ball-tipped bristles make tangled hair sleek without any pulling. The first 500 Allure readers to enter at noon EDT will receive one free.



June 5: Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush
A cream-to-powder that blends easily for the lightest pink or a stronger, sexier flush. The first 500 Allure readers to enter at noon EDT will receive one free.

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My hair is thick, coarse, naturally curly and heavily highlighted. Just the type of hair that would benefit from something called "More Moisture", right? I've been on a kick to reduce the use of sulfates and silicones in my hair lately, and I've noticed that is really hard to find a quality organic hair shampoo or conditioner. Being a fan of Burt's Bees lip balm, when I spied this stuff on the shelf at Whole Foods for $7.99 a bottle, I snatched it right up.

I was hoping that this shampoo and conditioner combo would be my hair holy grail. I was sorely disappointed. The shampoo immediately made my hair feel tangled, sticky, coated and gross... the artificial raspberry scent nearly made me gag as I frantically rubbed in conditioner in the hopes of detangling the mess on my head. After leaving the conditioner in for 5 minutes, I rinsed only to find that my hair still felt sticky and coated. Drying was a nightmare, and the comb kept snagging in the rat's nest on my head. I ended up giving up and washing/conditioning again with my normal stuff.

Since it has mostly natural ingredients, I gave it a whirl the next day to bathe my dog. He didn't seem to mind it, so at least there's that.

Pros: Sulfate and silicone free. Reasonably priced.
Cons: Shampoo is runny and does not lather well. Fake, plasticky smell. Hair feels coated and dry after use. Hair is dry, dull and difficult to comb.

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