To achieve a sun-kissed look on a reasonable budget, Rona suggests diffusing hair with soft, multidimensional highlights that are two shades lighter than your natural color. The process time is fast (about 10 minutes), costs less than frequent highlights, and blends away gray hair while adding a soft, blonde glow. To add even more blonde dimension, Rona uses foils to only lighten the top layer of hair, letting the rest remain a bit darker. "This gives the illusion of more light on the surface," she says. (If foils spell f-e-a-r, don't worry. Follow this top-rated highlighting video and our at-home coloring guide for expert, do-it-yourself advice.)

New hair color requires new makeup! By following Robert's application tips, you can use affordable makeup to get amazing results. Start by preparing your skin with a good moisturizer (we like these Olay wonders) and letting it sink in. Then apply a cream-based concealer to your under-eye area and eyelids to brighten and conceal veins. Dip a wedge sponge into a translucent powder and dab it on your lids to set the concealer.

Deana's best feature (the eyes) is easy to emphasize. Simply line the eyes all around, including the inner lash line and corners, with black or dark brown eye pencil. (Try one of these low-budget consumer picks.) Apply a white or bone-colored eyeshadow just under the brow bone to highlight, then blend shimmery and matte eyeshadows in neutral shades (Robert uses champagne, gold and light brown on Deana) from lash lines to creases for definition. Finish lids with a splash of color (use lavender for green eyes) on the center and blend outward. (For budget-friendly shadows in one compact, try this Revlon shadow quad.) Apply mascara.

Tip: If you're playing up your lips instead, skip the black eyeliner and use a light hand and light colors on the eyes. Find your best shadow colors here.

Bronzer is the one makeup tool you must have to pull off a sun-kissed look. Sweep this drugstore favorite (the lowest-priced powder in our top-rated bronzers story) on your forehead, cheeks, jawline, neck and collarbone for a natural glow. (Tip: Dip your brush gently into bronzer, then your favorite blush, then back to the bronzer before dusting on cheeks. You'll get a much more believable color.) Finish with your ideal pink lip gloss (use a bright version if your focus is lips).

"Oh my ... what a difference!" says Deana, who was all smiles after her makeover. Despite not knowing how to blend eyeshadow and not cutting her hair for two years straight, she left convinced she could keep up her new budget-friendly regimen (right after a romantic dinner with her husband). Her best follow-up advice: Don't forget to change your makeup -- "it really makes [the look]."