Beauty Basics: Winter Skin Care
When winter sets in, instinct tells us to hunker down and crank up the heat. But this quest for warmth brings on another set of problems. Not only does the air outside parch our skin, indoor heaing toasts is dry. “As the temperature drops, so does humidity,” says Valori Treloar, M.D., founder of Intergartive Dermatology in Newton, Massachusetts, and coauthor of The Clear Skin Diet.

Amazing Feet
Chances are you’ve had your feet covered up for the past couple of months, and for many people, out of sight means out of mind. Neglect can leave the skin on your feet up to 30 times thicker than on the rest of the body. And considering that the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day (that’s about 115,000 miles in a lifetime–more than four times the circumference of the globe), tottering around in stilettos and pointy-toe shoes only makes matters worse.

Sun Days School
When it comes to sunbathing hazards, many of us are still in denial. We all know that UV rays can cause wrinkles and skin cancer, but a recent American Academy of Dermatology poll shows that 81 percent of us think that we look better with a tan and that sunscreens are an ideal way to tan without burning.

Rose, Red
On Charmed, Rose McGowan’s character, Paige, can change her looks with a simple spell, but in real life it took 12 hours, two bottles of lightener, and a box of red hair dye to transform her long dark tresses into a strawberry-blond bob. “She wanted to update her look,” says Jay Dialo of L.A.’s Goodform salon, who did a similar cut and color last year for McGowan’s role in the upcoming film Vacuums. “She has beautiful pale skin and this color complements that perfectly.”

A Cure for the Jet Lag Blues
Here’s a tip for long distance travelers: French and American researchers recently found that melatonin and caffeine can help relieve trip-induced insomnia, grogginess, and grouchiness–otherwise known as jet lag. Read more…

Hard Core
Halle, Venus and J.Lo have all drawn on their inner strength–power that emanates from the center of their bodies, that is. Their workouts specifically target their core muscles–the abs and back. As a result, they not only have sexy, tight midsections but also have improved balance and posture and reduced their risk of lower back pain.

Fast Fitness
You’ve been meaning to make your fitness routine, well, more routine, but every time you plan to take a walk around the park or pop in a workout tape, something (the job, the chores, the kids) derails your best intentions. To help you get on track, we’ve found five fast exercises you can do at work or at home.