That's Fit

For many, winter is in full swing. The question is, have you taken care of your hair and skin as the weather changed? Temperatures dropped and with the heater going and everything, your house has probably gotten a little drier, meaning you need to take some extra precautions in order to stay your beautiful self!

For winter-friendly hair care, think about adding a weekly deep conditioning treatment, like Biolage's Ultra-Hydrating Balm. It smells yummy and helps get your hair back in shape. And, on a daily basis, think about a leave-in conditioner or detangler, like Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Tri-Wheat Conditioner -- I swear, my hair has never been as soft as when I've used that.

As far as skin goes, different products should be used for different parts. Of course, you should always use a lotion with SPF 15 or so, just for daily sun exposure, but you should also consider treating your face with something soothing -- after all, your skin is dealing with a lot of changes with winter weather. Renee Rouleau offers a lightweight Stress Recovery Lotion that works for all skin types, ridding you of redness and uneven color. VedaMama has a fabulous Scrumptious body cream that's ultra moisturizing (and all natural) for the rest of your body, but if you're looking to save some cash, I've always had good luck with Eucerin's line of products.

Earlier this year, I did a review of Gracie's Gear, a fitness apparel company with charitable twist. I was totally impressed with the quality, fit, usefulness, and look of the sports bra and top, and now, you could win a chance to try out a Gracie's Gear hoodie!

The hoodie is a quarter-zip jacket designed to keep you sufficiently warm but dry when you're working out on cooler days -- the special material even works to keep you from getting smelly! A zip-close pocket in the front will hold all of your workout essentials. Plus, it's cute!

Entering to win is easy! See below for details.

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling me about your worst fitness wardrobe malfunction -- split pants, bouncy bra, whatever applies to you.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Friday, November 28, 2008.
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one Gracie's Gear hoodie (valued at $65).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.
  
  

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

Running skirts aren't exactly new -- we've covered them here at That's Fit on a few occasions. However, they're definitely gaining in popularity, so I figure it's a topic well worth revisiting. In fact, Runner's World had an article earlier this summer about the rise of running skirts, citing the fact that there is now a series of SkirtChaser 5K races (warning -- automatic sound at this link). And if the fact that there are now races based on the popularity of running skirts doesn't convince you that they're big right now, then I don't know what to tell you.

So what's the benefit of wearing a running skirt? Well, for one thing, it provides the comfort of spandex running or compression shorts without the worry of how your tush looks, because the skirt covers your bum in a much looser fit. Many of the skirts come with long shorts (seven inches or so), or even with full tights. Or, of course, you could always wear your favorite fitted shorts underneath.

Second, lots of them offer pockets, which to me is a huge bonus. I often run my long distances alone, and it's a pain to have to carry water, a phone, keys, and an iPod.

Thank goodness we now have headphone choices instead of the giant earmuffs that once were standard -- those are just so goofy-looking. And trust me, I look goofy enough when I'm working out -- I don't need any help. However, with most headphones, you still have to deal with wires. At least, until now.

For this week's giveaway, we are so thrilled to offer the MOTOROKR S-9 Wireless Headset, as you might have seen on The Biggest Loser (or in Fit Gadgets just a couple of weeks ago). It comes with an iPod adapter and works with most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, so you can listen to your music and take calls, all completely hands (and wires) free! And speaking of free, here's how you can win your own:

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling me what your favorite workout song is.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Friday, November 14, 2008.
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD Wireless Headset (valued at $129.99).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.
  
  

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

I hope you've never had a problem with a little extra belly hanging over your low-rise jeans -- a situation more commonly known as muffin top. But, between the low-rise jeans and the clingy t-shirts that are so stylish, most of us have, even those of us who are quite fit. But it doesn't have to be that way -- Yummie Tummie wants to end your tummy trouble.

Far from being a standard shirt, Yummie Tummie tanks (and tees) have a shaping panel around the midsection to smooth and control any bulges or jiggle your tummy might have, but the top and bottom of the piece are cotton, so you can layer it without looking like you're wearing shapewear. And, they're comfortable, which you might know isn't always the case with shapewear -- that's probably why Oprah made Yummie Tummie one of her top picks.

Yummie Tummie offers several styles of tanks (including a nursing tank, because new moms definitely deserve a little support in the tummy area!), as well as tees, all in a variety of colors, so you can get just what you need to wear under any shirt, dress, or sweater. Additionally, most styles are available in regular or long length, so you can get just the look you want.

Like many women, I love lipgloss. I love the way it goes on so easily, making it feel a lot more casual than lipstick, and I love the way I look so much more polished after applying it. But, I don't love all lipglosses -- I don't like them if they're too sticky, too smelly, too glittery, not shiny enough, or if they bore me in any way. And, the biggest problem: Many of them dry out my lips to the point of being painful.

I recently had the opportunity to try out a couple of lipgloss colors from Cosmoholic Cosmetics, a company started by a woman who had worked as a makeup artist and was frustrated by the lack of vibrant lipgloss colors. She created a collection of seven colors, each with a nourishing "repair kit" for your lips to keep them moisturized and protected from irritants. No fragrances are included, but vanilla and macademia nut oil are used for moisturizing in addition to vitamin E, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

So how did Cosmoholic hold up to my picky pout?

I know I'm not the only one who runs errands either before or after hitting the gym, which, for me means walking around in my gym clothes. And, while I don't mind looking like I'm either about go to or just finished a workout, I always feel kind of silly walking around in my sporty clothes with a nice leather handbag. But, my other option is to take a gym bag in the store with me, and that doesn't really work, either.

This week, I'm giving away a handbag that will solve that problem for one (very) lucky winner. It's the Pallie bags Harison Tote (pictured above in turquoise, but the winner will receive one in tangerine), and it's a perfect mix of casual and cute, tough and trendy.

Forget that boring black backpack -- toss your towel, water bottle, and iPod in this bag and hit the gym in style. Or, save it for occasions when your fancier purses just won't do. Or use it all the time -- I probably would. Want to enter? Follow the jump!

Most people start shifting to darker colors as the weather gets cooler, and you know what that means -- more chance for deodorant to show up all over your clothes! And, I don't know about you, but I never notice that I've given myself a whiteout until I've already reached my destination and it's too late to do anything about it --- other than hold my purse at an odd angle to try to cover the damage.

Fitness magazine has some suggestions for avoiding the dreaded deodorant-streaked shirt that I found helpful, and maybe you will too. First of all, find a deodorant that claims to not leave white streaks (duh!). Editors had three favorites -- Secret Platinum Invisible Solid, Degree Ultra Clear, and Dove Ultimate Clear.

Second, make sure you're applying it correctly. (What? There's a wrong way to put on deodorant?) Avoiding over-application is your best bet, so carefully apply just one swipe back and forth and give your skin enough time -- about 30 seconds -- to absorb it before putting on clothes. And, if that doesn't work, clean the streak off with a baby wipe or pre-moistened facial cleaning wipe.

You work hard, you play hard. And, you know what you need in order to look fresh and gorgeous? Beauty sleep, of course!

You can't get a good night's sleep without the right tools, and that's where I want to help you out. For this week's Fit Beauty Giveaway, I'm giving away an Organic Cotton Down Pillow from Plumeria Bay. The standard size, soft 650 fill pillow is filled with the finest white goose down, cushioned in German milled Organic Cotton and comes with the Perfect Fill service to ensure you lay your head on the comfiest surface imaginable.

Plumeria Bay doesn't only offer luxurious down pillows -- they offer down comforters, too, so you can surround your entire body in luxury.

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling me about the quirky habits that help you fall asleep.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Wednesday, October 15, 2008
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one Plumeria Bay Organic Cotton Down Pillow, Standard Size, Soft 650 fill (valued at $125).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.
  

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

If your make-up routine consists of little more than a little powder for shine and a swipe or two of mascara, you're probably not too concerned about fall make-up trends. However, by adding just a product or two, you can really update your look for the season.

I've always been of the opinion that a new lipgloss is far cheaper than a new pair of trendy boots. And, most likely, that lipgloss will be of use the following season, and possibly even the following year, while trendy boots can look dated within months.

The problem is that so many people get flustered when it comes to cosmetics -- how do they know what'll work for them? I'm giving you my best tips in the gallery, so whether you are a makeup maven or just want to freshen up your face for fall, there's something for you!

Have you entered the AloSun Trial & Travel Collection Giveaway yet? If not, you'd better get a move on -- you only have until this Wednesday to do so!

AloSun has long been known for quality hair and skin care products at reasonable prices, and this is your chance to try a variety of their pampering products. Whether you want to treat yourself right now, plan to take a vacation somewhere sunny soon, or you just want to have these products on hand when springs comes around next year, you really ought to enter.

And, with this contest, we'll have five winners, so you have a better than normal chance of being a winner! All you have to do is go to the contest page and leave a comment. So, go -- now!

I am so excited to tell you about something new for Fit Beauty -- every other week or so, Fit Beauty will be hosting a giveaway. I have beauty, hair, and skincare products for you, gym totes, and other assorted goodies to help you look and feel your best!

I'm starting things off with a bang -- this week, our giveaway will have five lucky winners! We have five AloSun Travel and Trial Collections, each with five different products. Each pack is different, including five of the following products:

• Skin Buff Face & Body Polish
• Moisture-Lock Organic Body Oil
• Body Bare Penetrating Emollient
• Clarifying Hair & Body Shampoo
• Hydrating Hair Mask
• Lemon Lights
• Sea Salt Tress Texturizer
• Swimsuit Saver Shampoo
• After Sun Restorative Creme-Gel

I know, a lot of these products are geared more toward summer, but these are the perfect size to take traveling (all under 3 oz.), and you know you're going to want to take a trip somewhere sunny in just a couple of months, right? Or, save them for the first days of summer to give yourself a real treat!

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below saying why you deserve to be pampered.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one AloSun Travel & Trial Collection (valued at $15).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

What does your skin care routine consist of? I have to admit, I go through phases (often depending on my bank account) -- sometimes I use a basic facial cleanser and moisturizer, while, at other times, I have 10 different types of smoothing, anti-aging, wrinkle-fighting, clarifying, toning, and moisturizing products on my bathroom counter.

This month is a good time to take stock of how you're treating your skin -- it's National Skin Care Awareness Month, which was founded by skin care expert Renée Rouleau. What's interesting about it being in September is the fact that so many people think of skin care more as a summer issue, or, perhaps as a winter issue when all of a sudden your skin is dry and cracked. The truth is, sunscreen should be used year round, and to keep your skin looking its best for as long as possible, you need to care for it properly every day.

Renée Rouleau's products are based on nine distinct skin types -- she believes that, "with the proper tools, effective products, and a disciplined approach, anyone can have great skin." Skin care is multifaceted -- it includes dealing with wrinkles and acne, skin cancer and sun protection, rosacea and sensitivity, and more. She has products for all of these issues.

Normally I wouldn't work a book review into Fit Beauty, but this is just too perfect. I recently read Nina Garcia's The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, and just like watching an inspirational sports movie makes me want to hit the gym, this book made me want to shop. But with a purpose.

It seems like each season, I look in my closet and think, "Holy crap, I have nothing to wear." I know that's completely untrue, but I also know I'm not alone. And while that might not seem like a big deal, it really can take a toll on you emotionally when you can't find anything to wear, and you know you spent a bit of cash on clothes just a year ago.

With some help from this book, I now feel confident that I can shop in a way that will be productive and stay relevant from season to season, year after year. Let me explain.

I won't to lie to you -- I don't generally spend a lot of cash on makeup. I buy what you find at the drugstore, and even then, I look for a sale. My reasoning is simple -- I've never used something high end that felt like it was worth the price. If it's not all that different, why would I pay more?

There are reasons to pay more -- being particular about the ingredients is one, and of course, if it's can't-live-without-it amazing, I'm happy to save my pennies. But first, I need to know it's worth it.

I received samples of von Nature's Mineral Makeup Eye Colour, Sunset Light Face & Body Shimmer, and Magnolia Powder Foundation in the mail, and busted out my brushes immediately. For someone who is so involved in fashion and beauty, I have embarrassingly little experience with mineral makeup because it tends to cost more, and without trying it, I wasn't willing to spend the extra cash.