24/Savvy Beauty and Health

Whether you've got deep pockets or are living in shallow financial waters at present, you never want to blow good money on poorly made clothes.  To find out if a piece is well-constructed or not, the devil is in the details....just quickly check these four things to find out if you've got a "savvy" fashion find or a "silly" back-on-the-rack dud. High prices don't always mean high quality, dontcha know.

The good news about wardrobe staples that don't have an expiration date is...well, they don't have an expiration date.   The bad news is that since they don't have an expiration date, they usually get the mother lode of wear and tear which will show over time if it's not a quality piece.

The KEEN Springer Backseat Pack works double duty for carrying gear with a side dish of classic comfort.  Snag a seat after lugging your load by propping open the padded seat to protect your tush from outdoor mush.  The pack provides space for a water bottle and 15-inch laptop, with room to spare...so you can sit anywhere!

Coming soon to Altrec for $120 with free shipping.

Browsing recent photos from the Cannes Film Festival is like a primer in how to use and how not to use bronzer.  Some ladies (and gentlemen!) adopt a restrained tactic, adding a lovely touch of sun-kissed color, just as though they were, well, in Cannes!  Others, 'lo how they pile it on like they're gunning for a wholesale skin-color change. The beauty of bronzer, when used judiciously, is that if you're an SPF devotee like we are, you can fake a gentle tan, rather than bake a harsh one.  The objective here is to add a touch of color, not a full-bodied paint job.

What's not to love about products that do double-duty?  Dual-purpose beauty goodies like tinted moisturizers not only help save money and packaging waste, they're also one of the best solutions for ageing gracefully.

In this day and age of identity theft, destroying documents is important for personal protection. Introducing a crazy cool coffee-table/paper shredder, designed to delight: The Papervore. Its’ diet consists of junk mail, old utility bills, magazines and any other incriminating evidence you might have.  While taking care of coffee-table clutter, your cable bill becomes a work of art!  A mahogany crank let’s you go cordless, so the only trip you’ll be taking is to the recycling bin once it’s full.

The papervore comes in custom colors and is sold at Pigeontail Design and Voos Furniture in NYC.

If you're looking for savvy ways to sneak exercises into your day without stepping foot in a gym, swapping out your regular home office chair for an inexpensive exercise ball is a worthy investment.

Not only does sitting on a ball help strengthen your spine, improve your posture, engage your abs, and aid blood circulation, it's a pretty fun way to blow off steam.  Whenever you find yourself heating up over a slow computer and that dreaded spinning color wheel of death, give a few bounces on your ball chair.  You'll feel better instantly, guaranteed.

Basic black is usually our favorite savvy staple for simple elegance, but in summer, bleeecch, who wants to climb into sweatbox of dark hues?  Enter: La Dolce Crema.  A monochrome ensemble of cream is just what Dr. Savvy ordered for a fresh, flattering and fabulously easy look.

Ah, the dream of having your very own herb, fruit and vegetable garden. Fortunately, there are many options for small spaces. Here are five of my favorite designs from Potting Shed Creation, Troy and ID for your windowsill or desktop, all available at Branch Home.

No one likes under-eye bags or dark circles, but whether they're a mainstay of your complexion or just a repercussion of late-night Facebook cruising, drinking or other bag-inducing behavior, just step right up to these savvy tips to conceal them like a pro.