keep this on file

Tired of your old sandpaper emory board wearing out after just a few uses? Welcome to the world of glass nail files.

I recently came across the Mont Bleu e-shop, the only place to buy genuine glass nail files. Made with the best traditions of Bohemian of Czech strained glass, and decorated with original Swarovski crystals, they are beautiful tools to keep on your vanity or in your makeup bag and, trust me, you'll wear yourself out before they wear themselves out.

I love the crystal decorated versions (shown here), which come in beautiful velvet cases and make great gifts just in time for the rapidly approaching holiday season. I am also a fan of the classic style, which comes in a variety of colors.

Mont Bleu also offers other tools and accessories to keep a girl looking and feeling pretty. Choose from a wide assortment of cosmetic mirrors, makeup brushes, hair brushes, hair pins, key rings, business card holders, letter openers, jewelry and so much more.

Visit www.design-glassware.com to place your order.

it's a wrap

Scarves saturated the runway this fall, from Custo Barcelona's thick necklace styles to Missoni's mohair versions to Tommy Hilfiger's sportswear-inspired capes. Some other coverups that makes a style statement--and a worthy investment--this season: Fine quality scarves, wraps and shawls from ShawLux.

Made from the highest grades of cashmere, silk and wool, ShawLux represents a fusion of traditional luxury fabric, embroideries and craftsmanship from a diverse group of artists hailing from India and Kashmir.

Designer Annu Gyani founded the company by outsourcing the embellishments on her scarves to local artists for whom this work is their livelihood. The Artists practice a specialized weaving technique and embroidery form that is based on ancestral skills that are passed on from generation to generation.

In addition to the existing textiles and designs this fall marks the debut of the Digital Print arm of ShawLux; incorporating iconic landmarks, scenes from history and abstract imagery that will catch the eye of any passerby and have you looking fashionably chic.

Now you can even contribute to the race to cure breast cancer by purchasing one of these beautiful designs. ShawLux donates 30% of the purchases of its Kiss Me Lips scarf to the American Cancer Society--now that's a very good reason to go shopping.

ShawLux has already found a loyal following selling in top boutiques and department stores across the country and internationally including; Nordstrom stores nationwide, specialty boutiques across the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Japan and Germany. Prices range from $50 - $250 for the embellished scarves and capes and $125-$150.00 for the Debut Collection of Digital Prints.

Go to www.shawlux.com for more info.

winterize your beauty routine, reported by Susan Redstone as seen on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta

Time to change your beauty routine and clear out your make up case. With seasonal trends and cooler weather fast approaching, it's time to toss out your summer colors, refresh your regime and protect your face for winter. Stylist Susan Redstone shows us how...

PREPPING FOR WINTER

1. TEETH WHITENING -- the trend to whiten is huge. Dentist whitenening costs a fortune, but this method costs only $7 a piece. No complex steps, or messy mouthguards to deal with. It will give you the confidence you need to wear winter's bold new lip colors. Rembrandt mouthwash and toothpaste, $7 each at Walgreens.

2. SPLURGE ON WINTER WEIGHT NIGHT CREAM Repair your skin with plant DNA technology, a new science trend for skin products. The high tech, doctor brand DNA EGF Renewal, www.dnaegfrenewal.com, costs $130. Save on body lotion too with Vaseline Intensive Rescue, only $4 at drugstores.

3. REPAIR LIPS WITH FLAVORED TINTED LIP BALM -- Say goodbye to chapped lips. Tinted balms protect, repair and tint lips leaving them looking and feeling gorgeous. By Maybelline New York, $4, at drugstores.

MAKE UP TRENDS

4. MATTE BOLD LIP COLORS 'Amsterdam' by NYX Cosmetics, www.nyxcosmetics.com, is a professional line for less, only $6. And it looks best when worn with a flawless face, thanks to NYX Cosmetics Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation by NYX Cosmetics, $9.50 At ULTA.

5. THE RETURN OF THE CAT EYE -- 'Walk the Line' liquid liner by Hard Candy does double duty with a lash growth serum, under $7, at Walmart. Wear it with flushed face Fox in a Box by Hard Candy (an ALLURE MAGAZINE winner), only $6, at Walmart or www.walmart.com.

6. GLITTER GLUE and GRAY FOR HALLOWEEN Try Showgirls Secret Glitter Glue (developed by Vegas showgirls to keep glitter on!) by Hard Candy, $5, and NYX 'advanced salon formula,' $6, at www.nyxcosmetics.com.

fashion week: Maybelline's fashion week retreat

One of the best things about fashion week is trying out all the great makeup out there and, better yet, having it personally applied. This way, you get all the latest and greatest application tips. At the Maybelline's Fashion Week Retreat at Robert Verdi's Luxe Lounge, my personal makeup artist gave me a choice of different looks that either played up porcelain skin, dramatic eyes and other features. Her makeup picks for me included: Fit Me! Foundation, Blush and Pressed Powder in Medium, great LAsh Mascara in Clear, Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Blackest Black and Color Sensation Lipcolor in Born With It. Armed with a customized face chart that I could follow at home and tons of great new products, I headed to my next fashion week event.

fashion week: Remington waves

Next stop on my fashion week makeover quest: the Remington style booth. Lucky fashionistas who stopped by got a complementary Ultimate Stylist tool, designed to straighten, create tight curls, loose curls or waves so you get four looks with one simple to you styling product. I decided to try another innovative tool the brand just launched: the Remington WRAP TO WAVES—a revolutionary dual-pronged styler that makes sexy beach waves easier than ever. With no clamp to get in the way, simply wrap each strand between the two barrels and glide right through hair for an effortlessly chic style that lasts from day to play. It was a refreshing look from my typical blow dry and easy to do since you just have to wrap the strands and voila! You're ready to go. Even the most challenged hair novices can pull this one off. Pick one up at Walmart stores or get more info at www.remingtonproducts.com.

fashion week: getting around town

The best way to beat the traffic at New York Fashion Week? Hop into one of the specially designated pedicabs hired to take you from one amazing event to another. I took a pedicab from Lincoln Center to the Bing Lounge in the Mandarin Hotel. The space was a welcome retreat for fashion week attendees in need of a quick bit or a quiet place to file a story. And you could get a great latte there too. After meeting up with fellow journalists, we moved on to a slew of other great fashion week events.

winterize your beauty regimen, reported by Susan Redstone as seen on ABC 7 chicago, WLS-TV

Want to turn your summer beauty routine into a targeted fall/winter regimen? Stylist Susan Redstone shares her favorite must-have products...

REMBRANDT "Deeply White" collection Peroxide Mouthwash and Toothpaste. It gets out surface and deep stains. WHY YOU NEED IT Deep lipsticks are in style. So, teeth whitening is huge, so are costly dentist office procedures. But, instead, this is budget friendly, no messy mouthguards. Simply swtich out your toothpaste and rinse for these ones. $7 each at WALGREENS

BABY LIPS REPAIRING LIP BALM by MAYBELLINE NEW YORK -- the first collection of treatment lip products from this line, boosted with botanical cell renewal concentrates. WHY YOU NEED IT It repairs lips so they are visibily quenched, smoother, look moisturized and not rough and it comes in clear or tinted, with SPF 20. And they're fun to wear!$3.99 at DRUGSTORES NATIONWIDE

VASELINE INTENSIVE BODY RESCUE LOTION Save on this drugstore available body lotion. WHY YOU NEED IT It's fabulously moisturzing and not expensive, fragrance free and doesn’t compete with your perfumes. Buy this must-have body lotion and splurge on the face creams instead. $2.99

DNA RENEWAL NIGHT CREAM -- by DNA EFG RENEWAL Beverly Hills Doc Ron Moy is the leading expert in plant DNA skin science.WHY YOU NEED IT This is the fastest cell renewal you can buy on the market. Plant DNA helps generate new cells fast and repair summer's sun damage. And its RICH so you only need a little. $130 www.dnaegfrenewal.com

FALL COLORS by NYX COSMETICS Don't start fall without these warm, smoky shades. MERLOT, try a deep wine colored lipstick, $6. PUMP IT UP LIP PLUMPER, it feels tingly and adds great color, $6. SMOKEY LOOK KIT, create your own looks for only $13. WHY YOU NEED THEM On trend, professional quality make up at drugstore prices. Get more value for your money. www.nyxcosmetics.com