Warming trend; must-have makeup

By BECKY SHER
KNIGHT RIDDER TRIBUNE
Ears are a tricky thing in cold weather. You need to keep 'em covered, but how? Hats are good, but they can muss up your hair. Those headband things are fine on the ski slopes, but they're not so stylin' when you're headed out for a date. And earmuffs are just not the height of sophisticated elegance. Ever.
Enter Earbags, which are just so clever we can't get over it. They're basically little sacks that gently snap around your ears, like tiny sleeping bags. No weird band to get in the way, and no danger of messing up your do. Plus, they come in dozens of colors and three materials -- fleece, fake fur and suede -- so no matter what you're wearing, you'll look great.
Check out www.earbagsus.com to see these ingenious inventions for yourself, and check out the sizing guide to find out which ones will fit you best. Then use the site's store locator, or shop online.
Cheap chic
We'll be the first to tell you that there are drugstore cosmetics that really float our boats. After all, it's cheap and readily available. But sometimes it's fun to head to a department store or trendy boutique and sample all the pretty colors. With a new line of products from Sephora, you can get the best of both worlds -- cheap, fun products sold in a hip, classy store.
The Sephora Girls collection features bath and body products in great flavors like strawberry candy, sweet almond and caramel, plus cool makeup like iridescent eye shadow. And there's nothing in the line that's going to break the bank; prices range from about $6 for bath beads to $14 for a makeup case. And don't be fooled by the name -- there's nothing childish about this stuff. It's just young at heart. Look for Sephora Girls at Sephora stores or online at www.sephora.com.
XBecky Sher writes Hype for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. You can write to her at bsher@krtinfo.com.