Photo courtesy of Vogue

Some French politicians are striking back against airbrushing, proposing a law that would require magazines to clearly mark altered photos as airbrushed. Fashion and beauty magazines, almost all of which use retouching heavily, claim the measure would stifle artistic interpretation. Tony Chambers, editor of Wallpaper and former editor of British GQ, stated flatly, “The camera has always lied and always will. These things should always be taken with a pinch of salt.”

Do you think his claim holds water? The provision wouldn’t prevent fashion magazines from using retouched photos. I certainly understand the argument that a good magazine spread can be an artistic vision, so just as I wouldn’t mind a painter blending paints on a canvas, I don’t mind magazines brushing out pores and blemishes. But when it comes to body retouching, something tells me that whittling waists and thighs in Photoshop isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I wouldn’t mind the boost of perspective that would come with being reminded that the image isn’t completely practical or achievable precisely because it isn’t quite real.

What do you think? Would you like a law like this in your country?

Photo courtesy of crystalalacarte.com

This morning, FabSugar posted a nifty little portable cleaning trick. If you pull a sweater out of the back of your closet and notice it smells musty, or need to air out a shirt you wore on the treadmill before you stuff it in your gym bag to ferment, there’s no need to shell out for Febreze, which can run $4 and up for a bottle you may only use infrequently.

Make your own fabric refresher with ingredients from your home bar. Mix equal parts vodka and water in a spray bottle and spritz the stain. The vodka smell will disappear as it dries, taking any other odors with it, and I imagine adding a drop or two of a clear essential oil might leave behind a light, pleasant aroma. No need to reach for the top shelf on this one—any vodka you can buy in a plastic jug will do the job just as well as Grey Goose (save that for happy hour.)

Do you swear by any on-the-go, DIY remedies to keep yourself presentable?

Photo courtesy of sheknows.com

If you’ve been neglecting your mug, be sure to give your face a little…well, face time and check out some of the killer facials available all around the country during the upcoming October Spa Week:

Hydradermie: Specially trained therapists employ a combination of mild electrotherapies to banish bacteria, draw out impurities, and improve circulation and cellular turnover. This facial will give you lasting, clinical results. Get the hydradermie glow at Petra’s Skin Spa in Virginia and Beyond the Spa in Toronto.

Anti-Aging: Banish fine lines and welcome lasting moisture with the hydramemory facial at reVamp! SalonSpa in Minneapolis, MN. Roll back sun damage with the Stone Crop Lightening facial at Spa H locations in Jersey City and Hoboken, NJ. And at The Spa of Cool Springs in Franklin, TN, let fresh fruit pulp infuse your skin with youth and vitality.

Stress Relief: Unfurrow your brow with the Cara Mia signature facial at Cara Mia Medical Day Spa in Englewood, CO. Visit Joseph Anthony in Glen Mills, PA in order to enjoy a 50-minute signature facial with 30 minutes of brine light therapy to clarify and soothe skin. And enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating 50 minute radiance spa facial at The Spa at the Crescent in Dallas, TX.

The makers of the top-selling birth control pill in the nation are under fire from the FDA and consumers. 74 women on the birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin have filed suits against the Bayer corporation. They, along with some researchers and public health advocates, claim that the pills put users at a higher risk of strokes and blood clots than other brands of pills. Two recent studies published in The British Medical Journal seem to support these claims, in contrast to the findings of prior studies.

If nothing else, the furor over Yaz should serve as a reminder that we should be aware of the potential deleterious side effects of all medications and skeptical of television ads promoting them. Their goal, after all, is to sell the medication. If birth control is an issue for you, will you be doing anything differently in light of these findings?

Photos courtesy of ibexwear.com

My workout clothes consist of some cheap nylon shorts and ragged t-shirts I keep in a plastic box under my bed—I figure no one’s going to give me a fashion award when I’m out running or putting in my time at the gym, and I’d rather put the pennies in my exercise budget towards good running shoes. Yet fitness fanatics routinely push high-tech exercise wear as the essential element to taking your workout to the next level. Is it time for me to reconsider my workout wardrobe?

I must admit, the sweat-wicking, anti-odor, SPF properties of this UnderArmour tank sound impressive. And for the less hardcore, the new Balance line from Ibex features seamless fabric woven with spandex and Italian merino wool. It boasts superior breathability, softness, and comfort, and at a $25-$70 price point, the line doesn’t cause the eyes to bulge. Still, part of me wonders if it’s worth it and I must admit I’m as yet unconvinced. Should the average exerciser invest in quality fitness wear?