Dear Budget Babe,
My hands and cuticles get very dry and icky this time of the year. Can you suggest an inexpensive way to combat the harmful effects of harsh weather? — Chilly in NYC

BB: In many parts of the United States, low humidity coupled with cold winds and hot, dry indoor air can all wreak havoc on skin during the winter. Your first line of defense: Be sure to wear warm gloves every time you venture outside, and go easy on harsh soaps when washing hands.

Next, try a hand cream or lotion that contains oils to help lock in moisture and protect your skin - we recommend Alba Botanica Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion. It features a balance of rich skin softening emollients and essential fatty acids derived from cocoa and shea butters and nutrient-packed oils of kukui, macadamia and flax designed to restore your skin's natural elasticity and softness.

What's more, all Alba products are hypo-allergenic, pH balanced and use 100% vegetarian ingredients, with no synthetic colors and no animal testing. Get a 7 oz. tube for $6.26 at GotBody.com (regular price: $8.95). You can also find the Alba line at Whole Foods stores.

Another thing you may want to consider is getting a humidifier. The budget version: Simply put a bowl or dish full of water on top of a radiator or near a heat source, and it will naturally evaporate and add moisture to the air. If you've got children (or aren't afraid to express your inner child), try this frog-shaped "Crane Adorable One Gallon Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier", just $27.99 at Amazon.com.

Your skin will thank you!

Though the weather outside is frightful, our winter fashion needn't be - stay warm and stylish in Aerosole's leather ankle boots with faux shearling trim, leather laces and stitching accents. Wear with your favorite slacks or tony tights and a skirt. Originally priced at $130.00, they're now just $39.99. The tough part will be choosing between brown or black (but at this price, why not get both?)

Dear Budget Babe,
I love shopping online at UK retailers such as TopShop but I have trouble converting pounds to dollars. As a result, I end up spending much more than I bargained for! What's the easiest way for a computationally-challenged gal to, well, do the math? — Twiggy

BB: These days, you don't have to be a jet-setter to shop overseas - purchasing fashionable fineries from around the world can be achieved with the click of a mouse. It's important, however, to pay close attention to shipping costs, return policies, and to know exactly how much you're spending when you're not dealing with familiar dollars and cents.

"Guesstimating" is great, but for a foolproof way to convert currencies down to the penny, head to (where else?) Google: Simply enter the conversion you'd like done into the Google search box and hit "Enter" or click the Google Search button.

Here are some sample queries:

£45.00 in dollars
37 british money to US money
20.50 pounds in U.S. dollars
98 euros to British pounds

Number-crunching was never so simple - or so chic.


Got a question for The Budget Babe? E-mail us at info(at)thebudgetbabe.com

There's something utterly uptown about fashion and fur. While real fur can run into the thousands, faux fur is decidedly affordable. What's more, it's as guilt-free a pleasure as they get (saves you cash, saves a furry critter's hide, and saves PETA the cost of a gallon of red paint).


Leave it to vegan-friendly designer Stella McCartney to give us innovative faux-fur looks on the fall 2007 runway.



Whether you go for the drama of a solid fur jacket or the understated elegance of a fur collar and cuffs, there's a fabulous faux fur to match your style and your budget.

Mr. Chinchilla thanks you.






(from top to bottom, left to right)
[1] Plaid jacket with removable faux fur lapel trim, $32.80
[2] Faux mink hooded jacket, $34.80
[3] Faux fur shawl with jeweled broach, $28
[4] Denizen 3/4 sleeve faux fur jacket, $49.80
[5] Penélope & Mónica Cruz for MNG faux fur coat, $108.99
[6] Faux fur vest with sequin and bead embellishments, $59.80
[7] Jones New York Signature faux fur collar car coat, sale $66.90
[8] Express embellished faux fur coat, $128

UPDATE: And the winner of our Airwalk contest is.......Jennifer Gann!! Congratulations, Jennifer, and a great big thank you to all 244 people who participated.



PLEASE NOTE: This contest has ended.

Kick off the New Year in some free kicks! Tell us whether you prefer shoes that slip on OR lace up in the comment section below and one lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive this brand new pair of women's SIZE 8 Airwalk sneaks! (Note: This is the only pair - no other sizes or styles are available for this giveaway.)

This fresh Limited Edition Airwalk style features a red heart-n-dagger emblem on the toe with a ribbon banner that reads, "1986 - Airwalk," commemorating the year that the popular boardsport fashion brand got its start.

Be sure to use a valid email address and include info(at)thebudgetbabe.com in your address book so we can contact you if you're the winner. Contest is only open to residents living in the United States or Canada. Comments must be posted by 12 noon ET on January 4 to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced on January 5. Good luck!

Special thanks to Eileen from Turner PR for making this contest possible!