Crest Pro-Health Turns Your Teeth Brown: Wow, That’s Disgusting.

This morning's Today Show revealed a rather gross and unsettling discovery: Crest's Pro-Health Rinse apparently turns your teeth brown. Yep, brown. As in dirty than they were before you brushed and rinsed. Unbelievable, right?

According to the report, the mouthwash became popular for being alcohol-free and thus not causing that uncomfortable burning sensation when you rinse. But people started noticing their teeth becoming discolored and their taste buds altering after a few weeks of use. Piles of bad reviews surfaced on the internet and the company has since been knee-deep in lawsuits. It claims the effects are temporary and a side-effect of the alcohol-free ingredients. Well, personally I'll take a little burn any day over nasty brown teeth.

Below is an alternative alcohol-free option that won't put a damper on your pearly whites. The Natural Dentist ($10) will brighten your teeth, not soil them. And if you've already experienced side-effects from using Crest Pro-Health, voice your complaints on their website.

Trend Alert:  Put Away Your Pastels for Spring—It’s All About the Brights

Lately, I’ve been opening up magazines and catalogs filled with bold, bright colors for spring and I have felt, well, stimulated. In a good way. By buying bits and pieces from this trend, you’ll really be able to punch up your wardrobe for spring.

I would love to pair this See by Chloe frock ($315) with a bright chunky bangle ($15).

And if I was really feeling like spring, I’d wear this Diane Von Furstenberg Kacia Dress ($355) with this adorable J Crew Ruffle Cardi ($88).

If you are into accessories, this patent bowler ($148) will make you feel sunny. Or you can jazz it up with some bracelets like Alexis Bittar’s Pyramid Stud Hinge Bracelets ($165). 

All these bright colors are making me feel more awake than a grande mocha..

Runway Recap: Project Runway SMACKDOWN!!!

Here's the latest Runway Recap from SheFinds reader Casey: 

Oh WOW… lady wrestlers… this should be good. While it's reminiscent of the ice-skating challenge of a few seasons ago, it's 100 times campier and we love that. We predicted Chris would be in his element for this one, and that Rami would create yet another version of his standard outfit: the braided one-shoulder halter. We were right on one count anyway.

Never in a million years did we expect to hear Tim Gunn utter the words "Spandex House", but even more shocking was the realization that there is an ENTIRE STORE devoted to spandex! We were kind of bummed that none of the designers (except our boy Chris) seemed to be excited about this challenge – this is a chance to make a superhero outfit, folks!  Who wouldn't dig that?

 
The colors chosen by Rami and Ricky were certainly polarizing – and you knew the judges would not like them. Rami's client's persona was sexy-girl-next-door, and the hot pink he chose was more sexy-hooker-on-the-corner. In the end it looked like Pepto-Bismol threw up on her. The neon orange that Ricky used was just horrible. I think he mis-heard the directions and thought this was a bathing suit challenge.

 
Sweet P struggled this week. (Do we write that every week?) Her client wanted a "robe and reveal" outfit that said "Look, I'm demure and mysterious… NO I'm a sex kitten!" The problem with Sweet P's final creation (one of many) was that the surprise element was not there – the robe itself revealed what was beneath, defeating the purpose.

 
Jillian, oh Jillian, you do such nice work but you don't entertain us as much as the others. Jillian's wrestler was the WWE's version of Sporty Spice – tomboy and athletic (but also sexy, of course). She looked like a sexed-up Wonder Woman in the end and the client was very happy.

 
Christian decided this was his favorite outfit thus far in the competition (and worried what that said about him).  He wanted his lady wrestler to be "fierce" and he absolutely succeeded. She looked extremely intimidating (Heidi would not want to meet her in a dark alley) and Christian delivered exactly what she wanted – leather and lace.

Our boy Chris was overjoyed with this competition, and if you saw his book earlier in the season, you know why. His client wanted something in animal prints, and it was love at first meeting. Chris created a flattering superhero leopard print costume and hoodie (reminiscent of Shania Twain in the desert). It didn't hurt that she rocked it down the runway either.
 
In our minds it was a close call between Christian and Chris - based solely on this week's designs, we thought it should have been a three-way ouster. In the end, it was Ricky and his swimsuit that were sent packing. Maybe they'll head to the nearest beach?

Take a look at previous PRunway reviews .. 

Like, The Youngest Fashion Mogul Ever. Totally. And Paris Is Her BFF

Kira Plastinina has a multi-million dollar Russian fashion empire: more than 30 stores, supplementary lines of perfume and lollipops, and Paris Hilton (who inspires many of her designs) in the first row of her latest show. And now Plastinina, who's all of fifteen years old, is taking her show on the road to America, with plans to open 10 stores in NY and LA.

Her garments run the gambit from sweet (a cute printed hoodie) to apoplexy inducing (high-waisted hot pants) to head scratching (a pink dress that looks like a zip-up ski parka?). She's the modern Russian equivalent of Contempo Casuals and 5-7-9.  

Runway Recap: Avant-Grrrrrr……

Here's the latest Runway Recap from SheFinds reader Casey: 

Wednesday's show had much promise (unlike previous let-downs) - let the designers go completely nuts and create an avant-garde piece based on weird hairstyles the models were sporting. As Tim said, it did not need to be commercial and didn't even need to be wearable!  Art for art's sake alone. This was going to be good. But then came twist after twist - it will be another team challenge (Dear Heidi, we HATE the team challenges!), and one day into production they're told they have to make a ready-to-wear outfit embodying the essence of the avant-garde piece.

With this group, there is nothing but odd couples: Rami & Sweet P, Victorya & Jillian, Chris & Christian, and Kit & Ricky. What's interesting is how the designers are inhabiting characters we've seen before:
- Rami is becoming Santino. Not only did he show his nasty, controlling side, he is also drawn to over-embellishment and braiding.
- Christian is this year's Austin Scarlett. He's flamboyant and quirky, and we can't make up our minds whether we like him.
- Chris reminds us of Kayne with his out-there, fanciful design style and ever-cheerful demeanor (we are also glad he's stopped crying!).
 
Back to this week's designs…

We LOVED Jillian and Victorya's punk rock trench coat. I never would have expected them to meld their design styles so well. I was worried about the pants, as they looked too exaggerated when they were under construction, but all in all, it was a great ensemble. Their ready-to-wear version was, well, perfectly ready to wear.

 
Rami was mean mean mean to Sweet P, and the avant-garde design was bad bad bad. Flowing, over-accessorized Greek style dress over pants? What? The model looked like she fell down in Mood while covered in glue and walked in covered in random fabric and trinkets. The ready-to-wear piece, which was all Sweet P, was aces. We loved it. However one out of two doesn't get you in the top score group.
 
Chris and Christian were a very happy and agreeable pair with complementary visions. They created an extraordinary piece with a huge Victorian-esque collar that almost defies description - which makes it perfect for this challenge. Their ready-to-wear piece was just plain boring though. Perhaps these two can only think outside the box?
 
Kit and Ricky translated their model's hair as bird's-nesty and designed around that. I actually thought their dress was pretty cool, but it was clearly not avant-garde and not bird's-nesty. I would have liked to see that interpreted more literally (which I do think was their initial intent). If not for the hoop skirt, it would have been wearable in the real world - exactly what this creation was not supposed to be. Their ready-to-wear dress was cute but looked very cheap and was one of the least flattering dresses I have seen in a while.
 
We wanted:
1. Victorya and Jillian to win - they hit both the avant-garde and ready-to-wear pieces out of the park.
2. Rami to go home not just because he was mean and controlling, but because his avant-garde piece was terrible.
 
We got:
1. Chris and Christian took home the win.
2. Kit was sent home instead of Rami.

A Watch For The Trendy Gym Rats

What: o.d.m. "Save The Earth" watch, $100

Why: My sister Maggie, a self-proclaimed gym rat, has always had major watch issues. Her everyday watch, a classic, silver Swiss Army, doesn't really go with her workout attire. Worse than that, the "loose-ish" design of the band creates these strange, icky, dirt smudges on her wrist where sweat builds up from the rubbing motion that occurs when she runs. So this holiday season, I decided to end her watch-wearing issues once and for all: I got her the digital Original Dynamic Minimal (o.d.m.) mysterious V "Save The Earth" watch (no, I don't get the name either).

The watch, which switches between time and calendar with a simple flick of the wrist, features a patented buckle—which only takes a few tries to figure out, I swear—to keep the watch firmly cemented in place. Plus, the band is made from silicon, a poor conductor of heat, meaning it doesn't heat up along with your skin during a long workout (guess who got an "A" in Chem Lab, people).

Personally, I prefer to skip to the gym and keep my silver on. But for Maggie, who loves her trendy gym outfits and actually works out on a regular basis, this is the perfect accessory (o.d.m. watches were dubbed the official timepiece of the MTV Music Awards, to give you a sense of exactly how trendy we're talking here). And, in case you're wondering: yes, I am up for the Sister of the Year award.

Get Yours: o.d.m-USA.com

Website Review: Bid for Luxury at Portero

You know when the time comes to buy a new pair of shoes, (and that time, of course, is always…) but the rent is coming up and you’re just not sure if your credit cards can withstand another $685 dollar charge courtesy of Manolo Blahnik?

So, you check out eBay because maybe you’ll come across some great find for a shockingly low bid. But unfortunately, as it often is on eBay, the hottest brands come at the highest risk and sometimes it's just too difficult to determine whether a certain designer bag or shoe is actually authentic. You know how it is: you type in “Louboutin” and multiple listings of the same exact shoe come up from a single seller, who just happens to have six different pairs in varying sizes all shipping from China. That might raise a little red flag.

Enter Portero, a luxury auction style e-shop that actually guarantees the authenticity of its fine goods. Sure, you won’t be able to find some of the more obscure items that eBay has to offer, but who needs a vintage Chinese wooden lunchbox when you can find a gorgeous gold plaited leather Anya Hindmarch purse for almost half the price. Shop through great brands like Bvlgari, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Hermes, or by category like jewelry, handbags, shoes, art, housewares, etc. We’ll start you off with a few great auction finds to check out:

Manolo Blahnik Snow Leopard Sandals
Current Bid: $349

Anya Hindmarch Gold Plaited Leather Handbag
Current Bid: $499

Stephen Dweck Purple Cultured Pearl Necklace
Current Bid: $299

A Jewelry Find: Cartier Love Watch

What: Cartier Love Watch

Why: Do we even have to get into it? Okay, well to begin with it's Cartier and who'd turn down a Cartier watch?

More importantly, though, these watches are the latest additions to the Love Collection, which we happen to well, love. Primarily because the spirit behind the line is so special - Cartier backs it's "How far would you go for love?" slogan by donating 10% of the LOVE profits to charitable organizations.

It also doesn't hurt that the collection is really quite chic and classic. All the pieces are unified by an interesting screw design - the bracelet even screws onto your wrist—but we're particularly fond of the watch because its understated, yet luxe. The band is unadorned black fabric, but the crown comes in 18K yellow, white or pink (yes, pink!) gold and can be done up in diamonds. 

About the price, though. It doesn't exactly fit into our budget, but hey if you can afford, why not? It's for a good cause.

Price: $5,700-$7,000

Get Yours: NeimanMarcus.com