Not everyone is concerned about looking pretty while working out, but you know what? Nobody's going to judge you for wanting to cover acne or other imperfections before you hit the gym.

But here's the thing -- you don't want to wear just any foundation when you're working up a sweat. Some makeup can actually create more acne. Dermatologist-recommended cosmetics brand Cover FX offers products that give good coverage (in a wide variety of shades) and, at the same time, they're good for your skin -- even when you sweat.

I had a chance to try out Mineral FX Pure Mineral Foundation with SPF 15 ($37 at Sephora). While I don't really have problem skin (I mean, sure, a zit pops up here and there, but in general, it's pretty clear), I don't always have a chance to remove makeup before I hit the gym or go for a run. I was really curious to see if, for one thing, I would like the coverage of the loose powder mineral makeup (I've always been a pressed powder girl), and second, how it would stand up to a workout. So, I took it out for a test run. Literally.

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May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Are you aware? I am, as I look at my husband's left hand, fresh out of surgery to remove a squamous cell cancer, in all of its stitched and bandaged glory. I am aware when I look at my pale, pale skin and attempt to cover up as much as possible before heading out into the blazing Florida sun. I am aware when I lather my blond-headed little boys with sunscreen, hide in the shade at my neighborhood pool, and think back to all the skin cancer-y spots my grandma was forever having frozen off her her aging body. I've had a few frozen myself. And my sister just last year had two basal cell cancers carved right out of her chest. Her scars are constant reminders of summers spent basking on the beach.

Skin cancer should not be taken lightly, no matter how strongly you believe the disease won't happen to you. Of all the cancers out there, you might think this one is no big deal. You'd be wrong. Just ask Miss Melanoma who lost a toe because a mole on her foot turned up as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Ask anyone battling the disease and fighting off death. There were an estimated 59,940 new melanoma cases in the U.S. in 2007 and 250,000 cases of squamous cells carcinomas, the second most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell cancer, the most common form, strikes one million people each year.

Skin cancer should alarm you. Because if left undetected, it can kill you. Awareness is key. So do you part this month. And every month. Inform yourself. Your family. Your friends. All the information you need -- how to prevent it, how to detect it, how to treat it -- can be found right here at The Skin Cancer Foundation.

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One of the richest guys on the planet is offering you a chance to come up with an original, unproven innovation in the health field to combat HIV, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, and drug resistance. Of course, you'll need to be a scientist with your own lab, but the restrictions stop there for the most part.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wants to make this a very open request for proposals to get funding for innovative approaches to global health care. They're going to give away $100,000 to about five dozen groups to pursue their proposals for innovation.

This could be a big step in the field for these four target areas of study. Even though they're not offering opportunities to tackle their other areas (education, for example) the other health issues could use any the help they can get. I bet we're going to see a lot of universities submitting 2-page proposals for a shot at getting past the first round. Who knows, HIV patients may end up thanking the founder of Microsoft in the not-too-distant!

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Oprah has all the bases covered when it comes to feel-good stuff. She's the queen of giving, and gratitude, and good books, and now . . . underwear.

Yes, underwear is good for the soul, ladies. Well, good underwear is. But how many of us have good foundation garments? Are your outdated and faded panties stuffed in a drawer alongside your other mismatched goods? Do your bras work for your body type and shape? How about your gym gear -- does that job bra accomplish its intended function? If you answered "yes," "no," and "no," then your undergarments may need a swift trip to rehab.

Oprah to the rescue. Check out this article from her February 2008 magazine for the lowdown on managing your intimate apparel wardrobe and updating your mental health too.

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Now here are some kids who aren't messing around. They are mad. They want us to know about it. And here's what they have to say:

We're tired of being the fattest, most unfit generation ever. "Big industries" spend $12 billion a year advertising junk to us. Why? We influence tens of billions in spending. Health care costs will exceed $4 trillion just when we'll be raising our families, we're freaking out. We've got digital, communication, and tech-expertise no other generation's ever had. Join us sharing energy, creativity and social action that'll change the world. To junk food & big marketing -- "Get outta my face!"

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found food is the number one product advertised to kids, and this motivated bunch wants it to stop. Visit their blog here. Then check out this PBS Commentary. And this Washington Post story too.

Now tell us: What do you think?

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

I once sat in a job interview just after college and listened to two young employees talk about their boss. She has great balance, they said about the woman I might work for. A great supervisor, a super mom, a valued member of her profession, this woman had it all together. What I heard was compelling. It made me want the same. Now, 13 years later, I still want the same thing. Sometimes, I think I have it. Sometimes, the balls I'm juggling seem to be tumbling down around me.

Perhaps it's not so much about balancing everything all at once. Maybe it's more about working on one item at time. Building a solid foundation is necessary for any structure that follows to have stability, right? First things first. Take the human body. If we wish to have successful jobs, happy families, and rewarding lives, our immune systems must be in good working order. So before you try to keep your balls in the air, consider laying your own solid foundation. Here's how:

• Breathe. Learn to breathe properly for a healthy immune system.
• Eat. But only small, frequent meals.
• Sleep. Studies show women who sleep only six hours or less per night are 20 percent more likely to suffer heart problems.
• Dance. Rhythmic exercise is more beneficial to the immune system than other kinds of exercise.
• Love. It's the antidote for negative emotions. Find ways to cultivate love in your life.
• Relax. A calm environment is soothing for your immune system. Listening to music can modulate immune system response.
• Enhance.Take vitamins and supplements appropriate for you. Vitamin D is a good one -- it promotes immune-system health.

I never did get that job. But I got something from the interview that's kept me thinking for a long time now. For that, I am grateful.

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Studies that track the injuries of runners found those who got hurt most were the ones with the weakest cores. That's why strong cores are key if running is your exercise of choice.

This just scratches the surface of what I learned Tuesday night at a free seminar aimed at prepping Gainesville marathoners for a 26.2 mile jaunt in February. Three more workshops will follow. Before I attend the final trio, though, I'm trying to process the nuggets of knowledge thrown my way during the hour I spent with a few fitness experts and a room full of practicing runners. Here's a mini rundown on what I learned:

• The core -- made up of the butt, belly, back, and side butt -- is the body's engine block. It's like the hub of a bicycle wheel. If that hub were made of tin foil with strong spokes all around it, it would be crushed. Same goes for the core. It doesn't matter how strong our arms and legs are. If our core is weak, our body cannot endure sports like running.

If you or someone you love has had breast cancer so the issue hits close to home, or even if you just want to be part of a good cause while working on your fitness, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a perfect opportunity to do that. With walks scheduled all over the country for different weekends from now through summer and into next fall, you have the option of jumping right in this month or training and fund raising for a few weeks first.

Of course participants have the option to walk as much or as little as they want, but the "full walk" is the length of 2 marathons (but you'll be walking, not running!) or just over 39 miles spread over a weekend (2 days). I think this would make the perfect "weekend getaway" for a few friends -- a chance to travel to a fun city, get physical, spend time and bond with each other, and of course contribute to a good cause.

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Recently the disease lupus has come to the front of headlines with the American Idol contestant Leslie Hunt. You can't catch lupus from another person. It isn't cancer, and it isn't related to AIDS. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system is out of control and it attacks healthy tissues in your body and not germs. The disease can involve many parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Some of the most common symptoms of lupus are, red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks, painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, chest pain with deep breathing, swollen glands, rheumatoid arthritis, extreme fatigue, unusual hair loss, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress, sensitivity to the sun, low blood count, depression, trouble thinking, and memory problems. Other signs are mouth sores, unexplained seizures or convulsions, hallucinations, repeated miscarriages, and unexplained kidney problems.

What causes lupus is unknown and there is no cure for the disease. Anyone can get lupus but 9 out of 10 people who have it are women. Talk to your doctor and take a history of your health problems. Many people have lupus for a long time before they find out they have it. I wasn't diagnosed with it until I was 45 years old. It's important that you tell the doctor about all your symptoms. This information, along with a physical examination and the results of blood, urine, and other laboratory tests, helps the doctor decide whether you have lupus or something else.

People with lupus have limited energy and must manage it wisely. Ask your health care team about ways to cope with fatigue. Learn to pace yourself and set realistic goals. Consider support groups to help you over come the depression, anger, and sadness that comes with the disease. Put yourself on a very healthy diet that will help boost the immune system and cut down on inflammation in the body. Try to alleviate stress as much as possible and do moderate daily exercises to build up joint strength. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lupus learn more about the disease at the Lupus Foundation of America.

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