For many, it's not always so hard to find time for a workout -- what's hard is finding time to get ready for something else immediately following a workout. You can certainly work up a sweat in 20 or 30 minutes, but how do you get your face looking fresh and fabulous for work, or for lunch with your friends, in the few minutes remaining after you take a shower? Not to mention the fact that, even after the shower, you're still feeling a little hot and sweaty. Or, at least, I usually am.

5 Minute Post-Workout Beauty from Kristen Seymour on Vimeo.
Because I care about you so very much, I've done a video (on which I appear with absolutely no makeup) to show you how you can go from completely barefaced to fully fabulous in less than five minutes. Aside from the "how-to," I have some tips for streamlining your beauty routine when you're on the go.

• Keep everything you need together, and remove everything else. I have tons of "fun" makeup, but all of that stays in a separate makeup bag. I only have a few products I use every day, and all of those products live together in their own makeup bag, so if I have to take it with me to the gym, it's easy.
  
• If you're getting ready somewhere other than your home, avoid bringing more tools than necessary. I have a nice set of makeup brushes, but for my "on the go" beauty routine, I only use products that come with their own applicators so I have less to remember.
• Do the maintenance when you have more time. Things like well-groomed eyebrows are important, but try to take care of that at night before bed so you don't have to worry about it when you're rushing. Additionally, do your deep-cleaning routine on days when you have more than five minutes to get out of the house.

I just had the TV on and the above commercial ran. I about choked on my glass of water when I read the fine print:

• Results Not Typical. Clinical studies have shown average caloric intake was reduced by 12.5 percent to 30 percent.
• Cartoon Dramatization. Results not typical. Real people require diet and exercise to lose body fat.
  

Bummer. I'm a real person so I guess I can't expect to lose weight as quickly as that cartoon did.

The old weight-loss-in-a-pill wish. I think most of us who have a few pounds to lose have wished it could be that easy from time to time. And when you watch the commercials on TV, they certainly make it seem like magic. Think about it -- one second an overweight person is pictured and the next second -- BAM! -- that very same person is thin and somehow tanner and more smiley. What a miracle, right? Not only do the pills help you lose weight, they must also make you tanner, happier and give you better hair. Who wouldn't want some of that magic?

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Weight loss requires work and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. And, while some weight loss pills undoubtedly do help, there are associated risks. Jacki recently told us about the risks with some of the more popular weight-loss medications, most of which are available by prescription only. But a lot of the lesser known medications can be risky, too.

The FDA listed 28 weight loss products that contain hidden -- and potentially harmful -- ingredients. No, thank you. Check out the gallery for more tried and true ways to shed pounds.

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When you're healthy, it shows. However, it's not just your muscles you need to take care of -- what about your skin?

Luckily for all you fabulous 40+ ladies out there, this week's Fit Beauty giveaway is a fabulous assortment of Emerita skin care products, all formulated specifically for your skin. Because, let's face it -- wrinkles aren't the only skin issue women of a certain age face, right?

This really is a fantastic prize, valued at about $280. Even if it's not something you need for yourself, I bet you have a mom, aunt, neighbor, or someone else who would just love to find these products under her tree. Am I right? So head on over and enter -- it's super easy, and it just might be your lucky day!

We have a winner! Well, actually, we have five, which is even better. All winners, who were chosen at random, surely deserve their prizes.

Winner Ashley really needed something to cheer her up after moving across the country to start a new job. And Stephanie, who housed and fed her husband's family after they were displaced by Hurricane Ike, is looking forward to some "me time." Katheryn is a stay-at-home mom with two small children and a husband who travels, and she's still been finding time to train for races. Clearly, she needs some pampering. Robin needs an excuse to relax after a crazy week of college, and Jenna, who had a stressful summer, wants to bring a little summer vacation into her Fall.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep checking back -- we've got lots of other cool giveaways coming up!

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Have you entered the AloSun Trial & Travel Collection Giveaway yet? If not, you'd better get a move on -- you only have until this Wednesday to do so!

AloSun has long been known for quality hair and skin care products at reasonable prices, and this is your chance to try a variety of their pampering products. Whether you want to treat yourself right now, plan to take a vacation somewhere sunny soon, or you just want to have these products on hand when springs comes around next year, you really ought to enter.

And, with this contest, we'll have five winners, so you have a better than normal chance of being a winner! All you have to do is go to the contest page and leave a comment. So, go -- now!

What does your skin care routine consist of? I have to admit, I go through phases (often depending on my bank account) -- sometimes I use a basic facial cleanser and moisturizer, while, at other times, I have 10 different types of smoothing, anti-aging, wrinkle-fighting, clarifying, toning, and moisturizing products on my bathroom counter.

This month is a good time to take stock of how you're treating your skin -- it's National Skin Care Awareness Month, which was founded by skin care expert Renée Rouleau. What's interesting about it being in September is the fact that so many people think of skin care more as a summer issue, or, perhaps as a winter issue when all of a sudden your skin is dry and cracked. The truth is, sunscreen should be used year round, and to keep your skin looking its best for as long as possible, you need to care for it properly every day.

Renée Rouleau's products are based on nine distinct skin types -- she believes that, "with the proper tools, effective products, and a disciplined approach, anyone can have great skin." Skin care is multifaceted -- it includes dealing with wrinkles and acne, skin cancer and sun protection, rosacea and sensitivity, and more. She has products for all of these issues.

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Over the last few decades, you've probably noticed a shift in your supermarket options. The small-family-run grocery stores of 20 years ago are gone, replaced by sprawling, mall-sized mega-stores carrying a mind-boggling selection of products. But according to the New York Times, expect to see a shift backwards.

That's right, smaller stores are making a comeback, with big names like Safeway, Whole Foods and Wal-Mart opening smaller stores throughout North America. The idea here is convenience -- shoppers wishing to quickly pick up a few items for that night's dinner can do so at a smaller supermarket without having to wander the aisles for hours to find what they're looking for or pay exorbitant prices at a convenience store.

As long as the limited selection is healthy, I think this is a great idea -- I can't stand heading to a big grocery store when all I need is one or two things. Your thoughts?

(via CalorieLab)

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Miss Fitzness, I'm a vegetarian, but still weigh 34 pounds more than I'd like to. What gives? I thought vegetarians were supposed to be skinny, and I hate being chubby! Meredith

A. Hello Meredith, Thanks for writing! Vegetarianism can have tons of benefits, and a trim physique can be one of them, if done right. Having said that ... it's very easy to go wrong as well. Here is the deal. Vegetarians don't necessarily eat all fruits and vegetables ... vegetarians just don't eat meat. There are tons of products that have no animal products in them, yet are still super high in calories and fat. Let's start with a short list of some vegetarian approved products:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Oil
• Frosting
• Gummy Bears

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Throughout your life, your skincare needs change. As you entered puberty you required certain products to combat acne, and as you entered adulthood, perhaps the acne was no longer an issue, but you started having dry skin issues. That's totally normal.

Also normal is a change in your skincare needs as you age. You experience a decline in hormone levels, which affects your skin, causing it to dry out -- these changes generally begin to take place as a woman enters her 40s. Dry skin isn't the only problem, however -- at the same time, women begin to see more wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Needless to say, the cleansers and moisturizers you used in your 20s are no longer the most effective choice.

My friend, Debbie, had the opportunity to try out some products by Emerita geared toward the specific skin problems of mature women and was very happy with the results, which is saying something because she has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions. And so, for today's Fit Beauty feature, I thought I would share her experiences with you.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitzy. I work out a few times a week and eat pretty well, but "six-pack" abs have always escaped me. I do plenty of crunches, but nothing seems to bring me even close to the abs I see on the cover of Men's Health magazine. What is the secret to it? Chase

A. Ahhhh Chase. The elusive six pack. Doesn't every body wish for that? Yes ... almost everybody does. Very few actually achieve it, though. This is the deal Chase, the "secret," if you will. If you want to look like an athlete, you're going to have to behave like an athlete. Train ridiculously hard and eat ridiculously well. Six-pack abs are a sign of elite fitness for sure, and you're probably not going to earn them working out a "few times a week and eating pretty well."

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My favorite piece of cooking gear is my vegetable steamer. It can be used for more than just veggies -- like rice -- but I use is for one purpose only: Steaming the broccoli, peas, corn, and squash we rotate among our daily dinners. My steamer is easy to assemble, easy to use, and easy to clean. And it takes no longer than 10 minutes for our nutritious fare to cook. I also like my food processor -- it just doesn't get as much use -- and I really want a Crock Pot. I borrow my sister's when I need one, but I bet I'd be a bit more inventive with meals if I had one stuffed in a cabinet nearby.

Women's Health magazine recommends a few got-to-have kitchen gadgets. The food processor and steamer make the cut -- although the WH editors recommend not my stand alone steamer but a flexible silicone steamer that sits on top of a pan of boiling water. They also recommend a colandar, casserole dishes, mixing bowls, baking sheets, pots and pans, a hand mixer, a meat thermometer, an oil sprayer, nylon/rubber tools, wooden goods, a vegetable peeler, a shredder, kitchen shears, cutting boards, and knives.

A pretty good medley of stuff, huh? Click here and check out each item. Pictures, descriptions, and suggested brands are included.

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Just when you thought companies would start producing more natural, organic products as a result of widespread distaste for excessive additives, news comes out that certain "organic" brands actually contain a dangerous carcinogen. Dioxane is a chemical byproduct of a method used by companies to make harsh products feel more soft.

What kind of products are we talking about here? Shampoos and lotions that go directly on the body, just to name a couple. These personal care items are not supposed to be used if they're seeking USDA certification. So the problem is that these uncertified products are still being sold, even without the blessing of the USDA.

According to this post, kidney, neurological and respiratory damage is also known to be caused by dioxane. Think it stops there? The organic products using the compound could also be considered a groundwater contaminant. I'm not sure exactly how "organic" products like this become so dangerous, but I sure wouldn't want to pay for a known carcinogen to lather up my hair with. For a list of these brands, check them out here.

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As much as I enjoy splurging from time to time on pricey beauty products, I also really like trying out simple, DIY beauty items. Not so long ago I wrote about home-made hair care -- using foods like mayonnaise and beer to soften and brighten your hair. I think what I like about at-home beauty is that, since the tips are usually cheap, barring any major disasters you can figure out which products you like without having to waste a tonne of money on stuff that turns out to be not so great.

I was pretty excited to find this list of 10 great budget beauty products that you can make at home. They're all really simple, containing only a few ingredients each. In addition, a number of the 'recipes' include a lot of the same ingredients -- like essential oils and rubbing alcohol, so you only have to buy a few things and can still try most of the ideas. All you need is a range of empty bottles and containers and you're good to get started.

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