If you really like exotic skins, than this is the handbag for you. This evening bag is made of stingray skin, so it is no coincidence that the bag is also shaped rather like a stingray with wide wings and a handle as the tail. Described as "eerily beautiful," it has a slightly pebbled surface and is both water and scratch resistant. It is small and only measures .5" x 4.5" x 4" and closes with a small toggle. Price: $190.

Walgreens is introducing a whole new concept to its stores, and all US drugstores, with its European Beauty Collection. The collection is a group of upscale beauty and cosmetic products from seven European companies that have not yet been introduced to the US market and will be available exclusively at Walgreens through at least 2007. The brands include: 

• Institut Arnaud Paris, a French face and body care line that is very popular in spas.
• Skincode Switzerland, a range of herb, plant, vitamin, and other "natural" items, developed with The University Hospital in Zurich.
• Spa Aquatique, a marine-based French spa collection
• Red Water, a Greece line that includes native Greek herbs, oils and waters.
• La Fleur Organic, an organic line from Provence, France.
• Art Deco,  the number-one selling skin care/cosmetic brand in German department stores.

By introducing these masstige products (mass + prestige), Walgreens is hoping to target customers who don't ordinarily shop for cosmetics and beauty care products at their store, customers who ordinarily pass up the "mass" products, as well as appeal to buyers who are interested in using a more specialized or exotic product.

For the potential customer, especially one who is already interested in luxury or specialty brands, the most appealing part of the European collection (EBC) is that some of these products sell for more than $100 in Europe, while Walgreens will have them priced from $13-$60, with an average of $27.

The Walgreens EBC will debut in October.

We've written about Borba products before, specifically their skin-benefiting waters and age-defying gummies, but their newest offering sounds even tastier. Their Clarifying Chocolate Bar is made of Swiss dark chocolate with a patented "boost" that is supposed to clear skin and prevent breakouts. The other Borba products are very popular, which is an indication that either they work well or taste great - neither of which is a bad thing. The 1.79-oz. bars are $8 each at Nordstrom.