Gas crisis goodies @ Potion

Local beauty boutique Potion has an inspired answer to your gas woes: now through Oct. 1, call in your order, receive 10 percent off and free shipping.

The fab stores (with locations at Birkdale in Huntersville and Blakeney in South Charlotte) carry a well-edited selection of lines including Chantecaille, Kai, Becca, and the hugely popular Bare Minerals.

By the way, it was new owner Samantha Smith (she recently bought the stores from founder Candice Langston) who turned me on to my product obsession of the moment: Bare Mineral BareVitamins Prime Time Eyelid Primer. It's the only primer I've found that can stop my eyeshadow from creasing and sliding. Sam is also to blame for my unnatural fixation on Becca's Mattifying Primer.

Call the stores at Birkdale Village: 704-655-8755; Blakeney: 704-541-8182.