By now you’ve heard that Illinois-based Walgreens is buying out local rival Duane Reade. Maybe you’re shedding a tear at the news, but before you go out and buy tissues, which store is likely to have a better price on them?
Good news, New Yorkers: Walgreens prices beat Duane Reade (slightly) in our check of 15 essential (and some not-so-essential) items, and the overall price for our trip to Walgreens was about $30 cheaper. The companies said Duane Reade’s 257 stores will keep operating under their name after the buyout, but consolidation is inevitable.
Our undercover price scoping took us behind the automatic doors at the Williamsburg Duane Reade on North 5th and the Walgreens on Union Ave. While the price differences were often minor, Walgreens offers a wider variety of generic products, a noisier store, and a security-protected deodorant case to ward off obsessive-compulsive (and sweaty) kleptomaniacs. And while Duane Reade is unarguably the more aesthetically appealing of the two stores, it fails to have such necessities as the Inspire Waterproof Rubber Sheet Protector and the famed “As Seen on TV” and celebrity perfume aisles (Walgreens graces its floors with FOUR different varieties of Celine Dion fragrances). Check out the results of the study after the jump, with each round’s winner in blue. 
Red lips have been the perennial go-to since Cleopatra. Perhaps that’s because anyone with enough nerve can really rock a true red—it gives contrast to the fair and pop to the dark-skinned. In winter, being swaddled in bulky coats and hiding hat hair becomes a statement with a properly-hued pout. Here, reviews of five lipsticks available at our local Duane Reade, rated with a little help from a crimson-lipped friend. Just go easy on the eyeliner, in the name of all that’s holy! 
We don’t have tons of photographic evidence (this pic is from the Danish site because the U.S. one is so lame) but from the looks of things, H&M just got a big shipment of early spring merch, and we’re all over it—especially the jackets. There are so many this season, from cropped, Michael-Jackson-meets-Marc-by-Marc-Jacobs military styles to Banana Republic-ish trenches whose quality is so far beyond their $49.95 price tags it’d be foolish not to buy two. Seems H&M’s prices have crept up a bit as well, but deservedly so—the tailoring is clever and impeccable. Seriously. Other major themes: Donna Karan-ish wrap tops, Prada-ish patterned skirts and really cool stovepipe pants that must recall some other-ish designer (Alexander Wang-ish?). Anyway, stop by H&M (before it’s all picked over) and let us know if you agree.
When everyone else is trudging off to Brooklyn’s 
We had lots of fab reader recommendations from our Facebook and Twitter pals for how to wrap up our 25-day gift list. The hard part: it had to be something you could go out and buy today. 
Brokelyn is officially in favor of splurgy little pick-me-ups (cause we can’t afford big ones), and a current addiction is stopping into Sacred Vibes Apothecary for a couple ounces of custom-blended tea. The chamomile/peppermint/licorice is a soothing balm for what ails us (being awake at 3 a.m.) and rest assured shop owner Karen Rose has a leafy blend for what afflicts anyone on your list too. Yes there are teas for eczema, arthritis and high blood pressure, but if you don’t think Constipation Relief Tea is an appealing stocking stuffer, how about one that promises beautiful skin? The cocktail of calendula, red clover, chickweed, burdock root and cleavers makes for pleasant winter sipping, and Karen says it’s like a facial in a teacup. Or maybe we said that. Beautiful Skin Tea is $10 a 2-ounce bag at 
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