Unbelievable Beauty Innovations

Bright Idea!

Remember the old remark popularized by Gloria Steinem, "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle?" Having deep fondness, myself, for both men and bicycles (also Gloria Steinem), I've always felt kind of uncomfortable with that statement. I suppose I don't need a man, or a bicycle (or Gloria, either), but the world is definitely a better, richer place with them in it.

However, if you do happen to find yourself without a man (forget the bike for a minute) or a helpful, sisterly presence, you might like the Do My Back ($22; DoMyBack.com), an ingenious contraption that allows you to easily apply body lotion, self-tanner, or sunscreen to hard-to-reach spots, dorsal-wise. The handle extends, the head swivels, the whole device folds to fit into a drawer or a beach bag, and it comes with four foam pads (which can be rinsed and reused). Pour the lotion onto the pad, and know what it feels like to have your own back—a good thing, whether you've got company or not. —Valerie Monroe