• Chicago Tribune , Monday, January 19, 2009 11 AM

There's no rest for the unenergized, wrinkly staff here at "Around the Net" on this long Inaugural Weekend but, if we were off, we know where we'd be first thing tomorrow morning. At a Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks, Neiman Marcus or a few other department stores which are giving away the likes of Clarins Energizing Morning Cream as part of the 2004 settlement of a class-action lawsuit.

The suit accused retailers and cosmetics manufacturers of violating anti-trust laws by fixing prices on cosmetics, writes Mike Hughlett. The companies deny wrongdoing, but as part of the settlement are giving away $175 million of cosmetics. Also available are such must-haves as Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. A full listing of products that will be available can be found at www.cosmeticssettlement.com.

Customers who between 1994 and 2003 purchased a product from the manufacturers named in the suit can receive one free cosmetic product. No receipt or proof of purchase is necessary (just don't imbibe any of Uncle Thom's Honesty Tonic -- 4 ounces for $99 at my Web site -- before heading out).

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