Finding a makeup mirror that aids focus
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I wear bifocal lenses and have a difficult time seeing well enough to apply makeup when I take my glasses off. I went shopping for a magnifying mirror but found that the mirrors come in strengths of 3X, 5X and on up. Does this somehow correlate with the strength of eyeglass lenses that magnify in designations of +1, +1.5 and up in 0.5 increments? I left the store without a purchase, as I couldn’t find anything that didn’t make my reflection look as if I were in a fun house!
— J.L.T.
Dear J.L.T.: The magnification number isn’t related to your eyeglass strength. The higher the number on the mirror, the more magnification. And the more distortion. And the closer you’ll need to be to the mirror to avoid that distortion. In addition, the cheap ones you see at the drugstore aren’t made with optical-grade glass and are more likely to distort and be difficult to work with.
It is virtually impossible to hold a mirror in your hand and apply makeup. The ones with suction cups to affix to your bathroom mirror aren’t much help since they pop off and the suction cups detach. That’s why the mirrors on a stand are more useful (and more expensive). Then there’s the option of a lighted mirror. They can be the most expensive of all. To get the ideal magnifying mirror for your needs and for your vision, your best bet is to test them in the store without your glasses on.
Over the years, I bet I have bought more than a dozen magnifying mirrors in every style, price range and magnification, and I’m still on the hunt for the perfect one. Let me know when you find one that you love.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: How can I keep my linen closet smelling fresh and clean? When we have guests I feel that my sheets and linens do not smell fresh after being in the closet for extended periods of time. How can I make the bed and linens smell clean and fresh without laundering them right before the guests arrive? — Ruth
Dear Ruth: I put your question to Karen Aiello, who runs Kay’s Kleaning in Fort Myers, Fla. She doesn’t care much for those grocery store fabric sprays that mask odors, and I don’t either. Her advice is to store your folded linens with dryer sheets and/or run them through the dryer with dryer sheets right before putting them on the bed. Even an open box of dryer sheets on the shelf of the linen closet will help. Linen shops, especially the high-end ones, sell linen sprays, but the scent fades quickly.
An open box of baking soda on a closet shelf can’t hurt.
You also can buy sachets, but they lose their oomph pretty quickly.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I wear a suit to work every day. I have a raincoat with a liner and a long wool overcoat, but for really cold, wet, snowy days, I have been trying to find a long, windproof and waterproof, insulated (preferably down) coat that will cover my suit coat and dress pants. All the current coats — North Face, Canada Goose, etc. — only reach to midthigh. Nothing seems to go to around the knee. Any suggestions?
— Gerald
Dear Gerald: When I first read your question, I thought, “What’s the big deal? They’re everywhere.” Now my question is, “Why should this be so hard?” I looked in all the usual places, Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End. No luck. I found one (one!) at Neiman Marcus by Montcler for a mere $1,850. Uh, no thanks.
Nike makes a Windrunner hooded model that comes to the knee (nike .com), and there are a few (very few) other options on amazon.com. But can any readers explain to me why there are many long (to the calf ) options for women but not the same for men? One thing to keep in mind is that shopping before the weather gets cold will turn up the best selection. And, if you’ve got a tip on where to find a good selection of men’s long down coats, let me know.
Angelic readers 1
For the reader in search of toothpaste that is not minty, Cheryl W. writes, “Crest makes two kinds of cinnamon-flavored toothpaste. It is not found in as many places as the generic mint flavors, but I get mine at Bed Bath & Beyond. The price is the same as any regular toothpaste.” Susan T. recommends the cinnamon, as well as Crest toothpaste with the taste of Scope mouthwash: “Fresh tasting but not minty.” Buy it at target.com, amazon .com and crest.com, among other places.
Angelic readers 2
Many readers responded to Ashley’s plea for resources for a tiny notebook to carry in an evening bag or small purse with the suggestion that she use the “notes” function on her phone. Jean J. writes, “I was like your reader, Ashley, always looking for a scrap of paper in my purse to jot down a note, phone number, etc. Often I’d resort to using a deposit slip from my checkbook, since they weren’t being used for deposits! I discovered that using the “notes” app on my phone was the perfect answer to this problem.” Heather M. says the same thing. Chris H. recommends the notes function but adds, “I also email myself reminders, and of course Google Calendar is awesome.”
Now it’s your turn
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail.com.