South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Mother vs. daughter earring dispute
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: My daughter says, “No one wears silver-colored earrings.” I have gray hair and once read silver jewelry looks best with my color hair. Who wins?
— Genevieve B. J.
Dear Genevieve: You win! Silver-colored jewelry was in plentiful supply at the recent Oscars (though much of it was probably platinum). Both silver and gold colors are fine and fashionable and will never go out of style. It is totally a matter of personal preference. While you’re happy with silver with your silver hair, both silver and gold jewelry looks great with any hair color.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I have been using Jergens Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer for years. The new one I bought is so watery that it runs down my face. Why do they have to mess with a good thing? Now I have to find a new moisturizer. Any suggestions?
— Helen M.
Dear Helen: I think you’ll be happy with the wellpriced brand CeraVe, available at drugstores. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM is SPF 30. I recommend that for day, and Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM for bedtime (both at cvs.com, $14.99). CeraVe makes many other moisturizing creams and cleansers and I’ve been pleased with all that I have tried over many years of testing against much more expensive brands.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have been looking for soft and absorbent towels with no luck. Because you have to use the towels to find out, they are not returnable. I’ve heard lot about Egyptian cotton and would like some help.
— George D.
Dear George: Not surprisingly, The Egyptian Cotton Association (cottonegypt association.com) says their product “is the finest in the world … stays stronger for longer … will hold its own with deeper, brighter and more resistant colour.”
I have purchased Egyptian cotton items in Egypt and the cotton is nice. But I don’t find it dramatically nicer than U.S. cotton. As for your search for soft and absorbent towels, I’m not that fussy. But plenty of readers have strong opinions and are happy to share. What do readers recommend? And be very specific, please!
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: My Tweezerman tweezers are getting dull. Yes, I know there’s a lifetime warranty and I can mail them back for free sharpening, but it’s a hassle. Isn’t there a way to sharpen tweezers rather than sending them away to get sharpened or just discarding them?
— Molly A.
Dear Molly: An emery board will sharpen dull edges. You also can use emery boards to sharpen sewing machine needles and utility knives. Tweezerman tweezers are the best I’ve found, though they’re not cheap. I’ve often used the lifetime free sharpening (by mail), which is a pain and slow, but still a great bonus.
Angelic Readers 1
From Gloria M.: “I notice that many women are now wearing those large, sometimes huge, skinny round hoop pierced earrings. Some look so big that they might be a hazard with the potential of catching on something. I’ve always thought that whatever earrings one choses to wear should be something beautiful and/ or interesting with lots of color or symbols. These are neither. So, I’m puzzled as to why they seem to be so popular.”
Angelic Readers 2
Readers stepped up to suggest solutions to Penny L.’s problem of retrieving tiny toys and other things that fall into floor vents: Joan D. and Ralph B. buy window screening and cut it to size to go under their floor vents to prevent items from falling deep inside. Cathy N. and Catherine M. use “floor register net traps” from Lowe’s (lowes.com, 2 for $9.28). Terrie B. suggests placing a piece of cheesecloth (many options on amazon.com and at grocery and kitchen stores) underneath the vent cover.
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail. com.