Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am so fed up with carefully removing my eye makeup at night and waking up with raccoon eyes — dark, leftover mascara smudges beneath my eyes that are almost impossible to remove.

I have tried many brands of eye makeup remover, as well as makeup remover wipes. None work.

Must I quit wearing mascara? I’m thinking that’s my only alternative.

--Maddie N.

Dear Maddie: Quitting mascara? You must really be desperate!

I know how you feel. For years I’ve had to decide whether an event was mascara-worthy because of the effort it took to get it off my under-eyes. My latest remover is pretty good. Not 100%, but still better than any other I’ve tried.

It’s L’Oréal clean artiste designed for “waterproof and long wearing” mascara. I bought it at Walgreen’s for $6.99. It says on the bottle that it is suitable for sensitive eyes and “safe for contact lens wearers.” In the small print it tells you to shake well before using “to blend the two phases,” whatever they are. But it isn’t greasy and that’s a huge plus. It still took some rubbing with a few Q-tips to remove the final remnants of mascara from underneath my eyes. But that’s better than all the other eye makeup removers I’ve tried—most of them more expensive than this.

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: You’re probably getting questions about this since Melania showed up in an impossible-to-ignore hat at her husband’s inauguration. Are hats back? Are women returning to decades ago when almost every woman wore a hat? Personally, I love hats and would love to hear that they’re back in style.

--Annie D.

Dear Annie: I don’t think Melania’s hat is going to have much of an effect on women’s hats sales. But, it’s worth noting that the president’s daughter Ivanka also was wearing a hat at the inauguration, albeit not nearly as big and bold. And, unlike Melania’s, it didn’t cover the top third of her face. (Although it did look sort of like a velvet bicycle seat perched on the side of her head.)

If you love hats, you go girl. I think hats are great and not just the practical kind that you wear in the cold. Brit women never stopped wearing noteworthy hats and I think they look terrific. So, if anyone comments snidely on your hat in the future, tell them to check a photo of the president’s wife and daughter at his inauguration. Melania’s headgear isn’t likely to launch a big trend, but if it’s good enough for the first lady…

Angelic Readers

More reader recommendations for where to find crisp -- not soft-- sheets :

For starters, a reminder that if you’re looking for crisp sheets -- not soft or silky -- you want percale (not sateen), low thread count and preferably white (no dye).

Marianne W. recommends Feather & Stitch 100% cotton percale 300-thread count, which are “cooling and crisp and have lasted a long time.” Patricia S. and Jeff F. buy American Blossom Linens (americanblossomlinens.com). From Gail B.: “I have tried many different sheets, looking for the crisp, old-fashioned feel. I HATE sateen! Try Brooklinen sheets (brooklinen.com). Their 100% cotton percale sheets actually have a soft ‘crackle’ when you put them on the bed.” Rhonda L. also buys Brooklinen Classic Percale Core sheets.

Jane C., Kristen F. and Lee recommend the Company Store all-cotton percale sheets. (From Ellen: I like them very much but find the price painful and a similar sheet that I buy, Royal Hotel Bedding 250-thread count 100% cotton percale from Amazon, costs less.) Karen T. buys Macy’s Hotel Collection Italian Percale (macys.com, queen set, $380). From Linda J.: Try hardtofindsheets.com. Patti S. likes Members Mark Hotel Premier Collection sheets from Sam’s Club. Cynthia C. likes Sam’s Club sheets too.

Suzanne favors Better Homes & Garden sheets from Walmart (walmart.com). Anita S.: 200-thread count, 100% cotton percale Porter sheets from unisonhome.com. Beth M. likes Southern Drawl “Mitchell” sheets (southerndrawl.com). Barbara A.: Purity Sheets from Kohl’s (kohls.com). Suzann C.: Crisp & Cool Percale sheets from Egyptian Linens (egyptianlinens.com, queen set, $100). Terry P. buys her crisp sheets at Serena & Lily (serenaandlily.com).

Reader Rant 1

Vicki M. writes, “I cannot tolerate the smell of most dry shampoo sprays. Even the ‘unscented’ versions I purchased still had a lingering scent. I hate to keep wasting money on a product that I don't use every day.”

Reader Rant 2

From Cathy E.: “Am I the only one who cannot stand the latest look in blue jeans? They're either cropped short, shapeless or ripped and have holes at the knees. Even the ones that don't have any tears are cropped with frayed hems. They don't seem to flatter any body type and I am having a difficult time trying to find any jeans that look good any more.”

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