Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have no complaints about the shape, color or fullness of my eyebrows. What I’m looking for is a product that has some “hold strength” to keep my unruly eyebrow hair in place.

Can you suggest a product to do the job?

--Barb B.

Dear Barb: If you shop for cosmetics, you know that there has been an explosion of treatments to darken, lighten, remove, shape, thicken and lengthen your eyebrows. So, no surprise that my research turned up a dazzling number of clear gels — which is what you are looking for — to tame those brows.

Fortunately I have located a person with a lot of fortitude who spent three months testing a total of 32 clear brow gels on her own eyebrows.

Rio Viera-Newton, a beauty columnist for the Strategist feature at New York magazine (nymag.com), concluded that the winner was e.l.f. Brow Lift (target.com, $6 and the sold separately e.l.f. Brow Loft applicator, $4). Runner-up was REFY Brow Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel with Lamination Effect (sephora.com, us.refybeauty.com, $24). In a pinch, use clear ChapStik.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am looking for a garment to wear under my new, rather short, body skimming knit dress. Ideally it would be like a half slip but culotte style that you step into. I’m thinking this product would add a bit of modesty when I sit down. Does such an item exist?

--No Name Please

Dear N.N.P.: Yes and they’ve been around for decades. You want some pettipants! They mostly come in black, beige and white. You can buy them plain, hemmed in lace, or ruffled (wouldn’t work with your dress), starting at around $12.50 on amazon.com. There are many lengths and varying degrees of tightness with hundreds to choose from.

Angelic Readers 1

Many readers responded to Lucy B.’s plea for tips on how to avoid another purse theft after she has spent months replacing crucial items lost when she stashed her purse on the floor near her feet as she dined in a restaurant…

Eileen T. says: “Not the most comfortable, but carry a crossbody bag and keep it on during your time in the restaurant.” Rhonda R. and Jeanne W. had the same advice. Jane S.: “I am most comfortable and worry-free if my purse is close to my body; therefore, I always place my purse on my lap and my napkin atop it.” Like many readers, she advises against putting a purse on “a filthy restaurant floor.” Nancey C. hates the idea of floor dirt and germs on her purse too. Others, like Julia S. and Kathy A. favor paring down to necessities and using a belt bag (aka fanny pack).

Bill M. has this novel idea: “For the really paranoid, carry a short cable and lock, and loop it around the leg of the table. There are a wide variety of cables with integrated locks that would be easy enough to carry that would prevent snatch and grab losses.” Gail M. and others suggest a purse hook you attach to the table—many variations found on amazon.com—but I don’t have much trust in them. And always zip up your purse, backpack, whatever!

From Jackie K.: “Please remind readers they should NEVER carry their checkbook in their purse. In today’s tech age, there is never a need and always a higher risk. House and car keys should go in a pocket. Not in a purse. Make it a habit.” This advice from Beth O.: “While this suggestion will not keep your purse from being stolen, it will help immensely if that happens. It’s a wonderful feeling of peace: Line up all crucial IDs, credit cards, etc. on your printer and copy them — front and back, then stash the papers in a handy place. Should the worst happen, I have all my information and those phone numbers at my fingertips in the same place.”

Angelic Readers 2

There were many “me too!” replies to reader Wendy B.’s complaint that pants and jeans squeeze her waist (muffin top!) if they fit her hips and legs. If the waist is a good fit, the legs and hips are too baggy. Lori W. writes, “It is such a relief to know I am not alone. It shouldn’t be this hard to find well-fitting pants and jeans.” Lori W. recommends Lee Rider men’s (“yes…men’s") Extreme Motion jeans: "They have a fantastic hidden elastic waist band that stays in place.” Mel B. has the same thought: “Try men or boy’s jeans." She favors Levis and Wranglers. David W. says men have the same waist squeeze problems with pants and jeans.

Kathy P. cuts a V or U shaped chunk out of the back of jeans and sews in a piece of fabric to expand the waist—although she must then wear untucked shirts to conceal the fix. Kate C. searched for “waist expanders” on amazon.com (multi-packs for under $10): “Yahoo! Two pairs of jeans I owned were saved!”

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