A & E

Question: My skin is starting to show signs of becoming dry and wrinkled. I realize I cannot turn back the clock, but I would like to find a cleanser and moisturizer to make my skin look a little less stressed. Can you suggest any good, basic cleansers and moisturizers for someone on a very tight budget? The products I see advertised in the magazines are so horribly expensive.

Answer: When it comes to advice on skin-care products, I turn to Paula Begoun, author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," the ultimate cosmetics guide for consumers.

Here are her suggestions for good, affordable cleansers and moisturizers:

• Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser.

• L'Oreal Age Perfect Anti-Fatigue Lotion Cleanser. This is a cleansing lotion, not a water-soluble cleanser.

• CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion.

• Cetaphil Daily Advance Moisturizing Lotion. (The one in a tube.)

Get to the root of salon charges

Q: My friend recently tried a new hair salon and got a beautiful haircut for $28. I was so impressed, I decided to try the salon. I couldn't get an appointment with the same stylist, but she recommended one of her colleagues at the salon. When it came time to pay, the bill for my haircut was $50. I was so shocked, I was speechless and didn't argue. Was I being ripped off or what?

A: Salons sometimes have a multi-tiered pricing system. The more training and experience a stylist has, the higher the charges for his or her services. I expect that is why there was a discrepancy in the cost of your haircut and your friend's.

It is always a good idea to ask about costs when making an appointment with a new stylist -- or even for different services from the ones you usually have with your usual stylist. That way you avoid sticker shock and embarrassment when you get your bill.

Lost & found

Lost: Ginger is looking for the Diet Trim body shaper, which she used to buy at Sears. She would settle for a different brand, so long as it is similar to the Diet Trim shaper.

Another reader is looking for cotton blouses that button up the front, either in stores or catalogs.

Ann is trying to find pants with a long rise, suitable for short-waisted women.

Caroline is down to her last bottle of her favorite fragrance, Forever Krystle. Does anyone know where she can find more of the discontinued scent?

Debbie would like to know where her tall daughter can find a flat, white-fabric shoe in size 14 to wear with her wedding gown.

Found: Good news for the readers looking for Revlon's Ultima II products. These can sometimes be found in Ulta cosmetics stores, or can be ordered from the Revlon consumer information center by calling 800-473-8566.

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