Dear Readers: Do you ever ask a hotel, airline or restaurant if they offer discounts to seniors? You really should. You can also apply for an America the Beautiful Senior Pass. This particular card offers you access to federal recreation sites and covers entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges. It also covers standard amenities at national forests and grasslands. It’s $80 annually and also covers noncommercial vehicles with four adults. Children 15 and under usually enter free.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) also offers discount cards for prescription drugs. Many large and well-known pharmacies honor those discounts, but you must ask. Hotels and restaurants often provide discounts to seniors, ages 55-65. The age can vary from company to company, but most follow this age range. Again, you need to ask if they have senior discounts.

Companies offer these discounts to encourage seniors to do business with them. Seniors who are on a fixed income usually appreciate the money they’re able to save. So, go ahead and ask if they offer a discount and pocket those savings. — Heloise

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Heloise@Heloise.com

A FEW BEAUTITY HINTS

Dear Heloise: Need a few hints on how to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated? Here are a few of my all-time favorites:

— Take a slice of lime, lemon or orange and rub it all over your face for about 30 seconds. Wait about 3 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. The vitamin C and acids in the fruit will break down dead skin cells.

— Bring a pan of water to a boil with the steam rising. Then turn off the stove and move the pan somewhere safe. You can set it on a thick wooden cutting board if you wish. Next, place a towel over your head to form a closed tent. Let the steam open your pours for about 3-5 minutes. Afterward, wash your face in warm water with a final rinse in cold water. This will add moisture to your skin and help you rinse away impurities from your pours.

— Want to tighten your skin for smoother makeup application? In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon coconut oil and the white of one egg. (Save the yolk to use in your next shampooing.) Blend well and apply in a circular motion onto your face and neck. Leave on for about 20-25 minutes. Rinse off and pat your skin dry.

— Invest in one black T-shirt and one white T-shirt. You can always use it under a suit or a cardigan for a simple but classic look. A black or white T-shirt always looks good with jeans or slacks and maybe one or two necklaces, but never wear an excessive amount of jewelry. And never wear any top that has makeup around the neckline! — Angela L., Beverly Hills, California

HANDY HINTS

Dear Heloise: I’m losing my vision and cannot tell the difference between shampoo and conditioner when I rinse in the shower. So, I decided to put a large rubber band, like the ones that come on vegetables, around the shampoo bottle. Now I don’t accidentally use the wrong one.

I also have arthritis and had trouble opening bottles and jars. I found that a metal nutcracker works great to open small bottle tops. Also, a plumber’s wrench that has a hard handle with an adjustable rubber strap is perfect for opening large jar lids. — J.T., in Washington

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