Dear Heloise: I read each of your columns and thank you for many helpful hints. In a recent column that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, I once again read that no one should sleep through the night in makeup. I have slept with makeup on for many years.

At almost 76, I have been told many times that I look much younger than my age. I wonder if the moisturizer I use under my makeup actually keeps my complexion looking younger by leaving it on overnight. — Shirley H., Maumelle, Arkansas

Shirley, I consulted with two major manufacturers of cosmetics, and both said to remove all makeup before going to bed. Here are some of their reasons:

— During the day, your makeup and skin attracts dirt that’s in the air. Also, we all touch our faces more than we realize, and in doing so, we transfer more dirt and oil from our hands, which have touched many other items. Washing your face at night removes so much of this bacteria.

— Your skin is a breathing organ, and it needs a clean surface and a moisturizing cream at night. While you are asleep, mites that live on your eyelashes and eyebrows can come out of your hair follicles and die on your skin. So, it’s also vital to wash your skin in the tmorning when you wake up.

— When sleeping with makeup on your skin, you grind the makeup into your pores and all over your pillowcases and sheets. After a week of this, you’ll have a serious buildup of bacteria on your linens.

— Your skin needs moisture, and washing it provides this moisture, especially when you follow up with a moisturizer. (Don’t forget your neck.)

It only takes a couple of minutes to wash your face at night and in the morning. Use a mild soap and water, and with the soft pads of your fingers, gently wash your face in a circular motion.

Never use a washcloth on your face, and get as close to the hairline as you can. Some eye makeup may require oil and a soft cotton pad. — Heloise

DEER REPELLENT

Dear Heloise: Instead of buying expensive deer spray to keep deer from eating your flowers, shave some deodorant soap into a spray bottle, shake it up with some water, and apply it every few days. It works like a charm. — Kaynor H., via email

Kaynor, I’ve heard this before, so I decided to try it myself. It does work! I usually shave strips off of a bar of soap around my roses to keep the deer from eating them. — Heloise

DEALING WITH SCAMMERS

Dear Heloise: It’s right about this time of year that scammers start targeting elderly people with various schemes to cheat people out of their savings. They might contact you in-person or by telephone, email or letter.

If they contact you by letter, you will most likely see what looks like an official letterhead from the Office of the Inspector General. Or it might say that they’re from another government agency such as the Federal Trade Commission. Look for misspellings, bad grammar, or a request to click on a link or website that does not have “SSA.gov” in the address. These are sure signs that you’re working with a scammer.

If they call on you in-person, they might even have a badge that looks official, but under no circumstances should you let them in their home. If you are contacted through social media, and they claim to be from social security, it’s a lie. Their agents don’t do this.

Their favorite way of contacting people is usually by telephone, and their goal is to scare you and get you to hand over money and financial information (such as your bank account numbers, your bank account balance, and anything else that can help them steal from you). Hang up on this phony caller.

You’ll probably be told that there is a problem with your social security account or that you’ve somehow managed to win a prize. You could be directed to another phone number or website, but don’t call their phone number or click on the link provided.

Here are some other tactics scammers might use:

— They might threaten you about getting or taking some kind of legal action. Ignore it. It’s a lie.

— They say that they will suspend your social security number, and you won’t get paid. This is another lie.

— They usually pressure you to pay immediately. Ignore it.

— They’ll tell you that they’ll seize your bank accounts.

— They always seem to demand secrecy.

— They strongly suggest moving your money to a protected and safe bank account.

If a scammer calls you, report this and any other scam to the Office of the Inspector General at OIG.SSA. gov/report. — J.M., in Virginia