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Message from Alison Young…

Find my answers to your skincare, haircare and cosmetics problems here. For those of you that don't know me, I'm a qualified beauty industry expert with over twenty years' salon experience. Beauty products (and horses) are my life! I've been answering QVC customer beauty questions since 1995 and my experience in the salon means I know what really works.

I will try to answer as many of your questions as I can but if not, try searching by beauty problem for answers to similiar dilemmas.

Read more about Alison Young

My top three Beauty Day bargains

It's that fabulous time of year again when we all deserve a little extra pampering - it's Beauty Day! 

Because you shouldn't have to splash all your cash to look great, I've picked out my top three best-priced items of the day...

1. Leighton Denny 4 Piece Hollywood Collection

'Bikini colours' with a bonus crystal nail file

Basically, for the price of the three varnishes you get a crystal nail file as a bonus! With this crystal nail file, you just can't file your nails wrong!

With an emery board, it's difficult to get the right grade of grit for your nails and you also need to file in a certain direction, which can be a bit of a faff and take more time. With the crystal nail file there's no chance of creating splits in the nail - which you can do with an emery board.

Don't miss Beauty Day tomorrow!

This Beauty Day is all about reassessing your look and inspiring you to try new things.

You can learn new techniques and application tricks from the experts. Whatever you were doing last summer, last year or five years ago is now out of date so it's time to make a change! You can make sure your skincare routine is right for your age and that you also have the right look for now.

So tune in all day long to discover how to change your look. You may even be inspired to change your wardrobe or jewellery style. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to try something new!

Plus, check my Beauty Bible tomorrow for three best-priced items on the day!

On reducing the look of a scar from thyroid surgery...

I'm due to undergo surgery on the base of my neck on my thyroid. Apart from fears of surgery, I'm sad to know I will have a visible scar. I already have my Bio Oil and Gel Prolagene ready and have upped my regime to get my skin into tip top condition. Do you have any tips on aftercare to minimise the effects of the scar? I'm seriously considering backing out of the op so as not to have the scar.

Alison: You must definitely go ahead with the surgery - it's a medical necessity and very important!

The good news though is that the scar created from this type of surgery is very common and can often heal up so you can't even see it. Nowadays, surgeons are very considerate to the effects of an open scar and they will try to put it into a natural crease line. The scar is cut horizontally so you won't notice it as much as you get older and more lines and creases start to develop here. It will also just be a single line which doesn't have any cross stitching as it's internally stitched and is about a quarter of the size of a single stretch mark.

The best summer holiday beauty buys

The summer is well and truly here so I thought I'd pick out a few of my favourite essentials to keep your skin protected and looking gorgeous in the sunshine...

The best moisturiser for use on flights

Prescriptives Super Flight Cream

This is a great product for skin that gets dehydrated on long flights. You can use it as a daily moisturiser twice a day or even as a mask to keep on throughout your flight. Plus, you can wear it over or under your make-up so it won't stop you from looking your best!

This Prescriptives moisturiser is also great for use in hot countries as it will keep your skin hydrated without sweating off.

It's important to keep your lips and hands hydrated on long flights too so I recommend Gale Hayman Lip Lift and L'Occitane Lavender Hand Cream. 

For dry, red and scaly skin around the nose...

I would like to ask for your help. I have dry, red, scaly skin around my nose. I buy a lot of products from QVC but nothing seems to have worked.  Could you please help?

Alison: Firstly, you may not be seeing a result if you follow a complicated routine or have tried a lot of different beauty products. So, I recommend going for the opposite and using a very simple routine.

Use L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter to clean the area and keep it hydrated. If your skin is dry because of an allergy or skin irritation, then this product should answer all your concerns. Any skin can react to the application of too many ingredients.

However, if your skin is flaky and eczema-like, you should follow a routine for sensitive skin. Cleanse and tone the area with Elemis S.O.S Cream at night and Daily Redness Relief in the morning. If you don't suffer from an infection and your skin needs conditioning, then this is a better routine for you. However, if your skin is angry, go for the L'Occitane Shea Butter. Simple!

On a foundation that doesn't come off on your clothes...

Could you recommend a foundation that doesn't come off on my clothes please?

Alison: I have a few top tricks to help you with this dilemma. Firstly, if you have paler skin you can apply self tan on the neck and jaw area, where foundation can sometimes rub off on the collars of your clothes, and foundation make-up on the face. To apply foundation, you should be blending it out from the T-zone to the outer corners of your face.

If you find you don't have enough time to use self tan, or have a darker skin tone, then I recommend Smashbox Halo Glow Powder applied to your neck and décolleté area - I use it on air a lot. Other alternatives are Laura Geller Bronze 'N' Brighten and Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil as these pigment powders don't tend to transfer as much colour to clothes.

If you don't have much confidence in blending foundation another tip for coverage on your neck and jaw  is Covermark. Set this foundation with a setting powder to create a waterproof canvas.

On the shelf life of beauty products...

Please can you advise me of the shelf life of unopened cosmetics? Over a few years I have accumulated a fair amount, and with 3 teenage daughters it seems a shame to throw it out if it's still fit for their use. The makes I have are Smashbox, Laura Geller and Stacey. Also how long can I keep nail polishes that have been opened for?

Alison: There weren't always shelf lives for beauty products so here are a few guidelines that you can go by. I tend to think that if it looks ok, it usually is!

Your powdered products will last the longest, such as blushers and eyeshadows, as bacteria can't grow there. Any products that have a wax base (not containing water), such as cheek and lip tints, will last for quite a few years as well.

However, bacteria will grow more easily on emulsion-based products, such as cleansers, face creams and moisturisers. Plus, people tend to apply them with their fingers, which can increase the possibility of bacteria growing. So the average shelf life of these products is about 2 - 3 years unopened, and about 6 months once opened.

Pampering treats for a neglected skincare routine...

My Mum is 80 years old and has recently been very suddenly widowed. The shock has taken its toll on her face and she has also understandably neglected her skincare regime. Her skin looks sallow, droopy and heavily lined. Would any products help her? I would love to treat her.

Alison: I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum and hopefully I can help her with her skin dilemmas. It's important not to overload her skin with complicated products after she's suffered from shock. Skincare that's a treat, enjoyable and easy to use is what she needs.

For pigmentation on the face...

I'm 35 years old and every summer as soon as the sun shines, I get tea stain-like pigmentation on my face, just under my eyes - and that's without sunbathing! Is there anything you would recommend to stop this pigmentation such as a total sun block?

Alison: Pigmentation will always increase in the sun so it's good to think about protecting your skin when you're out and about over the summer. Bear in mind that some medication and contraception can exacerbate pigmentation or list it as a side effect.

I recommend using Ultrasun SPF 30 Face Cream. Apply the Face Cream each morning for all-day protection and there's also Ultrasun Body Cream if you're planning on spending longer in the sun or holidaying by the beach or pool.

Another tip is using physical make-up. Full make-up coverage can help to protect your skin from the sun and what's more, this season formal make-up is in so you'll look on-trend too! Try Bare Escentuals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen or Amazing Cosmetics Concealer for full pigmentation coverage. Then, you can choose your own eyeshadows and cheek tints to personalise your look.

On a beauty product to help deter mosquitoes...

Can you recommend a beauty product that will help deter mosquitoes from biting me and my children, as when we go on holiday we tend to get attacked by them.

Alison: First of all, make sure to follow your doctor's advice, who will probably recommend to you products that contain Deet. On top of one of these products or in my case, as I'm actually allergic to Deet (a little unfortunate!), I suggest applying tea tree oil.

ABC have a great range of products containing tea tree oil. Firstly, there's pure tea tree oil. Simply add a few drops to your skin - particularly your hairline, ankles and scalp (that's where I seem to always get bitten) - or mix it in with your suncream (this shouldn't cause pigmentation problems).

Or ABC also offer tea tree oil in a body lotion and wash formula which may be easier for the kids - just wash them in it every day.

Have a mosquito bite-free holiday!