On what to use between washes for dry hair and scalp...

I suffer from scalp folliculitis which is treated with long courses of antibiotics (I also suffer from Sjogrens sydrome/Lupus which means I am prone to dry skin and hair), but I also had severe breakage of my relaxed Afro-Caribbean hair. I started using Ojon shampoo and conditioner which were great and my hair has started to grow back. The only problem is that between washes my hair and scalp feels dry and I find that many cream products contain water and make my relaxed hair revert, what would you recommend I should use to add moisture to my scalp and hair between washes?

Alison: After following all your medical advice and using all your prescribed products, I have a few recommendations for your beauty regime. Products that can be used between washes are normally water-based because they don't cause greasiness. To apply a moisturising product between washes would normally require you then to wash - which is fine if you want to wash your hair every day.

A daily scalp tonic to relieve itching, soreness and sensitivity that I recommend would be a Philip Kingsley Skin Tonic. They are water based but also contain herbal tinctures, and are specifically designed for itchiness, flakiness and irritability of the scalp. You can literally drizzle this on the whole of the scalp without causing oiliness.

If you still find that, even though it's herbal tincture-based, you're still suffering from dryness on the scalp area, then I’d recommend massaging Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment into the tips of your fingertips and putting it just on the top of the scalp. Try to take this through the hair and make sure you have short fingernails for this or it won't work. Leave it there too but don't put too much on or you will want to wash your hair again.

A great treatment that you can do before washing on a weekly basis, which I'd recommend to you specifically, is massaging your Ojon Restorative Treatment onto the scalp as well as on the hair as this well help to lift off any dead skin there, exfoliating and softening that area before you shampoo and condition.

Please don't use any alcohol-based styling products, because if they touch the scalp area they are just going to dry it out and irritate it. As your hair is chemically relaxed, you shouldn't need to put any styling products on it anyway but be aware that you should use hand-applied products rather than sprays.

Plus, before you go to the salon to get your hair relaxed, you may need to pre-protect the scalp area. Make sure that you apply the Ojon Restorative Treatment to the scalp area 2 - 3 washes before you go to ensure your scalp area is as soft and moisturised as possible - this is because the chemicals used to relax your hair may irritate your scalp. 

For dryness on the face with blackheads on the nose...

I'm 45 years old and had to have a full Hysterectomy last December. I'm now on HRT and have since developed very dry skin on my face. Could you recommend a cream I could use? Also I have deep blackheads all over my nose for years and would like to get rid of them, could you tell me what to use to sort my face out?

Alison: On a weekly basis, you need to use the Philosophy Microdelivery Peel set which contains the Microdelivery Peel with vitamin C crystals and the Microdelivery Peel Rapid Activation. These will be brilliant on both the blackheads and your dryness too.

Plus they will help with the absorption of products from our Clientele Estro-lift line - which would also be perfect for you. These are designed to counteract the side effects of the slowing down of hormones inside. Use as many of these Estrolift products as you like.

The most important products that I would recommend are the facial wash, day cream, the night cream and the serum, which you can use morning and night because I think your skin will need it. Buying them in a kit will probably work out cheaper for you too. I think with this routine, you will feel much happier.

Ask Keeley from Elemis your beauty questions

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Love Alison x

On an economical, all-over beauty routine for mature skin...

I am a 51-year-old woman and black. My skin type is oily and prone to breaking out in spots.  Please advise on good products (on a tight budget). Also, I am beginning to notice darkness round my eyes. Aside from face could you also advise on a good body product for sagginess and stretch marks (orange peel like)?

Alison: For an economical and effective skincare solution I'd recommend Alpha-H. You could use the Triple Action Cleanser and the Rejuvenating Cream both morning and evening on the face, eyes and neck. Alpha-H do these in big sizes - larger than a lot of brands do - which work out much cheaper.

Try also the Liquid Gold, wiping it over the face before bedtime three times a week. Don’t follow with anything else. This product will help to control your oily areas and break-outs. This is both very easy, effective and economical.

On the body area, you would do well to use one of the Philosophy Luxury Collections. It features a body wash with a peptide formula and is designed to be extra moisturising for your skin. It also includes a Philosophy body butter. You can choose this collection in either Amazing Grace or Pure Grace fragrances to give your skin a lovely scent. This body wash and butter are ideal for saggy skin and will last you a long time too as they're a great size 

For make-up sweating off...

I wear a mineral powder foundation, but as I walk to work, I seem to sweat it off before I get there. Could I cleanse, tone and moisturise at home and then apply a primer and foundation when I get to work?

Alison: You can certainly use this routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising at home and then applying a primer and foundation when you get to work. If you use an oil-free primer, that will help to prevent it from sweating off, so maybe change the primer you are using. Smashbox have an oil-free primer - Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light. It still contains some silicone but it also has balancing agents, which are perfect for shiny areas. I would definitely recommend trying it.

I also have a trick to hold your mineral powder foundation on better. You can wear a liquid foundation underneath that should help your mineral powder foundation last all day working as an undercoat to keep it in place.

It's great that you are using a skincare routine already but make sure that it's based on your age and skin type, and that you're happy with it as well.

If you feel that a lot of oil is still coming through then I would recommend Cosmetics A La Carte Matte Miracle. Follow your normal skincare routine, apply the Matte Miracle, and then put your primer on. You can do this before work to help your make-up last all day and night.

For thickening hair...

I am looking for hair products to thicken my hair. Whilst I was pregnant 8 years ago my hair was amazingly thick and long. Once I had the baby, my hair started to fall out in chunks for a year. I've since struggled with my hair, and eventually thanks to my sister giving me extensions helped me get my confidence back. However, my hair is not improving underneath. If I don't get extensions I look as if I have hardly any hair and I am very self conscious. At the moment I have been wearing clip ins which I would prefer to do and try and hope my hair gets better.

Alison: This is exactly what Philip Kinglsey specialises in and he's world-renowned. Philip Kingsley is not a fashion brand as such but he works particularly on scalp and hair-related problems.

Basically, I want to try to give you your own Tricotherapy London appointment at home. Use the Philip Kingsley Elasticiser on your hair and the Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask on your scalp as a pre-shampoo treatment once a week.

Then I recommend using the Philip Kingsley Body Building Kit for Fine & Limp Hair, which involves a shampoo and conditioner. Afterwards spray on Philip Kinglsey Maximiser before you blow dry. On a daily basis, even without washing, massage Philip Kingsley Scalp Tonic into the scalp area to give the hair root the very best chance of growing its best quality hair. This routine will also help to prevent breakages from hair extension clips.

For deep scarring on the face...

What is good for deep scarring please? My chin is particularly bad with indents and thus my facial skin is uneven (a bit unsightly) and make-up (whichever brand used) sits in the crevices caused by acne scarring.

Alison: To stop make-up sitting in the crevices I would immediately recommend a silicone primer which will help make-up to float over the skin and be far more effective too. Try Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer for this.

On the top of the primer the Amazing Cosmetics Concealer would also help, finished with a powder make-up. You will get filling in, covering up and an even finish and no one will know what is underneath it all - it gives great coverage!

For long-term improvement on that scarring area, as long as the oil glands are no longer active, I'd recommend deep exfoliation - either through using liquid treatments, such as Alpha-H Liquid Gold to thin the thickness of the scar, or through dermabrasion on that area only and Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel morning and night on the skin. You should see an improvement in a month and feel confident that the skincare side of it is working. The scars won't, however, completely disappear in a month and it will take about six months to see the maximum results.

I'd also recommend avoiding sunbathing as that will thicken up the look of the scars.

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Love Alison x

Last chance to ask Alexis from L'Occitane your beauty questions

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Love Alison x

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For hair growth on the chin and neck...

What would you recommend for hair growth on the chin and neck?

Alison: This can be a sign of age and hormonal change but it's also worth mentioning to your doctor on your next appointment. From an external point of view, the best thing that we do is the laser hair removal kit. It does take patience and time - it won't give an overnight result - but it is a way of getting permanent hair removal in the privacy of your home without scarring and without making the hair growth worse.

When you do have excessive hair growth areas, if you remove that hair the wrong way you can make it much worse and you can also cause infections on the hair follicles too. Then you may get hair, spots, rashes, infections etc and it becomes even more difficult to tackle. This home removal system and laser hair removal in salons is far more pain-free as compared to electrolysis, which I have experienced myself. Investing in this system is also great value for money as you can use it again and again.

I have a few tips for looking after your skin before and after treatment. Be careful not to sunbathe before or after hair removal. Don't use highly perfumed products, use a gentle anti-septic or soothing skincare wash afterwards - ABC have a great selection. Basically, just treat the area as sensitive.