Hair and skincare recommendations for sun protection...

I'm 44, female and I live in the Middle East. What should I use for my dyed hair as it gets very dry and faded with the sun? Also I use a sun cream and have a cleansing routine (Liz Earle) - should I be using anything specific because of the sun?

Alison: I can answer your skincare question straight away with UltraSun SPF 30 Face Cream - use it every day. It won't sweat off and it will give you the SPF 30 protection that you'll need throughout the day. 

In the extreme heat, you won't want to use products with heavy textures. This is because if you do your skin will become quite clammy and you will sweat out any creams you apply. So, you'll be best with hydrating formulas, such as Decleor Hydrafloral. I'd recommend applying your UltraSun on its own during the day as your day cream - though if you do want to add something underneath, choose something light like Prescriptives Super Line Preventor, which is a liquid serum.

For a dry, itchy and flaky scalp...

I have just started getting a very dry, flaky and itchy scalp, and also a lot of redness around the hairline. I tried Philip Kingsley products but to no avail. I'm wondering if I have developed psoriasis - is there any help out there for me?

Alison: If you are worried about having developed psoriasis then you definitely need a doctor's diagnosis, and a doctor should be able to diagnose it in a second as it has very distinctive symptoms. Unfortunately psoriasis is not something that comes and goes - once it's been diagnosed, you will always have it and it will flare up at stressful times.

However, if it's a cosmetic problem then I have a couple of tricks that may be able to help. If you aren't getting rid of the dry flakiness on the scalp area, you can get a build-up of oil and bacteria. Bacteria can get trapped between loose flakes, which can cause a skin infection.

For acne on the neck and back...

I am a 19-year-old male and have acne over my neck and back. I'm on my second course of tablets from the GP and they are helping but I want to find something else. Sometimes the acne is huge red lumps and sometimes it's white blackheads.

The lumps on my neck are particularly painful and this tends to get me down. Can you please recommend something to ease the swelling and inflammation?

Alison: Firstly you could go back to your doctor because they may be able to prescribe you alternative tablets. Plus, if you explain to your doctor that the lumps are very painful, then they might be able to help you out further.

Secondly, bear in mind that your diet could be having an effect on your skin condition - it doesn't always. So, you could try for a month to leave out very oily food, such as crisps and chocolate, and very acidic food, such as too much fresh fruit - pineapple is particularly acidic.

Thirdly, I can recommend you a skincare routine that, in conjunction with your doctor's advice, could help improve your condition. You've mentioned that acne is appearing on your neck as well as your back. This could also be associated with ingrown hairs caused by shaving.

I recommend Alpha-H Liquid Gold - wiped over the neck and back, three nights a week. Then use the Alpha-H Triple Action Cleanser with the Balancing Moisturiser, which also acts as an exfoliant. You could also use the Micro Cleanse in the shower twice times a week to lift up any ingrown hairs.

Get gorgeous for summer with my top beauty picks

Now's the time to start making sure you look your best for the summer ahead and what better way to do it than with some luxurious beauty products and feel-good pampering...

My beauty picks


1. Elemis 4 Piece Tri-Enzyme Discovery Collection

If you desire smoother and younger-looking skin (don't we all?!), then this is the set for you. It can give you a complete result on skin brightening and smoothing, and is fantastic added into your existing routine. Plus, it's perfect if you're concerned with dull, tired, sallow or uneven skin.

The set comprises Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum (10ml), Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash (50ml), Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream (15ml) and Tri-Enzyme Gel Mask (15ml). It's an award-winning salon facial system that offers you results at a fraction of the price of full salon sizes or a complete salon facial.

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For unbalanced skin with breakouts, dry patches and oiliness...

I'm 24-years-old and for the past 5 years have had nothing but problems with my skin since having my 3 children. I have no idea what skin type I am, so I never know where to start. I have really dehydrated skin with fine lines on my forehead and cheeks and I suffer with oiliness.

But I also have dry patches around my nose, I suffer with breakouts and have some scarring. It's just so dull and horrid. I've started using Elemis which I'm noticing a difference with, but would really like to know exactly what products I should be using on my confused skin.

Alison: To me, your skin's crying out for our new Judith Williams Phytomineral range, and we have a fantastic Skin Essentials Collection, which sold out during our premiere show, that I want to recommend to you. This set is economical - the day and night cream is a big 150ml size which is three times bigger than most that we sell - and is all about giving your skin a fruit cocktail!

As you've said you have three children and you're only 24 so you must be quite exhausted! Running around after little kids is very tiring. You've described to me a stressed and exhausted skin type, which is why it's coming up unbalanced and why you're having difficulties with it.

For skin that is increasingly dry, itchy and sore...

I'm a 34-year-old black female who has always been prone to break outs. Recently my skin has got worse. It first started with itching on the Friday afternoon. On Saturday it became dry and flaky. It's rough to touch and sore. The pimples are raised and infected.

There are also many small dark marks, which look like acne scars but some are in areas where I didn't have pimples or scars before. It's frustrating as I follow a beauty regime. It's making me feel down and ruining my confidence. My GP has recommended anti-histamine.

Alison: For a short period of time I would advise you to forget about the oiliness and the spottiness. The reason for this is because you need to treat the sensitivity of your skin. You have described to me some form of allergic reaction that could have happened because of the products you've used, stress or even an air pollutant - when I stay in hotel rooms, for example, I sometimes find myself allergic to what they put in the air vents as air freshener.

For teenage skin suffering from acne...

I get all my skincare advice from watching your shows and vary between Decleor, Elemis and Gatineau. My daughter will be 13 this month and she has acne all over her face, in a V down her front and down her back to her waist line. I bought her Cleanse and Polish and now she has really clean acne!

I took her to the Doctors and he prescribed a gel that she has to put on every night which is helping to clear up her spots but now she is getting dry flaky skin on her face. Could you let me know what would be the best thing to do for her as she is at that age!

Alison: She can stick with her Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which will be cleaning her skin without drying it out and so it's excellent that she gets on well with that.

As a face and body wash in the shower I'd like her to use the Australian Body Care Skinwash because of its anti-septic qualities. When it foams up, it will go down her back and keep that clean as well.

My five favourite L'Occitane products

Choosing my five favourite L'Occitane products has been hard as I've tried so many over the years and there are lots of great new ones too!

My top five

1. 100% Shea Butter Moisturiser

Both my clients and I love this moisturiser as it's great for any area of dry skin, even the sensitive skin around the eyes. If you get an eye allergy, then you may have to stop using your other eye-care products but you can still use pure shea butter just on its own. It has no other ingredients but shea butter and, in my opinion, it's the very best for dry and sensitive skin.

Find out more about shea butter
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On applying a Tan Accelerator two weeks before your holiday...

I am going on holiday soon. A while ago there was a suntan lotion you put on two weeks prior to your holiday that helps you tan. Would be obliged if you could help.

Alison: What you need is a Tan Accelerator. It can be used to give your skin a natural-looking tan without having to resort to using sunbeds. When on holiday, it can also be used as an after-sun moisturiser to keep your tan from fading.

We do these from a few different brands, such as a 400ml one from Elemis and Gatineau do one too. The Tan Accelerator ingredient is the same in all of the different brands. The difference is the other skincare ingredients and benefits that each brand offers, as well as the sizes and prices. The Elemis Tan Accelerator gives quite a golden hue to the skin and it can be used instead of a body lotion as well. The same applies to the Gatineau Melatogenine Tan Accelerator.

For achieving that sun-kissed look without using sun beds...

Just recently on air your skin has been looking very healthy and sun-kissed. As I know you hate the idea of sunbathing and sun beds, could you tell me what products you have used to get this effect?

Alison: I must admit that I'm not the biggest fake tanner anymore. But if I'm looking particularly pasty or have worked a few late nights, for just a week I'll use the Good in Bed Moisturiser from Prescriptives. This contains a little self-tan and makes me look less pasty.

Also on and off air, as I am really quite pale skinned, it makes such a difference when I apply a bronzer. However, I don't like bronzers that look too much like bronzers, if that makes sense! So I like to use Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten. I apply it on top of my foundation, which I choose to match my skin tone, and then I warm my skin tone up with a bronzer like this fantastic Laura Geller one.