On a complete skincare routine for mature skin...

I'm 56 and have basically never used anything other than soap and water to clean my face. I do use a night cream but that's all. I have combination skin and just a couple of very fine lines around my eyes.  I'm confused as to what would be the best beauty routine for me though.

I don't wear any make up other than mascara and lipstick but do wear a 50+ sun block when I go on holiday as I have a couple of blotches which were due to a lot of sun bathing when I was a teenager. Can you help with a good beauty routine for me please?

Alison: Obviously you've been conscious of SPF factors in recent years which is fantastic. On a daily basis and through the winter you could use Ultrasun SPF 30 Day Cream. This should help to prevent future damage and is great especially for more mature skin. UltraSun also have an SPF50 if you want a higher SPF - and all their range offers all-day protection.

There are an awful lot of ranges to choose from, but when you haven't used anything before it's best not to jump into anything too complicated. Start off with Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, Superskin Moisturiser and Superskin Concentrate.

This would be best to start you off on, particularly because of your age group. Start off on this simple routine and if you want to go on further and get more results on lines or your eyes, then I can suggest other products and ranges for you. See how you get on, and how you enjoy the Liz Earle products too.

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 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.

For dark under-eye circles and breakouts that lead to scarring...

I'm 29, will be turning 30 this year and I really want to sort out my skin. I have dry cheeks with an oily T-zone and on the hairline area, along with black and white heads on my nose. I'm Asian so the spots I get leave scars on my face and I have dark circles despite drinking so much water and sleeping well. Please advise on a skincare line for my face to bring freshness and to calm down my breakouts.

Alison: I would recommend the Elemis Tri-Enzyme range. So, each morning use the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash, followed by Decleor Aromessence Neroli Face Oil and Decleor Hydra Floral Moisturiser.

In the evening use the Decleor Balancing Cleanser, followed by the Tri Enzyme Wash and the Decleor Balancing Toner, then use Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum, as it doesn't remove make-up, and finish with the Decleor Hydra Floral Moisturiser.

For the dark circles around your eyes, I'd recommend, morning and night, applying the Alpha-H Absolute Eye Complex, as this is really good on Asian skin tones.

For instant confidence, as it can make a dramatic difference when you conceal dark circles, I’d recommend Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer which comes in six shades - you'd be about Medium Dark or Medium Natural. Either use this or the Prescriptives Traceless Skin Responsive Tint - on number four or five levels. It does depend if you want a lighter or full cover finish - if you like wearing make-up, I'd try the Bobbi Brown one, and if you don't then pick the Prescriptives concealer.

For fine lines appearing on the face and neck...

I'm fast approaching becoming 30 and am worried about fine lines appearing. What products would you recommend me using for my face and neck area? I have combination skin, which is in a reasonable condition.

Alison: At this age, you're right to start thinking more about ageing and wrinkles, as this will become more of a predominant problem area for you. The first and the most important product that you need to add to your routine is suncare. Simply adding an SPF to your routine could help to prevent you from having to buy so many products to tackle ageing in the future.

I'd recommend using products with an SPF and applying one every single day. Ultra Sun suncare is non-oily, non-greasy, easily absorbed and also contains ingredients to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Don't think of sun cream as just sun cream as you can use it every day on your face, neck, décolleté and back of the hands.

For dry, flaky skin with breakouts...

I have dry, flaky skin on my face but I also suffer from the odd breakout of spots. I would probably say that I have combination skin. I was wondering if you could recommend a suitable skincare routine for me. I have limited time and budget now as I have just recently had a baby.

Alison: Many congratulations on the baby!

It sounds like you have dehydrated/sensitive skin because you have two conflicting skin concerns - dry, flaky skin and breakouts. This is a sign of unbalanced skin, which is, unfortunately, quite normal through hormonal changes.

I would like you to try a sensitive, balancing skincare regime. A quick and easy choice for you is Elemis Cleanser & Toner for sensitive skin combined with Decleor Hydrafloral moisturiser, as this will counteract any dryness or dehydration that's causing flakiness, but won't raise any spots or breakouts.

The products I've suggested would be a great first step for you. However, if you can stretch to a third product, I would recommend using Decleor Aromessence Neroli Face Oil morning and night.

Much as you may want to exfoliate, I would be very careful as it could bring you out in more breakouts. So, your skin would benefit from more of a calming period. If you do still wish to use an exfoliator, maybe just use Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator once every 10 days as this contains gentle grains, can be used in the shower and shouldn't flare your skin up too much.

On a full skincare routine for ageing eyes, dry skin and broken capillaries…

I am 28 and starting to get fine lines around the eye area. What products would you recommend to help nip any further ageing in the bud?!

Also, I work in a factory environment and my skin has started getting very dry and dull, especially on the forehead - I have combination skin and use gentle exfoliators, like Liz Earle, but have ruddiness in my cheeks with a few broken capillaries. Can you recommend a skin care routine which would help my dry skin, make my complexion brighter and help with the fine lines around the eyes and on the forehead?

Alison: I'd like to keep you with Liz Earle as you seem to have no problems with it and Cleanse and Polish is a great product for you to use. Also the Gentle Exfoliator is excellent for you because it's one of the gentler ones, is easy to use and shouldn't bring your skin up red. I would also have recommended it for you in particular as you suffer from high colour.

Use Cleanse and Polish at nightime. Once or twice a week only and no more, use the Gentle Exfoliator. Then in the mornings, add Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash to your routine. Follow with the Skin Tonic am and pm. Moisturiser-wise, I'd suggest the Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream which you can use am and pm. You aren't really old enough yet to need the night cream as well.

If you feel that your skin is extra dull, then you can also give yourself a course of the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum on a daily basis. Because of your age, you should expect a great result from the Tri-Enzyme products.

For your fine lines around the eyes, I would suggest trying the Philosophy Hope in a Tube Eye & Lip Cream morning and night. It comes in quite a big size so it will last and it should give you great, quick results.

On suitable skincare for mature, combination skin...

I am 40 years old with combination skin which is dry on the cheeks and forehead. Can you please advise me on some appropriate skincare products and make-up for me?

Alison: Let's go for something really good, but really easy. Combine the Elemis Cleanser &Toner for dry skin with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. Use these all over morning and night on your face, neck and eyes. If you are using eye products, I'd advise using the Gatineau Melatogenine Futur Plus Eye Cream. If you are also using a moisturiser, I'd also recommend applying the Decleor Arommesence Iris oil underneath it.

At this age, you should also introduce into your routine more exfoliation than when you were younger as this helps to thin the look of wrinkles. A dermabrasion kit is good for this - a light option that would work well is Lulu's Time Bomb Dermabrasion Cream.

From a make-up point of view, be careful that the products you use that touch your skin are more treatment based. Laura Geller foundation, if you prefer a powder, or Sue Devitt foundation, if you like creams, are both good. These aren't completely matte and contain skincare benefits - so do not emphasise lines or dry out the skin. On the lips go for Gale Hayman Lip Lift as this is good for mature skin that can dry out.

These products would be a good start though you are welcome to come back for more advice in the future. Any make-up that you put on top is completely up to you and your personal style. If you protect your skin with the right foundation then you can pretty much get away with any brand of make-up.

For blackheads and open pores...

What do you suggest for blackheads and open pores? I'm 56yrs and can be prone to small spots. I've tried all sorts of masks and for a few hours skin looks clean and pores reduced but the next day I'm back to square one. I'd say I have combination skin, somedays it feels greasy but I get dryness around my nose.

Alison: I think you should try a classic Alpha-H system: use Alpha-H Liquid Gold three times a week. Wipe over the skin at nightime and don't use it during the day. You also need an SPF, either one you have at home or you can use the Alpha-H Daily Moisturiser with SPF30. With this, you can also use the Alpha-H Rejuvenating Cream at nightime, which is perfect for your age group, featuring great anti-ageing benefits.

The Liquid Gold is superb, especially when you feel you really shouldn't be suffering from open pores or blockages but they still keep coming. It will help to clean them out and when it starts to work, you should use it less. Try it three times a week, twice over the skin initially and then when the blackheads diminish, maybe use it once a week. If you use it too much, the oil glands will over-produce so it will give fantastic results to begin with and then the opposite will happen.

For deep hereditary lines around the eyes and combination skin with blackheads...

My husband who is 35 has very deep hereditary lines around his eyes, I have tried all sorts of products but he can be prone to blackheads in the same area as well. I think his skin type is classic combination, oily t-zone and dry cheeks.

Alison: I'd get him on the Elemis Men's Grooming Collection as it's a fantastically economical kit. Use the skin scrub before shaving to clear out the pores and the moisturiser to prevent them from filling up again - it also gives a matte finish. Hereditary deep lines are always going to be a weak point, but he will see a difference if he uses Genie Instant Line Smoother morning and night as an eye cream.