On which water-based products to use...

I've just been put on oxygen therapy and the doctor has said I'm free to use whatever creams/cosmetics I want as long as they are water based rather than petroleum based. I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction.

I have dry skin and very dark circles, so any advice as to a moisturiser which is water based and something to cover the dark circles would be very helpful.

Alison: If you can't use petroleum-based products then that includes all mineral oil derivatives as well. The ranges we have that are petroleum oil-free and water-based are Elemis, A'kin, Liz Earle and AD Skin Synergy.

If it's a moisturiser that you're looking for, then try a light formula from A'kin. Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream fits into this too and can be used on the eye area as well.

To cover the dark circles, you could try Bare Escentuals Concealer as this is just a pure, 100% natural pigment.

For covering and helping to clear up breakouts...

I'm 25 with PCOS, so as you can imagine my skin never looks healthy and glowing. I always have breakouts on my chin (and can’t remember the last time I didn’t have to use concealer.) I've now started getting breakouts occasionally on my forehead and cheeks. Please can you advise the best beauty regime for me. 

Also because I'm 25, should I be thinking of anti ageing products? If possible could you also recommend the best concealer to cover blemishes?

Alison: The best concealer to cover blemishes would be the Amazing Cosmetics Concealer. Apply over a primer, such as Smashbox Photo Finish, if you need it to go on smoothly. Also, the best way to cover spots is to layer. So, you should finish with a powder make-up that you then use all over the face, such as from Laura Geller or Bare Escentuals. This will help it to look more natural without showing the concealer underneath.

The good news is that you have been diagnosed. As you progress through treatment the skin will calm down. In the meantime make sure that you avoid exfoliating - you don't want to make your skin any more active than it already is.

Your skin is being driven to be overactive by a hormonal imbalance. So, don't do a lot of masks or a lot of steaming. If you do want to exfoliate or use a mask, I'd limit it to once a month, or twice maximum. Don't use dermabrasion, go for a gentle exfoliant instead.

For itchy red lumps on the decolletage...

I have fair skin and I like to use fake tan. I use it on my arms, however if I use it on my decolletage area the next morning I have itchy red lumps. I've tried many brands over the years and have the same problem. Can you help please?

Alison: The decollete can be as sensitive as the face area and the body, i.e. your arms have a much tougher skin. If there's a self tan that you have used successfully on your face before, then you could try this on your decollete. Otherwise, I'd recommend the Monne Self Tan Serum as this is designed for the face as well as the decollete.

Alternatively, if your skin is very sensitive in this decollete area, you may be allergic to DHA which is a self-tanning agent that is used in most self tanning products. Your trick might be to use self tan on the body and the arms, and then to use tinted make-up on the face and decollete to even up the colour. For your body you could try Jiffy Tan from Benefit. This is a non-self tan body tint stain that doesn't come off on clothes, although it will wash off in the shower. It's like instant self tan and it doesn't contain DHA.

A final thing to test would be using a self-tanning daily application moisturiser as this should use a much lower percentage of the DHA ingredient.

For drooping eyelids...

I'm 64 years old and have a good beauty regime with all my lovely products from QVC. I've recently decided to go for contact lenses after years of wearing glasses. Wow - what a shock to see the dreaded overhang on my eyes. I can't see much eyelid to apply eye shadow. Can you recommend the best product to use to help with this problem? Plastic surgery is definitely out so I'm hoping you can suggest something helpful.

Alison: From a skincare point of view, I'd recommend Gale Hayman Eye Lift Gel on the lids and all around the eye, twice a day. This should give your skin an instant tightening effect. This is more of a long-term product for your beauty routine.

However, from an instant, quick fix, make-up point of view, you should use Genie Instant Line Smoother. It will help to tighten up the upper eyelid, so much so that the fold will lessen. Apply it on one eye first so that you can see the difference - this is what I like to call the 'One Eye Challenge!'

It's enriched with lovely skin-friendly ingredients too, such as collagen, vitamins and cucumber. You should apply it every single day to the upper eyelid before applying anything else. Simply pat it in, and leave it slightly damp to set. As it sinks in, it should help to tighten up the look of the skin.

For wearing make-up over open pores...

My sister is getting married in August and I'm a bridesmaid for her and a bit worried about my skin. I'm 31 years old and have oily skin. I currently use Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, followed by the skin tonic and the skin repair light moisturiser. 

My problem is that during this hot humid weather my pores appear to be more visibly open. I'm dreading having a make-up trial as I'm worried that my make-up will be awful. Is there anything that I could incorporate into my daily routine that would help to reduce the appearance of my pores?

Alison: A simple solution would be to add Decleor Prolagene Gel to your routine and use it morning and night, all over the face, neck and eyes. Apply it after your Cleanse and Polish and before your Skin Repair Moisturiser. It will help to tighten and firm up the look of the pores, as well as acting to hydrate and reduce the appearance of any fine lines around the eye area.

Our brands offer lots of make-up trials, so if you like any of them they could be a good start for you. Whichever brand you choose, order a make-up primer from them, such as Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer or Laura Geller Spackle. This should help to create a smooth canvas for make-up application.

With make-up trials, it's important to go to a full time make-up artist. Some salons offer make-up lessons but unless they have a full time make-up artist there I wouldn't recommend it - they often aren't up-to-date in make-up techniques and trends.

Department stores often offer fantastic make-up trials and you can find some of our brands, such as Bobbi Brown and Prescriptives, there. It's worth trying out a couple of different ones as well to find the right one for you.

For skin that becomes flaky when make-up is applied...

I'm 16 and have dry skin on my face. I can keep this under control until I put my make-up on and then it appears flaky. I have used Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish, bare escentuals, Bobbi Brown foundation and all of these seem to make my problem worse.

Also I'm starting to get little wrinkles under my eyes and wonder if there are any creams suitable for my age? I'm probably the most awkward request you've had but please can you help me.

Alison: No, you're not the most awkward at all! What's difficult for you though is that you probably haven't got any friends who also suffer from this problem. This is because the majority of them may have a greasy or oily skin type and are more worried about covering up spots!

I'm thrilled to hear that you're using products from such brilliant skincare brands! Also you have to correct make-up problems through the skincare that you're using - which is exactly what you're doing. So, you must keep to your cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. But you will find that you're using products that are ahead of your age group as your skin is acting older too. Most of your friends' skins probably won't start to dry out until their mid to late twenties.

For sore and dry lips...

I use lip stains so that I don't have to keep applying my lipstick. However, recently I've developed really sore and very dry lips. I keep them as moist as I can with a moisturiser that I purchased from QVC, which does help. But it's getting no better and I wondered if you could recommend any product to help further with this please?

Alison: All lip stains, to a certain extent, have a drying agent in them as they aren't carried in a waxy residue. So, you're right to have stopped using them for the moment and it's great that you've been using a moisturiser as well.

One thing that could have more of a calming and soothing effect at the moment on the lip area is the L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter Moisturiser. This product contains 100% shea butter and is fantastic used on a daily basis, several times a day if you feel you need it.

Stay off the lip stains for now because we need to get your lips back into good condition before you start using them again. Lip stains will replace lost colour or add pigment but they don't condition. So, when you start using them again, keep applying a daily lip balm, such as Gale Hayman Lip Lift on top of this. Or you can even apply a lipgloss on top of this as well, such as one from the Fran Wilson range which all contain shea butter, as well as vitamins A, C and E, and aloe vera,

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 a suitable lipstick and eye products for younger-looking skin...

I have an olive skin tone and cannot seem to match a lipstick. Ideally I would like my lipstick to be young-looking without it looking too pink or too red, which I have a hard time finding. Which out of the Fran Wilson range would you recommend?

Also I suffer from insomnia and have tired-looking eyes with dark circles and fine lines. Which product would be the best?

Alison: Fran Wilson change their lipstick colours so often that it's hard to recommend a staple colour for you to try. I'm looking into them providing us with a range of basic colours that are easier for me to recommend.

For oily, sagging skin and on using mineral make-up...

I'm 51-years-old and menopausal (sweats!) with a very oily T-zone and cheeks. I love Elemis products but would like to know which ones would give me a proper routine. I also have sagging skin with deep ridges at either side of my mouth (not attractive!).

My other problem is with what make-up to wear - I love the idea of mineral make-up but whenever I try it, it seems to cake and accentuate my wrinkles. I HATE the smell of lavender which seems to rule out so many products.

Alison: When mineral make-up cakes and accentuates the pores, it's usually a sign that your skincare routine isn't right. When you use a really good mineral make-up - and we only stock the really good ones - then this shouldn't happen. Our easiest ones to use are from Laura Geller.

It's also crucial that you wear a primer underneath your make-up, especially at your age, to create a smoothing effect. Laura Geller Spackle Under Make Up Primer is great at calming down the look of redness with its slight lilac tone. Plus, it contains aloe vera and creates a lovely calming feeling on irritated skin.