For bumps on the forehead and an oily T-zone...

I'm a 25 year-old guy and have an oily T-zone but normal everywhere else. I also have bumps on my forehead. At the moment I'm using Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - this was working to start with but now I'm not seeing any results. What skincare range would be best for me to start to use?

Alison: Try Elemis Tri-Enzyme skincare range - this sounds perfect for you. This system is specifically for those bumps that develop from a poor conditioned skin. So they should help to buff away the dead skin cells, while leaving you with a smoother finish.

Don't worry if you feel a mild tingle when you first use these products as that is the enzymes working. You'll find it reassuring as it's just a sign that it's actually working. The cool tingle should disappear after a while. I'm a huge fan of the products as they leave my skin looking nice and smooth. I even use the Facial Wash every single day.

For breakouts and dryness on the face...

I'm a 38-year-old who experiences pimples, blackheads and breakouts on my chin and forehead. I've tried all products and the latest is Philosophy which works only for a few months but after that I have oily skin and breakouts again. Please advise me on what to use. I have a combination of oily and sensitive skin.

Alison: When I suffer from this problem I follow a balancing routine. This is as follows: Decleor Cleanser & Toner, Decleor Aromessence Neroli Oil and the Decleor Hydra Floral Moisturiser.

To this, I also add a few other products to help target the breakout areas. So, I'd add Philosophy On a Clear Day Serum underneath the Aromessence and Moisturiser. This should help to fight the spotty areas whilst keeping the skin hydrated.

On a complete beauty routine for mature skin...

I'm 58 and my face has the lot! Lines and wrinkles, sagging, dull skin, dark circles, and crepiness - sound beautiful? NOT! I'm going back to the cold cream days now, that's when I was a teenager! Since then I've not had any spare cash to indulge myself, as the children's needs had to come first. I'm a complete novice and would appreciate any advice.
 
I lost my mother in 2000 and lost all interest in myself totally, thankfully this year I've finally come through the darkness and would love to look better, but I do need a step by step routine. I have dry skin with a greasy T-zone.

Alison: This is a common problem - where people have tried skincare when they were younger and it didn't work. And where there wasn't much choice, other than cold cream which would have brought you out in spots as it's really heavy and wouldn't have been suitable for you at that age.

I understand that you have put your family first and then suddenly when you look in the mirror, you feel like you should be looking a lot younger. This is often found by women in their 50s and 60s, where the reflections in the mirror seem to be of an older version of you.

I want to give you a very simple routine that's quick, easy and enjoyable. All you need to do is get yourself into the routine of following it every single morning and every single night.

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 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.

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.

On male skincare for oily skin…

I'm a 25 year old guy and have slightly oily skin. I've been using the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but I'm finding the Skin Repair Light is just a little too heavy. I have slightly enlarged pores on my nose, the occasional breakout, and I find that whenever I put my moisturiser on, within a few hours I start to look a little shiny.

I tend to find that products that are too gentle don't clean my skin properly, and products that are too strong dry my skin so I was wondering what you would recommend?

Alison: If you're happy to continue using the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish then please do. A very easy solution for you to help with your enlarged pores and to use as a moisturiser would be the Decleor Prolagene Gel. It's a light gel, has firming anti-ageing properties and helps to tighten pores too. You shouldn't sweat this out or feel shiny a few hours later either.

I'd recommend using it morning and night and then at night put a moisturiser or night cream on top to help balance your skin out. This can be really light too, if you prefer - Liz Earle Skin Repair perhaps or the hydrating, water-based Decleor Hydrafloral Light.

In terms of exfoliants, use one a maximum of once a week to help to clean out any enlarged pores. I'd suggest Liz Earle, if you want to stay with this brand. I understand when you say that strong products are too drying - it's all about doing a little tweak to your routine to see a big result. This should then get your skin doing what you want it to, then you can stick to a more set routine in the future.

One product I'd love to recommend for you is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, however at the moment I'm not sure you'd want to use it as it's a bit more expensive and not as light in texture. It's thicker in texture but you wouldn't sweat it out as it's easily absorbed. I'd suggest considering it at some point as it would be great for your skin and it's been a big hit with men in particular as it doesn't leave a residue.

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.