For cellulite on the thighs and bottom...

Please can you help turn me back into a yummy mummy. Following my pregnancy, I've noticed an increase in cellulite on my thighs and bottom. Can you recommend a product that will reduce the appearance and something to firm up the skin?

Alison: You haven't said whether you've changed weight at all, which I presume has happened. After pregnancy, your whole routine, particularly any exercise habits, can change and exercise is as important as it was before pregnancy. This probably seems like a time-consuming prospect but there are a few things you can try out.

We have a range of home exercise systems you could try or you could follow simple routines such as step up on the bottom of your stairs. There's also a great machine that's going to be our Today's Special Value on Tuesday 11th August. It was designed by a husband and wife for her to use while looking after the children and it works your thighs, hips and bottom. She keeps it in the kitchen and uses it when she's making breakfast or boiling the kettle.

A quick and easy thing to try as well is the SBC Collagen Gel. The litre or half litre size is particularly great value. This product will have a tightening and firming effect on that area and is great used as a mask as it sinks in wonderfully. You can use it everywhere, even around your eyes or on a lined forehead.

On using the Decleor range during pregnancy...

I'm three months pregnant and am wondering if it's OK for me to use the Decleor range during pregnancy? I know I can use the prolagene gel but can I also use the system corps and is it safe to use neroli essential oil? I'm getting a little paranoid about what I can and can't use.

Alison: The Decleor range should be absolutely fine and safe to use. The only thing I wouldn't advise is using any of their body products for celulite or detoxing, but that would be the same with any skincare or salon range. This is because you shouldn't be worrying about your weight or fluid retention as this is normal during pregnancy and is looked after for you by your doctor. You can try relaxing bath products just avoid any bath products for detoxing. 

The ready blends of oils, such as Decleor Aromessence Neroli Face Oil, are safer to use than trying to use the essential oils yourself, as they have been made to the highest standards by scientists who are aware of the safety of those using them.

On an intensive hand cream for very dry hands...

I had a baby 15 weeks ago and my hands have become very dry with all the washing/cleaning with hand gel I'm doing after every nappy change. Can you advise me on a really intensive hand cream to use?

Alison: You may be washing your hands with something that is antiseptic but very drying. If this is the case then I would try the A'kin Tea Tree Hand Wash and their Unscented Intensive Hand Cream. This is a very gentle solution if you feel that you are washing your hands an awful lot.

If you feel that it's just dryness and you're happy with what you're washing your hands with then use one of the L'Occitane Hand Creams. A great tip is to put thick layers of this cream on before you go to bed at night - perfect to put on for the one hour when the baby does go to sleep during the night! Let it sink in almost like a hand mask for extra pampering - you can just lie there and wait until you fall asleep without even rubbing it in. I'm sure it will have sunk in by the time the baby wakes again.

On which products are suitable for use during pregnancy...

I am looking to have a baby soon and was wondering if there are any of the L'Occitane, Elemis or Philosophy products that are not suitable to use during pregnancy and also if you can recommend any products that would be beneficial to use?

Alison: The whole of the L'Occitane and Philosophy ranges are fine through pregnancy. Elemis's Body Essential range isn't though, this includes things like the cellulite range for the body and some of their bath oils and essential oil formulas. However for the body you can use all of the Elemis milk range - like the Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath Duo. The Elemis Camellia Oil is specifically for pregnancy and you can massage it everywhere front and back from the head to the knees. It's great that you're thinking about this now because you need to be using them as soon as the skin starts to stretch which happens at three months. Other things that are going to be good for you are pure shea butter which can be used on you and your baby for dry areas. Don't let your skin dry out basically, so put more camellia oil on, more moisturiser on, or more shea butter on than normal. Your skin could be more sensitive and prone to breakouts than normal because of the hormones so the Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream is a must-own.

On stretch marks and an itchy tummy in pregnancy...

I’m pregnant with twins and my itchy tummy is driving me mad! Can you recommend something to help with my itch and my stretch marks?

Alison: You need to seek medical advice as there’s a condition to do with the blood that makes some pregnant women itch – if it is this, it’s nothing to worry about but creams won’t help. As for stretch marks, once you’ve seen them, they’re already formed I’m afraid. To help improve healing, firming, smoothing though, you should use Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel.

On using Decleor's Prolagene gel on scars and pregnancy stretch marks...

I have a red, raised scar on my thigh from a chemical burn five years ago, as well as stretchmarks on my tummy from pregnancy. Can I use Decleor’s Prolagene energising gel for these problems?

Alison: Decleor's Prolagene Energising Gel is suitable for use on both of your scars. However, although it will help to fade the redness and stretch marks, it won’t have any effect on raised scars.