Your beauty dilemmas answered: part 3

Hi everyone,

I've been busy answering all your beauty dilemmas. Watch the videos below to pick up handy tips and advice, and keep your eyes peeled for more clips coming soon.

Eye make-up saviours
 

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On a new beauty routine post pregnancy...

Q: I have recently had a baby and since the birth I have noticed a difference in my skin. I previously had oily skin, which has now turned dry in places and can be very sensitive (sometimes itchy with red patches).

I'm currently using Decleor products for oily/combination skin, which isn't working as effectively as it used to. I would be extremely grateful if you could suggest products from the Decleor range that would be more suitable for my present skin type.

Alison: I can quite understand what has happened and this is very normal after pregnancy. What you must bear in mind, is that after having a baby it takes a little while for your skin to re-adjust.

If you care for your skin for how it appears to be now, then you are probably using products that are too harsh. So instead you should treat it as a sensitive skin type and allow it to balance back out, which it should do in time.

In terms of your Aromessence, you should either be on the Rose D'Orient for sensitive skin if your skin is feeling really irritated, or the Neroli if it's more unbalanced. Then for a moisturiser I would recommend the Decleor Hydra Floral and I would also suggest the Soothing Emulsion for a speedy routine, or the Hydrating Cleanser & Toner if you have more time.

Keep to this simple routine and your skin should feel much more comfortable within about a week's time.

For cellulite on the thighs and bottom...

Q: 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 an intensive hand cream for very dry hands...

Q: 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.