Your beauty dilemmas answered: part 2

Our roving presenter Will Gowing caught up with me recently to find out the answers to all your beauty dilemmas you've posted here on my blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Watch the clips below to find the answers to your burning questions and keep your eyes peeled for more clips coming soon…

How to find out what skin type you are

 

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On tackling puffy eyes...

Q. Hi Alison, I am 24 and recently noticed I have large puffy bags under my eyes. I'm a newly qualified nurse so do a lot of shift work so my sleeping pattern is not the best. My main problem is that I watch all the skincare shows - Elemis, Gatineau, Decleor - but as they are all promoting their own products they all sound so good and I'm confused as to what would suit me best.

These products are expensive for me so when I buy one for my problem area I want to know it's the most suitable. Can you advise me what you would consider the best range of skincare treatment out there or perhaps the best product for my problem? Many thanks, Louise.

A. If you're looking for something speedy and economical, yet effective, I'd recommend SBC Collagen Gel and SBC Arnica Gel. The Arnica gel can be used as an eye cream to help de-puff your eyes (avoid using any oil around the eye area).

The Collagen gel is fantastic as a moisturiser and helps to plump up your skin. Apply a thick mask of it to your face before you go to bed and it will sink in to leave you with beautifully moisturised skin.

Both of these products will cover your moisturising and anti-ageing concerns, will help de-puff your eyes and are great value too.

On applying Decleor eye products...

Q. Hi Alison, I've recently purchased the Decleor Neroli Aromessence and night balm. Should I avoid the eye area when using these products? Many thanks, Jackie.

A. Normally you would avoid the eye area, as you may find that the oil and pure oil that's in the balms too rich for the delicate eye area. Unless you have very poorly or dry skin, I would only recommend taking it up to the orbital bone.

The area under the eye has a thinner texture and doesn't have any oil glands. This affects the area in two ways:

1) it doesn’t produce any oil

2) oily products are absorbed into the skin via channels such as follicles, but the under eye area doesn't have any so that's why oil or balm products can puff the eye up very quickly.

On a skincare routine for menopausal skin...

Q. Hi Alison, I need help with my skin. I am 53 going through the menopause - have been for a few years now. My eyes look puffy and my skin looks dull and I seem to have a lot more wrinkles. I don't wear make-up, just use mascara. Hope you can help.

A. I think from a range point of view, you would love the Prai and Clientele ranges. Prai is great if you don't wear make-up, as it works on a skincare basis but also makes your skin look pretty and feel nice and comfortable.

You can mix the Prai range with Clientele range to benefit from the maximum results. There's a Clientele Estro-Lift starter kit which has about six products including face wash, skin serum, an eye serum, a moisturiser with SPF 25 and a night time treatment. Use this as your core skincare line and you can also combine Prai serum.

The Prai serums have all got this lovely, luminous sheen to them and feel amazing on the skin. They give your complexion a lovely soft glow as well as providing all the skincare benefits.

For sensitive eyes...

Q: I have EXTREMELY SENSITIVE EYES which appear to react to any eye creams I've tried, especially Gatineau and unfortunately I seem to be reacting to the Liz Earle Superskin eye & lip cream!

I have puffy eyes below the bottom lash which makes me look tired all the time. My eyes seem to stream and get sore whenever I try and look after my eyes. I also can't find a mascara I can use! Please help.

Alison: Firstly you need to address the sensitivity issue and if we can sort that out with a product that doesn't irritate your eyes. They may stop looking puffy and you may be able to wear mascaras again that you already own. At the moment, it's best to avoid wearing mascara until your sensitivity calms down. For me, my eyes can do the same as I get a reaction to air conditioning systems. So I just have to strip down my routine completely.

There are two ways of tackling this.

Number one: If you have any facial products at home that don't smart your eyes, apply them closer to your eyes. If that still doesn't upset your eyes then use that product as a moisturiser. This sensitivity could be caused by something you used way back down the line and now you just need to find something that doesn't cause irritation and then over a period of a few weeks, the irritation should go away.

Or if you aren't happy to do that or it doesn't produce the results that you want then…

Number two: Use a pure, simple product such as L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter Moisturiser. Melt it down in your fingertips and smooth it over the eye, patting it over the puffy areas.

If these two tricks don't work and the sensitivity and irritation continues, then I think you should consult your doctor.

On improving the look of the eye area...

Q: I'm 55, going through the menopause and I'm on medication for angina and diabetes. I seem to have a large area between my lower lashes and the lower contour bone, resulting in large bags and a "shelf" /indentation where the contour bone/top of cheek is. I don't know if this is due to my age, medication or bad luck! I use good quality products but haven't noticed a significant improvement. The lines under the eyes diminish and are plumped but I still have this indentation that makes me look so tired.

I also have a problem with concealers in that they "break up" especially in the corner of my eye. I have some phytopeel (as yet unused) and having watched decleor recently discovered that this can be used on eye area. I wondered if this would resolve the problem of the concealers breaking up? Please help.

Alison: This 'shelf' that you describe is common and particularly with the type of illnesses that you suffer from so, I have a few tips to help you improve the look if it. The Decleor Phytopeel should work and will help to lighten and brighten up the eye area. Plus, it should help with the application of any other products - meaning that they will break up less as your skin is more hydrated.

You can use this product right up to the lashes, both above and below the eye. Apply a thin layer and let it sink in until you can't see it. You can then just roll it off with your ring finger, stretching your eye area slightly, and it should take the dead skin with it. Keep rolling until nothing else comes off.