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 skin drying out from swimming...

I'm a woman of 45 and I go swimming 2/3 times a week. I find that it's really drying out my skin, especially around the eyes, cheeks and mouth area, which in turn is causing more fine wrinkles to form. I've very sensitive and fine skin, but it has always looked youthful until I took up swimming. I presently use the Gatineau Melatogenine range, but this does not seem to be enough.
 
Is there an intense treatment you can recommend to rehydrate my skin initially and keep it rehydrated and protected in the future, especially when I'm swimming?

Alison: Your skincare routine sounds excellent to me! So keep this routine at home and take a few products to the swimming pool with you, such as the Decleor Angelique Balm or Angelique Oil. Put either of these on before you actually get into the pool and see which works best.

These won't be removed in the pool like an emulsion would, which is why the moisturisers that you're currently using aren't protecting your skin before you go into the swimming pool. So, the Oil or Balm will work well as a pre-swim treatment.

When you get out of the pool, you can also add a couple of drops on the skin underneath your favourite Gatineau products, if you want to. For the perfect combination, put a little bit of the oil on first and then a little bit of the balm on top. Plus, you will need to apply more than you would at home because you want it to act like a barrier.

Don't worry, it shouldn't be that visible!

For dry, sensitive hands with nails breaking constantly...

I'm 36 and over the last 12 months my hands are getting very dry and sensitive, especially the fingers. The nails keep breaking and I have hard dry skin around the nail which becomes very sore and hurts. Is there anything that you could recommend?

Alison: Firstly it would be good to try to find out what is causing this. You haven't mentioned what your job is or if your hands are in and out of a lot of chemicals or irritants.

So, I'd recommend you use something really gentle, such as an A'kin Handwash as they don't contain ingredients that a lot of people can be allergic to. Then when your skin becomes irritated as you've described use L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter as this only contains one ingredient. That way we're lowering the amount of potential allergens that are on the skin.

Do bare in mind, however, that this skin irritation could have been triggered off by something. If you are really concerned about it then you must consult your doctor and he may be able to prescribe something for you that you can use alongside your beauty routine.

For chicken pock-like marks on the face and chest area...

I'm 37 and use either Decleor or Elemis products. Recently during the sunny weather, I've developed chicken pock-like spots on my face and chest area as well as on my arms, but they seem to be "inverted". Don't know what they are or what to use. Can you help?

Alison: I would like you to check these with the doctor because if you were on holiday, there are some skin infections that can be picked up from the sand, lilos, public baths, towels etc. It shouldn't be anything to worry about but if it is this, then you doctor should be able to sort it out for you very quickly.

In the meantime in your beauty routine, you should keep using the skincare products that you've been happy with. However, I’d add ABC Skinwash and use this daily in the shower on your face and body.

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.

For melasma on the top lip...

I'm 30 and have good skin, just a bit sensitive, but since having my children I've suffered with melasma on my top lip - it looks like a moustache. I've been told that treatments of an enerpeel will help but its going to cost £600. In your experience, what would you recommend?

Alison: Melasma is an increase in pigmentation that can often occur during pregnancy. It may fade naturally but I'm not sure how long ago you had your children.

Sometimes, it naturally fades and disappears maybe a year or two after giving birth, as it can take this long for the hormones to re-adjust. So, check with your doctor to see if he thinks it will be a natural fader.

Even if it's only short term, you must wear sun block over this area. Any form of the sun, even on a cloudy day, can make it darken in colour, as it’s so hypersensitive. So, I'd recommend the UltraSun SPF 50 for all-day protection on the upper lip area.

To help reduce the look of the melasma, I’d recommend wiping Alpha-H White Gold on to the skin, three times a week. I’d also suggest wearing make-up over this area to physically cover up this area and even it up with rest of the skin - try Amazing Cosmetics Concealer.

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.

On a perfume that's suitable for skin allergies...

I'm trying to find a perfume for my mum who's extremely allergic to many things, including tree sap, pectin, perfume, gum, wax and many more. She's able to wear natural essential oils but finds the carrier oils often cause a reaction.

Can you suggest anything I can get for her to try as she would love to be able to wear perfume again? She has found skincare that works for her but never a scent.

Alison: You're right to be concerned about fragrance, because both natural and chemical extracts go into the making of a perfume. What's difficult too is that the ingredients listing on perfumes often won't show up every single ingredient and it will just list them all as 'perfume'.

Your Mum is correct in using essential oils as an alternative. I would, however, suggest she trys Philosophy Grace Fragrance which isn't a plant-based formula so it may work better for her. Many people have actually found that they can wear fragrance again because synthetic alternatives don't contain any of the plant-based oils.

Wearing a pure oil directly on the skin without a carrier oil is difficult. If she's got any pure oils at home that she knows don't cause her any irritation, she could try blending a few together herself into a water spritzer container which would then dilute them. Then she can use it as a body spray when she comes out of the shower or bath.

It may take a little practise to get the right fragrance so she could just try a few drops of a couple of oils at first to see which she likes, leave them for a little while to make sure they're blended and then keep a note of which ones she likes and the quantities of each. Keep the quantity of oil the same when you dilute it. Each time you then use the spritzer, remember to shake it up a little as the oils will have separated from the water.

For a reaction from using a product...

I'm 32 and had my first baby last year. I've always had sensitive skin and I've just used a product that has reacted badly to my skin. It's now left dry, sore, itchy and red.

I've bought the Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser. It helps but hasn't cured it. I've been to the doctors and have been prescribed anti-histamines but they haven't been able to clear it. Normally I like Prescriptives Superline Preventor but I can't use it at the moment because of this problem.

Alison: You should be able to use anything you previously used once your skin has cleared up. To help clear your skin up, you need to use the most simplistic routine. Your skin is now reacting to products that it didn't even react to before, because it's hypersensitised. I'd recommend combining your doctor's advice with the following beauty advice.

I'm going to recommend you use only two products in your routine until your skin has cleared up and these should be products that you know aren't irritating your skin. So use one cleaning product and one moisturising product. If there's something in your routine that doesn't irritate your skin on application, then you can still use this as one of your two products.

If you haven't got anything in your routine that's giving you a soothed feeling when applied then I recommend you firstly use L'Occitane 100% Shea Butter Moisturiser. If you warm it up in the palms of your hands then you can even use this as a cleanser, wiped gently off with a very soft flannel or cloth (nothing too rough). Then warm it back up and put it on as a moisturiser, leaving it to soak in to soften your skin.

For a red, spotty and inflamed nose...

I have a problem with my nose. It has become really red since the menopause and at times gets spotty and feels inflamed. I don't drink or smoke. Is their anything you can suggest?

Alison: There's something called rosacea, which it may or not be, but your doctor could diagnose this for you. So it may be worth making an appointment just to make sure, and if it is rosacea then they'll be able to give you further advice on this.

However, it's also quite common to get a red-coloured rash on the nose area around the age of the menopause. It's very important to:

• Avoid the sun (especially sunbathing), as any form of heat will make it worse
• Avoid using scrubs and exfoliators, as any form of irritation will make it worse
• Use a strong all-day sun block for protection and to help prevent the area from becoming inflamed

If your skin is generally irritated and sensitive at this time, then it might be worth making your routine incredibly simple. Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser springs to my mind immediately, and has in fact been raved about by a famous journalist recently for this very problem. It contains very pure, naturally active ingredients and is ideal for sensitive skin.

So, make sure you use an SPF all day and keep this area out of the sun too. Cover it over with a product that you're less likely to have an allergy to, such as bareMinerals SPF15 Foundation. It's made without any colours, preservatives or parabens. This product should also give you skin confidence without it looking too made up.