Q. Hi Alison, I've used both Liz Earle (which did not suit me) and Gatineau but have a continuous problem with redness which appears to be mild roseacea, which runs in the family.
I end up wearing heavy cream foundation then covered further with Laura Geller Balance & Brighten powder - but is there a way to reduce redness from a skincare routine, rather than using a green toned cream which again I don't like, and heavy make-up? Most foundations don't cover the redness on my nose area. Thanks M.
A. Although you are using excellent make-up, it doesn't have any skincare benefits so I would recommend Bare Escentuals mineral foundation. The minerals actually have a cooling and calming effect on your skin and further enhance your skincare routine.
We also have the Rose petal cleansing routine, which is a cleanser and toner, or the Pro-Radiance Cleanser, an all-in-one cream cleanser from Elemis.
Q. Hi Alison, I have just started chemo for breast cancer and I am wondering what skincare I can use now. I usually use Elemis, Liz Earle, Clientele and Gatineau. Can I still use these please? Hope you can help. By the way I am 70, but I have been following your advise for about 12 years now with great results. Thank you.
A. When you are going through serious medical treatment like chemo, you can continue to use all of your favourite products as long as your skin is enjoying them. What can sometimes happen, is as your body reacts to the medication you can then react to products on the skin, even your favourite products.
It doesn't mean that you are allergic to them forever, it just means that you have to simplify your routine for now. Instead of using five or six skincare products you go back to basics and only use two.
If you're using Liz Earle or Elemis, just choose a cleanser and a moisturiser - simplify your routine. When you've finished your treatment, gradually introduce your skin to all your other favourite beauty products.
Q. Hi Alison, I am 45 years old and have just been diagnosed with hormonal eczema. I need a mild shower/bath lotion - what can you suggest?
A. You can use Skin Nourishing Milk Bath and matching body lotion from Elemis. You're also going to love Liz Earle's shower gels, which have natural foaming agents in too. Balance Me's bath and body range also prides itself on using natural ingredients.
So that gives you three different ranges that all use natural foaming agents and their matching body lotions only use plant-based extracts and vegetable oils.
If you find that you're very sensitive, you can cut down to using one product on the body and I'd recommend L'Occitane's Shea Butter. You can actually melt it down and use solely as a body lotion.
If you're worried about what you're using on your body, you should also be worried about what you're using on your hair. Most shampoos don't have natural foaming agents, so I recommend trying the new haircare range Amara from Daniel Field or Liz Earle's Botanical hair range.
Q. Hi Alison, I have a friend who has just finished chemotherapy and is having a mastectomy in two weeks. She is not allowed to have a reconstruction straight away as the specialist said it would get in the way of radiotherapy. I believe that radiotherapy is like bad sunburn to your skin.
Can you please recommend products that I can buy for her to help reduce any pain or irritation she may experience after the radiotherapy? I look forward to hearing from you. Liz.
A. As the treated skin gets very dry and tends to crisp up during radiotherapy, I'd recommend L'Occitane Pure Shea Butter. It's pure and simple, but has an incredible moisturising and soothing quality - simply melt the cream in between you fingertips and smooth on the targeted areas in between treatments.
I'd also suggest the extra-rich formula of L'Occitane's Shea Butter Body Cream to smooth on to the whole of the body.
No sun exposure is allowed to the area (always my motto!) as any scarring will thicken and darken, but the more you keep the area moisturised the better the skin will heal.
Q: I'm on medication and have experienced some side affects. I was standing in the sunshine and now my neck has gone dry, red and sore. I put on skin cream with collagen and vitamin A but to no avail. Please help, Helli.
A: If you've experienced side effects from medication, then your first point of contact is your doctor. Secondly, sunscreen is not enough, you actually have to physically cover the area with a cotton cloth because you don't want any sun on it whatsoever.
If it's on the neck area I would suggest wearing a shirt or scarf, and if you are sunbathing (if the medication allows you to sunbathe) I'd recommend a wide brim hat and Ultrasun SPF 50, which is medically accepted and what doctors would recommend.
The most important think now is to get the skin calm by keeping it covered and maybe try cooling gels like SBC's Aftersun Aloe Vera Gel or the Ultrasun Aftersun Gel.
Elemis is simply a really enjoyable range to use. I get a lot of clients that have become despondent with skincare, or find certain brands are too heavy or oily, and I get them using Elemis.
Their products are really fresh and lightweight in texture and when I talk about the plant extract ingredients, you can actually smell them!
The Lime Blossom Cleanser and Lavender Toner for combination skins, which works particularly well on my skin, actually balances the skin while you're cleaning it. And that's what is so clever - when cleansing and toning your skin it gets to work straight away!
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.
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