Alison Young answers your beauty questions

Is your hair limp, your skin a little dull, or perhaps you're just looking for the right make-up shade? Alison Young, our industry expert, is here to answer your beauty questions. This is her latest advice...

Im 27 and I suffer from breakouts of blackheads. I would say that my skin type is dry to sensitive. What products would you recommend? (From Joanne Patterson)

I'm worried that you may have over-stripped or over-dried your skin with potent or dramatic action products. They give short term results but spotty skin will always come back if you're over harsh to it. Decleor products are perfect for you. There's the Decleor Oily/ Combination Cleansing collection, which is a face wash cleanser and toner, and then the Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang face oil . You could use this Ylang Ylang face oil with the Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution cream. This routine will give you hydration as well as help to control your breakouts. Don't use too many masks or exfoliants on your skin, just let it balance for a while. But if you want to use one, I recommend the Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask once every ten days; it can be put directly onto spots overnight.

I'm 34 and am struggling with my skincare regime. I have very oily skin and find that most moisturisers are too rich, especially the anti-ageing ones. Can you recommend a good moisturiser for me? I also have quite large pores that get blocked up easily. Can you recommend a cleanser that is great at unblocking pores without being too abrasive? Helen

You want the Clientele Elastology Gentle Soy Antioxidant Wash that comes with a sponge for gentle exfoliation. The good news is that the oil is keeping wrinkles at bay. You may be using anti-aging products and finding that they make your skin oilier, don't turn your back on them completely you just may not need them for another few years. If your skin is still oily at 34, it's actually acting more like that of a 24 year old! Also the Clientele Elastology day cream SPF 25 is great and also oil-free. Use that as a simple system and concentrate on the Clientele Elastology collection. You can also add the Clientele Elastology Lotus Firming serum which is an oil-free anti aging product.

I have lots of scarring around the mouth and chin area where I've had spots, I've tried Liz Earle and am now using Alpha H, I also have open pores the alpha h doesnt seem to be working,please advise, I am 38 yrs. (From Jeanie)

The most important thing is not what you are using for the scarring, but that you are using a cleanse-tone-moisturise routine. Ensure specific products for scarring are used with a skincare routine and not instead of it because then your skin will be imbalanced and you won't get a result. So wipe over with the Alpha-H Liquid Gold three times a week only and don't use more frequently than that. You should see a result within 30 days but it won't be the final result, just a softening and lightening of the look of the scar. Results on scarring take at least six months. You could also add the Decleor Prolagene Energising gel. You can use that morning and night. Use a high SPF factor too as if you get sun on those scars this year, they will darken and thicken.

Please can someone help me? It is a simple question but I can't find an answer anywhere! I want to try the Decleor Vitaroma Eye cream but is it only to be used under the eyes? So many eye products say "apply around eye contour area" but I don't know where this is. I want a cream that will cover my whole eyelid as well as the surrounding area and help with the first signs of aging. I already have elemis eye serum (From Caroline)

Some brands will say to only apply around the eye contour area. This means you should apply it to the bone around your eye socket, not into the hollow where you can feel the soft fleshy bit. However there are brands that are happy to say their formulations can go up to the eye area and onto the lid. You could try the Decleor Excellence De L'Age eye cream, which can be used on the crepiness on the lid area and up to the lashes too. It has more of a firming quality and you can use that on top of your Elemis eye serum, which works more as a decongestant so you won't be doubling up on ingredients. There's also the Gale Hayman Youth Lift Gravity Defying eye cream which works both as an eye cream and an eye mask, on the lid area and up to the lashes.

I am getting married in August and wearing a backless dress, however my back is spotty and scarred, can you suggest anything to get rid of the spots and the scars. (From Andrea Jones)

On the back area, the easiest thing to use is the ABC Skinwash - use in the shower, because the foam will go down over the back area. Then you can use the Alpha-H Liquid Gold - get a friend or partner to wipe this over your back just three times a week. To improve the look of it you should also use a moisturiser - simply wipe the Decleor Prolagene Energising gel daily onto the back area. Self tan will help to hide it too. If in doubt, body make-up will also help to hide it - Covermark is a great brand for this and would be good to use on the day. Also with a backless dress, if you need to put self tan or body make-up on for the day, then any form of body shimmer added on to the area will detract from the scarring.

I am in my mid 50s and have lost just over 4 stones in weight.
That's good, but the downside is that my skin has really suffered, especially my thighs and arms. I've traded dimples for crinkles! Unless I wear long or three-quarter length sleeved tops this summer, my creased arms will be on display.
Can you recommend a good body cream to help minimise the appearance of my poor skin. (From M. Jones)

Fantastic to lose the weight - well done! Your age bracket does mean, however, that the skin has been stretched after hormonal changes and now hasn't gone back into its relaxed state. This may never happen but to make you feel more confident about it, putting the Clientele Estro-Lift Body Skin Therapy on twice a day will help. Using a Decleor body oil underneath this will also really help.

I use Gale Hayman Collagen Lip Lift and SBC Collagen gel, could you tell me where exactly the collagen comes from? (From Mrs Hussain)

You can't put collagen back into a cell. What you can do is put it in the layer between the cells and then plump it up. A cell goes down with the aging process and deteriorates with sun damage, smoking, ill health and weight gain - it stretches and relaxes. So although you can't penetrate the cell that makes collagen, putting the collagen ingredient into a product gives a temporary plumping effect to the look of the skin. If you keep using these products then you'll keep that plumped-up look. If you're young or have firm skin then you don't need to use them.

SBC replies: we use 'pseudo collagen' which is a yeast collagen obtained from plants.
Gale Hayman replies: our collagen is marine based usually either seaweed or algae.

If you've got a question for Alison, or want to share your own advice, then post a comment.

Are you having trouble working out when to use your Alpha-H products? Here is a good routine for using the Age Delay Collection.



Night time routine:

Three consecutive nights:
Balancing Cleanser
Liquid Gold/White Gold
No night cream

The other four nights:
Balancing Cleanser
Alpha A 0.5% Serum
Age Delay

Morning routine:
Balancing Cleanser
Liquid Harmony/White Gold

Please help my skin is crepey, could you recommend a good body lotion or other remedy. (From Gay)

Crepey skin on the body is due to skin aging, dryness, sun damage, weight fluctuation or a combination of any of those. You want a body lotion that contains not just moisturising properties but firming properties as well. Decleor Systems Corps Moisturising body milk is a good one to use. That is our longest standing firming body lotion that will suit all ages and is easy to apply in a pump-action dispenser. However if you are over the age of 40 or 50, then the most potent product would be the Gatineau Melatogenine Firming body cream. You could do a six week course of just using that body cream now and then go back to a normal body lotion. Or just use this product on the crepey areas and use a normal body lotion on the other areas to economise. If it is very bad on areas such as your decollette, neck and bust area because of the aging process then you need to add a firming serum into that. For over 50s, you could go for the Clientele Estro-Lift serum, if you're under 50 then the Decleor Prolagene Energising gel would be better to use under those formulations on key areas.

Alison x

Unfortunately, due to the volume of beauty questions that Alison receives, not all queries can be answered.

Look out for your question or another like it in next month's Alison Young Q & A.

Got the solution to someone else's beauty question? Comment with your answer.

Comments

[Beverley]

Hi Alison

I have been in contact with Ultrasun as I was concerned about using a chemical sunscreen (had hoped Ultrasun would not be a chemical one) they do have one which isn't chemical and suitable for sensitive skin but QVC never advise on this one. I have read so much about how chemical sunscreens work which is why I am concerned although I know the importance of sunscreen.
Their new face suncream is chemical based to (had hope this wouldn't be) I use Liz Earle factor 25 and don't have a problem with the colour (I think I am so pale anyway)
I am not out I the sun for very long - shortest possible time if any and always covered up.
Is factor 25 enough or can you recommend a non chemical sunscreen with a higher factor specifically for very senstive skin?

I bought Ultrasun 28 last year for my father although it arrived too late but now after asking Ultrasun I know for sure it is a chemical based screen :(

[Linda from Banbury]

Alison,
Do you have any tips for varicous veins.
Much appreciated,
Linda.

[Majella.]

Having watched and ordered the TSV, programme on OJON last night can you tell me if they do a product similar to DeCesare Liquifix? we want to use foam twist curlers to give my daughter curls/ringlets for a wedding. Can whatever you suggest be done the night before? thank you Alison for your great knowledge,tips and products that you get QVC to stock, Majella.

[carole woodward]

Hi Alison,
I have very dark circles under my eyes, I have tried endless concealers but none seem to work, all I seem t do is waste money. They are so bad they look more like bruises. After I have finished applying my makeup for the day I dread looking in a larger mirror and seeing my eyes. Can you help?

[tina sach]

i have spotty face and freckles what shali use

[phillippa]

im in my 20's and i have been using Liz Earle for 1 month now and have seen a difference but im still getting breakouts on my forehead. Is there anything else i can use???

[Lee Phillips]

I have excema and extremely dry scaly skin on my body and my hands look like they belong to an elderly woman!!i've tried so many body creams,butters and oils but nothing gives lasting hydration. I'm using Liz Earles range on my face,which is fantastic but i am 35 and starting to get premature ageing lines around and under my eyes,can you recommend a solution to these problems. I also love Mojave Magic tinted moisturiser but can no longer find it on Qvc-has it been discontinued? If so where else can I get it or can you recommend a very similar product?

[Donna Cooper]

Hi,
I am 50 with quite good skin. But last year delevoped a mild case of acne roseaca. The redness is very mild and does not burn or itch, but I get the imflamed spots very quickly if I use a product my skin does not like. My skin is normal and not dry.

Which range would you suggest?

[Shahida Stoute]

Hi Alison

I have a question for you, especially since you have so much experience within the beauty trade.
My daughter is 22 years old, who waxes her face frequently and after this spots start to appear on her face. She does have sensitive skin and I was wondering if there are products out there to avoid or reduce this from happening?

If you could kindly email me a response I would be much obliged.

Thanks

Kind regards

Shahida

[Melanie]

Is there anything you can suggest to help age spots on my hands. The rest of me looks quite youthful, but my hands look old. Im 53. thank you

[Rachel]

I have melasma on my face and it is worsened by being outdoors on even a mildly sunny day. I rarely sunbathe and when I do, I wear a SPF30. I want an SPF that I can use everyday as I find the "sunbathing" SPF face creams to be really heavy and greasy. Any suggestions?

[Maariyah]

Hi Alison,

If I wash my face with the Elemis Tri-enzyme facial wash, can I or do I have to then use an exfoliator?

Thanks

[Maria]

Hi Alison, I am 37 and most of my life suffered from oily/spotty skin, but all of a sudden it went tight, dry and flaky in parts. I wash my face only with water as the facial wash often leaves my skin feeling tight. I moisture morning and night with a well known brand, and this seems to be working to calm things down. However my problem is my skin still looks dull, I try to liven it up with Laura Geller Makeup which is fine in the mornings but by lunchtime looks dull again as if the make up has either slipped off or fallen off. Is there something else I should be trying, as a base for the make up or stop the make up altogether.

[Pauline Dainty]

I would like to ask Alison Young if she could recommend a shampoo and conditioner. My hair is greying and very spiky and fly away (I am 54 years old). I have tried Aveda Blue malva in the past but not really noticed much improvement.

Thank you.

Pauline

[Liz Clarke]

I have recently purchased Fran Wilsons Luxury Lip Glosses and absolutely love the Extravagance colour. Can I get this colour in a lipstick?

[lisa]

Hello Alison
I have just received my declor TSV and look forward to using it to sort out some problem areas.
I have also just discovered that I am 6 weeks pregnant. Will it be ok to use aromotherapy products in the early stages?

[risa friday]

hi alison
i do admire you as you are never stuck on anything that is put to you.
i have recently had a brain turmour removed and my eye has been closed for a month and is now opening slowly i was wondering if there is anything that i can put on it to bring my beautiful self back again.
many thanks
r friday
ps which footballer are you married to as my 15 son wants to know

[annette martin]

I am currently on chemotherapthy and this has left me with awful skin, dry, with sores and lumpy skin around nose and mouth especially. Over the years I have tried Liz Earle, Clientele, Ojon, Lulu timebomb, and now Decleor (usually tsv's), nothing seems to work, any suggestions please, also very thin hair with these drugs, but in past have been completely bald on two seperate occasions, i use ojon, but any other products to thicken and make it grow, many thanks

[P Harrison]

Help!!!! My 7 year old has beautiful long blonde hair BUT every morning she wakes up with a giant rat's nest all over. I have tried every product/detangler under the sun with NO success. I hate putting her through brushing every morning...tears the whole time.Can you please recommend something that really works!!!! Would be grateful for any advice. Thank you.

[Christina Nicolaides]

Hi Ali,

Can we have the Clientele Age Blocker in a super size please?!

I have the super size in the night firming cream but need my age blocker with the spf 25 in as big a size as possible. My skin loves it and I know I am protected in the sun.

Fingers crossed!!!

[tracy]

Hi Alison - i have acne prone skin, with acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation. What do you suggest?