Question: I have a very pale face with a few freckles and have trouble finding eyeshadow and lipstick colours that look good and don’t make me look sick or paler. Can you suggest colours that will look good and are in fashion? Janelle Answer: You would probably look great with soft browns and apricot shades. […]

Question: I can never find an all-day lip gloss or lipstick. It either always rubs off or just somehow comes off. Please help, it’s really annoying! Taylah Answer: Max Factor and Rimmel have just released their latest smudge-proof lippies and glosses. They are available at your local supermarket.

Frost-free climates Plants for beauty: Seeds or seedlings of ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, carnations, celosia, coleus, cosmos, dichondra, echinops, erigeron, gaillardia, gazania, gloxinia, gourds, hymenosporum, impatiens, nasturtiums, phlox, salvia. Very hot and dry gardens: move a shade cloth to cover veggie and flower gardens now to shelter them from the worst of the heat, pull out […]

Question Is there really an effective treatment for cellulite? Karen, via email Answer According to Howard Murad of UCLA (university of California Los Angeles) the answer is yes. “Cellulite is fat in the skin. No amount of exercising or liposuction will correct cellulite. It needs to be treated by repairing the damaged cell membranes and […]

Question I’m in my 40s and my skin is quite sun-damaged, with bad sun spots and pigmentation. What’s the most effective treatment? Erin, via email Answer Pigmentation and sun damage are closely related, but the good news is that both conditions can be reversed. Kaye Scott, director of The Clinic, in Sydney, says, “Intense pulsed […]

Question The skin on my neck is getting crepey and is not as firm as it used to be. Is there anything I can do to tone it up? Anne via email Answer Oil glands are scarce around the neck area, so the skin is very fragile and, according to Judith Korner of Madame Korner […]

Question: I’m thinking of getting microdermabrasion as I have a few minor acne scars. However, I’m under 21 and my skin is fairly sensitive. Is microdermabrasion recommended for any age? Kathryn Answer: Microdermabrasion is quite safe as long a qualified technician performs the treatment. I can highly recommend a clinic in Bondi Junction, NSW. Phone: […]

Hanging baskets are a cheat’s way to get early flowers. Baskets heat up faster than soil in the ground and you can hang them over nice hot paving, beside brick walls or on warm patios too. In fact you can REALLY cheat and buy your flowers already blooming – just bung them in the basket […]

Chokoes are a no-fail veg. Starve them, forget them, and they’ll still give you an autumn filled with so much fruit you’ll be pestering the neighbors to take some and looking up recipes for choko chutney, choko pie, choko and ginger jam (which isn’t bad, actually). My favourite way of eating chokoes depends on growing […]

Question I can never find a pair of jeans that really flatter my figure. I am not overweight, but in many jeans, my bottom looks too big. To compensate, I wear long, flowy tops to hide my bottom. I have lots of pretty, shorter tops that I love and I want to wear them with […]