Question I’m attending a black tie function and I’m after a simple plain black clutch bag. I’ll be wearing a floor length black satin dress. Kim, via e-mail. Answer Try the following bag companies. You can call them to find out your closest stockist. Olga Berg, Ph: 03 9419 6711 Reidels, Ph: 03 9383 6644 […]

Question I am 14 and I really want to decorate my room. The only thing I don’t know what to do with is my wardrobe. Should I organise it in sections, colours or what goes with what? Jess, via e-mail. Answer We suggest breaking it up into sections. Try these sections which you can then […]

Question I’m starting to get crow’s-feet. I know there are lots of great creams on the market, but why do we get wrinkles and how else can I avoid them besides using these creams? Ingrid, Caloundra, Qld. Answer Tom Mammone, director of Clinique Biological Research and Development, says, “Sunlight causes approximately 90 percent of what […]

Question My nails have become weak and flaky. I have recently started swimming and was wondering if it’s related to chlorine or other chemicals in the pool? Is there any way I can protect my nails so they will once again grow long and strong? Jacci, via email. Answer Nails are normally highly flexible and […]

Question How can I get rid of blackheads and stop my pores filling up with what causes them to form? Jane Markby, Glen Waverley, VIC. Answer “Blackheads are composed mainly of a mixture of sebum [the skin’s natural oil] and dead skin cells, which have oxidised at the surface of a follicle,” Emma Hobson, from […]

Question Is there a way to reduce cellulite? Shona Jackson, via email. Answer Dreaded cellulite can be made to appear less obvious in just a few weeks. It’s all to do with circulation. Cellulite consists of toxins and lymph fluid that have become trapped in the skin’s support tissue because of poor circulation. In its […]

Question What’s the best way to apply a fake tan? Liz Johns, via email. Answer Unless you’re a professional, you are bound to end up with a streak here and there, or patchy spots on your elbows and knees. “It pays to have a professional spray tan,” advises Martina Parker, from the Sydney-based mobile tanning […]

Question During summer, my skin seems to be a lot oilier. Is there anything I can do to counteract this? Lou Hampton, via email. Answer Some skin types may seem oilier in summer, but it may be that you are perspiring more, which can make oily-skin problems seem worse. Be careful not to over-cleanse in […]

Question I’ve been suffering from a few breakouts during the summer holidays and am not sure why. Is it something to do with the weather do you think? Sandra Aventis, via email. Answer “Take a look at your sunblock,” says Dr Tom Mammone, Clinique’s director of biological research and development. “There are two types of […]

Question I have terrible psoriasis and I’m dreading baring my skin with summer approaching. What’s the latest treatment? W. Harris, Surry Hills, NSW. Answer Dermatologist Dr Jo-Ann See explains that psoriasis is a skin condition partly caused by overactive T-cells in the immune system triggering an inflammatory reaction in the skin. This causes skin cells […]