Beauty Q & A with John Gustafson

Our make-up, skincare and beauty guru solves all your beauty dilemmas

Hi John,

I have always had and still have very, very dry hands. I'm only 35 but people tell me that my hands look like they belong to a 60 year old. Ouch! That really hurt. To make things worse, I work in the catering industry, which requires a lot of hand washing. I came across a hand care product by Mavala recently but was unable to sample them in the stores because they have limited stockists in the UK. I have already tried many hand creams in the market but none seem to work on my hands. So, I'm a bit apprehensive to order the Mavala product online. Have you tried their products before?

Thanks John and regards,
Ellice

Ellice,

Yes, I have used Mavala products, and yes, I would highly recommend them. Not as sure the hand cream is going to be as rich as you need though. If you visit their website at www.mavala.co.uk there is a stockist search. Enter your postcode and they will let you know where you could go in and try the products out yourself. I know you can get them at the Garden Pharmacy in Covent Garden if you are anywhere near there. You would also benefit immensely from a Talika product that is actually a pair of gloves lined in polymer gel. The gel is infused with ceramides and vitamins to heal extremely dry and chapped hands - a technology initially used to treat and heal burn victims. They feel strange to wear as they are squidgy and thick, but they seal to your skin and trick your skin into thinking they are the barrier. Once that happens, the skins own barrier drops and the healing ingredients flood into the skin. You can sleep in them and they can be used for many nights. Or you could wear them for half and hour a day. Their website is www.talika.co.uk for mail order and stockists. I myself love the Dr. Sebagh High Maintenance Hand Cream and the Tisserand Aromatherapy Hand Cream. The first is quite dear but leaves the hands completely greaseless so you can immediately work. The latter smells gorgeous and you can be very liberal. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula is another excellent product as it was designed to heal fisherman's hands that are exposed to extreme cold and wetness using the tiniest amount of product. Finally, Natura Bisse Hand Silk is a water-resistant hand cream that you can get through several washings with re-application. Again a little more expensive, but these are your hands and you are sensitive about them. Oh, and if you are ever really wanting to treat yourself (or have a birthday coming up or are travelling through a duty-free), Sisley Sisleya Global Anti-Ageing Hand Treatment is a stunner. Expensive, but for when you are not working and want to renew your hands...worth the £60-odd pound price tag. I know this was more information than you asked for, but I think these are all worth your looking into.

Warmest regards,
John

Hi John,

I enjoy sunny holidays but I am careful, sit in the shade, wear a hat and a high factor sunscreen on my body and even higher 45plus on my face, but when I get home I am amazed how tanned my face is which makes me look older. I spend the next few weeks repairing the damage. Is there a good sun block I can use for my face?

Pat

Pat,

The reality is that no matter what you do...you are going to get some colour. If you have the sort of skin that tans: you will come back with a darker colour. That may be because you DID get tanned and incurred some damage when you were young and the exposure brings it out (that is what happens to me), or that you simply have a good natural defence system. You are doing everything right and barring staying completely out of the sun or wearing a thick white zinc product; you are likely to always have this problem. I am going to name some of the really good high protection products for you, but don't get cross with me if you still come back with a little bit of colour! Shu Uemura XTR50, Clarins Ultra SPF40, Natura Bisse Very High Protection SPF50, Sisley Colourless Sunblock, and Sisley Sunleya (lower number but using a completely different method of protection that filters more UVA and adds anti-oxidant protection). Most importantly, apply an hour before exposure and apply it heavily. Don't blend them in so much as push them onto your face - all of the ones I mentioned are less likely to leave you looking like a Geisha. And re-apply as frequently as you can.

Have a great summer, John

Dear John

My 16-year-old son has some acne scarring, he has just completed a course of Roe Accutane, which has cleared, up his spots but he has some scarring on his cheeks. He is very pale with blond/brown hair and bright blue eyes. What concealer would you recommend that he use? It needs to come in a pale shade and blend well.
Many many thanks,

Rachel

Rachel,

I love you for writing this and helping your son to learn that it is ok for blokes to take pride in the way they look. For the best selection of shades for pale skin, go to the Becca counter. 34 shades that come in a small discreet compact the size of a 50 pence. Each compact is divided into two halves with varied coverage depending on what he actually needs. The consultants are makeup artists and will be happy to help him find the correct shade and will teach him how to use it. And PLEASE tell him that they do this all the time. There is no need to feel any embarrassment and nobody will even pay a smidge of attention to him sitting there. If he uses a little brush, he will have control over application and will only be covering the marks and not leave a great huge splodge! The other one I really like is the Estee Lauder Maximum Cover, which was originally a waterproof foundation. This is what I use myself. Very natural and being waterproof...it stays in place all day - even if he gets hot and/or does sport. Only a couple shades though. Armani has a really cool ultra precise concealer that is applied with the little stick that may appeal to him as well. Discreet and he could easily carry it in his pocket without anyone ever being any the wiser. Lastly is the Shu Uemura Spot Concealer. Good shade selection and it used to come with the little stick like the Armani, though it has now changed to a sponge wand and is not as easy to apply. If you don't have luck with these, please let me know and I will be more than happy to try to steer you toward a few more.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,

John

Published: 20 June 2008