Beauty Q & A with John Gustafson

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

Dear John,

I am very tempted to buy one of the lovely shimmery face powders on the market at the moment. I am very fair skinned and have never got on with bronzers; especially the matte ones that just make me look a bit grubby! But the pale pink/peachy face powders look great. Only problem is I am in my early 40s and was a bit concerned about the shimmer drawing attention to the lines near my eyes. Do you think I should avoid them altogether?

Many thanks,
Susan

Susan,

Absolutely not! Enjoy them. All I would warn is that you not get too carried away. Brush them lightly over your cheekbones, brow bone, and then ever so slightly on the rest of the skin. Most of all...avoid you eye area completely. Highlight is what you are looking for - not caught in the headlights!

Go on...you know you want too,
John

Hello John

I'm going on holiday and will spend a lot of time splashing in the water. Can you recommend a good waterproof eyeliner that will stay put? I also have a problem with sunscreens causing my skin to break out. Do you know any good oil free sunscreens for the face and sensitive skins?
Kind regards

Anna

Anna,

First the sunscreen. Becca has just brought out a mineral primer that can also be used as a beach sunscreen. It is an excellent product that is oil-free, chemical free, waterproof, effective immediately, and can be used as a matte makeup base when you want. It is called Mineral Primer SPF30 and should be just the ticket for you. As for waterproof liner, in pencils I really like Clarins, Lancôme, and Chanel. Great colours and all really easy to use. But very waterproof so make sure you have a good remover as well! The Bobbi Brown Gel Liners are another lasting product but you would have to make sure you get on with them as well as you do a pencil. If the holiday is imminent...opt for familiarity. Have a great time and send me a postcard...

John

Hi John

Hope your well. I am getting married abroad next year around Feb/March time.
Could you recommend a good foundation, which will stay matt and give good coverage for the better part of the day - especially in hot weather! I have combination/oily skin. Also this may sound silly, but should I apply mascara to fake eye lashes on my big day?
Hope to hear from you soon

Take Care xx

Hello Bride-let,

Congratulations! Are you getting married abroad to escape a big family wedding or because you wanted something more memorable and romantic? LOL Whatever the reason, have a look at Lauder Doublewear or Doublewear Light, Clinique Superfit, Chanel Matte Lumiere, L'Oreal Colour Endure, or Revlon Colourstay. That should give you quite a good range of both colours and prices. And the lash question is not silly at all. What I normally do is start by applying a mascara to the natural lashes and then curl them with a heated lash curler. Then apply your falsies. Now use your judgement. Sometimes using a little bit of mascara will help to blend you natural lashes with the false ones - especially if you are only using lash segments. Often I only do that at the seam between real and fake. The problem with using mascara on false lashes is that it reduces your chances of being able to re-use them. Removing mascara from false lashes without making them look raggedy is difficult. But decide on the day. If it is going to really hot or you are using the false ones to minimise the amount you will be wearing? Skip it. If you are using them to look glamorous and gorgeous? Have the lot!

All the best from all of us at handbag,
John

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