Beauty Q & A with John Gustafson

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

Hi John,

I am 20 years old and suffer from terrible dark circles under my eyes. I eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and I'm healthy so I can't understand why they are so bad. I get around 8 hours of sleep a night but this doesn't seem to make a difference. I have tried many creams and potions but nothing seems to work. I am currently using benefit's Eyecon, which I've had for over 3months and it hasn't done a thing. I would be ever so grateful if you could let me know of any creams/make up I can use to combat these circles.

Many thanks,

Tamara

Tamara,

Welcome to the club. There are those of us that simply suffer from dark shadows no matter what we try. Usually, we have warmer skintones and the blueness is caused by pure colour theory. Our blood is blue until it gets oxygen from the lungs. But blue is one of the most dramatic contrast colours against the colour of our skins. Therefore, where the skin is especially thin around the eyes you see the contrast of the blood colour. Three hours of sleep or thirty - we are dark. And as you have found, not many eyecreams make even the slightest dent. One that I would wholeheartedly recommend to you is Strixaderm S.O.S. Strixaderm is produced by am American pharmaceutical company and the products are trialed and tested by the American Medical Association. This product was proven to reduce discolouration under the eye by 60% in only one month and puffiness by 40%. They have even published the photographs on both the packaging and at the counters. Another great thing about this eyecream is that you can apply it to the entire eye area. Right up under the lashes and over the entire eyelid - so you are treating the area that specifically concerns you. If this one doesn't make a visible difference you are most likely one of those people that a product will not affect...so you will have to learn to live comfortably with the darkness and learn to camouflage it well. I am in the same boat and have found that this is one of the very few products I can place my hand over my heart and say,"I see a difference". By the way, the price is fairly reasonable at £48 too...

All the best Tamara

John

 

Hi John

I love reading your Q&A and wait for it religiously every week. I also love your videos and there is one where you do the desktop to dance floor look in three minutes where you use an iridescent powder that you sprayed on the model's face. Please can you tell me where I can get that please?

Many thanks in advance and kind regards

Parvin

 

Parvin,

It is a fabulously wonderful product by Guerlain called Midnight Butterfly. It was a limited edition and sadly, I have to tell you that it is sold out. I made quite a few calls for you and was unable to locate a single one. If I were you, I would give Ebay a try. This sort of thing crops up on there all the time. There was a champagne coloured one last Christmas and the slightly lilac champagne one this year. I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you keep your eye on the Q&A for the next couple of weeks and/or drop me an email at handbag.com, I MAY have an idea that could possibly procure one.

Fingers crossed,

John

 

Dear John

I'm 22 and have always had bad skin, even though as I've gotten older it's better, I still have blackheads and it's still uneven. I can only use rose water toner because even water itself is too drying on my face yet it get shiny on my T-zone, and even thought I moisturise/cleanse and exfoliate (but don't overdo it!) I'm still plagued with lumpy bumpy skin. I watch my diet, and am careful to drink enough water. I'll even cut down caffeine and switch to green tea if I've been having too much. I've been told it's a hormonal imbalance based on where I get most of my spots (my forehead and around my jaw line/mouth) and there's nothing I can do. I work hard to get decent skin - and I'm finally fed up - do you think it's worth going to see a dermatologist?

Charlotte

 

Charlotte,

100% yes. Completely worth it. If it is hormonal, there are many things that can be done to put that imbalance right. It could be the best investment you have ever made. I would also consider a cleansing product like Eve Lom. That cleanses the skin without any stripping agents and helps to unblock and decongest the skin. That followed by a moisturiser like the Karin Herzog Vita-A-Kombi or Natura Bisse Oxygen Cream can work wonders at minimising even cystic breakout. But the answer to your question is yes yes yes!

Good luck mate,

John

 

 

 

Got a beauty question? ASK JOHN

Do you have a hair dilemma you want to put to the experts? Then email us at hair@ukhandbag.com or click HERE to send us your hair questions

 

Please note, John's answers will be published on the site weekly as he cannot reply to emails personally.

Share this Print this