In our new monthly page we will give you the opportunity to ask your beauty questions to an industry expert. This month we have skin care supremo Warren Wallo director of scientific affairs for Johnson & Johnson. Warren specialises in dry skin, problem skin and eczema and has answered your questions. Read his expert advice below.

Hello Warren,
I would really like some advice about which products to use on a trip to Tanzania in April. I am unsure what to use in-flight and when I arrive. I am 20-years-old with oily and congested skin particularly around the nose and cheeks. I have used Dermalogica's Special Cleansing Gel for a long time but have recently swapped it for Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish cleanser. I am using this with the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, a toner, moisturiser and eye cream. I will be staying in the country for three months which covers the rainy season, in-land and by the coast. Do you have any ideas on which products will look after my skin on this trip and keep my baggage to a minimum? Thank you for taking the time to read this, Jo

Hi Jo,
I'm really glad when I hear from a reader like you who is very informed on skin care and is committed to their daily regime. You have tried different products and found choices that work great for your skin.

When I go travelling I'm often concerned about the dryness of re-circulated air and other passenger's germs in the plane cabin. During a trip, I like to wear a long-lasting moisturiser that guarantees 24-hour moisturisation and I make sure to use it on both my face and hands. While a foaming cleanser gives that great clean feeling, I prefer a cream cleanser after landing to ensure that I am not stripping my skin of essential nutrients, especially after being exposed to cabin air for so long.

The changing climate in Tanzania during your stay may lead you to use slightly different products at different times. During part of your trip, the humid coastal air will make you desire that clean feeling that only a foaming cleanser can provide, especially on your oily skin areas. Whatever the weather, I suggest using a broad-spectrum, photostable sunscreen on your face, neck and any other exposed skin every day. Try the PIZ BUIN® Allergy range which has been specially formulated for sun sensitive skin - particularly people with fair skin that are prone to the effects of the sun - and is dermatologically tested. It now combines enhanced UVA and UVB sun filters with Calmanelle^TM, a unique shield complex proven to help strengthen skin's tolerance to the sun, so even delicate skin can enjoy the sun. The range has also been extended to include sprays, face creams and an after-sun product as well as lotions.

You should also bring two great cleansers - a foaming gel for effective oil removal and a cream cleanser for gentle make-up removal. Try the Neutrogena® Deep Clean Invigorating Scrub, £3.49, which cleanses deep into pores and leaves skin feeling refreshed and invigorated. Energising microbeads gently exfoliate while the fresh gel formula lathers into a bubbly foam giving a cool feeling as it effortlessly dissolves dirt, oil and make-up. Remember to moisturise after cleansing too, try the Johnson's®24-hour day cream available for normal and combination and dry and sensitive skin.

Pack a great sunscreen, after-sun and include a therapeutic cream for itching or insect bites - try Aveeno® Skin Relief Cream which helps itchy and sensitive skin - because you can't escape little issues but you can be well-prepared.
Bon Voyage!

Hi Warren,
I have sensitive/combination skin that really suffers in the winter. I get small dry patches on my cheeks which I think are eczema. Moisturiser applied to the area does nothing - is there anything I can use to soothe these isolated patches and get rid of them once and for all? Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks.

We have seen nice improvements with oatmeal-based creams for these types of dry patches. Colloidal oatmeal contains many components with different skin benefits, plus it is a very mild and gentle ingredient. Through our research for the AVEENO® brand, we have been able to apply 21st century science to the understanding of historically popular ingredients like oatmeal and now understand the role of many of the different individual components. By protecting the skin and enhancing the repair of the moisture barrier, these oatmeal-based creams can greatly reduce skin discomfort and improve the appearance of skin. With regular use, it's possible to prevent dry skin patches before they even appear. The Aveeno® Cream is formulated with colloidal oatmeal to actively moisturise dry and sensitive skin. It's especially suited to smaller, more extreme dry areas such as elbows, knees and heels. The latest to the Aveeno® range is the Moisturising Creamy Oil which replenishes moisture lost from your skin to leave it looking and feeling smooth and healthy.

Hi Warren,
I have acne-prone sensitive skin. I have tried everything from Philosophy to Clearasil, and nothing has worked. I have a special event in a couple of months and I was wondering which products you could suggest. I usually cleanse with a face wipe, and then use a face wash/scrub every morning and evening. I have heard really good reviews on Mario Badescu and I was wondering whether his products are worth investing in. Any cleansers I could buy at Boots or online for my skin type would be brilliant. Thanks.

I believe that a daily three-product system used regularly is the best way to help manage acne. First, it is very important to cleanse your face twice a day, morning and evening to help remove excess oil. Try the Neutrogena® Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash that contains salicylic acid to help prevent breakouts. Don't scrub your skin too hard as too much scrubbing can further exacerbate your acne. Oil-absorbing sheets are also great for a touch-up at lunchtime and as needed throughout the day to remove oil without ruining your make-up.

Use a full-face treatment every morning and evening. Pick a form that you love, whether it be a gel, a lotion or a cream. It's also great to have an intensive spot treatment like the Neutrogena® Visibly Clear Rapid Clear Treatment, £4.49, which you can use to help on the problem areas and any spots that somehow sneak through your defences.

It's so easy to stop using treatment products when the acne goes away, but then it just comes back again and it can be just so frustrating. So make sure that you choose products that you like using every day. The new Clean & Clear® advantage spot control kit is an easy way to introduce a three-step routine to keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful by using a unique combination of different spot-fighting technologies that help fight the multiple causes of spots.

Hi Warren,
I used to suffer from acne and while I have been lucky that I haven't really been left with too many marks, I do have some red scarring on my cheeks and chin that make-up doesn't cover. I feel quite self-conscious about it and was wondering if you could recommend a treatment or product that might help get rid of these, or which ingredients I should look out for to help with acne scarring? Thanks, Jane.

Hi Jane,
There is a lot of research being done in this area of skin care. Each year, new ingredients are introduced and new products are developed that claim to provide improvements to new or existing acne scars. One popular product is based on an onion extract ingredient and is available as a cream or gel. Clinical testing on the gel was published by Dr. Zoe Draelos in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in June 2008. The article was entitled ‘The ability of onion extract gel to improve the cosmetic appearance of postsurgical scars'. At the same time, dermatologists offer exciting new treatments such as fractional laser therapy that hold promise for delivering dramatic improvements in the future.

Hey there,
I'm not sure if this is something you can help me with but I have really dark circles under my eyes. I have always been so self-conscious that I have been using an under-eye cream since I was 14 years old but nothing seems to work other than a great night's sleep which I rarely get. Why do I have this problem, is it just hereditary? And is there something that might help? I'm willing to do anything!

Hi,
You are not alone. Issues in the eye area are a source of major concern by most consumers seeking new skin care products. Researchers in dermatology have been investigating and identifying the causes of dark circles and under-eye puffiness for years. Multiple pathways have been identified, including melanin pigment (brownish circles), blood-pooling (bluish circles) and fluid retention (generalised puffiness). I am encouraged by the numerous botanical ingredients that have been reported to provide skin care benefits in the eye area by evening skin tone, calming irritation and encouraging microcirculation. Another important component in an outstanding eye product is the presence of skin brighteners that can diffuse light and provide some valuable instant help. Try RoC® Multi-Correxion Anti-Age Eye Cream, which contains a new silk pearl technology for a bright eyed look, as well as saccharomyces cerevisiae to help decrease the appearance of dark circles.

Hi Warren,
Please could you tell me if there is anything topical that will help reduce scarring from spots - the kind that leaves changes in pigment - red/brown and sometimes white patches where the spot has been. This scarring has faded with time (years) but is still there. I exfoliate and moisturise and use rose hip oil, which I think may have helped a bit and certainly seems to improve skin texture but it's not really helping overall. I would appreciate some sound scientific advice that you, if anyone will be able to provide on what this is and how to treat it. Thank you.

Hi,
You can be encouraged, because a lot of progress has been made in developing cosmetic products that can reduce the appearance of skin discolorations and help even out skin tone. One ingredient that has been studied extensively is topical vitamin A, which is often called retinol. Many studies have proven retinol's effectiveness at visibly reducing skin discolorations and evening skin tone. Try the RoC® Retin-Ox^TM Wrinkle Correxion range, which combines three A-list anti-ageing ingredients: pure retinol, hyaluronic acid and biopeptide.
Another ingredient that has been known for centuries and now has been clinically proven to improve skin tone and texture is soy. You can develop a great regime of products for reducing skin discolorations and improving overall skin tone by using a daily moisturiser with soy and SPF in the morning and a rich moisturising cream with retinol in the evening. Remember that sun exposure can lead to hyperpigmentation so protect your skin with a photostable sunscreen every day to help reduce the appearance of uneven pigmentation on your face. Try RoC® Minesol Anti-Brown Spot Care SPF 50+, which provides highly-effective UVA and UVB protection, while helping to fight against the appearance of brown spots on the face.

About Warren:
Warren currently works in skin care research at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies in America where he is director of scientific affairs for beauty. He is also the director of the Active Naturals® Research Institute^TM and has published and presented widely on the skin care benefits of natural ingredients. He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and a leading author on numerous AAD scientific papers in areas of anti-ageing, acne, eczema and dry skin. In short, Warren knows a thing or two about skin care!

See more expert beauty advice here.

John Gustafson answers your beauty and make-up questions every week. Read more here.