Dear John,
I have been wearing the same perfume for years and am looking for a change. I like fragrances with rose in them, but without smelling like an old lady. I am in my early 30's and work in an office and don't want something too over-powering, but I like to smell what I have on. The other problem I have is that a lot of the newer chemical fragrances can give me a headache. Can you give me any suggestions so I can test them out and see if maybe I can have a bit of a change?
Thank you,
Lillian
Lillian,
This is going to be tricky, but I should be able to give you a handful of really stunning scents to go and try. I wish you had mentioned what fragrance it is that you have been wearing because that gives a good starting place for knowing the strength and family of scent that you like...but I will give you different levels of rose and tell you a bit about each. My own personal favourite is Serge Lutens Sa Majeste La Rose. It is a pure, single note rose fragrance that smells like the sun has just hit your garden on a warm summer morning. It is delicate yet unmistakably rose. I love to layer another called A La Nuit, by the same perfumer, over it in the evening. That one is another single note fragrance of night blooming jasmine harvested at night. The two together are like a balmy summer evening in a secret hidden garden. A more contemporary version is Paul Smith Rose. It has three layers of rose with a peppery one in the middle. This is a much younger fragrance and a beautiful interpretation of rose. If you want to go a bit heavier, but still young and modern, smell Hermes Kelly Caleche. Kelly Caleche is a gathering of flowers - rose included - with an underlay of leather. That would make it a nice choice for the office as men won't think the scent too frivolous because of the deeper leather, yet it is pretty and feminine at the same time. And should you want something much more traditional and that simply smells of money, go and sniff Ombre Rose by Ombre Rose or the infamous Fracas by Robert Piguet. You will be able to imagine a wealthy older woman with a perfect manicure, a fur wrap, and a fag hanging from her red rouged lips. You will know exactly what I mean when you smell it! The only one of these that is a little bit harder to find is Fracas, but all should be able to be located in a larger perfumery or department store. Do try them all on your skin and leave them to open up and dry down. And don't smell them all at once - three is the limit. After that, you will get confused. Try to get a sample to take home if you can so you can make sure you love it and it won't make your head throb in an hour.
Have a fun journey...
John
John,
I have used Eve Lom Cleanser for years. And though there is always a slightly different texture to them, my most recent one feels like it has rock salt in it. I took it back and the consultant told me there was nothing wrong with it and it is perfectly normal since it is hand-made. But I absolutely hate it! It scratches and the bits fall all over the sink and my clothes. Should I persevere or is there something wrong with my cleanser? I can't really afford this but it has always been my one luxury skincare product.
Please can you let me know?
Veronica
Veronica,
You are not wrong at all. There HAVE always been slight differences in the cleanser, but I have had several clients recently saying the same thing. And then, when I had a tester replaced a few weeks back, mine had the exact same problem as yours. I find it really difficult to use on clients, as it drops chunks all over the place. You CAN get around it by wetting your hands a little bit and then breaking it down before putting it on your face. They will melt with the water - but for that price - I don't think you should have to compensate for the product. I took it to the counter and they happily gave me another one...and it was fine. I think you just talked to the wrong person. Go back in and explain that you have used it for ages and realize there will be differences, but that this one is too abrasive for your skin. They should replace it. But before you take it from the store, ask them to open the jar up for you and you can see if it is really crystallized with your naked eye. I am sure they will want to keep a loyal customer. If you have no luck, please write me again and I will take it to the press office on your behalf. They are really helpful and I do think there was just a batch that ended up particularly grainy.
Now will you please let me know?
John
Dear John,
I'm going on holiday soon and wanted to ask you a question about SPF protection. I usually use a regular sun cream like Nivea but often find that on my face it is quite greasy and I break out in spots. Is there a sun cream I can use that won't have this effect? I've also heard that you can buy an SPF powder that is good for the face too. Can you name the brand that does this, where you can buy it and how it works?
Thanks so much
Hello,
The mineral powder SPF may be an option for you and the one that seems to be on most people's minds when they are talking about them is the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF30 (order via the Internet). You apply it pretty much the same way as you would a loose powder - though this comes in a cylindrical applicator with the brush and cartridge attached so it is a little less messy than some. Chantecaille is just about to launch one with an SPF50 that is more like a neutral finishing powder and it also is in a ready to use tube with a brush on the end. It will be a little more expensive at about £48, but the texture and quality are excellent and the colour truly doesn't show on the skin. Many of the others are mineral powder foundations and the screen can go from fairly low to about an SPF20. The advantage is that you would have a bit of coverage as well. The disadvantages are that reapplication is a nightmare. There are so many gorgeous newer SPF for the face that don't need constant reapplication and don't give you nearly the same difficulties with breakout or shine. If you can bend the bank account, I really like Institut Esthederm. They are the biggest on the continent and work quite differently. They base the protection on how easily you tan/burn, and how intense the sun you are going to be exposed to will be. There are no SPF's. If you tan easily and are going to be in the UK, you would use Adapt-a-Sun Normal Skin/ Normal Exposure. But if you burn, you could go to Sensitive Skin/ Intense Sun. It is really easy once to put what you think you know to the side. They really protect you and allow the safest tan - remembering that NO TAN IS SAFE! Another option would be to stay with a less expensive product on your body, but take your face product from a range like Clarins Face SPF30, Lancôme Genifique Face SPF15 or SPF30, Shiseido Facial SPF30 or SPF50; ...the list goes on and on. Economise on your body and reapply often. Spare you face any unnecessary damage and spend a little more. Remember to apply generously and often. And give the product at least 30-60 minutes before exposure to the sun. I have used all of the above and have not had the greasy/breakout problem - and I am fairly oily anyway. Enjoy your holiday but do remember: a tanned skin is a damaged skin. Best to protect completely and then fake it not bake it!
Best,
John
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