Hi John,

I am going on a 10-day holiday on a motorbike into the wilderness in Canada, but I love my products and am never without my eyelash curlers as I have long but fairly straight dark lashes.  I have been trying to research eyelash perming and a reputable salon to go to in central London; any advice would be really welcome as I leave in 3 weeks.

Thanks,

Caroline

Caroline,

How incredibly fun! But if you are going to have a helmet clamped to your head in the wilderness for 10 days, do you really need to have your lashes perfectly curled? The moose don't care!!! I am not a big fan of lash perming. I have seen it turn too many lash lines into pubic thatches. When it goes wrong it goes really, really wrong. Leave it to nature and bring the curlers you know and trust.

Ride easy,

John

Hi John,

I am 18 weeks pregnant and have developed two rather unpleasant side affects of pregnancy - firstly my otherwise flawless complexion (which is dry and sensitive) has gone dull, oily and spotty. I look awful! Secondly, my feet sweat and are now quite smelly, and I have never had any problems with them before. I have a good routine and use foot spray, but nothing seems to work - what do you suggest? HELP!!!!

Cheers,

Arfa

Arfa,

Oops. Kids. You can blame them for the next 18 years or so! For your face, an oxygen product like Karin Herzog Vita-A-Kombi will sort out both the brightness and the breakout. So would Natura Bisse Oxygen cream. The oxygen breathes new life and colour into the skin, as well as killing off bacteria naturally and safely for both you and the baby. For the foot problems, get yourself a bottle of PitRok natural spray deodorant. You can pick it up in a chemist or Sainsbury's. It is a natural mineral deodorant without the aluminium or parabens. Use the liquid spray rather than the solid crystal, as it will be easier. After every bath or shower, apply the spray immediately. You will most likely need to blot the excess off. It dries immediately and there is no sensation of having anything there. No smell before or after. All of this is hormonal and should pass with pregnancy and breast-feeding. And look what you will have once it is all done. Completely worth it! All the best and congratulations.

Sleep now while you can,

John

Hi John,

I don't know of anyone else with my problem, but I'm really hoping you can help.... Since having my 2 babies, I've developed really hard skin patches on my knees and at the top of my foot (i.e. on the flat bit just below ankle where your foot bends!). This has now become discoloured so badly that I really can't wear any above-the-knee skirts and strappy shoes also look silly. Is there any super moisturiser that would help? Someone suggested rubbing lemon in to lighten the colour but this is a pain and doesn't seem to have had much effect!!!

Please help...

Steph Curtis

Steph,

As I was reading this, I was already thinking..."lemon"! It really WILL help. The juice is a natural bleach and the acids help to soften the hard skin. Funny enough, I have the same problem on the front top of one foot. I finally figured out it is because of the way I sit on the floor with one leg tucked under the other. It is probably a similar thing to you. Recently, I had to test out a couple of the cracked heel products. Since I don't suffer from that, I had the brainstorm of using it on the patch. It worked! Between my two favourites - Scholl's and the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, I liked the latter best. Why? More discrete tube and it went in more quickly. But try both. They are inexpensive and worked a treat!

Cheers,

John

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