Ask Alice

Hi, I’d find the most experienced dermatologist or other cosmetic physician on the island and ask for their advice – and also plan carefully how, if you go ahead with treatment, you are going to protect your treated skin from the sun. In the UK, it’s best to do these things in the winter; you will have to commit to buckets of SPF 50 and a hat afterwards to minimise further pigmentation developing.

Hi, that’s completely understandable to be anxious ahead of trying any tweakment. Have you discussed these particular concerns with your practitioner? If you have, I hope they would have reassured you that they have enough skill and experience to place the toxin in just the right places so that it will soften your wrinkles without wiping them out, and without making your brows drop. Also, first time, it’s good idea to ask for a really light dose, just enough to give you an idea of what the treatment can do. It won’t last as long as a regular dose, but if for any reason you don’t like the results, then you aren’t stuck with it for so long. See if the information on this section about wrinkle-relaxing toxins helps.

Hi, Skin Laundry offers some great treatments, though I haven’t tried any of them for a while. I can’t comment on its membership offers or the Ultra Duo – but I know the company uses top-quality devices and their therapists are well-trained.

Hiya, TTG editor Georgia here. Without knowing what your skin is like or any specific aesthetic concerns you have, the go-to, cosmetic-doctor-approved routine for just about anyone is: cleanse, antioxidant serum and SPF of at least 30 in the AM; cleanse, other treatment product if needed (maybe to hydrate, maybe for acne, maybe for pigmentation, etc.) and retinol in the PM.

I hate to say it, but I don’t know that there are any supplements that really stand up to medical scrutiny, but the ones that are most popular among hairdressers and friends with hair issues include Viviscal Pro and Philip Kingsley’s Density supplements. Lots of people (me included) think collagen supplements help with hair strength as well as with skin/ nails/ joints. Hormone supplementation may help too if this is something that’s appropriate for you. You also want to think about massaging the scalp to enhance blood circulation, and using a scalp scrub occasionally so the follicles don’t become blocked, and healthy lifestyle – a good diet, (lots of protein, lots of colourful vegetables), plenty of sleep, reduced stress, etc. – makes a big difference to hair because when we’re stressed, our body prioritises its main functions and organs and hair suffers from a reduced supply of nutrients.

Absolute Collagen, Revive Collagen, Ingenious Collagen and Gold Collagen are all more affordable than Totally Derma, use decent types/ sources of collagen and have reasonable data to support their efficacy, so have a look at those.

Hi, you’re absolutely right that it’s genetic and no, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it and some of us just do have that hollowing handed out by nature. A touch of sunscreen to keep the skin in best health is all you want to use, and do what you can not to fret over the issue or draw attention to it, so you don’t make your lovely child self-conscious about something that is entirely natural and just the way their face is made.

Hiya, TTG editor Georgia here. Eye cream can help hydrate the area and reduce the appearance of that crepiness some of the way, but it won’t eliminate it completely – for that, you’d need a tweakment like PRP, RF needling, or mesotherapy – something to build up collagen under the skin and smooth out its texture. Book in with a practitioner who specialises in the eye area and have a consultation to find out which is the best option for you. And you may want to try a new eye cream too – we really like both of these.

Wow, that sounds like quite the regime! Yes, Calecim is great, you could use it on nights when you are not using the prescription retinoid. I like it for skin recovery after procedures. The Neostrata neck product is fab, I’d use this after the vitamin C and before moisturiser/ sunscreen in the morning, and use it at night, too. If you’re using the retinol on your neck, you could use this either afterwards or before the retinol, and see how it works for you.

Yes, if you know that you will find the time to use it. Take a look at the videos here to show what it did for me (and I still love it just as much as I did during lockdown).

If you have sensitive skin, the key thing is to keep it hydrated (with a gentle, un-fragranced hydrating serum and a moisturiser on top of that) and protected from UV light with an (un-fragranced) sunscreen, that will help get your skin feeling more comfortable. Taking lots of omega-3 supplements can really help with skin hydration, too. These are my current favourites.

Do the treatment with a clean, dry face – and afterwards, use any serum that you like. During the day I’ll go for a vitamin C serum, a hydrating serum, moisturiser and sunscreen, and in the evening, a retinoid then moisturiser.

The cost of running the Dermalux Flex for a half-hour session is about 10p, says Dermalux, so a 20-minute session would be slightly less.

Yes absolutely – your practitioner will suggest that you wait for two weeks after treatment, as that is the standard recommendation.

Here’s a great one that will definitely help.