The BIG beauty QUESTIONS

We all want to look youthful, but why have surgery when softer options can be just as effective – and much cheaper? Husband-and-wife team Dr Aamer Khan and skin care specialist Lesley Reynolds argue it out in the pages of best…

Q

My eyes are puffy and anything I apply – make-up, skin care – seems to make it look worse. How can I treat and disguise this? Anita, Bournemouth

A

DR AAMER SAYS: Ageing, a lack of sleep, excess alcohol, salty meals, or even a cold can all contribute to puffy eyes. Fraxel, a CO laser, can smooth and tighten the skin under the eyes. It is a oneoff treatment, with a week to 10 days’ downtime where you could be swollen and possibly bruised, but results will last up to five years. From £2,000. Alternatively, you could have three to four SmartXide laser treatments which don’t require as much downtime as Fraxel, about three days each when you’ll look red and swollen. Most patients require three to five treatments, four to six weeks apart. Results last around three to five years. From £300 per treatment.

LESLEY SAYS: I always tell puffy-eyed patients to stop wearing eye cream for two weeks. Most women overdo it and make symptoms worse. Look for formulas containing caffeine, which work to narrow the delicate vessels around the eyes to discourage fluid from pooling. Try Q+A Natural Skincare Caffeine Eye Serum, £6.50. Don’t take the product right under the eye, stop at the bony bit around it. Sleeping on your side or stomach can encourage fluid to collect here, so sleep on your back and add an extra pillow. Before bed, use Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Time Eye Tissue Mask, £2.99, which hydrates and refreshes the under-eye area. For an emergency treatment, green tea bags soaked in warm water and placed over eyes for two minutes will reduce swelling. If disguising, incorrect concealer application will only make them stand out more. Instead, dab on the shadows below bags using a pen-shaped wand like Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer, £4.99. Keep eyeliner to your upper lash line, as lining the lower half emphasises puffiness. Dust a champagne-coloured powder shadow under your lower lashes to brighten the skin right above the puffiness.

Q

I suffer from sweaty palms and I’m really conscious of it. How can I give my hands a bit of love?

Trudy,Gloucester

ADR AAMER SAYS: We often get sweaty palms in stressful situations. This is because eccrine sweat glands are highly concentrated in the hands. Excessive sweating, however, is medically known as hyperhidrosis, and it goes far beyond a little dampness. People can sweat so much it drips off their hands. Botox injected into the palms of the hands helps disable the eccrine and apocrine glands to stop them producing and secreting. One treatment will give guaranteed results and protection from sweating within two days, and results should last six to 12 months. From £499 for both hands.

LESLEY SAYS: Hand sanitiser like Dr Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitiser, £5.25, thanks to its alcohol base, can help dry things up a little. Use it throughout the day. If you’re struggling to find stock, a topical antiperspirant with aluminium chloride like Vichy Deodorant 24 Hour Aluminium Salt-Free Roll- On Deodorant, £9.50, also works well for some people with hyperhidrosis. Choose a roll-on version and apply to palms, letting it sink in. Or, if you’re on a budget, you could try Sanex Dermo Invisible Roll- On Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, £1.50. Talcum powder can also help absorb sweat and give hands better grip. Since stress can be a big factor in sweating, tackling the cause of it can often help, so look at your lifestyle. Meditating can calm the mind and reduce stress.

Q A

I’m in my 50s and developing more facial hair than ever before. Is there a permanent solution to this? Or a way to hide it?

Kathleen,Newquay

DR AAMER SAYS: Certain medications or hormone fluctuations, especially menopausal, can trigger facial hair growth. Laser hair removal is a permanent method and if done right you can achieve great results. It targets roots beneath the skin’s surface to prevent regrowth and can be used to treat most facial areas. However, the hair follicle must be targeted at a specific time during its growth cycle, so you will need several sessions for long-lasting results. We usually recommend six to eight appointments spaced four to six weeks apart. You can’t have the treatment on tanned skin, fake or real. Although clinics offering laser treatment are regulated, experts believe there are still thousands of unlicensed laser hair removal services in Britain, so make sure you go to a reputable clinic or salon. Expect to pay from £500 for a course.

LESLEY SAYS: Facial hair is very common, so don’t feel under pressure to have treatments. However, there are much more affordable products that are less time-consuming, too. Threading, for example. Hairs are twisted between two pieces of thread and pulled out. It can leave a temporary red patch, which will go down within 24 hours. Expect to pay around £10 to £20 for each area. You’ll find threading bars within shopping centres or beauty salons. Depilatory creams are a good home option, but look for a sensitive skin formula and always test a patch on your body before using on your face. Nads Facial Hair Removal Crème, £4.99, is suitable for sensitive skin and works in minutes, depending on the thickness of the hair. For delicate areas like the upper lip, try Veet EasyGrip Ready To Use Face Wax Strips with Vitamin E & Almond Oil for Sensitive Skin, £7. With regular use, hair regrowth should be finer and softer. It will also target very short hair so you wait less time for your hair to grow back before waxing again!