The BIG beauty QUESTIONS

Harley Street Skin Clinic’s Lesley Reynolds shares her age-proof advice

Q

I’m going through the menopause and suffering from sweaty boobs that leave unsightly patches. Is this normal and what can help?

A

Sweat can flow from all sorts of nooks and crannies. It’s also totally normal, especially for those with large or droopy breasts, or if you’re suffering from hormonal fluctuations. When skin touches skin it impedes the ability for sweat to evaporate, so it can accumulate under your breasts. Friction, the wrong type of bra and a lack of air circulation can also make it worse. One tip is to use

Q

Can you tell me a good skincare routine to help manage my acne and the best ingredients to use? My skin is dry. Jane, Leeds

A

Use a gentle soap-free cleansing gel containing salicylic or glycolic acid, as this will penetrate through the skin’s oil surface and unclog pores. Try HSSC Skin Renewal £35 (harleystreetskincare.co.uk). Choose a clean flannel every time you wash the skin and use tepid water, blotting dry after. Try La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Cleanser, £14, which is enriched with niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier. Go for a fragrance-free and non-comedogenic moisturiser every day after cleansing, such as CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF25, £9.75. And slough away dead skin cells with a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week – Tolpa Sebio 3-Enzyme Face Peel, £9.99, is kind to sensitive skin. a solid natural deodorant under your boobs to stop sweat – try Mitchum Women Natural Power Coconut Solid Deodorant, £3. It uses bamboo powder and is made of 96 per cent natural ingredients. Panty liners can also help – stick a couple inside your bra to help soak up sweat and prevent stains – and look for bras in soft lace or cotton. Fullsupport bras or push-up bras can also keep the breasts from laying on the chest wall, but avoid padded bras as the extra material may cause more sweating. You can also use a deodorant around your breasts, such as Dove 0% Aluminium Cucumber & Green Tea Deodorant Aerosol, £3.50. If the situation is extreme, try Botox, which inhibits sweat production, from £500.

Q

My brows seem to be getting much thinner, and lately they’re also losing shape and colour. How can I restore them?

Sue, Devon

A

Brows can become thinner for a multitude of reasons. Hormonal changes and the onset of the menopause, along with stress, lifestyle and diet, can also affect them. First, go easy with the tweezers as it can take over 65 days for a single hair to grow back, if at all. A brow serum will encourage new growth and thickening. RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum, £24.99, features keratin and biotin, which can boost hair health. Apply twice a day and for best results, use for at least eight weeks. Improve your diet by eating more oily fish, nuts and seeds and consider a hair supplement like Viviscal, £29.99, to encourage new growth. As for colour fade, which is natural, try tinting, which will add subtle fullness. Schwarzkopf Brow Tint, £4.75, comes in four shades and takes less than 10 minutes. There are also some brilliant products that can create natural-looking thicker brows in minutes, such as a brow gel containing fibres. Try e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel, £6.