Look great today!
Our beauty team answer all your questions
Q My make-up always ends up being patchy, especially when I put my powder bronzer and blusher on. What can I do?
Alison Day, 54
A You could be putting your bronzer and blusher on too soon. If you have moisturised and popped on a foundation, it’s tempting to move straight on to the next product, but leave time for your foundation to set. A powdery blusher or bronzer applied to a still-damp base makes for patches. If you are using a base that promises a dewy glow, switch to a cream blusher and/or bronzer to complement the texture already on your face.
Q I want to define my eyebrows but am scared of over-applying – I don’t want to draw on two slugs! Do you have any fool-proof tips? Caroline Forest, 45
A Avoid eyebrow pencils at all costs! For a natural looking brow boost, invest in a brow gel.
This adds subtle colour and thickness to each individual hair, without colouring in the skin beneath. Don’t overload the wand, treat it as you would your mascara, dispensing a little of the formula on the neck of the bottle before you apply, then layer up. Next, take a pale pink, nude or peach pencil and apply, then blend, underneath the arch of your brow to emphasise the shape.
You won’t believe the difference.
Q I have a couple of moles on my face and they now grow the most unsightly hairs. Is it safe to pluck the hairs? What are the rules?
Beth Crane, 59
A According to the NHS nearly 75% of women experience increased facial hair as they age, especially after the menopause, so you’re definitely not alone in this. The chin seems to be the biggest bugbear area, mole or no mole. There have been a lot of old wives’ tales abounding that plucking the hair from moles could cause them to turn cancerous, however there is zero evidence to back this up. Plucking also does less damage to your skin than waxing or bleaching, so reach for those tweezers. Just don’t try it when the hair is very short as you could end up inflaming the area.