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Q&A

Here we answer your some of your most pressing questions . . . If you’ve got a beauty conundrum, browse any of the categories listed below (or in the column on the left). Click on the category and see if we’ve already come up with a solution. Click on any question (the pink text) and that will reveal the full answer. To use the search box; put double quote marks (inverted commas) around phrases for more accurate results. For example, search for "nail varnish remover".

If you can't find a suitable answer, e-mail us – and we’ll do our best to include your question in a future Q&A update. You could also try looking in our Beauty Info section, just click here.

 
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Browse "Eyes" Questions
42 questions found in this category:
I have very sensitive eyes and wondered if you could recommend a mascara that can be bought in mainstream stores?
We’ve got two suggestions.  The first is to check out the Clinique range, if you haven’t already tried their mascaras:  the range is famously fragrance-free and screens out most known allergens.  ......
I use the Bare Escentuals range which is great, but the Bare Escentuals brushes are VERY disappointing. They shed really badly and as I wear contact lenses it's a nightmare because if the hairs get into my eyes, they water and I have to start all over. And when I'm out for dinner with my guy the last thing I want is for him to be picking hairs off my face across the table! Can you suggest a good quality basic set - concealer, foundation, radiance and finishing powder brushes?
To be honest, this is one area we never advise skimping on, because it’s true:  inexpensive brushes do tend to shed.  The ranges that we know to be high quality (which ......
A few months ago you e-mailed to say that the Prescriptives range has been discontinued in the K. I’ve just discovered their Plush Mascara – where can I purchase this now?
Alas, you can’t.  We’re gutted that Prescriptives has disappeared (the following question relates to them, too), but we can point you in the direction of another great mascara that we think ......
I have looked at your site a number of times and looked at The 21st Century Beauty Bible book, but what I would like to ask is if you have any information on products that can improve the upper eyelids once they have begun to show the early signs of crêpiness? I am in my late 30s and although I do not really have any signs of ageing around my eyes, I do see a gradual deterioration of the skin on my eyelids. Is there a product that specifically targets this or one that your testers have felt improves this problem?
Tricky, tricky, tricky, this. To be honest, most of the feedback we get about anti-ageing eye products relates to the lines and wrinkles underneath, rather than lids.  All the beauty wisdom ......
My boyfriend, who is away in Afghanistan, is coming back in 2 months’ time – and I want to look my very best for when he returns! I don't wear much make up apart from eyeliner and mascara but he loves my eyes and I really want to find the best mascara ever to give me the longest, thickest eyelashes ever! Could you possibly recommend a few good options? Luckily I have a gift voucher for Harrods that I can use so money isn't too much of an issue but I would love to hear suggestions from both ends of the scale!
We’d like to suggest that when your boyfriend lands, the last thing that he’s going to be worrying about is the length of your eyelashes…  But we do understand that you ......
I have been trying to get hold of Tulsee eyedrops since the hardback of The Green Beauty Bible came out – but the website doesn’t work. H-E-L-P!
It’s so sad but they have been discontinued.  We used to get them from www.victoriahealth.com but no more.  And we haven’t yet found a good replacement.  We will let you know ......
Can you please recommend the best eye make-up remover for waterproof mascara?
A month ago, Jo would have given you quite a different answer:  she was for years unswervingly devoted to Chanel Démaquillant Yeux Intense Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover, £19 for 100 ......
I lost a lot of my eyebrows over the last few years. They are growing back slowly, but how do I keep them from growing in all different directions?
You can’t actually stop them growing in different directions, but you can tame them once they’ve grown through.  One brow-grooming secret is to use a touch of a multi-purpose balm (even ......
I read your advice on eye products for the sensitive but dehydrated eye area. The reply advised to stay away from oils around this area. I don't know if it is due to stress or the change in climate (plus medication) but my eye area is very dehydrated. Daytime is no problem as I waken my eyes with Liz Earle's Eyebright and then use the Daily Eye Repair from the range, which I love. I do use the serum although sometimes I feel I would need more moisturisng gentle eye care (I love the serum for lots of things but am not too sure how much to use around my eyes). I looked outside the range although some of the natural ones use alcohol which we are told to avoid. I have a sample of Taer Eye Contour Cream (it is lovely as it doesn't make my eyes sting or cause red corners, as other products have done at night). My main question is about the Kimia range: in The Green Beauty Bible you feature a Precious Eye Serum, but when I read the description and the ingredients list it shows 'oil'. What do you feel about this, given your reasons for avoiding the use of oil products in the eye area..?
The two Kimia products we feature in our book are actually the Kimia Exquisite Facial Rejuvenating System, and the Perfection Neck & Décolleté System - both terrific anti-ageing products, but not ......
Could you tell me where I can buy a budge-proof and waterproof eyebrow pencil in either black or a very dark shade?
We thought this would be easy-peasy - and boy, were we wrong.  The only eyebrow pencil which markets itself as ‘waterproof’ that we could track down is by Smashbox, but it ......
I suffer from blepharitis on both eyes which leaves me with sore and red eyelids.   I also have sensitive skin.  I am very nervous about using eye creams/gels and eyeshadows;  I am 47 years old and in need of advice on what products I could use without the fear of a flare-up.   I currently only use Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and Moisturiser. 
Since you say the inflammation is on the outside of your eyelids, we suspect you’re suffering from anterior blepharitis, which is usually caused by a bacterial infection, or sometimes as a ......
I've recently got into organic cosmetic products but cannot find a waterproof mascara. Could you recommend one for me and tell me where I can find them in future?
Like you, we sometimes like to wear waterproof mascara.  So we’re as disappointed as you will be that unfortunately, it’s not - and never likely - to be available in a ......
All the make-up experts advise using eyelash curlers, so I invested in a good make and followed the instructions. So far, I've noticed absolutely no difference. Are these a waste of time or do you have some advice on how best to use them? Thanks.
Now, make-up artist Ruby Hammer insists that using lash curlers regularly can actually lead to a ‘permanent curl’.  We’re just not so sure, and tend to file eyelash curlers in the ......
I am 41 and seem to be allergic to most eye creams on the market. I am able to use Decléor Eye Soothing Eye Contour Gel; however the area under my eyes is very dry and would benefit from using richer eye cream. While I can use their face creams, I cannot use for example eye creams from Crème de la Mer, La Prairie, Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme... Having looked at previous Q & A perhaps I should try Green People or Liz Earle? What do you think?
A toughie.  For sensitive eyes, gels work best because they don’t ‘travel’ so easily into the eye itself;  they tend to sit where they’re put.  As soon as you enter eye-cream-territory, ......
Although I am 56, I still have very oily skin. I can apply eyeliner or eyeshadow and it slides off almost before I’ve finished putting it on! What do you recommend? Can you also recommend a long-lasting but not drying lipstick? I seem to reapply every half hour at least, and for my son’s wedding I want lipstick with staying power!
You need to ‘prime’ your lids first.  You can either do this with a touch of foundation, followed by a whisper of powder, or you can use a special eye primer ......
When I wear eye liner on the top lid of my eyes, by the end of the day it always leaves black marks under my eyes. The eyeliner I use is a good make, but it always smudges. What can I do to avoid this?
Eyeliners are made of waxes, which ‘travel’ - especially in an area where there’s a lot of movement, like the eye zone.  (Think: blinking, squinting…)  So smudging is a bit of ......
Although I have very long and thick eyelashes, they are dead straight and in the outer corner of my upper lid, grow downwards, almost poking into my eye. If I apply mascara, they look most peculiar. How can I make them curl upwards (or even go upwards!). Would eyelash curlers work and if so, which ones can you recommend? Thank you!
Yes, have a go with eyelash curlers, which should grab the outer lashes well;  remember always to use them on bare lashes or you can get breakages.  Revlon have a good ......
I have quite a few lines around my eyes. Sometimes, if I have slept badly they can be quite puffy in the morning. I have tried a few eye creams but nothing seems to work. Do I need to buy two different eye creams? one for puffy eyes and one for wrinkles/lines or is there an eye cream that can do both? Please help - getting desperate and broke!!!!
We’re going to let you in on a little sneak preview of a trio of products that performed really well in our upcoming book The Green Beauty Bible:  they were trialled ......
I love Trilogy Rose Hip oil on my face & eyes. Can you use all facial oils on your eyes? Also, if you use a serum in the a.m. or p.m., do you use oil as well as or instead of…?
We wouldn’t recommend putting an oil near the eye zone.  Oils travel readily (down the little ‘train tracks’ known as fine lines and wrinkles!) and if they get into the eye ......
I've just bought the Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner Duo recommended in your last ‘We Love…’ section. However, it doesn't come with instructions on how to create the smoky eye look that you rave about, and try as I might, I can't figure it out for myself! Any chance you can post step by step instructions for idiots such as me?
As you’ll have seen, this brilliant gel eyeliner comes with a teensy brush.  The texture of the liner is quite firm;  load the brush with the liner, and wipe off any ......
Can you recommend an eye make-up remover that will remove waterproof mascara?
Try Lancome Bi-Facil Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover (£15) which scored very highly in the consumer survey for The 21st Century Beauty Bible....
I’m looking for an eye cream to smoothen fine lines. I'm 32 but the skin under my eyes is quite lined. There are so many creams I'm overwhelmed!
The two highest-scoring products in our Tried & Tested Anti-Ageing category for The Handbag Beauty Bible are really beauty ‘splurges’ from Crème de la Mer and Guerlain - and we’re not ......
I have very dry, sometimes sore patches fanning out from the inner corner of my eye underneath my bottom eyelashes. When I touch the areas they feel rough and have a few tiny lines, as well. I have tried a couple of eye creams but they don't seem to help at all. I have also just purchased the mini eye kit from Liz Earle Naturally Active but don't want to use it until I have received some advice from you. Any suggestions, please?
We wonder if you use eye make up remover, or possibly toner, which is triggering this reaction. If you do, we suggest stopping now to see if it makes a difference. ......
Please, please tell me whether there is an EFFICIENT eye shadow primer on the market? My eyeshadow always creases and I have tried several of the best-known eyeshadow primers on the market (M.A.C., YSL, Urban Decay etc.) By the way I am 64, so not young skin any more - but love my make-up!
If you’re having trouble ensuring eyeshadow stays put, we suggest switching the shadow – not necessarily the primer, as these obviously don’t work well for you. The most durable eyeshadow range ......
Please could you advise me on the best waterproof mascara?
Jo – who swims daily in the English Channel! - is a great fan of Chanel Drama Lash Waterproof Mascara, £16.50 (find it on-line at www.boots.com), which was also a big ......
I am 60 years of age and my eyelids are very droopy. The two eyeshadow colours I really like to use are Guerlain Divinora Soft Colour Cream-to-Powder eyeshadows in Perle De Nacre and Perle De Nuit. Please could you advise me on how to apply these properly?
Divinora scored the highest marks in our Cream Eyeshadow Tried & Tested - but if you\'ve got droopy eyelids, you need to watch how you wear your fave products. Basically, any ......
I have been using Vaseline to remove my eye make-up for many years, and have always found my lashes to be brittle and less-than-luxurious. I have just been told by a beauty consultant not to use Vaseline, as the petroleum can damage the lashes. Is this true? I’ve since stopped using it and bought a specific eye make-up remover, just in case.
Good old Vaseline is a true beauty multi-tasker – and as you’ve already discovered, it can be used to remove eye make-up. We don’t think it’s true that the petroleum can ......
Is it true that Bach Rescue Remedy cream used under the eyes reduces puffiness?
Although there is no scientific proof of this, Sarah is quite convinced it does, from her own experience. ‘It also soothes sore eyes, which I tend to get from working non-stop ......
In Sarah's New Year favourite products she mentioned Chanel Ligne Extreme Liquid Eyeliner in Or Marin. I asked for this product at my local Debenhams and they advised me it has been discontinued - is there any way I can get this product from another source?
Chanel still offer a similar liquid eyeliner in coppery brown; look for Ecriture de Chanel in Ambre, price £15 (for stockists call 020 7493 3836). Jenny Jordan also recommends Nina Ricci’s ......
I have high colouring – not just a tint of rosiness after a drink or two, but permanent redness. This is not due to acne rosacea or any other ‘condition’; I have had it since I was a child and it is really difficult to get make-up to look right. I currently use Estée Lauder Double Wear - which is great - but I have to apply a few layers. I want the finished look to be as natural as possible and have tried makes such as Dermablend but they end up looking like a mask. I am thinking of trying a concealer foundation by La Prairie, but obviously this is an expensive option. Any suggestions?
As quite a ‘pink’ person, Jo has this advice: ‘My favourite foundation for tackling this problem is Lancôme Teint Idôle Hydra-Compact, from £19.50 for the re-fill – which is what I ......
Can you tell me if Botox can be used directly under the eyes? A number of girly friends have discussed this and nobody seems to know for sure.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Nicholas Lowe of the Cranley Clinic in London says: “Botox can be very useful for under-eye lines and crows feet, also at sides and under brows, but in ......
How can I get rid of under-eye puffiness?
A nutritional solution from Jane Clarke: cutting down on salty foods - including pickles, crisps and strong, hard cheeses - and upping your intake of potassium rich foods like bananas, tomatoes ......
How can I get rid of dark circles?
Monisha Bharadwaj - an expert in oriental beauty and author of Indian Beauty Secrets (Kyle Cathie) - swears by an Ayurvedic recipe handed down in her family. \'Crush five mint leaves ......
What is the best way to refresh tired eyes?
Film and TV make-up artist Sara Raeburn\'s an expert at putting the sparkle back. \'I bring Visine eye drops back from the States, but if you can\'t get hold of them, ......
Make-up artists always seem to recommend two coats of mascara. Do I wait for the first to dry before applying the second?
For a guaranteed non-spiky effect, apply the second coat while the first lashtip sweep is still just-wet, agreed our pros. (Better still, use a lash comb between coats.) However, Aimee Adams ......
Is it true that you shouldn't match your eyeshadow to your eye colour - and why?
Bobbi Brown observes: \'would you display sapphires on a blue cloth? It\'s the same principle with shadow: go for contrast, otherwise what you see is the eyeshadow, not the eye. Slate ......
Why does my eye shadow crease - and how can I stop it?
According to Vincent Longo, creator of one of the original make-up artist\'s lines (who\'s recently been working with Winona Ryder), \'eye shadow creases due to mixing with the natural oils of ......
Can you please tell me how to apply eye shadow, especially when applying more than one colour?
There’s lots of info and illustrations in all our books and you’ll also find an eye section in Beauty Library on this website. Barbara Daly’s Party Tricks in the Tips section ......
As a contact lens wearer, I worry about the delicate skin around my eyes getting some rough treatment. What do you recommend as one of the best under eye creams to help?
We like Green People Eye Cream, which is very pure and has not, to our knowledge, been the cause of any sensitivity; also Jurlique Eye Gel, another really natural product. Another ......
My Mum, who’s 41, has suffered from under-eye puffiness for some time now. Could you point her in the right direction?
Puffy eyes are very often to do with diet and pollution - I always get puffies when I stay over in London - also of course lack of sleep. The best ......
After reading the 21st Century Beauty Bible I’ve been inspired to use more natural and organic products but I’m having trouble finding a natural eye make-up remover. Is there anything you can recommend?
Jo’s had excellent results with Living Nature Eye Makeup Remover, £9.90 (mail order and stockists 01794-323222). It’s an oil-based product which you apply using damp cotton wool, and it helps dissolve ......
I’m looking for a long lasting eyeshadow and would like to try cream-to-powder formulas. Which do you recommend?
The ones we rate are: Laura Mercier Eye Basics £18 (our favourite a wand which is available in six very wearable neutral shades). Mail order from Harrods. We’re also fans of ......




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