No-fuss Blush

I tried a girlfriend's cream blusher and loved how easy it is to blend. But before I fork out $20-odd dollars, is there anything I should look out for?

First, know your skin type. If you have oily skin, stick to powder blushers — they stay on longer and won't streak. Cream blushers are lovely to blend and, if used correct­ly, give a beautiful sheen to cheeks. But the sheen turns greasy on oily skin.

If your skin is normal or prone to dryness, go for a cream blusher. But keep in mind that mistakes show up less with softer, paler shades.

Make-up Pointers

I've signed up for a quick make-up course. How do I make the most of it?

Four tips:

1. Be willing to adapt.

Some make-up techniques that work for the make-up artist may not work for you.

2. Remember the colours of your wardrobe.

Neutral make-up shades like brown and soft pink go well with most colours. If your clothes are mostly bright, wear neutral make­up shades with a shot of colour on lips or cheeks.

3. Know the look you want.

Do you prefer a casual look or a more dra­matic one?

4. Experiment.

Find out if you're comfortable with less or more make-up.

Colour and Care

I like to change my hair colour every couple of months. How do I keep it looking cover-girl glossy? Constant colouring can dry your tresses out. It's best to have a break of at least four months between each colouring session. Remember, the more outrageous the hair colour, the more drying it will be, as the percentage of per­oxide is probably higher. Choose:

• A mild shampoo — especially one for chemi­cally-treated hair. A "milk shampoo" (one that con­tains milk extracts) is gen­tler too. Alternatively, zero in on ingredients like almond oil and vinegar.

•    An intensive conditioner.

The trick is to use it daily for the first two weeks. Remember to rinse throughly — build-up can irritate sensitive scalps.

•    Leave-in conditioner.

Don't leave home without this. It coats hair with moisture and stops it from drying out in the sun and in air-conditioned places.

Flake Off

About two months ago, the skin around my mouth start­ed flaking badly. Three types of moisturizers later, my skin is still flaking. This sounds like an aller­gic reaction — perhaps to a toothpaste or a lip balm. It's best to check with a doctor first. If it isn't an allergy, remove the flaky skin with an oil-based scrub, after cleansing the face.

Shaving mistake

Help! I shaved my arms recently in a bid to get rid of excessive hair. Now the skin on my arms is dry, red and itchy.

Unfortunately, there's little you can do for now. Get a bottle of calamine lotion from a pharmacy and lib­erally apply on arms — it will soothe the itch. Don't scratch — you might break the skin and risk a bad infection. It will take about two weeks for the rash to disappear and hair to start growing back. Your skin will feel rough and stubbly for a while, but it will get better.

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