Beauty Clinic: Help with pale, dry skin

Q. My 18-year old daughter has extremely dry pale skin, owing to a medical condition.  Can you recommend an intensive moisturiser and a light foundation for her please? A. We suggest using a facial oil to give her skin a real boost, then following with a moisturiser to seal it in.  In our new book, The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible, you will find recipes for homemade facial oils for different skin types, including one for dry or mature skin.

Also featured in the book are the award-winning brands of facial oils, trialled by our ten-women tester panels.  The top scoring product was ESPA Replenishing Face Treatment Oil.  This rich blend romped into first place in a very strong field.  One tester said ‘smells divine, my skin felt like it was drinking this oil up:  nourished, but not greasy at all’.

As a moisturiser, we suggest trying Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser – Jo’s all-time favourite.

Alternatively, Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream, would be a good choice for nights, with the Rose Otto Day Cream, in the mornings.

Hyaluronic acid is Nature’s moisture magnet so another good option would be Derma E Hydrating Day Cream with Hyaluronic Acid.

When it comes to foundations, we recommend trying Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, which is feather-light and comes in a range of pale tones. Estée Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation works with your skin to allow natural undertones to come through so it matches perfectly.

La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Cream is hydrating with a tinted dewy finish, and this gentle range is especially formulated with thermal spring water for people with really sensitive skin.  We are also impressed with No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream which is targeted at dry/very dry skin.

• The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible/£14.95 at www.victoriahealth.com - buy here

• ESPA Replenishing Face Treatment Oil/ £53 for 28 ml at www.johnlewis.com - buy here

• Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser/£36.25 for 50 ml at www.johnlewis.com - buy here

• Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream/£8.89 for 50 ml at www.johnlewis.com - buy here

• Dr Organic Rose Otto Day Cream/£9.79 for 50 ml at www.hollandandbarrett.com - buy here

• Derma E Hydrating Day Cream with Hyaluronic Acid/£28 for 56 g at www.victoriahealth.com - buy here

• Armani Luminous Silk Foundation/£35.50 for 30 ml at www.selfridges.com - buy here

• Estée Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation/£27 for 30 ml at www.boots.com - buy here

• La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Cream/£15 for 40 ml at www.boots.com - buy here

• No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream/£13.50 for 30 ml at www.boots.com - buy here