Anyone who has been near a shop recently will know just how daunting it can be to stand in the beauty aisle with an empty shopping basket, while you hunt for the perfect product to solve your beauty dilemma.

Our beauty buffs have sorted through the latest buys to find the number-one solutions for you.

My deodorant doesn’t work

You need to opt for an antiperspirant if this is the case. Deodorants are simply a fragrance to disguise perspiration odour, whereas antiperspirants actually temporarily block sweat glands. According to the experts, the best time to apply antiperspirant is at night. Your sweat glands are less active, so more of the sweat-stopping ingredients are drawn into the skin. The good news is that the odour-fighting effects last even if you bath or shower in the mornings. If you love the idea of fragrance layering, look out for Dove’s Go Fresh Range. We love the Fresh Touch Cucumber and Green Tea variant.

I have the hugest pimple ever. Help!

Target the occasional breakout with Essence Pure Skin Anti-Spot Patches (available from Clicks). These clear circular patches contain tea tree extract and salicylic acid that help fight pimple-producing bacteria and reduce inflammation. Apply to the blemish at night and leave on until morning.

My face feels really dry

Instead of using your regular detergent-based cleanser, try an oil cleanser like Justine Epigran. The oil removes make-up and impurities without stripping the skin. Massage onto your face and either tissue off or rinse with water. You could also try a cleanser targeted to sensitive skin needs like BioNike Defence Acqua2O Cleansing Water Mousse(available from Dis-Chem). Ingredients help preserve the skin’s natural protective lipid content and neutralise the drying action of hard water, providing clean relief for sensitive skins.

Everything’s heading south

The good news is that you don’t need the surgeon’s number on speed dial just yet. RoC Complete Lift is a range that targets elastin fibres in the skin (these are what give skin that ‘spring-back’ property), helping to create lift and restore lost firmness. Great products to try include the Lifting Flash Serum and the Lifting Eye Roll-On which also targets under-eye puffiness. When addressing sagging, don’t forget that your neck and décolleté are also on display, which is why you should continue your skincare regimen all the way down to the top of your breasts. Look out for a product such as L’Oréal Dermo-Expertise Revitalift Face Contours & Neck which targets sagging concerns in the whole area. And don’t forget the sunscreen – UV-rays are the biggest cause of skin sagging.

My hands are always dry

As hands are continuously subjected to harsh soaps and detergents, they are prone to drying out. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to regularly cream up your hands. When choosing a hand cream, remember to opt for one that dries to a matte finish on the skin. Great options include !QMS MediCosmetics Hand Care (www.qmsmedicosmetics.co.za); or splurge on Lancôme Nutrix Royal Mains to give your paws the ultimate treatment.

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