Ask Alice

Hi, you’re basically asking how collagen supplements do what they claim to do. As I understand it, protein in the diet is broken down by the stomach acids into long-chain amino acids, whereas the hydrolysed collagen in collagen supplements is broken down into short-chain amino acids that the body recognises and knows what to do with. Plus, the presence of more of collagen in the body prompts our bodies to create more of its own. Totally Derma has tested this to show that the product not only makes it through the stomach but shows up in the skin,

I’m very keen on a supporting skin from within with appropriate supplements. My favourite three are a liposomal vitamin C called Altrient C, Totally Derma collagen drink, and OG omega-3 supplements which all benefit the skin in different ways. Tweakments-wise, a round or two of an injectable moisturiser treatment might help boost your skin condition and skin strength and amplify the effects you get from skincare and supplements.

Hi, you could and see how it goes, though it will take a few months before you can tell the difference. I take both Totally Derma collagen drink and Altrient C every day because they stimulate collagen production in the skin in different ways, and after discussing this with researchers who look in to the detail of supplements and still take both, I haven’t dared to stop!

I don’t think you’ll need a specific makeup remover, it depends on your preference. If you’re concerned about getting it on your lenses, I’d take them out before you start. I usually prefer to take off my eye makeup first with micellar water and cotton wool pads (or eco alternatives) just to shift the worst of it before going in with a normal cleanser, or I’ll use a bi-phase make-up remover (the sort with an oily layer, that you have to shake up before using) to remove the more resilient sorts of mascara. Those are oily and can get in your eyes/ onto lenses, but then if it’s the end of the day, I’ll usually take the lenses out before I remove makeup. This cleansing oil is really effective at getting rid of make-up (including mascara) and is also great for the skin.

For the collagen and vitamin C it really doesn’t matter too much. Sticklers for precision would prefer that you took the Altrient C on an empty stomach (for faster absorption) and the collagen in the evening, but the key thing is just to take them, your body will work out what to do with them. Re the probiotics, I don’t know which brand you’re taking, but see whether there is any specific advice about when to take them (e.g. with food/ before meals) on the packet.

I would double check all these things with the surgeon who did your cataract surgery and follow their advice on that and wait until the healing is complete.

I’m a big fan of the Elequra Eye Architecture cream which is light, hydrating and supportive. Re a concealer, I’m loving Monika Blunder’s Blundercover which is a foundation that you apply with a brush so you can dabble as much or as little under the eyes as you need. Or, I just use the Neostrata Sheer Physical Protection SPF50 all over my face and as it has a light tint, I find it makes a good concealer, too, if your colouring is at all like mine.

Hi Cath, I don’t know if Zooki’s collagen supplement contains liposomes – the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that Zooki’s Vitamin C didn’t contain liposomes in November 2021, so they have been changing their claims since then, and the same may apply to their collagen. Totally Derma is fab and it’s all you need for collagen supplementation, though I back it up with Altrient C which has a proven liposomal delivery system and which boosts collagen production by a different mechanism.

Ah, sympathies. I’d start with your doctor, to consider hormone replacement, as this has such a huge and fundamental effect on everything from brain and heart health, to our skin (more oestrogen means more collagen in the skin, which means stronger, firmer, better hydrated skin that doesn’t look so old and tired). Then skincare! Take a look at the skincare advice on our downloadable factsheet about dry, rough skin, which you can grab on this page.  If you want more detail, I’ve written a whole book called Start with Skincare which you can find on Amazon. In terms of products, start with a gentle cleanser, a vitamin C serum, a moisturiser and a sunscreen every morning, then in the evenings, use the cleanser, some sort of night treatment product with retinol, and moisturiser. Give it a few months and your skin should be looking and feeling much better. Good luck.

Wow, congratulations! Start with your skincare – I’d suggest a gentle cleanser, a vitamin C serum, a moisturiser, and a sunscreen for the day, and for the evening, something with retinol or retinal (a bit stronger) in it, plus the moisturiser. Take a look at this collection to see the sort of products I prefer, and how I’d suggest using them. Then find a great practitioner – you can put your postcode into our practitioner finder – and book a consultation to see what they suggest to treat your other concerns.

You’re right, sebaceous hyperplasia, where you get lots of little bumps under the skin where oil has become trapped, is an absolute pain. I have lots of them on my face and when I went to see a dermatologist about this recently, he told me that they become more common with age, and to get rid of existing ones you need to tackle them directly with lasers. To reduce the rate at which they’re forming, he suggested sticking to skincare that would clean, hydrate and regenerate the skin without adding any extra oil, so that’s a glycolic or vitamin-C based wash-off cleanser, an L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serum in the mornings, plus a hyaluronic acid serum for hydration, then a mineral-based sunscreen, and at night, the same glycolic wash, plus a glycolic-acid night treatment product (or retinoid), or just the hydrating serum if you don’t want to use the treatment product every night.

If your practitioner says toxins won’t work on these lines, maybe that is because they’re being made by the way you sleep, as you suggest, rather than by muscle movement. It might be worth trying something simpler than tweakments, like the Dr Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask, which looks like a normal sleep mask but has small silicone bumps on the inside that press on muscle receptors in the face to relax them (it’s clinically proven to relax frown lines between the brows). These slight bumps are set in a pattern that goes over the eyebrows and around the sides of the eyes, and they grip the skin very gently and I find that these stop me from scrunching up my face when I sleep – Dr Harris, the inventor, says the same. It’s a lot cheaper than toxin, so it might be worth a try!

Years! The device has a two-year guarantee and I gather it has held up well when stress-tested to show that it can run pretty well continuously for five years, which is far more use than it will get even from a busy clinic. Find out more about the Dermalux Flex MD here.

Hi yes the Body Ballancer is fab, the treatment is really good for improving lymphatic health (which brings serious health benefits) and also on the aesthetic side brings about volume reduction – by dispersing water retention – and also improves the look of cellulite no end.

There are various videos about the Body Ballancer on the site so take a look to learn more about it.