Q: Is it true that lip balms are addictive?

“Medicated” lip balm contains cooling, tingly ingredients such as menthol, camphor and phenol. It’s this sensation, not
the ingredients, that is often habit-forming.

Q: What’s the best way to get rid of dandruff?

For mild dandruff, try shampooing your hair twice a week with a frequent-use shampoo formulated for dry hair. Or try a shampoo containing tea-tree oil. And when you shampoo, massage your scalp without scratching it. These steps won’t eliminate dandruff, but will help to reduce it. For severe dandruff—think of Allison’s dandruff “snow” scene in 1985’s The Breakfast Club—look for a shampoo containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, or over-the-counter ketoconazole. Use it twice a week, for two to four weeks. Then switch back to your regular shampoo, using the anti-dandruff formulation once every two weeks to keep the snow at bay

Q: Shirts: tucked or untucked?

Sweaters, T-shirts, polos and casual shirts look better untucked, especially with the season’s very popular layered look. Untucked shirts are slimming. Tucked shirts tend to balloon around the waist and make it look like your mom still dresses you. If you have to get dressed up for work or a social event, then you should tuck. For a good tuck, make sure your shirts are fitted—go to a tailor if you have to.

Q: If I so much as take a tiny sip of champagne or wine, my face turns all red. What kind of makeup will keep my glowing nose covered up?

You can tone down the redness by using a colour corrector under your foundation. Try the Shiseido Control Colour Stick (available at the Bay, Sears and other department stores across Canada), which has a hint of green to cancel out the red.

Q: My hair is thinning in a Dick Van Patten pattern. Could you suggest a hairstyle?

Keep it as short as possible and avoid cover-ups. If you still have some tufts in the bald spot and they look distracting, shave them off.

Q: We’re going to Mexico for the holidays and would like to get some colour before we leave. Which is better: self-tanners or tanning salons?

Self-tanners are better than fake ’n’ bake simply because they don’t cause skin damage or cancer. You might also want to consider getting a spray-on tan from a salon or trying Estée Lauder’s Go Tan Sunless Towelettes