Oeindrila Biswas Model I am a complete M.A.C fan. All the make-up I use is from M.A.C and I just love the finish it provides. I do not use lipstick and prefer gloss instead. For my eyes I use a kajal from M.A.C and lots of mascara. I do not wear liner. For my skin I depend on drinking lots of water to do the trick. Also, I follow a strict cleansing, toning, moisturising routine for which I use Revlon products. I get a hair spa every month and use a L’Oreal shampoo, conditioner and serum.

I am 35. In the last two years my face has darkened, especially the area around my temples. I’ve gone for a thorough check-up and no medical problems were detected. I don’t go out in the sun and spend most of my time in an air-conditioned office or at home. Please help.

Suchismita Roychoudhury, Bhubaneshwar

In order to minimise the appearance of pigmented skin, the safest approach is to use products that contain botanical (plant derived) skin brighteners. It may seem like a drag but starting to get into a routine of taking good care of your skin at this stage will guarantee that it stays younger looking for longer.

Try to exfoliate twice a week. Because the cells are regenerating much slower now, exfoliation is really important both for removing the dull dead cells from the surface, and helping to regenerate as many new skin cells from the surface as possible. Be gentle though. If your skin is dry, a great way to help prevent the onset of ageing is to use a serum together with your moisturiser in the winter months, when harsh weather conditions can begin to damage otherwise healthy skin.

Serums are light in texture and will boost the skin’s water-retaining capacity without weighing it down or clogging it up.

Lastly make-up can be an amazing tool. A bit of concealing can result in a big boost to your self-esteem and happiness. Using a concealer sometimes is all you need for a really flawless finish. Well-applied concealers can lighten and brighten a face and any blemishes can be hidden from sight.