Q: I'm turning 30 and the skincare products I've been using since I was a teenager no longer work for me. How should I go about choosing a new skincare regimen?

A: The trick is to be very clear about what you are looking for. For starters, list all the things that your current skincare products are not helping you with, be it fine lines, clogged pores or a dry complexion.

There is no need to be shy. Our skincare needs change as we get older and few people have baby-smooth skin without some help.

It would also help the beauty advisers at the beauty counters if you tell them what you are currently using. They can then provide better suggestions on what new products you should try and also find out things like what sort of textures and packaging you prefer. For instance, I try to insist on creams that come in pump bottles rather than in jars for hygiene reasons.

You may want to check out brands that have organised systems for determining what products are suitable for their consumers.

Clinique, for example, is famous for a questionaire that helps to determine your skin type. Their beauty advisers will guide you in answering these questions, or you can check out the online version at www.clinique.com by clicking on the My Skin Consultation tab.

Estee Lauder has also recently introduced a new Advanced Skin Profiling System, which uses a state-of-the-art skin scope to analyse your skin in 11 different categories, including sebum level, elasticity and the size and visibility of your pores.

This service is free and currently available at Tangs Orchard. It takes about 10 minutes and the beauty adviser will use the results to recommend skincare products that are suitable for you.