h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For those of you looking for a fail-safe skin fixer but who have been unable to find propilis, can I suggest pawpaw ointment which is a fabulous product made in Australia (not sure what the overseas distribution is like, sorry!!). It smells and looks a little like Vaseline but has an active ingredient of fermented pawpaw (or papaya for our American friends)and is utterly brilliant for curing just about every skin irritation known to man. Everything from chapped lips, pimples, insect bites, burns from the iron, hastens the clean healing of cuts and abrasions, you name it this stuff'll fix it.

Failing that, if you are fortunate enough to live in a more temperate climate, grow yourself a pot or two of aloe vera plants. In their natural state these are a succulent plant with long sword-like leaves with thorny edges, but squeeze the wonderfully cool and refreshing gel out of them and it is brilliant on sunburn, prickly heat, rashes and, of course, pimples. Terrific on the face for those of us reaching their mid-thirties and with a preference to not look old before out time. The gel is very bitter though so be a little careful!