Dolled Up

A hot date, or any occasion for leaving the house, requires enormous amounts of preparation these days. Oh for the time when a quick brush of the hair and a slick of lipgloss was the only dolling-up required.

It starts the night before. Neatening up the eyebrows, and any other stray "brows" that have migrated elsewhere (how do they get to the chin, I wonder?!) Filing and painting the nails, but only after the careful application of nourishing eye, face and neck creams that promise to work their miracles while I'm asleep.

Early the next day, I'm jumping into the shower for the main extravaganza. Wash the hair and then leave a conditioning treatment to infuse its goodness while I use footscrub, body exfoliator with essential oils, facial scrub (I like to be smooth). De-fuzzing of the legs and armpits, bikini line trimming. Rinse off all the gritty bits from the scrubs and it's time to get dry and moisturise.

Moisturising is an activity all of its own. Special potions for the driest bits such as heels and elbows. Body lotion with aromatherapy oils - I like my skin to smell soft as well as feel soft. I have a neck and bust serum (fear of a crepey cleavage haunts me), facial serum is followed by both face cream and special eye cream.

While all that soaks in, I'm spraying my hair with body-building spray, drying it upside down to give a bit of lift, twisting in a few velcro rollers for extra body (my hair is naturally limp, lank and lifeless otherwise). The God Of Hairdressing told me to do it like this, so I just follow his instructions.

Make-up comes next. Foundation (lately Chantecaille at £55 a tube), eye primer, lip base. Two toning eye shadows, eyeliner and two coats of mascara. Blusher, lip tint (long-lasting and non transferable), glossy top coat. Concealer for any undereye bags or spots.

Clothes are selected and hung on the wardrobe door the evening before, along with selection of the appropriate handbag and shoes. Accessories are also planned, necklaces buffed with a soft cloth for shine. Hair can only be brushed out and sprayed after getting dressed. Grab my phone, a SlimFast shake, the handful of vitamins set ready on the counter last night and I'm ready to go.

On a London day, I do all this morning stuff within the half hour between 6am and 6.30 when I leave for the train, setting the table for the others as I dash through the kitchen. Obviously a part of this game is to arrive at meetings, lunches, dates even, with a casual insouciance.

However I do sometimes feel resentful when I'm told I should "make an effort". All that hard work and investment, and it seems I still look rubbish.