We pretend that we carry compacts to powder our shiny nose but really we enjoy having a shiny piece of glamour inside our handbags. Whilst the powder on the inside might serve the purpose of keeping our skin matte, the real beauty of a compact is to wield it like a piece of precious jewellery. If you appreciate the weight, the fit in the palm of your hand and the satisfying closing click of a good compact, then you’ll understand why it is more than just a convenient mirror.

The beauty brands produce their loveliest compacts for Christmas and to feed the collecting frenzy there are of course, limited editions. Estée Lauder produce an annual holiday compact collection that is eagerly awaited by fans and collectors. This year the brand has worked with the jeweller Jay Strongwater on a range of bejewelled solid perfume compacts. They also have the Zodiac collection so that you can make your powder align with your star sign.

For a piece of Baroque hardware, Clarins’ Odyssey Face palette holds a luminous gold-flecked translucent powder. Lovely as the powder is, we’ll admit that the magnetic soft touch closure of the case is what really caught our attention. For that which is as pretty on the inside, Dolce and Gabbana’s Animalier collection includes a leopard print compact that houses an equally fabulous leopard print bronzer.

An enduring beauty talisman, a beautiful compact is to have and to hold, and perhaps sometimes to use.

Theoretically, this is the time of year to show a little more skin and flaunt a golden glow. The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park understand this only too well, and to celebrate the season, they have put together a bespoke spa experience called 'Bloom into Summer', designed to help shed winter skin and rejuvenate body and mind.

I left the world behind as I descended the stairs from the hotel down into the spa. It's best to arrive early here to indulge in the experience with the Vitality Pool, Amethyst Crystal Steam Room and even enjoy a nap in the relaxation room to forget daily stresses.

My treatment began with an introduction to the Bloom infusion which is a unique blend of sensuous oils bespoke to the Mandarin Oriental, including ylang ylang, precious rose and chamomile to encourage joy, intimacy and emotional release. The treatment itself is an 80-minute Swedish meridian massage focusing on the balance of yin and yang energies to ensure your relaxation is as much about the psychological as it is the physical. After a few deep inhalations of the Bloom infusion my therapist Rebecca began the massage which focuses on teasing out muscular tension in specific problem areas. In my consultation I mentioned that my shoulders and upper back were areas of extreme tension, so this is where the massage began. Not for the fainthearted, Rebecca dug her thumbs into every muscular knot until my back felt like it had levitated from my body as all the stress was drawn out. I drifted in and out of a dreamlike euphoria as the massage moved to my head, arms, legs, feet, chest and stomach. At the end of my treatment, I was encouraged to take a nap in the relaxation room. I awoke refreshed and revitalised.

I emerged onto the Brompton road two and a half hours later feeling elated, lighter and glowing. The Mandarin have released me from my Winter shell, and if the sun would only shine a little longer, you might be able to see how my skin is beaming with health.

"Bloom into Summer" therapy at the Mandarin Oriental London, £155. Quote "BLOOM" when booking this treatment and you will receive a complimentary Elemental Bath and Shower Oil Set (value of £22.50). Offer valid Mondays to Fridays throughout July and August 2012.

Traditionally London fashion week is where the kids come out to play. Creativity and exuberance have fuelled London's reputation as the place where eclectic style flourishes and the avant-garde have a cup of tea with the eccentric. However this season, London is trying on grown-up for size and the hair and beauty looks reflected this new adult mood.  Perhaps it's not cool to be hair fiddling whilst the euro is burning so the double-dip recessionista is packing away her statement looks and will be wearing her polished and sultry face next season.

There was a distinct lack of colour and the word on the make-up artists' minds seemed to be tonal. Cheeks were contoured, eyes shaded and lips muted. It was all about emphasising face structure and not colour. Limiting themselves to a neutral palette, the make-up artists used different ways to highlight key features. At Felder Felder, make-up artist Georgina Graham created a shiny glossy eye by pressing a shimmery pigment into the lids and at J.JS Lee the key-make-up artist Terry Barber put a 50s eye through an x-ray machine painting on a white cat eyeliner on the models faces but anchored with strong black lashes to avoid an alien look.

Drama on eyes without colour was seen through a variety of smokey looks ranging from the softest grey haze at Burberry through to petrol toned dark lids at Paul Smith where Petros Petrohilos used a dark blue shimmery pencil to shade in the entire eye. Bypassing the eyelids entirely the look at McQ showed a deeply shaded crease and inner corner of the eye for a severe sculpted look which made the models look like frowning statues. Overall the London look next season requires a product list more about skin care and textured products to create dimension, shine, shadow and tones. Blusher has taken the season off.

For hair the natural soft looks dominated. The girls at Christopher Kane looked like they had styled themselves, with natural textured loose hair worn centre-parted for the ultimate youthful natural look although those without naturally gorgeous youthful hair can fake it with a hairdryer and texturising spray. If all else fails backcomb like mad and push it into a low ponytail for an easy versatile style as shown at House of Holland and Paul Smith.

If all this sounds too safe and monotone for the vibrant of heart, take comfort in the nails which rebelled against the pared down make-up at House of Holland. Sophy Robson took the houndstooth pattern from the collection and created a custom transfer to finish the nails in either a mid-tone blue or pink. All bets were off at Meadham Kirchoff where strokes of bright colour were used to paint on the vital lines on the girls' faces for Picasso beauties that had stepped out of the canvas. The rainbow explosion provided an alternative for those whose war paint needs to make a colourful point.