Forget knuckle duster cocktail rings; these days the place to wear bling on your hands is on the tips. Nails have gone from an overlooked afterthought to an essential accessory. Whilst the classic French manicure languishes out of favour, it is not enough to just have a nice tidy set of nails. Nail wear is now a statement and like any good accessory, can make-or-break a look. The fashion equivalent would be a pair of shoes, but whilst we can only wear one pair of statement heels at a time, we have ten finger nails with which to play around with and have animated our four favourite party looks.

It’s not just about the colour of your polish these days. The texture, shape, finish and theme are all considerations of a manicure. Contrast is preferred, so if the rest of your look is simple, outré nails are the way to go. The red carpet trend of the moment is the accent nail: choose one finger to add a contrasting shade or design. The charm in this look? It’s the kind of detail that only gets noticed by someone who’s paying close attention to you.

If you’re good with a brush, then get painterly with it and draw in your nail art. For the rest of us, a nail wrap with a pre-printed design is the instant stick-on option.Rhinestones, glitter and sequins are also easy to do: place a few carefully on top of wetpolish, or sprinkle with abandon.

It may be one more thing we need to pay attention to in our grooming routine, but when something is this much fun and has such a varied palette of shades and textures, we say... enjoy the freedom and let your tips do the talking.

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.