Scents and sensibility

How quickly a particular smell can delight the senses, or send us nose-scrunching in disgust.

I'm thinking specifically of a boat trip that I treated the Baby to in Ireland (I imagined a gentle cruise along the coast, but it turned out to be 90 minutes of high-sea, stomach-churning waves). Within minutes of setting off, poor Baby had gone greener than Neptune's beard and vomited all over herself, the boat, and me.

"Thas' what they call projectile vomitin'," informed the Captain in his thick Irish accent. He even called the coastguard to tell him that he'd never seen a baby so sick. He didn't turn the boat round though.

Now I can handle a bit of sick, but it hit me directly in the side of the head. And asides from the acidic locks now dangling centimeters from my nose (what a day to forget a hair elastic), I had to endure the whiff of fish guts emanating from the Baby's lifejacket which, it seems, had taken a dip in the boat's own bouillabaisse. My turn to feel nauseous.

But to dry land we did return, and after three shampoos and lots of cuddles, the Baby and I were clean again. My nose, however, had not forgotten, so I reached for the one thing that I knew would make my senses happy again: perfume.

One spritz of Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne, £29.50 (www.jomalone.co.uk), and everything felt right again. The perfect mix of sexy and not-too-sweet, this fragrance is limited edition so snap it up while you can. For other scents to rebalance an upset nose, try pleasantly powdery Philosophy Pure Grace, £34.40 (John Lewis), or this Summer's incarnation of Stella McCartney Sheer Stella, £36 (www.escentual.com), a green-smelling mix of freshly cut fruits and flora.

Let me know your favourites too - we've a boat journey coming up in August, and I need ammo.

Get me to the church on time

Confetti! Champagne! Dancing Queen! Yup, I'm off to a wedding this weekend. In Northern Ireland. I've packed my Marc by Marc Jacobs black taffeta prom-dress with shoulder bow (yums) and brown leather wedges (I know, I know, they're a bit mumsy but since I declared that I'd be holding the baby for specifically 80% of the party (in a bid to stop the mother-in-law from committing a grab-n-run) I need something that I won't fall over in when drunk... and those Moet bubbles hit me like a smack of alco-frogspawn in the face.)

So there I was, merrily packing my case full of girly frocks for frolicking in the Irish flora, when The Husband advised that, rather than slips of chiffon, I should really be packing my cagoule. My what? This man has been married to me for nearly 3 years. Has he ever, I asked, ever seen me in a cagoule? It's ok, he said, we can probably pick you up a Cag-in-a-Bag at the airport. Lucky me.

One thing I am packing is my party face, made up of the most gorgeous beauty bits to wing their way to my desk recently.

First up is Prescriptives Mineral Color Making Faces Kit, £26.43 (stockists: 08700342566), which contains a beautifully natural loose powder blush, all-over radiance powder (for making even sozzled skin look radiant) and a nifty little brush that's small enough to slip into your clutch bag. Mineral virgins: this is a great place to start.

Pink lips always work best for weddings, and I heart Clinique's new limited edition Butter Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink, £14. Part of their summer collection, this shade is already a bestseller, but here they've combined it with the melty, glossy, moisturising texture of Butter Shine Lipstick - if you've never tried it, I urge you to. It's marvellous.

And finally, because I love nail varnish but get bored of shades quickly, Collection 2000's new Hot Looks Nail Polish, £1.79 each (available from July) are perfect - mini bottles of polish in summer-hot shades that won't harass your purse. I'm switching between Hoola Hoop (baby pink), Big Hair (coral) and BMX Bandit (a Blu-tack blue which looks fab on toes).

Happy Wedding Season xxx

Bottoms up

So I've been thinking about this Butt Bra idea (see previous post below).

Why has the importance of a good supporting knicker never been addressed? At school, in magazines, the weird French women who did the school run... they all harked on about always wearing a decent, supportive and uplifting bra to stop your boobies from making a run south. (And because you'll never hitch a sailor if your balls hang low.)

And they were right. You only have to flick through the pages of the National Geographic to see what happens to a (third) world without Elle Macpherson Intimates.

But why no mention of what becomes of your behind if you only wear Primark pants with no lycra content? I'll tell you what happens... you end up with a saggy old bottom that bounces around like two water balloons in a carrier bag, that's what.

So here I was, pondering the name for my genius invention (a soutien-derrière? The bum-balconette? A halter-butt?) when I came across this... www.feelfoxy.com/Biniki_Butt_Bra_p/bk01a.htm.

It lives, dear reader! And do you know what? It looks pants.

I can see you

It has recently come to my attention that whenever somebody asks me how old my baby is, the next thing they inevitably do - with admirable nerve - is to give me a quick once-over. Every time. Men, women, young and old - all checking out the post-baby goodies 7 months down the line.  Not that I particularly care, but newsflash: if we're having a conversation, then I'm looking at your face. Which means I can see what your eyes are doing. At least wait until I'm walking away to assess the junk in my trunk.

If you're watching the wobble (as I am, every week in Pilates, quite literally. It's the 360-degree mirrors. They're a deathtrap for anyone who already suspects their bottom might need a support bra), then try a skin-tightening body gel. They sink in quicker than a cream, and while they're never going to give you thighs like a foal, they do give a pleasingly 'squeezed' effect that spurs you on to do one more set of lunges, if nothing else.

I like Bliss FatGirlSlim (minty, tingly and tightening) and Mamma Mio Zap Tummy Toner (not just for mums and tums - these days I'm using it to tackle slack upper arms).

Perfectly flushed.

Nothing, I tell you, nothing can make you look as fresh and dewy as a pop of blusher can. Worn high on the cheekbones (and swept across eyelids for a subtle match that looks sweet and simple), choose hues with a hint of shimmer - relax, I said shimmer not glitter - that will keep you far from sparkly but give your cheeks a happy, healthy glow. Try these on for size: MAC Powder Blush in Peachykeen, Nars Blush in Orgasm (above) and Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in Rose D'Or.

Lost In Foundation

There once was a time when buying foundation filled me with dread. I just didn't know where the start. Matte? Too dull. Light-reflective? Too shiny. Shade 1? Too pale, surely. So I would umm and ahh, and swipe a few samples onto the back of my hand. And sometimes, like you're supposed to, onto my jawline. I'd then go outdoors and peer into a hand-mirror (which, whether you're standing outside Superdrug or Selfridges, inevitably lends an air of lunacy), and left me none the wiser.

The choices seemed endless yet I'd always panic-buy the wrong shade or finish - until I started thinking in terms of a foundation wardrobe. Most women need at least 2 different shades, one for paler Winter skins and one for bronzy Summers (which needn't cost the earth - see my list below). Never purposefully buy a darker shade in the hope that it'll add colour to a washed-out pallor - it won't, it'll just make you look dirty. Leave the tanning to your bronzer and trust nature's choice, however milky.

My top tip is to pick your bases the way you choose shoes - you wouldn't wear stilettos to go camping (nor should you slap on a thick layer of base if you have great skin), and you wouldn't spend a fortune on designer shoes in the wrong size (actually, you probably would, but you shouldn't. And that's the point - a vanity case full of dodgy shades doth not a fresh face make.)

If you're thinking of choosing a new base, the list below are some of the best I've come across, and come in a range of shades that suit most skintones:

£ Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation - a deliciously whipped texture that glides onto skin without any heaviness. Good for normal and oily skin.

££ Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup - a powder foundation, but don't let that put you off: buffing it into the skin gives a super-sheer finish that is at once shine-reducing, light-reflective and doesn't block pores. Good for normal, oily and spot-prone skin.

£££ Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - the ultimate luxe in texture and packaging, this melt-into-skin liquid leaves no tell-tale tidemarks and lasts all day. Good for normal and mature skin.

Special mention -

££ Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturiser - this oil-free formula has an SPF15, and comes in just two 'suits-all' shades. I alternate throughout the year and find they make perfect 'no-makeup' daywear. Good for all skin types.