It was something of a shock to find that - in one way, at least - I'm suddenly fashionable. All this summer I've been wearing an updo.

A late-50s, early-60s-look updo is apparently the coming thing, according to the Guardian. The popularity of Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, of the hourglass figure, is (as usual) cited as one reason for the trend. 

All balls, of course. Personally I've been wearing my hair up because it's been BLOODY HOT all summer, in case no-one's noticed. Also, because I've largely eschewed western clothing in favour of kimono, an updo is easier to wear without looking like the Madwoman of Montcocher. 

I must admit, though, to being pleased that my new hairdresser persuaded me to the little wispy bits around my face when I had my hair done a while back. She spent ages on my natural-looking streaks, and how they matched the cut and no matter what I do with it - up, down, ponytail, bun - it always looks like I'm having a Really Good Hair Day. 

This is just as well as, I am not, it must be admitted, a high-maintenance kind of gal when it comes to hair.  I loathe using products and drying it upside down is about as far as I'll go in terms of faffing about with it. I wash it twice a week, and on a daily basis, all it gets is a brush (if it's lucky) before being scragged into a scrunchie and left until bedtime. I doubt that my bollocks-to-it approach is quite what the 'artistic director' at Trevor Sorbie had in mind with his doughnuts and hairspray.

At the moment, come to think of it, I don't even have a hairdryer, as my old one began emitting sparks and has been pensioned off as bellows for the kitchen woodburner. 

Oh la. It is time for a trim, though, and the DH, who hasn't had a haircut in over a year, is beginning to look increasingly like Beethoven, so maybe it's time I booked us a double appointment. 

If you're anywhere near Paris from the 5th to the 17th of August, get yourself down to Galeries Lafayette and enjoy some free makeup lessons, courtesy of the team at Bobbi Brown.

They are promoting the new range, 'Denim and Rose', but you need to reserve a place (if your French is up to it), on: 01 42 85 13 68.

Found a nice little article online the other day about makeup and glasses.

For those who want to read the original, in French, it's here. For those who prefer the translation:

Makeup for myopia (short sight)

Rule number 1: accentuate your eyes.

Choose matt eyeshadows and neutral colours (beige, champagne, rose or chestnut) and apply shadow to the entire upper eyelid. Trace a line of dark crayon round the outer part of your lower eyelid, and/or a line of white crayon on the inside of your lower eyelid. Use black mascara that both lengthens and curls.

Makeup for presbyopia and hypermetropia (long sight)

Rule number one: downplay your eyes.

Choose sombre, matt eyeshadows and apply on the rim of the eyelashes on your upper eyelid only, then apply a darker shade on the rest of the eyelid. Draw a line of eye-liner from the corner of your eye on the upper lid, then a line of khol on the inner lower eyelid to make your eyes look smaller. Use mascara discreetly and don't forget to conceal any dark shadows under your eyes, because the lenses accentuate them. 

Makeup for progressive lenses

Rule number one: accentuate the upper part of the eye.

Choose brightly coloured eyeshadows. Trace a line of eye-liner along the edge of the upper eyelid to reinforce the lashline. Make up your upper eyelashes with a volumising mascara. 

Make the most of your eyebrows

Whatever type of lenses you wear, take good care to pluck your eyebrows because wearing glasses makes your brows more noticeable. Above all, don't let shaggy eyebrows make your face look heavy.

I just came across another ghastly example of Photoshopping. Forgive me, as it's very old news now, but just look at this pic of Demi Moore on the cover of W.

As usual, the eye can be deceived into thinking that this isn't too bad until you look closely. Moore is very tall, very thin and very sleek in this image, but look again at her left hip (ie: her right hip as we're looking at it) and track up from her thigh.

The hip appears to have been moved in about an inch, unless her hips join her legs in a very peculiar manner. 

Look again and it's quite clear that one hip is considerably narrower than the other - the idiot photoshopper hasn't even bothered to level up both hips. 

Anyone who thinks this kind of thing isn't damaging young girls and their body image should meet my young friend E, who is 11. I sat with her a couple of nights ago and went through some Photoshopping techniques to show her what is now routinely done to reshape models in a way that is anatomically impossible and universally, she pronounced the 'before' images 'ugly'. 

Understand? To this 11 year old, normal, beautiful women are 'ugly' unless every sign of humanity is actually removed. This is a cruel trick to play on an impressionable mind and it's being played on every young girl in the west as they stand on the brink of womanhood, trying to find their place.

There's an interesting article here on chemicals in make-up and toiletries.

It suggests that the average woman wears about 500 chemicals on herself daily and gives some tips on the worst ones, which you should avoid if you can.

Personally, I've tried to eliminate additives - especially parabens - from my purchases by buying organic products (the problem is, people keep giving me freebies...), but it is very hard to eliminate chemicals altogether, even with the best intentions. 

My new sunblock, for instance, is under dermatologist's orders because I am a Type 1 phenotype (blonde, blue eyes, pale skin with freckles) and have already had several dodgy moles removed. It contains three or four different parabens, something which I had actually managed to eliminate from my skincream by switching to coconut oil, and I have been ordered to wear it for the rest of my life, March to October. Parabens are in almost all sunblocks in order to act as a preservative. 

The other thing that is hard to find without masses of chemicals is shampoo (and conditioner).  My shampoo and conditioner alone account for 44 different additives, including three parabens.

Any ideas, anyone? Is there an organic alternative out there?