You don't need to spend too much time. A few specific tips can ensure a polished look and you'll be ready to face the world with your charm.

Oil your hair at regular intervals. Use a shampoo which is best suited for your hair-type. Conditioners are essential for that extra bounce and sheen. If you have short hair then trim it regularly. If your hair is long then the style should not be distracting. Tie it neatly. Dishevelled hair doesn't do much for your image. Before going to bed, brush your hair atleast fifty times and tie it tightly.

Hair colouring of course is the rage today but it's always better to consult a hair expert for advice. The colour should always go with your skin tone. Don't use hair colour on henna treated hair. It's advisable to wait for two months before going in for colouring treatment. For light-skinned Indian women, chestnut is best suited and browns with red tones are ideal for darker complexions.

Cleansing, toning and moisturising are the very base for a good skin. Cleanse thoroughly in upward and outward strokes. Follow with a toner as it closes the open pores. Use a moisturiser and blend it all over the face and throat. In addition to this a scrub should also be used as it eliminates the dead cells and gives a fresh look that lasts for hours. You can also use a body scrub once a week for complete relaxation.

Make-up forms an essential part of grooming. Make-up is about expressing your personality. It should work with your features and colouring. Make-up shouldn't be obvious. It should enhance your features. Concentrate on one element, either the cheeks, lips or eyes and highlight it. Always apply make-up under the right light.

A thoroughly cleansed skin is the best base for good make-up. The foundation should be chosen keeping in mind your skin type - creamy ones for normal and dry skins, water based for oily ones and special ones marked ``hypo-allergenic'' for sensitive and delicate complexions. The foundation should be the exact colour of the skin or a shade darker. When buying a foundation apply it along the jawline and check in natural light to see whether you have got the right match or not. For applying foundation use a damp sponge to spread it evenly on the face. Blend it till the lower neck and ears to avoid a patchy look.

A concealer is used for blemishes and dark circles. Ideally, the concealer should be a shade lighter then the skin tone. For the Indian skin, a concealer should have yellow tones. For very dark circles, mix a little liquid foundation with eye cream and spot apply.

A blusher should suit the skin tone and not be too red or pink. Blush-on doesn't mean two red blotches on the face. Basically its used for chiselling the face. Remember colours used on your face should enhance your outfit and not necessarily match it. White, pink, peach or any shade of pale adds a glow to the face.

A russet tone goes with warm toned clothes, a pink shade is suitable for cool colours, and soft red looks good with neutrals, red, black and white outfits.

Face powder is used to set the make-up. Powder should always be lightly pressed over the face. Never rub it in. Lightly powder the sides of the nose to avoid looking shiny. Both transparent and translucent powder is available in the market.

Eye shadows during the day should be muted and dramatic at night. Earth tones such as terracotta, brown and grey soften and emphasise the eyes in a subtle way. Neutrals like coffee, peach, flesh, burgundy, vanilla and almond, auburn and gold are all excellent for the Indian skin. If you are applying bold colours like blues and greens then use a sheer shadow. For the day a single coat of mascara is sufficient while at night two to three coats are more appropriate. For a natural look try brown mascara. If you have thin eyelashes then dust powder over the first layer of mascara and then apply the second coat. This will help in making your lashes look thicker.

The eyeliner should be applied from the inner corner to the outer corner of the upper eyelid. The line should be right upto the base of the lashes.

You can blend in a couple of colours to achieve a shade of lipstick you want. The lipliner should be one shade darker than the colour of the lipstick. Use the lipliner to define your lips, keeping the proportion of your face in mind. To give a fuller look to lips, use a brush for applying the lipstick.

Remember the best make-up is that which is not noted. Minimalism is the name of the game.

You can maintain your hands and feet by indulging in fortnightly manicures and pedicures. Firstly remove all traces of nail-polish. Soak feet and hands in warm soapy water and pat dry. Rub the dead skin with a pumice stone. Trim the nails and massage cuticle cream. Push back the cuticles and don't forget to clean under the nail tips. If you want you can also use a scrub. Lastly, massage with a good hand and foot cream. Apply a liberal dose of moisturiser on your hands three to four times a day. The greens, blues and purples for nails are limited to the teenage crowd and are no longer the with it colours. If it's chic and sophistication you are looking for then the French manicure is not only stylish but is the hot new look. Lastly remember nails should be of a moderate level. Lengths longer than this look vampish and gives an older, look to your hands.

Many people neglect their necks. Use a loofah to clean your neck and massage regularly in upward strokes with a good cream.

Fragrances, deodorants and talcs are some other essential must-haves for a well groomed woman.

With that my ready reckoner for good grooming comes to an end. Just keep in mind that all it takes is some few minutes everyday to be impeccably well-turned out which in turns changes the way people look at you and the manner in which you perceive yourself.