I've always thought that my skin has its own personality. When it's in a good mood, it looks glossy, healthy and happy. At other times, usually when I have been taking it for granted, it's like living with a teenager. My skin was having a particularly sulky day when I read about Erno Laszlo's skin care clocking system. Instead of thinking of skin as being either dry, oily or combination, clocking finds out what "time" your skin is, then guides you to the appropriate treatment. Not one to be put off by gimmicks, and intrigued as to whether I had morning skin or late afternoon skin, I decided to give it a go.

There are seven clocks from which to choose. Each "clock" corresponds with a particular skin type; the earlier the time, the drier the skin. Midday represents the holy grail that is normal skin; other types are either "minus complexions" (represented by the hours before noon) or "plus complexions" (after noon). So, 8.30am is extremely dry (dull, rough, red or flaky), 10.30am is dry (dry throughout the day, tight and flaky in colder weather or without protection) and 11.30am is slightly dry (some oiliness in the T-zone late in the day, or in humid conditions). Midday represents normal/combination skin (generally comfortable and well balanced, even though a slight shine may appear on the nose in the afternoon).

Plus skins include 1pm (slightly oily, develops a shine in the T-zone within three hours of cleansing), 2pm (slightly oily, develops a shine within two hours of cleansing) and 3pm (extremely oily, always excessively oily, even an hour after cleansing). The Laszlo consultant at Harrods initially tells me my skin look like it's midday. But then, after a brief questionnaire on how my skin feels during the day, she revises her diagnosis to 11.30am, and I struggle to take the news graciously. I am sent home with a bag of Laszlo products and told I should notice a big difference in a week or so. That evening I dream I am stuck in the middle of a grandfather clock and can't escape - not quite the result I was expecting.