I love packing. There, I've said it. I have never understood people who complain that they have to "go home to pack" the evening before they go on holiday, as if it were some kind of chore. Packing is the start of the holiday - it's the humdrum of unpacking that's the drag.

In fact, for me, packing is such a treat I have been known to offer my services to friends. The only part I have trouble with - and this will come as no surprise - is trying to take anything less than my entire toiletries collection. Never mind the kitchen sink, it's the bathroom cabinet that I have a problem leaving behind. I always have to sit on my suitcase, and I always have problems zipping up an overnight bag, but it's because I can't bring myself to go away with anything less than moisturiser (face and body), face serum, face wash, night cream, eye gel, shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and hair cream. It doesn't matter if I'm going away for a long weekend or a fortnight: the size of my vanity case is always the same (it's not called a vanity case for nothing).

A firm believer in less is more when it comes to beach or poolside make-up, I may not take much on holiday, but when it comes to my toiletries I'd rather lug the lot thousands of miles than risk having to make do without whatever moisturiser is my current favourite. Holidays are where my skin looks best, but it comes under a lot of pressure, too - all that salt water, hot sun and the odd drop of sangria.

So, as far as I'm concerned, it's a false economy to kid myself that taking fewer products - so I can fit in more clothes or shoes, say - is a good trade-off. I've tried taking less stuff, but by the time I get to the airport I'm suffering from such bad separation anxiety that I often end up spending more money in duty-free than I did on my flight. I always mean to buy those miniature bottles to decant my beauty products into, but I never seem to get around to it, what with everything else on my list.