Minor cosmetic enhancement is becoming more common in Britain, but there are still millions of us who haven't crossed the line, out of principle or squeamishness.

Cosmetics companies have seized upon this gap in the market: the women who want their lines filled, but aren't prepared to have their faces cut or injected.

The cost of surgery isn't an issue for some of them - many are prepared to pay more for a product than they would for surgery; witness Crème de la Mer's Essence, which costs £1,500 for three weeks' supply.

Last month, Chanel launched a range of surgery-copycat products called Microsolutions. The best is its Wrinkle Filler Programme, which is a two-stage treatment designed to hide lines as well as fight them.

The concoction, which contains wrinkle-fighting vitamins, works on lines long-term, but also acts as an adhesive for the product that goes on next: the temporary filler, which is dispensed from beautiful one-application phials.

A tiny amount is applied to the lines - frowning ones, in my case - and, hey presto, you've saved yourself, er, not very much money. A 21-day supply of this high-grade Polyfilla costs £125, but it does temporarily delete deep lines (stockists: 020 7493 3836).

Prescriptives' rather marvellous Invisible Line Smoother (£27; 0870 034 2566) seems a bargain in comparison, and has a similar, powdery gel texture. Meanwhile, Philosophy has a version called Fine Line Filler (£26; 0870 990 8452), which does just what it says, and comes as a brush-pen for precise application.

Estée Lauder's Perfectionist Concentrate for Lip Lines (£24; www.esteelauder.co.uk) has been created specifically for those little striations that appear around the lips after middle age, and the formula prevents lipstick from bleeding into them.

L'Oréal has recently added Wrinkle De-Crease Collagen Filler to its overwhelming number of anti-ageing products. You may have seen Claudia Schiffer in the ads, looking as though she is self-medicating with Restylane injections. It's not as immediately effective as some of the others, but it's easier to apply because you can spread it all over your face.

Clinique has a marvellous filler for such holes: the Pore Minimiser Instant Perfector (£12.50; 0870 034 2566), which can be used under or over make-up.

A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian (£26.50; 0800 731 4039) - a lovely plant-based anti-ageing treatment - wasn't designed as a pore-filler, but I find it a very reliable smoother. Many make-up artists use it as a primer, to even out the skin's surface before applying foundation.

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