Remember when all those new year, new you spa specials in the glossies – the ones that take all weekend and suggest you start each day with a glass of hot water and lemon and a spot of stretching – actually inspired you to have a go (or at least buy a scented candle to stick by the bath) rather than turn the page? In truth, even when time allowed, I never had the patience for the full-on, at-home spa monty, face mask-while-you-soak and all. But the idea – of disappearing into the bathroom and emerging with glossier hair, smoother, glowing skin and ready to take on the world is undeniably appealing. And it can be done – even you’re a busy mum – in a matter of minutes, not hours or over a weekend. Here, then, is the MumKnowsBest fast track to fabulous ...

Get into the bathroom, whenever you can. Forget about candles or unplugging the phone (as if). When time allows for that (bliss), all well and good. This is all about fast, results-orientated body-buffing. If you’re up for it, try a spot of dry skin brushing. The Riffi Bamboo Face And Bodycare Glove (£7.95) makes this circulation-boosting, famously ‘detoxing’ beauty trick (it’s said to help stimulate lymphatic drainage) quick, easy and only slightly scratchy (at John Lewis and leading chemists). Or try The Body Shop’s Round Body Brush (£7). If you don’t fancy it, skip this bit and jump in the shower.

Treat yourself to a top-to-toe exfoliation session with a body scrub (tip: if you’re planning to shave your legs, avoid one with sea salt. Ouch.). It’s amazing how just doing this can transform dry, winter-parched skin. Any will do, but we particularly love the aromatherapy, feels-like-it’s-doing-something smell of Crabtree & Evelyn’s Aromatherapy Distillations Purifying Body Scrub (£23) and Champneys’ Citrus Glow Hydrating Sugar Scrub (£7.50) has a nice, zingy scent. Enhance the spa-y mood with an essential oil-enriched body wash, such as Natio’s Pep Up Body Cleanser (£8, at Debenhams).

Give your tresses an intensive conditioning treatment, to boost softness, shine and generally make it behave better, in a flash. Shampoo and then apply a fast-acting masque such as Pantene’s Pro-V Repair & Protect Conditioner (£3.99). Leave on for a minute or two before rinsing.

Once you’ve washed off your conditioner, scrape hair back and treat your face to a gentle exfoliating scrub (all this can be done in a matter of seconds, in the shower). Used once or twice a week (max), a facial scrub will help to keep your skin clear and glowing (and are especially helpful if you’re going to apply a facial self-tanner afterwards (see next step). Choose one that suits your budget and your skin – Soap & Glory’s The Greatest Scrub of All Self-Activating Facial Smoother (£8) is, to quote Soap & Glory, ‘formulated to leave even the most exhausted face looking FRESH’. We like the sound of that.

After your shower, dry off and apply lots of skin-softening body lotion or cream while your skin is still slightly damp (to help seal in moisture). Perfect for the evening (and even better if little people are in bed, and you can just relax), we love Naked’s Coco de Mer Body Butter (£4.99, at www.nakedbodycare.com).

With skin clean and exfoliated, now’s a great time to apply a facial self-tanner. MumKnowsBest is a firm believer in the out-of-season fake tan, but there’s little point bothering with an all-over application in the middle of January. However, taking the edge off winter pastiness really can lift a girl’s spirits, and we love the mess-free option (look, mum, no orange hands) of spray-on mists such as Garnier’s Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Dry Face Mist (£7.99) – we braved it in Dark and loved the golden glow, but it also comes in Light.

If time allows, whisk off old nail polish, do a spot of shaping and apply a think-spring colour such as No 7’s Stay Perfect Nail Polish (£6.25) in Twinkle – a soft pink with a touch of sparkle – or Sugar Syrup, a classic, shimmer-free mani-pedi pink. Now, as our Stateside mama friends across the pond would say, you’re good to glow …

For more expert beauty advice, click here or visit nonstopmama.com