Archive copy by Jenni Baden Howard

When the countdown to a family holiday is on – passports up-to-date? Check. Bottle of Calpol packed, just-in-case? Check. - tackling dry, lily-white legs, sandpaper-like soles and neglected tresses hardly seems like a priority. Until, that is, you reach your destination and wish you’d made time for some prepare-to-bare pampering and had actually removed that Pilates DVD from its case after you bought it. If this sounds familiar, here’s great news: you can head off on your holiday looking and feeling your gorgeous best, with amazingly little effort. Here’s how to pull it off …

Smooth moves

Getting skin silky-smooth is an instant confidence-booster. The fastest way to de-fuzz is by shaving. The hot pink, perfect-for-summer Gilette Venus Vibrance Razor (£8.99) is designed to gently exfoliate skin as it whisks away hair with three, “comfort-coated” blades. For the fastest, smoothest shave, prime skin with a shaving gel such as Sainsbury’s Ladies Shave Gel (£1.49) in Berry or Sens.

Alternatively, waxing away unwanted hair will keep skin holiday-smooth for up to 4 weeks. Cold wax strips are easy, effective and less time-consuming than hot wax kits. Veet’s new Bikini & Underarm Wax Strips (£5.49 for 16 strips) are ideal for holiday beauty prepping on-the-run.

Keep your newly-smoothed skin soft and supple with lashings of a hydrating body lotion such as Sainsbury’s classic, deliciously summery Cocoa Body Lotion (£1.99).

Faking it

Get glowing, from top-to-toe, with a self-tanning lotion that is quickly absorbed and as foolproof as possible. When you’re up against the clock, you want to be able to slap it on and go without fretting about tell-tale tangerine streaks. The solution is to opt for a body lotion that contains a touch of self-tanner – these put you in control, by letting you build-up colour gradually. We love Garnier’s new Skin Naturals Summerbody Moisturising Lotion (£4.99), which smells wonderfully refreshing and is quickly absorbed without a hint of greasiness.

Before you hit the beach, tie on a great-looking sarong that covers those areas you’d rather keep (literally) under wraps. Experiment with different ways to wear your sarong – skirt-style, as a halterneck dress and so on – and you’ll be set to sashay onto the sand en famille, feeling fantastic.

Join the firm

Body-firming and toning creams, lotions and gels can provide a beach body confidence boost, too, by helping to leave skin looking and feeling more soft, supple and toned. The simple act of massaging in a body cream helps to stimulate the circulation in targeted areas. Nivea’s new Goodbye Cellulite (£9.99) is an invigorating, gel-cream formula which has an immediate cooling effect on the skin.

A shining example

When professional deep conditioning treatments aren’t an option, intensive hair masks that work in a matter of minutes come into their own. Treat pre-holiday tresses to Charles Worthington’s luxurious Dream Hair Blissful Treat Intensive Conditioner (£5.99) – simply apply it, wrap your hair in a towel and let this salon-inspired treatment work wonders while you get on with something else. To save space in an already-stuffed suitcase, pack a stash of the irresistibly bright and cheery Charles Worthington Take Aways Sun-Shine Sun Wash UV-Protection Shampoo and After Sun Repair UV-Protection Conditioner (£1.65 each).

Avoid bad hair days on the beach with this styling trick from celebrity hairdresser Charles Worthington: ‘Go for a simple, elegant ponytail, tied at the nape of the neck. Try fixing it in place with a piece of wet string – this will contract as it dries, making sure your ponytail stays in place.’ What could be more low-maintenance?

Make-up musts

Save time and avoid a different sort of meltdown on the beach by keeping holiday make-up to a minimum. A speedy slick of waterproof mascara will keep lashes lovely and cheeks streak-free – not a good look at the beach bar – while a swish of tinted lip gloss will make all the difference in making you feel more polished and pulled-together. ‘A clear or tinted gloss gives the most natural look and helps keep the lips well-conditioned, too,’ says celebrity make-up artist and Rimmel London spokesperson Lee Pycroft, who suggests using Rimmel London’s Vinyl Lip Gloss (£4.29) in Star Kissed. ‘The tiny sparkles in it give lips a pretty twinkle,’ she adds.

No-wait nails

For instantly beach-beautiful feet, give them a once-over with a pumice in the shower and follow with a slathering of foot cream. The finishing touch? A speedy, single-coat application of Maybelline New York’s Express Finish (£3.99) nail colour in Coral Diamonds, an oh-so-alluring, pale sandy-coral with a gorgeous gold shimmer.