There's nothing like doing the modern family/home/work juggle to get a girl to take her eye off the ball in the beauty department. Amidst the business of it all, grooming typically takes a back seat save for a quick lick of mascara and, perhaps, a swipe of lip colour in the morning - whatever helps us to look and feel awake and, frankly, less scary at the school gate. Speaking for myself, going make-up-free invites looks of concern and well-intentioned remarks such as ‛Are you feeling OK? You look tired'. No, we were just running extra late (as in even later than we normally run) and in the toss up between achieving a healthy-looking glow and filling in the late book, the blusher lost out.

The chances are, the products that you habitually reach for are the same, failsafe ones you've used for yonks. In some cases, it may literally be the same eye pencil or lipstick, worn down to the nub. As a busy mum, visits to Boots are more likely to be pit stops for Calpol or baby wipes than opportunities to peruse the beauty counters. Nevertheless, just as it pays to have a wardrobe weed-out every once in a while (and lose the shapeless sweatpants that you lived in through your pregnancy), there is much to be said for reviewing your beauty routine on a fairly regularly basis.

In her great new book Bobbi Brown Make Up Manual (¬£20), the celebrity make-up artist (and mother of three) advocates regular assessments. ‛At least twice a year, make sure your colours and formulas are working,' Bobbi suggests. Similarly, getting stuck in a hair rut is all too easy but simple to break out of with an inspired tweak or two.

Changes don't have to be dramatic to have a fantastic impact. It's about adapting your beauty routine so it evolves with you, making the very most of your looks at every stage.

Face First

• We know our skin's needs are constantly changing, affected by the seasons, stress, hormones - just about everything! - but adapting our daily routine in order to keep up is easier said than done. It's worth checking with the consultant that the product you always use is the right one for your skin right now, taking into account your specific concerns. Shop around, and ask for samples - most of the big beauty companies will happily decant creams into tester pots for you to take away and try before you buy (or not). Just ask.

• Professional facials are not only a relaxing treat, but a useful opportunity to get an expert analysis of your skin and to pick up some advice. If time and budget allow, choose a facial that can be adapted to your skin's needs by a company whose ethos, philosophy (and price range!) appeal. It sounds obvious, but if you're a back-to-nature beauty buff, think hands-on and nurturing rather than seriously hi-tech. Mumknowsbest is impressed by the holistic, complexion-transforming treatments by Linda Meredith, available at Linda Meredith clinic in London (tel: 020 7225 2755, or visit www.lindameredith.com) and the Spa at Chewton Glen, Hampshire, which includes facials as part of their super-luxe spa days (tel: 01425 275341).

Make-up shake-up

‚Ä¢ Never seen yourself as the red lipstick sort (but secretly wished you were braver?) Been using the same ‛safe brown' eyeshadow forever, but craving a bit of colour? As with skincare counter consultations and facials, treating yourself to a makeover at a beauty counter (usually free of charge, or redeemable against purchase) is a great way to get a fresh, professional overview of your look and, perhaps, a pleasant surprise or two. A case in point, I had never considered myself a purple eyeshadow wearer (not since the early Eighties, anyway), until UK make-up maestro Paul Herrington converted me with a super-sheer one by Nars which I wore on my wedding day (the Single Eyeshadows, ¬£15 each, are a cinch to blend and let you build up the colour gradually, at www.nars.com). Finish is everything, which us brings us to our next, rut-busting strategy ...

‚Ä¢ Experiment with fresher textures. Dewy, cream-based make-up invariably looks fresher and more flattering than powder-based formulas, which can sit in fine lines and mask your skin's natural glow. ‛Use water-infused, hydrating, ultra-rich moisturisers and creamy make-up formulas,' advises Bobbi Brown. Cream foundations, blushers and more also allow for fast, easy fingertip application and blending (a boon for busy mums). Mumknowsbest loves Bobbi Brown's Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm SPF 25 (¬£31.32, visit www.bobbibrown.co.uk), which nourishes tired, dry or mature skin, provides a dose of healthy-looking colour and protects against UV damage. Sneaky tip: try a shade deeper than you might usually choose, to cheat an incredibly natural-looking glow. Check out, too, creamy blush sticks such as No 7's Blush Tint Cream Blush (¬£9.50), which comes in three, natural-looking flushes.

‚Ä¢ Still on the subject of texture, lip shines and glosses make bolder shades instantly more wearable. So, if you'd love to try a funky fuchsia lip colour but a matte mouth would be too much, a gloss gives you the best of both worlds: a pop of fresh, mood-lifting colour, in a fresher finish. Celebrity make-up artist (and mother of two) Caroline Barnes, make-up artist for Max Factor, offers this tip for time-pressed mums: ‛Try a long-lasting lip gloss in a great spring colour, to add a splash of colour and cut down on time.' Try Max Factor's Lipfinity Colour & Gloss (¬£8.99), available in a range of shades. Also, arriving on counters in March, keep your eyes peeled for The Sanctuary's new Extreme Lip Plump (¬£7.45, at Boots), a non-sticky gloss with an SPF 15, available in four shades, from Naturally Nude to Sheer Raspberry.

Change your locks

‚Ä¢ Busy mum-friendly, effortlessly polished-looking manes work with, not against, nature. Who has time to transform poker-straight hair into tousled waves or coax curls into sleek submission whilst running around after little ones? ‛A hairdresser should always work with your hair type and texture, taking into account its thickness and the time you have to spend on it,' says Alison Cooney, owner of The Mount salon in Wellington, Somerset (tel: 01823 664431 www.themountsalon.co.uk). Ask your stylist to suggest ways of updating your style, without adding precious minutes to your morning routine. Something as simple as adding a few face-framing layers might make all the difference, so talk through some options. ‛While you're at the salon, ask for a blow-dry lesson,' adds Alison. ‛Just using the correct brush and knowing how to use products will make a huge difference, and cut down on drying time.'

‚Ä¢ Give the ponytail, that school run staple, a fresh twist. ‛It can be worn so many different ways, again, ask your stylist for ideas to try at home,' suggests Alison. ‛Try tying your hair back with funky seasonal accessories, clips or even to one side.'

‚Ä¢ Giving your hair colour a boost can make an enormous difference in giving your locks a lift. Think low-maintenance, and leave more dramatic or complex changes - such as high or lowlights - to the experts. ‛Treat colouring your hair like applying make-up - don't try and transform your look, but aim to maximise it,' advises Christophe Robin, celebrity colourist and L'Or√©al Paris' colour expert. ‛Ideally, choose a shade no more than two tones lighter or darker than your natural hair colour. The colour of your eyebrows is often closest to your natural shade.'