Beauty queen: Carola Long

Amid the multiple theories about why Madonna and Guy Ritchie have split up, one newspaper pinpointed her "bizarre" cosmetic routines, reporting that Madge would get into bed slathered in £500-a-pot cream and a plastic body suit. Forget affairs or incompatible character traits, how can any nuptials be expected to survive such a flagrant, not to mention greasy, disregard for the sanctity of moisturiser, sorry marriage?

In fairness, it might have been something of a disappointment to Ritchie to find that his corsetry-clad, Sex book-publishing wife had her off-duty moments; but then a beauty-conscious woman such as Madonna would know what a prime time for self-improvement a night's sleep provides. The idea of effortless transformation is an appealing one, and in particular the notion of applying a mysterious unguent only to wake up seven hours later, looking seven years younger.

Perhaps the body suit is a touch extreme, although you can buy fabric all-in-ones to wear while covered in fake tan to prevent it damaging the sheets, but there are numerous treatments for aspiring sleeping beauties that are all the more effective for being applied overnight. Bliss's Softening Socks and Glamour Gloves impart smooth hands and feet, and a similar, cheaper effect can be achieved by applying cream and wearing socks or plastic gloves over the top. Bliss Spa's Fat Girl Sleep cream works with your body's restorative processes to smoothe lumpy skin, and Guerlain's classic Midnight Secret serum lives up to its Sleep in a Bottle claim by creating a well-rested radiance after late nights.

Possibly the least glamorous, although strangely effective overnight treatment, is the Bodytox Detox Foot Sachet (available from Selfridges), which absorbs toxins from the body when stuck to the feet. It's hard to assess how detoxifying the sachets actually are, but they do induce very deep, and thus beautifying, sleep. I'm sure that Guy Ritchie would agree that the seductiveness of slipping between the sheets looking as if you have two teabags attached to your soles can't be overestimated.