There is not a cat in hell's chance that I'll be wearing shorts this summer, or next summer, or any other summer, for that matter.

The last time I wore shorts, there was an awful lot of Lycra and not enough self-awareness involved, and I have no intention of revisiting the look. That said, I am partial to a nice pair of legs, be they mine or someone else's, and as soon as spring hits I have to restrain myself from advising complete strangers that perhaps a little body brushing wouldn't go amiss.

Second only to my "moisturise daily" mantra comes the wonder of body brushing. It's quick, cheap (all you need is a new hard-bristle body brush every few months) and easy. It also gives fast results (as well as a strange kind of pleasure, though perhaps that's just me).

Noella Gabriel, founder of Elemis, says it's a "must". "Body brush once in the morning, using upward movements from the soles of the feet up the front and back of the legs, then brush down the back of the arms from armpit to elbow before showering."

A hard-bristle brush is not for everyone, however, so if you're a delicate flower try an exfoliating body wash instead. This isn't as rigorous as a body brush, but pick a good one (brown sugar body polish by Fresh, Dermologica's ace new exfoliating body scrub and Elemis's exotic lime and ginger salt glow are my current top three) and you'll still see and feel results soon enough.

So what does all that scrubbing do? "Exfoliation clears the skin's surface of any dirt or oil residue by rubbing off the uppermost layer of dead skin cells," says Simone Dooley of Me Mine. "This prepares the skin for subsequent treatments and brings it a natural luminosity. Exfoliation helps stimulate circulation of lymph fluids, which aid in the elimination of toxins. The circulation of movements has also been found to help with the appearance of cellulite."

Body brush or exfoliating wash, it's up to you. Just remember to moisturise properly afterwards, and to lock the bathroom door – it's not always a pretty sight.