Baby, it's cold outside - Hadley Freeman on how to perk up your spirits by turning your home into a spa

It's cold, it's warm, it's a bit warmer now - oops, no, it's cold and rubbish, again. Let's just accept it: it's Britain, it's British weather and, frankly, it's times that like this that you understand why everyone else in the world thinks, 'You Breeteesh, you crazeee!' Who else would want to live in a climate that has the power to ruin your personal happiness so easily?

But thank goodness for our British pluckiness - where geography fails, beauty triumphs. The only way to get round the ickiness of the clime is to sink into a big tub of hot, sudsy water, scrub yourself down, and buff up to perfection. Yes, that's right, we're talking spas here, folks - not the posh ones where you sit about in fluffy towels with strangers. Heavens, no! That would involve going outside which, frankly, ruins the point of this kind of self-indulgence.

But a spa at home must be the definition of heaven (well, that along with a tubof Haagen Daazs Cookie Dough ice cream, Footballer's Wives and the mobileswitched off, but enough of my daydreaming?). You could buy a readymade home spa kit, like Everyday's a Holiday from Philosophy, but in my opinion, that takes away from the fun of mixing 'n' matching your own stuff.

Float away on the fantasy that you are somewhere exotic (as opposed to yourbathroom) and bedeck your tub with scented candles. MatthewWilliamson does lovely variety packs of mini ones, all of which smell divine. Then slip into a hot bath infused with prettily-scented treats, such as Jo Malone's oh-so-lovely Honeysuckle and Jasmine bath oil (28ml, £22), which will leave yourweather-worn skin baby soft and lightly scented. Enjoy a luxurious soak before the serious work begins.

Start by giving your body a good scrub (the Body Shop's Nut Body Scrub,smells so delicious you may well be tempted to put it in your body instead of on it,though that would probably be foolish). Try Elizabeth Arden's Gritty Foot Polish, to treat those feet.

When you dry off, slather an intense moisturiser all over your body, such as Elemis' Exotic Island Flower Body Balm, or, if you're beginning to feel a bit over-scented, Estee Lauder's Private Spa Moisture Massage (200ml, £20). You may want to make sure the curtains are closed during this part!

For your face, Origins Never A Dull Moment (125g, £16), really is the best facial scrub on the market. A good rub of that on your pollution-ridden pores, followed by adelicate coat of a natural moisturiser, such as Dr Hauschka's Rose DayMoisturiser (30ml, £14), will sort you out. Don't forget lips, which suffer cruelly in the winter, and Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream (50ml, £18), is one of those products that really does live up to its pantingly-positive press. Finally, a light spray all over with Chantecaille's Rose Spray, is guaranteed to give a sense of well-being.

OK, all this pampering won't stop your train from being cancelled every single day due to the wrong kind of snow/rain/wind, but it might send a little bit of sunshine your way.