Bring out your inner goddess with beauty secrets and kiss-and-tells from Jacqui Ripley, author of new book Getting Gorgeous.

You don't have to spend hundreds of pounds or pay a visit to the surgeon's chair to achieve a flawless face or the body beautiful.

Costly products and newfangled treatments appear to be a growing market for the beauty industry. Creme de la Mer's The Essence sets you back a whopping £1,500 for a three-week skincare treatment, while a spritz of Clive Christian No 1 costs £115,000 if you want the limited edition bottle.

But you don't need to splash out on super-products to look and feel fabulous according to Jacqui Ripley, beauty expert and author of new book Getting Gorgeous.

"No matter how much money we spend at the beauty counter or how many 'miracle' creams we invest in, most women appreciate that it's tried-and-tested professional beauty tips that are key to getting, and remaining, gorgeous," she says.

"With just one or two easy tweaks, you can completely transform the way you look and feel about yourself."

Jacqui gives us the low-down on how to take us from so-so, to "so sexy, so seductive and so stylish".

GLOWING SKIN Forget having a bathroom cupboard full of lotions and potions to slather on your face before bed. It's far better to get some beauty sleep than while away the hours going overboard on routines.

Jacqui say: "A successful skincare regime doesn't have to be complicated - you just need to put in a little time and effort."

She has these tips to achieve glowing, luminous skin that will turn your peers' faces green with envy.

:: Consider using a night oil rather than a cream. At night, skin is free of external stresses, which gives it time to repair itself.

TRY - Kaeline Evening Facial Oil, £18 (27 Euros), from www.lovelula.com :: Refresh your skin with the help of a micro-dermabrasion treatment to optimise your skin's cell renewal process. Follow with a radiance reviver to leave skin gleaming and allow make-up to glide on like a dream.

:: Pore strips can be a girl's best friend. Use to purge your nose or chin of blackheads.

TRY - Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Cleansing Cushions, £4.49 (0845 601 5789).

:: Open a small window at night. Sleeping in a stuffy atmosphere starves the skin of oxygen and results in a puffy, dehydrated face.

BODY BEAUTIFUL Hankering after a supermodel figure? Craving more curves? Us ladies are never happy with what we've got.

"Only a tiny percentage of women have endless legs, a washboard stomach, perky, perfectly sized breasts and absolutely zero cellulite or thigh wobble," Jacqui points out. "The sooner you accept your limitations, the happier you'll be."

Jacqui has these hints for beautifying your body: :: Improve oxygenation and skin tone by opting for a body scrub containing ginger - it will warm the skin to increase the flow of oxygen to the skin's surface and remove dead skin cells for a gorgeous glow.

TRY - Origins Ginger With A Twist range (0800 731 4039/www.origins.co.uk).

:: Suck in your tummy by drawing your navel back towards your spine. This will activate the core muscles, improve posture and work towards giving you a flatter tummy.

:: Boost your bust for the invisible bra effect using a bust serum to improve the skin's elasticity and guard against slackening.

TRY - Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust, £70 (116 Euros) (01278 727830/www.elemis.com).

:: Cellulite treatments should help give orange-peel thighs the heave-ho but carry on the good efforts with lifting and gentle pinching movements to enhance muscle tone and stimulate circulation and lymph flow.

MAKE-UP MAGIC :: Carry a compact - it makes powdering your nose just a little bit more glamorous.

TRY - Estee Lauder Golden Alligator Compact with Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder, £35 (www.esteelauder.co.uk).

:: For the thickest-looking lashes, opt for a fat brush and apply mascara by wriggling the brush close into the roots, then flicking the wand towards the tip of the lashes.

:: Be a loud mouth. Red lipstick is the obvious choice for a quick makeover, but luscious deep pinks, rich chocolates and berry hues can be just as show-stopping.

TRY - The Body Shop Ruby Sheer Lip Colour, £8.50 (www.thebodyshop.co.uk).

:: Glisten up your skin by choosing a light fluid foundation rather than a heavy matte one. Too much coverage will not only highlight fine lines and wrinkles, but will also make your skin look overly made-up, which looks ageing.