Alarm clocks prepare yourself for battle. Soon you'll be facing attacks from humans desperate to get their beauty sleep.

While it might seem like bad news that it's time to set those clock hands back an hour on October 25, signalling the return of gloomy mornings, the good news is that we gain an extra hour of shut-eye. The perfect time to get your beautifying winter sleep routine down to a fine art.

Transforming yourself into a Sleeping Beauty isn't just the stuff of fairytales. Shut-eye science reveals catching zzz's is the ideal time for cellular renewal and repair, with your skin working its hardest at around 2am.

And if you're not getting enough? "Poor sleep is quite apparent in the complexion," warns dermatologist Dr Howard Murad.

"Dehydrated skin, puffy eyes, dark circles, sallow looking skin and under-eye lines are all visual indicators of poor or insufficient sleep."

Grab your cocoa and P.J's quick-smart! Use the onset of dark nights as an excuse for some constructive beauty-filled kip.

Dive under the duvet and sleep sound with our yawn-friendly guide.

Night night

Around a third of British adults regularly sleep less than five hours a night, according to recent reports.

"Extensive studies on the impact of chronic sleep loss suggest that it may accelerate signs of ageing," says Dr Naiman, Origins sleep and dream specialist. "Think of dream sleep as Mother Nature's botox."

With blackberries buzzing, text messages bleeping and TVs blaring, it can be tricky to switch your focus to peaceful pre-bed relaxation.

If you have trouble dropping off try a relaxing massage or warm bath with aromatherapy essential oils before bedtime to get your eyelids drooping.

Try: Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Night Health Bedtime Bath Oil, £25 ( www.origins.co.uk ); Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Comforting Body Night Cream, £20 ( www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk ); L'Occitane Organic Lavender Sweet Dreams Mist, £15 (020 7907 0301/ www.loccitane.co.uk ).

Sleep tight

Just because you're sleeping sound doesn't mean your beauty regime has to rest up. Overnight treatments can work beauty wonders for your skin, hands and nails while you're in dreamland.

"Like the skin, hair becomes drier in the winter due to a combination of the cold weather and central heating, which can leave it brittle and drained of moisture," explains Kerry Warn, creative consultant at John Freida brands.

"An overnight repair mask or serum works to transform breakages and split ends overnight as you sleep. Hair magic!"

If your face if feeling dull and dry, an overnight hydrating mask works in the same way to replenish your skin and provide intense hydration while you sleep.

For skin, try: Dr Murad Sleep Reform Serum, £79.50 (0207 843 9060/ www.muraduk.com ); or Yes To Carrots C Through The Night Night Moisturising Cream, £8.99 (Debenhams).

For hair, try: John Freida Frizz-Ease Overnight Repair Creme Serum, £15 (Boots); or Redken Real Control Overnight Treat, £29 (0800 085 4956/ www.redken.co.uk ).

For hands + feet, try: Dove Regenerating Night Beauty Hand Cream, £2.73 (nationwide); or QTica Overnight Foot Repair Balm, £14.28 ( www.nailcareclub.com ).

Rise and shine

Whether you're a sleep junkie or self-confessed night owl, the dark mornings leave us all getting out of the wrong side of bed when the alarm sounds.

Take a revitalising shower with citrus notes to put a spring in your step and employ some face-saving techniques to fake that 'eight-hour-deep-sleep' glow.

Don't disguise a puffy face and dark eye bags by troweling on the make-up. Instead employ an illuminating eye gel with caffeine or ginseng ingredients and create the illusion of well-rested bright peepers.

Optometrist for Optrex, Sarah Farrant says: "Taking care of our eyes should be something we do every day as part of our usual health and beauty routine. It's a good idea to pop in eye drops in the morning to keep them hydrated and refreshed."

Try: Space NK Life NK Kick Jump Start Bath and Shower Gel, £12.50 (0208 740 2085/ www.spacenk.co.uk ); Dr Nick Lowe Puffy Eyes Gel, £14.99 (Boots); Optrex Eyedew Sparkling Clear Eye Drops, £4.21 ( www.optrex.co.uk ).