Our faces crave good nutrition, just like our bodies. (Comstock)

Get out the cantaloupe, kiwi and carrots -- dice 'em, slice 'em, grate and mash 'em, and slather them on your face.

Food isn't just about your inner health, it's about your outer health too -- so feed your face. According to natural esthetician KC Miller, it's surprising how many things in your kitchen can become a natural part of your skin care regime.

"Skin is your largest organ and very absorbent -- the skin's pores are its mouth," says Miller, owner of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. "Our faces crave good nutrition, just like our bodies" -- including fibre, vitamins, minerals and hydration.

Skin reflects our inner health and inner beauty, says Miller. "If someone has glowing skin, we're attracted to them. When it's dull, there's no magnetism."

Open your cupboard:

So get rid of that mask of dead skin by dappling in kitchen esthetics -- it offers delicious ways to beautify yourself. From yogurt and honey to cucumbers and wheat germ, your cupboards hold a number of soothing secrets. "Grape seed oil has wonderful properties -- it's like using a magic marker on your face," adds Miller.

Practising skin care is all about giving skin the tools to battle aging, says Severine Mathe, of Fruits & Passion. "Cleaning and moisturizing rituals are key steps in maintaining younger and healthy looking skin. Skin is exposed and affected by free radicals, pollution and temperature variations." If neglected, it is more vulnerable to these external aggressors and can result in premature aging.

So providing proper nourishment is essential. Foods that contain things like poylphenols, carotenoids, vitamins and essential fatty acids are not only good for your health, but good food for your face too, adds Mathe. For those who want to apply the daily requirement of fruits and vegetables without the mess, Fruits & Passion offers an extensive line of luscious food therapy.

Meanwhile, keep creams as natural as possible, adds Miller, so "it doesn't create a topical sludge and then your skin can't breathe properly."

If there are too many words on the list of ingredients, consider it "junk food for your face."

Try these recipes from naturalbeautyaz.com. Use up in one session; do not store.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask:

This mask will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.

• 1 avocado, mashed
• 1 carrot, cooked and mashed
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) heavy cream
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) honey

Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread over face and neck; leave 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and follow with toner.

Kiwi Facial Cleanser:

• 1 kiwi fruit
• 2 Tbsp. (25 ml) plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) orange water
• 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) apricot or almond oil
• 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) honey
• 1 tsp. (5 ml) finely ground almonds
• 2 drops orange (or your favourite citrus) essential oil

Puree the kiwi fruit in a food processor until liquid. During processing, add yogurt, orange water, almond or apricot oil, and ground almonds. Process until creamy. Add essential and stir to mix. Massage gently over neck and face to cleanse. Rinse well.

Take a dip in wine:

Forget the mud, the milk and the chocolate baths! Try dipping your body in wine. This newest beauty treatment referred to as "vinotherapy"is catching on wordlwide.

Practitioners claim vinotherapy can boost circulation, shift cellulite and make you feel invigorated thanks to grapeseed oil -- its key ingredient.

It involves being massaged or covered with grape seeds (or their oil), skins, and stalks.

Wine grapes are the perfect fruit for skin conditioning, as they are very high in antioxidants (particularly polyphenols and resveratol). Antioxidants are our body's defences against highly-reactive molecules that can lead to premature aging.