Mother Nature has a knack for beautifying our lives in more ways than one could ever imagine. From the plants in your back yard to the contents in your kitchen's fruit basket, beauty is essentially at your fingertips. Vis.A.Vis explores the get-gorgeous qualities found in the sea, trees and even your groceries.

FABULOUS FACES Dry and dull skin can be sloughed away with a concoction of sugar and honey. Simply scrub the saccharine solution all over your face and exfoliate those dead skin cells! Honey on its own makes a superb facial mask as well. Just place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to your eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream. Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split

THE SIMPLICITY OF BEAUTY.

for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pits and rub the flesh over your face and neck. Rinse with cool water. Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle cream. Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy. Spread all over face and leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold. Gently pat dry. If you can't beckon the courage to try homemade remedies from Mother Nature, Elemis Spa offers a range of natural products that don't require a blender or measuring devices. Try their Pro-Collagen Marine Cream - made with Padina Pavonica algae clinically proven to reduce the depth of wrinkles. To further fight the aging ticking clock, check out their Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules made with a potent, age-defying ingredient, Moringa Oil. MAGNIFICENT MANE For a unique take on shampoo and conditioner, you'll need olive oil, egg, lemon, avocado and coconut. For the shampoo; combine one ounce olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Lather and rinse. As for the hair conditioner, combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk, comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After rinsing, hair will be supple and soft. For a one-of-a-kind hair mask, mix two whole eggs with four tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth through hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap, and leave in hair for 10 minutes. Rinse well. SUPER SKIN Aloe Vera, native to Africa, isn't called the "plant of immortality" for nothing! Aloe is an excellent natural source to fight wrinkles, burns and dry patches thanks to its large quantities of vitamin C and E. NICE NAILS If your nails are stained from wearing polish for too long, soak your nails in lemon juice. Lemon drops act as a natural bleaching agent and take the stains away! MOTHERNATURE ALSO COMES PACKAGED Elemis has a wonderful exotic range that basically provides the rawest of ingredients. For instance, if you want to exfoliate naturally, try the Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow. Plain ole Kukui Nut Oil, Fresh Lime, Ginger, Sea Salt Lemon and Lime Essential Oils make up this potent body scrub. Just slather it over your body in the shower or bath and you will glisten like agoddess. Also new in the range is the Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt. This natural mixture is traditionally produced on the beautiful coral atolls of the Pacific Ocean where the sweet scented Frangipani Flower, known as Flower of the Gods in its native land, is soaked in Coconut Coprah Oil to form Monoi, an ancient Tahitian word meaning 'scented oil'. The Exotics range also includes a lovely bath oil that includes the euphoric blend of Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus and Warm Vanilla in a base of Sesame Seed and Vanilla Oil and a Body Balm. For Elemis products, visit timetospa.com .