Beauty secrets hidden in your bowl of fruit

CITRUS FRUIT

BEST FOR: BRIGHTENING SKIN "Citrus fruits brighten skin and give a glow," says make-up artist Gemma Aldous, whose clients include singers Emeli Sandé and Eliza Doolittle.

"The acids in the juice exfoliate the skin and brighten pigmentation marks while the vitamin C has antibacterial properties which will help to banish blemishes."

TRY IT: Squeeze an orange into a bowl and dab the juice on to your skin using a cotton pad. Or make a face mask by combining the juice of an orange, a lime and a grapefruit with a couple of tablespoons of wheat flour. Use twice a week for 10 minutes each time before rinsing off.

GRAPES

BEST FOR: EXFOLIATION "Grapes have many benefits for the skin and you can even apply them directly to the face," Jean-Christophe Samyn, UK director of Caudalie, says.

"In Caudalie spas, raw crushed grapes are applied to the face. The natural fruit acids gently exfoliate. Grapes are also full of polysaccharides which are excellent for providing moisture."

TRY IT: Combine a large handful of mashed grapes with a teaspoon of olive oil, half a teaspoon of baking powder and a splash of milk. Mix in a blender and use as a cleanser.

PEACHES

BEST FOR: REDUCING PIGMENTATION MARKS "The vitamin C in peaches may help reduce signs of pigmentation," says Dr Mervyn Patterson at Woodford Medical. "There is also some evidence that it might help build collagen levels in the skin."

TRY IT: Take one ripe peach, three teaspoons of honey and two tablespoons of yogurt and mix in a blender to make a face mask.

Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water. The lactic acid in the milk will act as a very light facial peel, getting rid of dead cells, while honey will provide a moisture boost.

AVOCADO

BEST FOR: NOURISHING DRY HAIR "Avocados have long been used in beauty treatments for their nourishing and hydrating properties," says Jack Howard, colourist at Neville Hair and Beauty, who tends to the tresses of model Poppy Delevingne.

"It is the perfect beauty ingredient for anyone who has dry or brittle hair. If you use avocado as a moisturising treatment before you shampoo then you won't need to condition afterwards."

TRY IT: Take a small ripe avocado and blend it until it is a smooth paste. Mix it with a tablespoon of olive oil and half a cup of milk.

Apply to dry hair, starting from the roots, then cover with a cap and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse well before shampooing.

STRAWBERRIES

BEST FOR: CALMING RED SKIN "Strawberries may be bright red but the fruit acids contained in them actually help to reduce redness and balance skin," says Gemma Aldous.

"Strawberries contain salicylic acid which is in many products used to target redness and spots."

TRY IT: Mash a few strawberries and then apply the mixture to cleansed skin for 10 minutes before washing off.

PINEAPPLE

BEST FOR: BANISHING BLEMISHES "Pineapple has magical qualities when it comes to the skin," says Gemma. "High levels of vitamin C and amino acids mean that it has a very strong healing effect, which helps the skin repair and renew itself. It also contains bromelain, which is believed to help soothe inflammation."

TRY IT: Mash up a slice of pineapple with some natural yogurt and apply to the skin for 10 minutes before rinsing off.

RASPBERRIES

BEST FOR: SOOTHING SUNBURN "There are some people who advocate using raspberries as sunscreen but on their own they will not provide enough protection," says Dr Patterson.

"However raspberries are often used in skin products because the fruit is known to improve brightness and elasticity. They could also help skin irritated by sun due to their anti-inflammatory qualities."

TRY IT: Take six mashed raspberries, a green tea bag and a couple of tablespoons of natural yoghurt. Steep the tea bag in hot water, allow to cool and then mix the tea leaves with the raspberries and yogurt before applying to sunburned or irritated skin.

BANANAS

BEST FOR: DE-PUFFING TIRED SKIN "The potassium in bananas may help combat fluid retention, and antioxidants such as vitamin A and lutein will soothe and protect the skin," says Dr Patterson.

RECIPE: Chill a banana in the fridge, then mash and apply to the whole face for 15 to 20 minutes. The cool temperature will help to stimulate circulation and banish puffiness.

LEMON

BEST FOR: BUFFING NAILS "Hands don't have many oil glands so nails and fingers tend to get dry easily. Regular contact with chemicals, dust and dirt makes the problem worse," says Katerina Kramek, manicurist at Neville Hair and Beauty in Belgravia. "Lemon is a brilliant beauty ingredient. It can remove stains on the hands and also works to whiten any yellow nails."

TRY IT: Cut a slice of fresh lemon and use it as part of your manicure. Soak your fingers in warm water for two to four minutes then rub the lemon slice on the nails. Rinse with warm water and apply a hand cream or nail oil.

PAPAYA

BEST FOR: FIGHTING WRINKLES "Papaya is a great beauty ingredient as it is rich in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight the ageing process," says Ingrid Hume, consultant at organic beauty shop Pravera (pravera.co.uk). It also contains papain, an exfoliating enzyme that can slough off dead skin cells, revealing softer, more radiant skin.

TRY IT: Mash half a papaya into a paste. Steam your face for around five minutes over a bowl of hot water, with a towel over your head to hold in the heat. Be careful not to let your skin become too hot. Then apply the papaya for five minutes before rinsing off. As the papaya is very high in fruit acids it can cause irritation so it's important to not leave it on for too long.