Cucumbers Deliver Skin Benefits That Erase Years Off Your Look — For Pennies!
What price beauty? For under $1 a pound, cucumbers make it practically free!
Although there may be some debate over whether cucumbers are a fruit or veggie (we’re team fruit!), there’s no question that these natural gems are a delicious, hydrating and practically calorie-free treat. Plus, they’re always in season and at an average cost of about 95 cents a pound, you can’t go wrong! But when it comes to looking younger, cucumber benefits for skin are many. It’s the reason why the fruit is so abundant at beauty spas — they’re in the water, they’re used in treatments, they’re placed on your eyes.
And best of all, if you want to use cucumbers to repair, revive and rejuvenate your skin, there’s no need to splurge on a pricey spa day to reap the fruit’s skin-beautifying rewards.
What are the cucumber benefits for skin?
“Cucumbers are one of the original, classic skin care ingredients, both a staple in spa skin care, as well as in professional products,” says skin care expert and medical aesthetician Cassandra Bankson. Keep reading to discover cucumbers benefits for skin and the recipes to younger in no time!
Cucumber benefits the skin…by smoothing wrinkles
The fruit’s high water content (they are 96% water!) make them perfect for “hydrating the outer layers of the skin, giving a dewier, fresher appearance that minimizes fine lines and wrinkles,” says Bankson. Cucumbers also contain potent B vitamins and vitamin C that shield skin from the sun, warding off UV damage to prevent new wrinkles from forming.
To get cucumbers benefits for skin, whip up a cucumber scrub:
To do: Mix ¼ pureed cucumber, 2 tbs. of sugar (it whisks away dead, dry skin cells) and 1 tsp. of olive oil (its linoleic acid firms skin). Rub onto damp skin for 1 minute; rinse.
Your skin will be left looking smooth and supple!
Cucumber reduces facial puffiness
Whether you’re dealing with puffy undereyes or overall facial bloat, the fruit’s circulation-boosting compounds help the body move and expel retained fluids that accumulate in the face. Bonus? Massaging its juice onto your skin in ice form helps constrict dilated blood vessels and guide excess fluids out through lymph nodes to alleviate swelling even faster (this can also help slim a double chin).
To do: Puree 1 cucumber and pour into an ice cube tray; freeze overnight. When needed, rub the cube on skin in circular motions, starting at the forehead and moving down to the neck.
Cucumber benefits the skin by… balancing oil
Hormonal fluctuations as we get older can have us battling oily skin just like we did as teenagers. Thankfully, the fruit has astringent properties that tighten pores to limit excess oil production and whipping it into a facial toner works wonders.
To do: Blend half of a cucumber, 3 tbs. of witch hazel (an astringent that balances skin’s pH level to prevent skin from drying out) and 2 tbs. of water. Strain the liquid into a jar and chill in the refrigerator. Once cold, dip a cotton round into the liquid and apply to skin twice a day; let absorb. Store leftovers in the fridge for one week.
For another skin-balancing DIY cucumber toner, check out this tutorial from YouTube channel Saf’s Glam Beauty
Cucumber hydrates parched skin
We mentioned above how cucumbers are made up of around 96% water, “meaning they are excellent hydrators for skin,” says Bankson. The fruit’s high amount of vitamins and minerals also nourish and restore moisture to dehydrated skin. And misting the fruit’s juice onto skin will help restore moisture in a jiffy!
To do: Blend half of a cucumber, 1 Tbs. of aloe vera gel (its hydrating compounds sink into skin to further lock in moisture) and ½ cup of water. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and mist onto a clean, dry face twice a day. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Cucumber benefits the skin by…reducing facial redness
Whether you have rosacea, a sunburn or just a few random splotches of ruddy skin, cucumber’s anti-inflammatory properties reduce redness fast, while its antioxidants strengthen skin’s outermost layer to prevent future irritation. What works best? A cucumber face mask.
To do: Blend half of a cucumber and 1 tbs. of yogurt (it contains creamy skin-moisturizing fats). Apply to clean, dry skin and let sit 15 minutes, then rinse.
Cucumber fades age spots
Cucumbers are a natural remedy that can brighten the pesky brown spots on our face, neck and hands. That’s because the fruit’s vitamin C content brightens skin to diminish discoloration. To get the benefits, try a cucumber skin polish.
To do: Combine 2 Tbs. of pureed cucumber and 1 Tbs. of sugar (the granules slough off dead, discolored skin cells to enhance the skin-lightening). Rub onto areas with dark spots for 1 minute. Let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse.
Ready-made products infused with cucumber
Don’t have time to DIY but still want to get the cucumber benefits for skin? See below for a few cucumber-packed products recommended by Bankson that are sure to pamper you pretty in a flash.
For puffy, tired eyes: Pixi Beauty DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches
Pixi Beauty DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches (Buy from Ulta, $16.80) “are phenomenal at hydrating the delicate skin under the eyes,” says Bankson. And because they contain anti-inflammatory cucumber extract, they work wonders to cut down on swelling to make undereye bags vanish. The result? A youthful, wide awake-looking you within 10 minutes.
For a super dry complexion: Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream
Applying Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream (Buy from Ulta, $16.49), which contains the refreshing fruit, deeply hydrates skin to reverse dryness. The cream also “helps your skin rebuild a damaged skin barrier if you have spent too much time in the sun,” says Bankson. This is key as sun exposure can strip skin of the natural oils that keep it moisturized.
For rosacea or acne-prone skin: ClarityRx Cold Compress Soothing Mask
“If your skin needs a reset, ClarityRx Cold Compress Soothing Cucumber Mask (Buy on Amazon, $39) is a must have,” says Bankson. “It has anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients such as cucumber that is perfect for a spa day at home.” And since the mask has a cool-to-the-touch gel consistency, it quickly tamps down on the redness that comes with rosacea flareups and breakouts.
Want to learn more about how natural ingredients can target aging beauty concerns for less? Check out these stories:
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