Cucumbers are one of my favorite fruits. Not only are they super easy and fun to grow (I LOVE growing 4-5 different varieties in my garden every Summer), they are also delicious and can be used topically to support the health of your skin.
These wonderful fruits have a high water content and can help to maintain the moisture barrier of your skin, keeping it hydrated and looking plump as ever. They also contain bioactive molecules, called cucurbitacins, cucumegastigmanes I and II, cucumerin A, which have been found to be anti-bacterial, soothing and anti-inflammatory to the skin. (1)
There are so many ways to use cucumbers on your skin and the fruits can be blended with different ingredients for a variety of effects. I have my favorite three recipes for DIY cucumber masks listed below, check them out and let me know in the comments how they work for you!
1. Cucumber and yogurt anti-inflammatory mask:
This recipe is wonderful for irritated, chaffed or sun-burnt skin. Using the cold ingredients straight out of the refrigerator will make the mask even more soothing.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons full fat Greek yogurt
1 small cucumber
Instructions:
1. Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth and apply to face.
2. Leave on for 15 minutes before removing with cool water.
2. Cucumber ice for puffy skin:
You've been here before, you wake up after a late evening and find your entire face, under eyes and neck puffy and bloated. These ice packs will relieve that puff in no time. Make them up to keep in the freezer so you have them at the ready.
Ingredients:
Juice of one small lemon
1 small cucumber
2 tablespoons distilled water
Instructions:
1. Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth and place in ice cube tray.
2. Allow to freeze and use as needed to massage into the face and neck, using clockwise circular movements.
3. Cucumber hydrating mist
This cooling mist is great to keep in your fridge to help soothe and rehydrate the skin. The high content of silica can help to improve the elasticity of skin when used regularly.
Ingredients:
1 small cucumber
2 tablespoons distilled water or chamomile hydrosol
Instructions:
1. Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth
2. Strain through a cloth and add water to a misting bottle.
3. Use as needed for hydration directly on face or soak cotton eye pads with water and place on eyes for 10-15 minutes for a potent effect. It will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Enjoy!
Dr. Kristi Harter ND, MS, RD
1. Mukherjee PK, Nema NK, Maity N, Sarkar BK. Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. Fitoterapia. 2013 Jan;84:227-36. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Oct 23. PMID: 23098877.