Face masks with natural ingredients like cucumber, aloe vera, honey, or other organic products are very popular now. They help you achieve wrinkle-free, spotless, and glowing skin that defies your age. Results may not be immediate, but when regularly used they surely do give results.
It is worth exploring how cucumber can benefit your skin.
You cannot think of healthy salads without the slices of cucumber in it. It is simply delicious for your health. More than that, simple facial masks made of cucumber alone or in combination with other natural ingredients can solve many of your skin problems.
It is beneficial to have cucumber as an essential ingredient in your DIY facial masks. Cucumber is loaded with antioxidants, Vitamin C, folic acid, and other nutrients exceptionally useful for your skin.
In this article, we’ll discuss how cucumbers can help you deal with various skin issues. You are going to learn about various facial masks with cucumber in combination with other ingredients for managing skin issues such as:
- Dry skin
- Acne
- Moisturizing
- For glowing skin
- Anti-aging
- Blackheads and pimples
- Tan removal
- Sunburn
- Oily skin
Benefits of Cucumber for Skin
According to dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, cucumber has good skincare benefits for reducing inflamed and irritated skin because of Vitamin C and caffeic acid in it. It helps hydration, thanks to its high water content. The peel itself contains silica, which tightens up the sagging skin.
Cucumber helps the skin in several ways because of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in it. Let’s look at some of those benefits.
1. Soothes irritation and inflammation
Cucumbers have a cooling and anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. This helps to reduce irritation, redness, pain, and burning sensation caused by rashes, sunburn, insect bites, and burns.
2. Helps to manage acne
Acne is a common skin problem caused by the clogging of skin pores by dead skin cells and oil. The astringent properties in cucumber may help to cleanse and tighten the skin pores.
3. Reduces puffiness and dark circles
Some studies support the effectiveness of cucumber in reducing puffiness and swelling of the skin. For this reason, cucumbers may help in getting rid of puffy and dark circles under your eyes.
4. Hydrates the skin
Cucumbers are 95 percent water. Purred or grated cucumber is an excellent base for making moisturizing face masks. It goes well with natural ingredients such as honey and aloe vera.
5. Provides Anti-Aging effects
A 2011 study supports the possible effects of cucumber in rejuvenating your skin. It contains powerful ingredients (vitamin C, antioxidants, and caffeic acid) that can produce an anti-wrinkle effect on your skin. Vitamin C and folic acid in cucumber may make your skin firm and healthy.
6. Lightens and tones the skin
The nutrients and antioxidants contained in cucumber are useful in lightening and toning your skin. The hydrating effect it provides to your skin can make the skin supple and bright.
Homemade Cucumber Face Masks
Cucumber is a fantastic addition to your skincare routine. Some of the immediate benefits it provides to your skin include:
- Antioxidant activity
- Cooling and soothing effect
- Moisturizes
- Nourishes and protects
- Reduce puffiness
- Alleviate rashes and sunburn
- Reduce acne issues
Here are the nine best cucumber face mask recipes for your common skin problems.
1. Cucumber Face Mask for Glowing Skin
Ingredients:
- Aloe vera gel – 1 tablespoon
- Pureed Cucumber – 2 tablespoons
How to Use:
- Blend the pureed cucumber and aloe vera gel into paste form
- Apply the mask on your clean face and neck with a cotton pad
- After 15 minutes wash the face with warm water
2. Cucumber Face Mask for Sensitive and Acne-Prone Skin
Ingredients:
- Pureed Cucumber – 2 tablespoons
- Yogurt – 2 tablespoons
How to Use:
- In a blender/food processor puree the cucumber
- Blend the yogurt and pureed cucumber into a paste
- Apply the mask on your face with a cotton pad
- Rinse your face with warm water
3. Cucumber Face Mask for Dry Skin
Ingredients:
- Almond butter – 1 tablespoon
- Pureed cucumber – 2 tablespoon
How to Use:
- Puree the cumber with the help of a blender
- Mix well almond butter and pureed cucumber into a paste
- Cleanse your face and neck
- Apply the mask to the face and neck
- Rinse the mask off after 20 minutes with warm water
4. Cucumber Face Mask for Sunburn
Ingredients:
- Watermelon pulp – 1 tablespoon
- Cucumber pulp – 2 tablespoons
How to Use:
- Blend the ingredients into paste form
- Apply the mixture on your face and neck / sunburned skin surface
- Let the mask stay on the skin for 15 minutes
- Rinse the mask off with cold water
5. Cucumber Face Mask for Tan Removal
Ingredients:
- Potato pulp – 1 tablespoon
- Cucumber pulp – 1 tablespoon
How to Use:
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl
- Apply the mixture all over your face
- Let the mask stay on your face for 15 minutes
- Rinse your face with cold water
6. Cucumber Face Mask for Skin Moisturizing
Ingredients:
- Grounded oatmeal – 1 tablespoon
- Pureed Cucumber – 1 tablespoon
- Honey – 1 teaspoon
How to Use:
- Dilute the grounded oats in pureed cucumber
- Mix honey in the mixture
- Apply this mixture to your face
- Let the mask stay on your face for 15 minutes
- Rinse your face with warm water
7. Cucumber Face Mask for Acne and Pimples
Ingredients:
- Cucumber pulp – 2 tablespoons
- Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti) – 1 tablespoon
- Rosewater – 1 tablespoon
How to Use:
- Blend the three ingredients in a bowl or blender
- Apply the mask on the face with a cotton pad
- Let the mask stay on the face for 15 minutes
- Clean off the mask with warm water
Recipe 2
Ingredients:
- Fresh Neem leaves – 6
- Cucumber pulp – 2 tablespoons
How to Use:
- Grind the neem leaves into a paste
- Blend the cucumber pulp and neem leaves paste
- Apply the mixture on your face with a cotton pad
- Let the mask stay on your face for 15 minutes
- Rinse your face with warm water
8. Cucumber Face Mask for Oily Skin
Ingredients:
- Pureed cucumber – 3 tablespoons
- Lemon Juice – 1 teaspoon
How to Use:
- Blend the ingredients in a glass bowl
- Apply the mixture on the face and neck with a cotton pad
- Let the mask stay on your face for 15 minutes
- Rinse the mask off with cold water
9. Cucumber Face Mask for Anti-Aging
Ingredients:
- Pureed cucumber – 2 tablespoons
- Egg white – 1
- Fresh Aloe Vera gel – 1 tablespoon
How to Use:
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly into a paste
- Apply the paste evenly onto your face and neck with a cotton pad
- Let this mask stay on your skin for 20 minutes
- Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water
Final Thoughts
Cucumbers are good for both health and beauty. They can soothe your skin in several ways; combat signs of aging, moisturize, and reduce puffiness and redness.
The nutrients and antioxidants in cucumber are great ingredients for a face mask. When cucumber is mixed with other ingredients like honey, oatmeal, aloe vera, or lemon juice they benefit in many ways.
It is easy and comfortable for you to make your own cucumber face masks by following any easy DIY recipes given in this article.
If you are not sure of face mask treatments for your skin, talk to your dermatologist or beautician for advice
Article source:
- Mukherjee PK. (2013). Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. (Source)
- Naveed A, et al. (2011). Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation. (Source)
- Murad H, et al. (2012). Evaluating the potential benefits of cucumbers for improved health and skincare. (Source)
- Lauren Cox, Janice Cox, “Cooling Cucumber Mask” EcoBeauty: Scrubs, Rubs, Masks, Rinses, and Bath Bombs for You and Your Friends. (Source)
- John P. Hunter III, “Cucumber” Health Benefits: From Foods and Spices. (Source)