Cucumber consists mostly of water. Does it comprise any miraculous substances that would help in the day-to-day skin care? Yes, of course! Discover what you can gain by including cucumber into your at-home battle for stunning skin and hair. Treat yourself to a cucumber SPA and feel the refreshment on your own skin.
From your biology classes, you might remember that a cucumber consists of about 95% water. However, from our own culinary experience, we know that it is quite a tasty vegetable. There is no indication that cucumbers can be useful in everyday care. Luckily, someone came up with the idea to use the refreshing properties of cucumber in cosmetics. What do we know about this today?
What does cucumber contain?
Do you want to know why it is worth reaching for fresh cucumber in daily care? This inconspicuous vegetable comprises many interesting nutrients – mineral salts, vitamins A, B, C and E, organic acids and useful enzymes. Due to the high content of ascorbate, the cucumber has brightening properties. It also contains sulfur, which is perfect for the care of oily and acne-prone skin, because it is bactericidal and fungicidal. And all this dissolved in water makes it a natural hydrolate and a great toner.
Cosmetic properties of cucumber
Thanks to the fact that the cucumber contains a lot of nutrients and contrary to what people may say, it does not contain just water, it is often found in cosmetics. Cucumber extract is one of the most popular ingredients of face creams, toners, mists, and masks. How does it work?
- It consists primarily of water, so it moisturizes.
- It has the same pH as our skin, so it works like a toner.
- It brings relief, soothes irritation and refreshes.
- It contains ingredients that brighten the skin and improve its color.
- It reduces swelling and puffiness under the eyes.
- It limits skin oiliness, balancing the work of the glands.
Cosmetics with cucumber content
They are refreshing and have a beneficial effect on the health of our skin, and are additionally suitable for any type of skin (oily, dry, acne, with dilated capillaries, sensitive, mature). No wonder that cucumber cosmetics are becoming more and more popular. There are two options: either we buy a ready-made product, where the cucumber is accompanied by preservatives, artificial colors, and fragrances, or we make our own cosmetics. For many, the second option seems much more tempting. What types of cucumber-based cosmetics can be made in the comfort of your own home?
DIY: cucumber scalp lotion
Squeeze half a glass of cucumber juice. Season it with a teaspoon of your favorite natural oil. It can be argan oil, sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil. It’s also ok to use olive oil, actually, any oil will be suitable, provided that it is cold-pressed and unrefined (it has better nutritional value). Since it is a scalp lotion, it is supposed to help, for example, deal with hair loss. It is worth infusing it with castor oil or less known oil – radish seed oil with similar properties and lighter consistency. Combine all ingredients together and pour into a comfortable atomizer bottle. Make sure to use it regularly, eg after each washing of the hair, and remember to rub the cucumber lotion into the skin. Cucumber-based cosmetics are very light and do not burden hair, so you can use them daily. Thanks to such a cosmetic, the hair will be better moisturized, smooth and loose, and the scalp less irritated. The bulbs will gain reinforcement and the hair loss will be inhibited.
DIY: cucumber face mask
Cucumbers can also be used to make your own facial mask. In this case, you can reach for not only cucumber juice, but also all of its flesh and peel – just blend it into a smooth mass. The cucumber itself brings relief, moisturizes and brightens the skin, which is why it is often used in the form of wraps for dark circles under the eyes. Once in a while, it is worth trying something richer, especially since the cucumber face mask is extremely easy to prepare. The mixed cucumber can be combined with green clay (for acne-prone skin) or white clay (for combination skin). It will be enough to cleanse the skin of excess sebum, firm and smooth it out. But we can also add a completely different set of ingredients to the cucumber – a sprig of fresh sage, a teaspoon of fresh yeast, and a teaspoon of activated charcoal. After mixing everything together, we get a highly cleansing, toning and antioxidant homemade mask. It is, of course, worth remembering that these are not the only combinations of ingredients. Cucumbers can be mixed with a wide range of ingredients, such as yogurt, honey, oils, etc.
DIY: cucumber-mint exfoliating scrub
Making a scrub from scratch is not a difficult task, but finding a recipe for one that will refresh your skin and work well in the summer is not that easy. One of the most popular homemade cosmetics is the refreshing mint-cucumber scrub because both fresh cucumber and mint bring relaxation. How to prepare a cucumber scrub? Grate the vegetable, add finely chopped mint and lemon peel. Also, a few drops of nourishing sweet almond oil, which will responsible for the conditioning properties. As for the exfoliating ingredient, you can go for sea salt, which works well in combination with cucumber and fresh mint. The refreshing aroma of such peeling and the relief that it brings to the sun-tired skin is the best confirmation that it’s a product worth testing out. The cucumber scrub perfectly smoothes the skin, improves microcirculation, and has a mild anti-cellulite effect.
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