10 Cucumber Benefits for Skin: The Refreshing Way Of Boosting Your Glow

Calling all skincare lovers! Have you ever wondered why spas make it a point to put cool cucumber slices on your eyes during an indulgent facial? It’s because the cucumber is chock full of amazing benefits for the skin, and our experts want you in the know about how you can incorporate this juicy fruit into your daily regimen.

Cucumber is a refreshing and cooling goodie that not only adds deliciousness and crunchiness to salads but offers many skin-loving perks too! Its natural properties have the potential to revive dull complexions and make you look your best with minimal effort. Not only that, but various vitamins, minerals, and amino acids found in cucumbers come with a variety of benefits to improve your glow inside and out! 

In this blog post, we'll go over the different ways that you can incorporate cucumbers into your skincare routine to give yourself a powerful boost of hydration, fight blemishes, reduce the signs of aging, and more. So keep reading to reveal the cucumber benefits for skin!

Why is cucumber on face so trendy?

As popularized by beauty gurus, celebrities, and health experts, applying cucumbers to the face is one trend that's never fading. Along with its cooling and soothing effects on the skin, cucumbers are packed with anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, magnesium, silica, and potassium that can reduce puffiness, remove excess oil, and combat aging. Plus, the natural enzymes of cucumber also work to naturally lighten the skin while stimulating healthy new cell growth.

Now you can see why not only is cucumber trending among DIY beauty remedies but it’s now being offered in spas and salons around the world as part of luxurious facials and treatments.

10 Cucumber skin benefits you’ll be obsessed with

Cucumber has exploded in popularity in recent years, and with good reason! Not only is it a great addition to your summer salads, but it also is packed with nutrients and vitamins that can provide tons of benefits for your skin. Here are our top 10 perks of using cucumber for skin: 

1. Reduces inflammation and puffiness

Natural skin treatments are all the rage, and cucumber is leading the way when it comes to calming inflammatory skin conditions and reducing puffiness. The powerful combination of antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and polyphenols make cucumber a powerful choice for reducing inflammation. Additionally, the high water content in cucumbers is also thought to reduce symptoms of water retention and puffiness.

Applied directly to the skin or in a cucumber face mask, this fruit can be used cooled or fresh to reduce redness caused by sunburns or irritation. 

So yes, that’s why many people apply cucumber to puffy and tired eyes. 

2. Disappears dark circles and dark spots

If you're one of the many people struggling with pesky dark circles, the solution may be surprisingly simple: cucumbers. Slice a fresh cucumber into thin slices and apply to the skin beneath your eyes. 

Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with cool water. The natural astringent properties of cucumber work to reduce puffiness, plus the cooling effect temporarily constricts blood vessels, reducing swelling and helping banish those unsightly circles. And voila! Dark circles will be on their way out in no time at all.

3. Helps with acne-prone skin

Acne can be a huge skin-care problem - but did you know that cucumbers could help? Not only does it help to reduce inflammation and redness caused by a breakout, but it can also help keep your skin hydrated and balanced, which can ultimately contribute to clearer skin.

Cucumbers can help cure the scars from acne breakouts, thanks to their high levels of vitamins A, B1, C, and E as well as antioxidants. 

4. Tighten pores

Rich in antioxidants and with natural mild astringent properties, cucumbers can help draw out dirt, oil, and other impurities from your pores for smoother, clearer-looking skin. Additionally, these fruits contain silica which helps create a smooth, matte look by helping to regulate sebum production—the oil that contributes to large pores. 

5. Helps to reduce sebum production

This is good news for those with oily skin! Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C and amino acids which are essential to keep oil levels balanced. Additionally, cucumbers are high in salicylate, a beta-hydroxy acid, that can help reduce pore size, thus reducing oily skin. 

And, if that wasn’t enough, due to the high water content and silica found in cucumber, sebum production can also be regulated, helping to keep skin clear and fresh.  

6. Evens out skin tone

Cucumbers boast the ability to naturally lighten and clarify complexions, leaving the skin refreshed and revitalized. The secret lies in cucumber's high content of super skin-friendly ingredients like Vitamin C, folic acid, caffeic acid, and natural astringents. These naturally occurring compounds help reduce puffiness and dark circles while diminishing excess pigmentation that causes an uneven complexion. 

Another good explanation for why cucumbers can even out the skin tone is due to their ability to reduce skin irritation. Since many discolorations on our face are caused by redness and swelling in the skin, removing that inflammation through the cooling effects of cucumbers is thought to successfully even out tone and achieve a natural glow. 

7. Combats aging signs

Cucumbers are an age-old secret to combat the aging process. Not only are they helpful in reducing signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, but they also hydrate skin and slow down collagen depletion to keep it looking smooth and youthful. All this is thanks to the various vitamins and minerals they contain, like Vitamin A which helps protect against sun damage, Vitamin B which helps keep the skin moisturized, and Vitamin K which facilitates wound healing. 

In this sense, cucumbers are not only refreshingly hydrating but also full of antioxidants, such as vitamin A, folic acid, and fiber that can help fight the signs of aging and increase skin elasticity. Collagen and elastin, which give skin its elasticity and structure, are both created by Vitamin C — another powerful antioxidant found in cucumbers, meaning that these fruits can increase elastin and collagen production. 

8. Great for sensitive or irritated skin

Cucumbers are often seen as a beauty staple for their ability to soothe and cool red, irritated skin. The reason why cucumbers are so effective is because of the compound phytonutrients they contain, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help reduce swelling and irritation.

Plus, the natural astringent qualities within cucumbers come from their high water content, helping to firm up and tone the skin that’s been exposed to a dry environment or dehydration, which can also be the cause of skin irritation. 

9. Protects against sun damage and soothes sunburns

Sunburns are never fun, especially during the summer months when bearing skin seems inevitable. Whether you’re heading to the beach or just spending a day in your own backyard, protecting yourself from UV rays is key! Fortunately, nature has given us an amazing resource to help us with the fight against sun damage: cucumbers! 

Packed with vitamins A, B1, and C, one of its best cucumber benefits for skin is that it helps with sunburns. Not only do they contain natural cooling properties thanks to caffeic and ascorbic acid which can help reduce irritation of the skin but they also contain powerful antioxidants that protect cells from further damage caused by free radicals associated with UV radiation. 

10. Must-try for dry skin

Hydration is essential in maintaining healthy and glowing skin, but with so many options available how do we pick the perfect hydrator? Cucumber is a great choice! Famed for its hydrating benefits, cucumber skin is composed of 95% water, making it incredibly efficient at transferring and retaining moisture for extended periods of time. When applied topically, cucumbers can draw moisture from deep within skin cells to the surface to create suppleness. 

If that wasn’t enough, cucumbers are naturally rich in water and electrolytes - making it the perfect choice when looking to give skin a boost of hydration. Plus, since they contain vitamin C and caffeic acid, cucumbers can protect the skin from oxidative stress, which can cause moisture loss. 

Is rubbing cucumber on your face good for you?

When it comes to skincare, cucumbers are the queen of multitasking. Whether you want to munch on them to benefit from their anti-inflammatory properties or rub one directly onto your skin for added hydration, these humble fruits can add an extra oomph to your pamper routine. But with so many curated cucumber face masks now available on store shelves, should you opt for a formulated product instead of the DIY version of cucumber juice or sliced cucumber? 

While you still can't beat the simple pleasure (and cost-effectiveness) of rubbing a cucumber on your face, there's something to be said about using a cucumber face mask that has been specifically designed for maximum nourishment and healing power. Rubbing a cucumber directly on your face can certainly give you some refreshing hydration, but if you are looking for something more specifically tailored to your skin needs, opting for a formulated cucumber mask instead is the way to go! 

Not only will the pre-blended ingredients in these masks be better suited to tackle any individual skin concerns like acne or wrinkles, but they can also include additional active ingredients such as antioxidants and vitamins that are not easily found in just a cucumber alone. For maximum hydration, firmness, and glow, a formulated cucumber face mask is by far the most effective and satisfying choice.

What skincare ingredients you can mix with cucumber extract?

Cucumber extract is one of the most hydrating ingredients you can add to your skincare regimen. It's packed with skin-nourishing benefits that range from reducing inflammation and soothing sunburns to firming up wrinkles in the long term. But, if you really want to create a moisturizing and calming bomb, you should mix cucumber with these ingredients: 

Vitamin C

Mixing cucumber with vitamin C may be the ultimate complexion boost you've been searching for! This power combo not only helps to hydrate the skin and reduce puffiness, but also boosts collagen production, increases skin firmness, protects against environmental stressors, and brightens tone. 

Use this mix during the morning before going out to get the best out of this match.

• Real Fresh Foam Blueberry - 100% Natural Extracts For Glowing Skin  

Facial Cleanser

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Hyaluronic acid

Combining cucumber and hyaluronic acid is a new beauty trend that's quickly gaining traction, and for good reason! Cucumber contains vitamins A, B, and C that promote healthy skin, while hyaluronic acid works to hydrate the skin, improving its appearance. When used together, they create an incredibly effective combo that can help reduce wrinkles, leaving your face both refreshed and visibly smoother.

• MISSHA Cucumber Mask Sheet - Get A Refreshing Glass Of Water
• Real Nature Cucumber Face Mask - Hydrates & Soothes Oily and Dry Skin

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Honey

With the summer months quickly approaching, it's time to start exploring natural remedies that can help keep skin looking and feeling its best. Integrating cucumber with honey is an age-old secret of beauty enthusiasts everywhere! 

Cucumbers are incredibly beneficial for the skin since they contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and Vitamin C - all essential ingredients for a healthy complexion. Honey has similar benefits as well, such as antimicrobial properties that help you maintain blemish-free skin. By combining the two key ingredients, you can nourish your face while calming inflammation and healing damaged cells. 

Aloe vera

When it comes to achieving glowing skin, you'd be remiss not to consider the power couple of cucumbers and aloe vera gel. This combination offers a potent double shot of hydration, thanks to cucumbers' abundance of moisture and aloe vera's hydrating gel-like texture. 

Not only do they give skin an instant boost of radiance, but they also nourish your complexion with their antioxidant-rich agents like amino acids and vitamin C, while soothing any redness or inflammation.

• Aloe Clean Water Formula 92% Shower Gel - Soothe, calm, and hydrate in one step

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Cucumber for skin: Where to find the best products?

Now that you know the oh-so-amazing benefits of cucumber for skin, it’s time to do some shopping so you can include this fruit into your skincare routine! 

Whether you want to shrink your skin pores, increase skin glow, soothe inflammation, puffiness or irritation, or even reduce signs of aging to keep your skin healthy, in Asian Beauty Essentials you’ll find the best products to treat your skin with cucumber extract! 

So, go and visit our cucumber skincare collection and start enjoying cucumber benefits for skin!

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• The Ultimate Skincare for Sensitive Skin
• How to Minimize Pores? The Abcs of Pore Shrinking
• What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Skin : A 101 Guide To The Most Popular K-Beauty Ingredient in 2021 
• A Must-Read Guide On How To Get Rid Of Acne And Not Die Trying 
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