Loaded with antioxidants and moisture and pH-balanced perfectly with your skin, cucumbers have been the quintessential beauty gourd since movies have been showing off a fancy lady in a face mask. Cucumbers relieve eye puffiness miraculously, but they also are known skin soothers and anti-agers. Here are our favorite beauty uses of this salad staple:
DIY Cucumber Recipes For Your Face:
- Eye Brightener: The most obvious DIY cucumber trick is to take two cucumber slices and place over the eyes. Kick back and let the cucumbers do their magic for 20 minutes. The cuke reduces swelling, dark circles and tiredness for a flawless look. Makeup artists on set worldwide still use this essential trick!
- Facial Toner: For a mild, softening toner, chop ½ a cucumber, and puree with 3 Tbsp. witch hazel and 2 Tbsp. distilled water. Make sure all pieces are blended completely using a food processor, pour off into a bottle and use generously by soaking a cotton ball (especially refreshing during the summer!). The product will stay fresh for a few weeks, if kept in a fridge.
- Rejuvenating Mask: The most common use of cucumber pulp and juice is to improve complexion and rejuvenate the skin. Mix cucumber juice with a few drops of lemon juice and apply it as a facial mask. This will improve the complexion and will add a glow to the skin.
- Acne and Ingrown Hair Treatment: Mixing cucumber juice with apple cider vinegar, aloe vera (itself a product with many DIY beauty uses!) and tomato juice makes an incredible toner that helps to clear pores. Simply mix thoroughly and apply by dabbing on with a cotton ball (avoid the eyes). Be sure to rinse thoroughly after a few minutes.
- Acne Mask: Using equal parts turmeric and fresh cucumber pulp with the squeeze of a lemon, you can create an oil-fighting mask. Simply apply to the skin and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
- Skin-Toning Mask: Take a cucumber and mash it up completely in a food processor. Squeeze a lemon in the mix and add 1 tsp of honey for a brightening, skin-tone evening mask. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse in warm water.
- Moisturizing Mask #1: Mix 1 tsp. of oats with a finely blended cucumber and let sit in room temperature for about half an hour to thicken the mixture. Simply apply, leave on for 20 minutes, and then rinse. For a super boost of moisture, you can add 1 Tbsp. honey as well.
- Moisturizing Mask #2: Not into oats? Try this moisture mask instead: Take ½ cup chopped cucumber, ½ cup chopped avocado (sans pit, of course), 1 egg white and 2 tsp. powdered milk. Blend together until smooth, then apply to your face and relax for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
- Moisturizing Mask #3: For combination skin, you can take half a cucumber and 1 Tbsp. of plain yogurt, blend and apply. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off.
DIY Cucumber Recipes For Your Body:
First things first – did you know cucumbers can help alleviate a hangover? Supposedly detoxifying, eating a few cucumbers before bed will help your body process alcohol and balance your electrolytes. Besides hangover help, here are our fave body treatments using cukes:
- Cucumber Body Mist: Blend 1 chopped cucumber with 1 tsp. aloe vera, 1 Tbsp. rosewater and a big squeeze from a lemon. Strain through cheesecloth and add the liquid to a spray bottle. Store in the fridge and you have a fabulous treatment for dry skin!
- Sunburn Salve: Putting cucumber slices on sunburnt skin brings instant relief without any burning or itching.
- Cellulite-Fighting Scrub: By mixing with coffee grounds and honey, cucumber juice can create a cellulite-fighting scrub. You can also use as a mask on effected areas, then scrub off after 30 minutes.
- Cooling Summer Bath: Much like gazpacho is the soup for summer, a bath in the warmer months has got to be chilled. Fill up a tub with lukewarm water (or to whatever temperature you prefer), add 2 cups Epsom salt, 1 sliced cucumber and about 4 or 5 sprigs of peppermint.
DIY Cucumber Recipes For Your Hair:
- Shine Rinse: Drinking cucumber juice is great for hair and actually recommended to stop excessive “hair fall,” but you can also rinse with it to get super silky, shiny and hydrated locks.
- Hair Mask: For pool partiers: you can condition chlorine-damaged hair with a blended mixture of 1 egg, 1 Tbsp olive oil and half of a peeled cucumber (throw in a food processor to make smooth). Spread evenly throughout your hair; let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
