Cucumber cosmetic products perfectly moisturize the skin, remove age-related changes and signs of fatigue, and solve the problem of rashes. The benefits of cucumber for the epidermis are an endless topic. Even after simply wiping your face with vegetable slices, you can see that your skin has changed. It becomes velvety and fresh. Masks only enhance the effect, because in addition to vegetables, they contain various natural ingredients that improve the condition of the epidermis.
Masks, where cucumber plays the “first fiddle,” have those advantages that women value in home care products: ease of preparation, multiplied by an immediate effect. That is why, despite the abundance of cosmetic products on the shelves of modern stores, ladies do not forget about “grandmother’s” beauty secrets.
What Contributes to Transformation
What are the benefits of cucumber face mask? This product, which is simple in preparation, can smooth out wrinkles, whiten and moisturize the skin, remove rashes, and smooth out flaking. The transformation is facilitated by the unique composition of a vegetable familiar from childhood. Most of the cucumber is water, but it also contains substances useful for the epidermis:
- various vitamins;
- micro- and macroelements;
- organic acids.
These substances actively nourish the epidermis, stimulate regeneration processes, making the skin look healthy and young.
Analyzing the composition
The cucumber mask can be called a real treasury of beauty elements, which guarantees transformation literally from the first use. Let's take a look "inside" the treasury. What specific components are assembled there?
- Vitamin A. It prevents flaking, relieves the feeling of tightness, and helps moisturize the epidermis. Retinol smoothes wrinkles, relieves inflammation, and gets rid of acne.
- Vitamin B1. Starts the rejuvenation process, protects the epidermis from negative effects.
- Vitamin B2. Promotes saturation of skin cells with oxygen, slows down the aging process.
- Vitamin B5. Helps maintain elasticity, helps smooth out wrinkles.
- Vitamin B6. Improves metabolic processes at the cellular level, prevents the appearance of age-related changes.
- Folic acid. Responsible for the cleanliness of the face, saving from rashes.
- Ascorbic acid. Helps maintain elasticity and prevents wrinkles.
- Phylloquinol. Relieves redness and swelling, whitens.
- Niacin. Removes signs of fatigue, refreshes, evens out color.
- Potassium. Prevents the evaporation of moisture from cells, regulates the functioning of the exocrine glands, which is especially important for those with oily skin.
Water, which is so abundant in cucumbers, also has a positive effect. It provides maximum hydration of the epidermis. The result is a fresh and radiant look.
Ice for the face: benefit or harm?
Small wrinkles are smoothed out,
Large pores become invisible
The production of sebum is normalized,
Swelling, redness and rash disappear.
All you need is an ice cube and a soft cloth to wrap it in or a small plastic Zip-Lock bag (for treating rashes). Rub the skin with gentle movements along the massage lines, without pressing on the face, so as not to disrupt the flow of lymph.
Mix cucumber juice with boiled rose water. Freeze the infusion and use as directed with ice cubes wrapped in napkins. This recipe helps to quickly get rid of dark circles under the eyes and swelling.
Ice cubes are also placed on closed eyes to relieve fatigue after prolonged work at the computer.
- Do not use more than two ice cubes. Excessive amounts may lead to skin problems.
- Do not wipe your face with ice that is not wrapped in a napkin, as this will cause capillaries to break.
A simple ice cube can transform your face to perfection. It protects the skin from premature aging and the appearance of wrinkles.
Regular use of ice therapy refreshes the face and allows a woman to look great even without makeup. For oily, acne-prone skin, freeze cubes of calendula, sage, coltsfoot or yarrow infusion.
Pour calendula flowers (2 tablespoons) with a glass of hot boiled water. Let it brew for 10 – 15. Filter and place in the freezer to freeze.
For dry skin, make an infusion of chamomile, parsley, linden blossom or fresh mint.
Green or black tea also helps with wrinkles. They contain a large amount of antioxidants that slow down the aging process. Add 2 drops of lemon juice to the infusion and you will also get rid of dark spots on the skin.
Making cosmetic ice for the face is not at all difficult if you know how to choose the ingredients. They are different for each skin type. They are usually prepared from an infusion of medicinal herbs, juice of vegetables, fruits, etc. They tone, refresh, improve blood circulation and provide skin cells with valuable elements necessary for the health and beauty of the skin.
- Made from cucumber juice and rose water.
Cucumber juice and rose petal infusion are taken in a 1:1 ratio.
How to prepare an infusion? Soak the rose petals overnight until the water just covers them. Second method: use a few drops of rose essential oil. Mix the juice with the infusion, pour the mixture into molds and freeze. It is recommended to wipe your face with ice made from cucumber juice and rose water in the morning (instead of tonic).
Pour boiling water over white or brown rice and leave overnight. In the morning, filter the infusion and place it in the freezer, and use it a few hours later.
Use any berries that are in season. To make cosmetic ice from them, you need to squeeze out the juice and freeze it.
Also wipe your face with ice made from milk. To do this, dilute it with boiled water (1:1).
Prepare freshly squeezed lemon juice, add boiled water (1:1), and then pour into containers and place in the refrigerator. Do not use juice in its pure form (it disrupts the PH balance of the skin).
Chamomile infusion is an alternative option for those who are wary of lemons. To prepare cosmetic ice, take 2 tbsp. dry chamomile. Prepare the infusion in the usual way, cool, filter, pour into containers and refrigerate.
Sea salt effectively copes with pimples, blackheads and other blemishes on problematic skin. Stir 1 tsp in a glass. salt. Make ice from the solution. It will have antiseptic properties, which means it will cope with any skin problem.
A decoction of linden blossom helps to cope with irritation and rashes. In a glass of water, prepare an infusion of two tablespoons of herbs, add 1 tsp. lemon juice and freeze.
Prepare cosmetic ice from natural water. This is the best way to refresh your face and get a slight lifting effect. Women with normal skin type are also recommended to wipe their face with ice made from watermelon juice, which has tonic properties and is therefore ideal for a morning procedure.
There are a number of cases in which the product should not be used:
- Masks are contraindicated if you are allergic to cucumbers or their pollen. It’s good that allergies to these vegetables are rare.
- If the composition contains a component to which a person is allergic, they should also not be used. Before applying the finished product to your face, you should first test it on an inconspicuous area of skin.
- If you have a severe skin disease on your face that cannot be cured with cucumber masks, they should not be used.
- Also, if there are open wound areas of the skin on the face, the drug cannot be used.
- Do not use this product if it contains any medicine or chemical ingredient. It is also not recommended to use store-bought masks. Due to their ingredients, they may cause side effects.
If these conditions are neglected, the use of the drug may lead to illness. Except in such cases, it can be used without restrictions, it is suitable for any skin type and does not cause any harm.
Indications and contraindications
The main advantage of natural cucumber masks is their versatility. They are classified as gentle care products. The products will be useful for any skin type. Cucumber mixtures can be applied to delicate areas of the face. For example, they will save you from swelling and eye fatigue without damaging the delicate and thin skin in the eyelid area.
When you can't do without a cucumber
Cosmetologists note the benefits of cucumber-based masks for both mature and young skin. Cucumber mixture is irreplaceable if you have the following problems:
- dry dermis;
- peeling;
- redness;
- irritation;
- pigmentation (including freckles);
- acne, inflamed lesions, pimples;
- age-related decline of the epidermis.
Using cucumber masks solely to solve existing problems is the wrong approach. Cucumber remedies are an effective preventive method, thanks to which youth and beauty will never become just a memory.
Can it harm
Masks with cucumber as the main ingredient are one of the safest folk methods for self-care. The main component does not cause allergic reactions.
However, if the recipe contains chemicals or drugs, there may be both contraindications and side effects. When adding such components, you need to be careful and first become familiar with the contraindications to the use of a particular substance.
When preparing a natural multi-component mask, you should consider whether there is an individual intolerance to one of the ingredients. Vegetable masks are prepared only in season. For cosmetic purposes, only vegetables grown in your own garden are suitable. Or those that were definitely not “stuffed” with chemicals.
For skin diseases of infectious etiology and purulent rashes, the use of natural masks is unacceptable without prior consultation with a dermatologist. Such skin problems can only be solved with the help of a specialist, and incorrectly chosen home care can aggravate the situation.
How to choose vegetables for homemade cosmetics
Choosing cucumbers for cosmetic purposes is not difficult, you just need to follow some rules:
- buy vegetables and store them for future use in the summer;
- cucumbers should be small (10-12 cm), even;
- they should have a good “cucumber” smell;
- do not use cucumbers if there are spots on the skin;
- A fresh cucumber should feel firm to the touch along its entire length.
It is better to use vegetables that are guaranteed to be grown without pesticides. Otherwise, you need to remove the green skin from them. Cut it in a thin layer, taking into account the fact that it is under it that most of the nutrients are concentrated. Before this, the cucumbers are thoroughly washed in running water with a brush, rinsed and dried.
In winter, fresh vegetables grown in greenhouses can be bought in stores, but the effectiveness of masks based on them will be lower.
To use high-quality raw materials for creating masks all year round, it is worth freezing cucumbers in several ways:
- the pulp crushed in a mixer is frozen in small containers or plastic bags;
- If you squeeze the juice out of cucumber puree, pour it into special containers for ice; in winter, you can massage the cubes into your face, while moisturizing it;
- for winter masks, freeze thin cucumber slices;
- Organic cucumbers can have their peels dried.
The ingredients prepared in this way are placed in a separate freezer compartment to prevent contact with other products that can spoil the smell of cosmetics.
Cucumber masks: proven recipes
According to reviews from fans of “cucumber care”, it is enough to simply wipe the skin with a slice of cucumber or apply vegetable pulp on the face, and the effect will be noticeable. However, to enhance the effect of a vegetable mask, you should give preference to multi-component home care products. There are so many of them that it is easy to get confused among so many. There are only two recommendations:
- the recipe must be verified;
- You need to choose a mask based on your individual characteristics.
How to make a face mask from cucumbers? Everything was invented a long time ago. Follow the simple instructions below.
Cucumber face mask at home
In order for the product to work, you must follow the rules for preparing the components. For masks, you can only use fresh, firm cucumbers. They are applied to the face, cut into rings, pureed or squeezed out the juice through gauze. The puree is made without skin and seeds. To make a homogeneous mass, you can use a blender, meat grinder, or grater. It is combined with other products indicated in the recipe and applied to the skin. What components can be added to the cucumber mass:
- lemon juice;
- homemade milk;
- fat sour cream;
- natural honey;
- fresh potato gruel;
- fatty cottage cheese;
- almond oil;
- powdered milk;
- Brewer's yeast;
- olive oil;
- tomatoes;
- flour;
- cream;
- egg white.
No to aging
Cucumber face mask for wrinkles is a classic. With the help of a vegetable, women tried to prolong their youth a hundred years ago, and they noticed that it really worked. The effectiveness of a cucumber face mask against wrinkles can be increased by using additional “aging fighters”: dairy products, herbs, antioxidant vegetables. Proven recipes for skin-smoothing masks are presented in the table below.
Table - Recipes for cucumber smoothing masks
Name | What you need | Time | Action |
Cucumber-honey tandem | — Two grated cucumbers; - two tablespoons of honey | 15 minutes | - Nutrition; - smoothness; — hydration; - freshness |
Cucumber plus potatoes | — A tablespoon of grated cucumber mass; - tablespoon of grated potato mixture | 20 minutes | — Smoothing furrows; - beautiful complexion |
Unusual with cream | — Juice squeezed from grated cucumber mass; - two tablespoons of rose water; - tablespoon 30% cream | 15 minutes | — Getting rid of wrinkles; - toning |
Fighting rashes
Cucumber masks are a panacea for acne, rashes, and blackheads. This is an effective tool for combating teenage rashes. To defeat imperfections, such weapons can be used in adulthood. Try two proven remedies that have already become classics.
Monocomponent
Effect. Inflammation and acne disappear.
What is required. Cucumber (one medium size is enough).
Step-by-step instruction
- Finely grate the vegetable.
- Cleanse your face.
- Apply cucumber mixture.
- Hold for twenty minutes.
- Rinse, then apply your usual nourishing product.
Cucumber-curd
Effect. Acne characteristic of the transition period disappears. Acne that appears at any age goes away.
What is required. One cucumber, low-fat cottage cheese.
Step-by-step instruction
- Chop the vegetable.
- Squeeze the juice from the mixture.
- Add two tablespoons of cottage cheese to cucumber juice.
- Grind (the consistency should be homogeneous).
- Cleanse your face.
- Apply the product.
- Hold for 15 minutes.
- Wash your face with cool water.
Tips for use
As already mentioned, cucumber masks vary in composition depending on the purpose of use. For all these types, several conditions must be met to get the greatest effect:
- You should choose the main ingredient correctly . Cucumbers should be young, as mature vegetables contain less vitamins and nutrients. The fruit should be washed and cooled before use.
- The prepared paste should be applied with gentle movements , and not rubbed into the face. A cosmetic brush is often used for this procedure.
- During use, you must be in a horizontal position . You need to completely relax the body so that the beneficial substances are better absorbed.
The most famous are cucumber-potato, sour cream, cucumber and cucumber-honey masks.
Snow White effect
A whitening face mask with cucumber became a real salvation for aristocratic beauties of the last century. Lemon or parsley was added to the vegetable, because they can also give whiteness. Modern ladies can also appreciate the effectiveness of these products. They will help get rid of age spots, remove freckles, and smooth out acne marks. Those who have long dreamed of an even complexion should remember the recipe for two masks.
Video on the topic Summer mask with fresh cucumbers and lemon
Cucumber-lemon
Effect. Tones, gives a healthy complexion, lightens pigmentation areas.
What is required. Three medium cucumbers, a spoonful of lemon juice.
Step-by-step instruction
- Grate one vegetable.
- Combine cucumber pulp and lemon juice.
- Heat the mixture (just a little).
- Apply the product.
- Squeeze the remaining vegetables into juice.
- Soak gauze in it and cover your face with it (on top of the paste).
- Keep for 15 minutes.
- Use warm water to rinse off.
- Nourish the skin with cream.
Video on the topic Homemade face whitening mask made from cucumber and oil
Cucumber - yogurt - parsley
Effect. Whitens, intensively moisturizes, eliminates gray tint, mattifies.
What is required. Fresh cucumber, a bunch of parsley, four tablespoons of yogurt (it’s better to take a “natural product”, definitely unsweetened).
Step-by-step instruction
- Blend greens and cucumber.
- Add yogurt to the beaten mass.
- Cover your face with a thick layer of the resulting mixture.
- Time it for 20 minutes.
- Wash with mineral water.
Regular use is important for home whitening products to be effective. They will really help get rid of the grayness of your face, but you will also need to reconsider your diet, walk more often, and avoid smoky rooms.
If your skin is dry
Simple cucumber mixtures and rubbing with vegetable slices are suitable for everyone, but multi-component products must be chosen based on the individual characteristics of the epidermis. Those with dry skin, first of all, need to solve the problem associated with early withering of the dermis, which leads to sagging and the appearance of wrinkles. The skin will be grateful for masks with maximum moisturizing and nourishing effects. The following table will tell you which products are suitable and how to prepare them.
Table - Recipes for cucumber masks for dry skin
Name | Components | Time |
Oat-vegetable | - Three tablespoons of cucumber mixture processed in a blender; — Three tablespoons of fresh carrots processed in a blender; - a tablespoon of sour milk; - a teaspoon of oatmeal (you can grind the flakes) | 20 minutes |
Cucumber-sour cream | - Grated medium cucumber; - two tablespoons of fat sour cream | 20 minutes |
Cucumber-herbal | - Grated medium cucumber; — Three crushed mint or basil leaves; - three tablespoons of chamomile infusion | 15 minutes |
Precautionary measures
If you use auxiliary components in a cucumber mask, you must do a test for individual intolerance. To do this, apply a small amount of the prepared mixture to the crook of your elbow, hold for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse. If there is no reaction on the skin within 24 hours, the mask can be safely applied to the face.
Important! Despite the large number of natural ingredients included in the masks, their frequent use can have a detrimental effect on the body.
When used regularly, a cucumber mask for wrinkles on the face is quite effective, but it should not be abused either. If you apply a cucumber mask to your face every day, the body will stop synthesizing nutrients on its own due to getting used to external influences. Therefore, cosmetologists recommend using masks at home no more than 2 times a week. In this case, you can alternate components and choose them optimally for your skin type.
If your skin is oily
Those with oily skin know that care must be special. It needs to be cleansed and moisturized, but it is important that the products used do not increase the secretion of the glands. And the “cucumber series” has suitable options.
Video on the topic Anti-wrinkle face mask made from cucumber and egg white
Cucumber-protein
Effect. Narrows pores, normalizes the functioning of glands, removes shine.
What is required. One medium cucumber, one egg white.
Step-by-step instruction
- Chop the vegetable.
- Squeeze the juice from the resulting cucumber mass.
- Beat the egg whites.
- Mix it with two tablespoons of juice.
- Keep the mixture for 15 minutes.
- Wash yourself. Cool water is recommended, it is better to use mineral water.
Since oily skin is predisposed to the appearance of rashes, it is additionally recommended to use masks that protect against acne: for example, the mono-component cucumber, cucumber-curd masks described above.