Cucumber face masks have been used since long time ago, however they recently resurfaced because Korean moms have been using the revitalizing effects of cucumber in their own homes. When I was younger, I associated cucumbers with salons and Archie comics, with Veronica and Betty having cucumbers over their eyes which I thought was just for their refreshing effects. Now I know cucumbers have a variety of benefits such as reducing inflammation, prevents acne, fights against free radicals, and a whole lot more.
It’s very simple to make yourself a cucumber face mask, although it might be a little messy. All you need is cucumber, preferably organic cucumber since you will be putting this directly on your face. Plus the optional rice water if you’d like.
Benefits of cucumber
- Reduces swelling and puffiness
- Brightens skin tone
- Regulates oil production
- Prevents sebum build up
- Minimizes pore size
- Improves skin elasticity
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C and amino acids which are amazing at helping to keep oil levels balanced. Also, because they are rich in vitamin C, it helps to brighten skin tone, In addition they are high in salicylate and beta-hydroxy acid, these really help to keep your pore size minimal by breaking down dirt and grime in your pores.
Cucumbers also possess silica which is great for collagen production to improve skin elasticity. They also have a great amount of water content, so they moisturize the face really well.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
How to make your diy cucumber face mask
- Wash the cucumber, you only really need 1 cucumber.
- Slice pieces as thin as possible.
- If they aren’t thin enough they won’t sit on your face properly and just slide right off as you are place them on.
- Place them on your face, covering as much area as possible
It’s as simple as that! I find doing it this way rather than blending the cucumber is a much cleaner, effective and easy way to do the cucumber face mask. I’d rather not have all the juices sliding all over the place and dripping on the floor as I walk around.
Read more: How Often You Should Use Face Masks If You Have Oily Skin
How I felt doing the cucumber face mask
I did this cucumber face mask and it was a fun experiment. It was a real success because I wanted to see if it would really lighten dark circles and hyperpigmentation. What ended up happening was wherever I put the cucumber slices were noticeably brighter than other parts of my face.
In comparison to other face masks that blend all the ingredients together and put it as a past on the face, I’d say this version is much simpler, cleaner and less messy which I prefer. 🙂
How to enhance your cucumber face mask session
There are several ways to boost your cucumber self-care routine that will help you achieve even better results.
- Steam your face beforehand to let your pores open and relax
- Exfoliate your face
- Soak the sliced cucumber pieces in rice water for 10 minutes before beginning
I highly recommend doing these several steps before because the cucumber face mask by itself is so easy. Steaming and exfoliating the face beforehand will provide the perfect base for the cucumber slices to easily stay on your face and help your skin effectively absorb all the fantastic nutrients it has.
