The cool and calm cucumber might seem a normal vegetable in the refrigerator that contains a lot of water and few nutrients. Also, some people really like to eat cucumber during the hot summer days to refresh their mind and body. But, is this the only way to use cucumber? The answer is NO. A fresh cucumber with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, can be much more than a snack during hot summer evenings. With about 95% water and some essential vitamins (vitamins A, vitamins B1, and vitamin C), cucumber can be very beneficial for skin and make it look brighter, lighter and flawless.
So, how can a person use cucumber to get a healthy and glowing skin? Well, it doesn’t require any laboratory chemicals; cucumber combined with various other natural ingredients can be made into skin masks, which when applied to the skin can remove excess oil from skin, cleanse the pores and helps in moisturizing the skin.
Cucumber skin masks can be helpful in the treatment of acne and scars and can help in getting a younger and glowing skin. Various cucumber skin masks/packs, their ingredients, and their preparation methods are listed below:
1. Cucumber and Honey Face Pack
Honey is packed with antioxidants and has an antibacterial nature. It can be helpful in preventing the skin from acne, and can also be effective for the treatment of an acne prone skin. It helps in opening the clogged pores of skin and cleanse it deeply. When used along with cucumber, the skin benefits of honey increase exponentially.
Ingredients:
Cucumber extract- 1 tablespoon
Honey- ½ tablespoon
Oats- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Mix the cucumber extract with oats, and then add honey to this mixture.
- Apply the well mixed paste on the skin for at least 15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
This paste is really effective for people with dry skin.
2. Cucumber and Aloe Vera Pack
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in reducing the inflammation from skin. It is widely used as an ingredient of Ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It has wound healing properties and when used with cucumber, it can have numerous skin benefits.
Ingredients:
¼th Cucumber (grated into pulp)
Aloe-Vera (in the form of juice or gel)- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Mix both the ingredients properly.
- Apply the mixture on the face for at least 15 minutes and later wash it with warm water.
This face pack is effective in rejuvenating the skin and makes the skin look younger.
3. Cucumber and Curd Face Pack
The ingredient of curd that makes it extremely beneficial for skin is lactic acid which is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are very effective in rejuvenating skin and moisturizes the upper layer of skin. When combined with the cucumber, the benefits of curd are countless.
Ingredients:
¼th Cucumber (grated into pulp)
Curd (can be replaced with yogurt) – 2 tablespoons
How to use:
- Mix the pulpy cucumber with curd to form a paste.
- Apply the paste on face for 15 minutes and then wash it clean with warm water.
This is a very powerful cucumber face pack for the treatment of oily skin and is very effective in reducing acne.
4. Cucumber and Gram Flour Pack
Gram flour (Besan) is generally used as a cooking ingredient in kitchen. However, this common ingredient has a major skin benefit as it can be helpful in removal of tan from skin. When the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of cucumber combine with tan removal properties of gram flour. They can help in rejuvenating the skin from within. Besan and cucumber together works magic for the skin.
Ingredients:
Cucumber (in the form of juice)- 2-3 tablespoons
Gram flour (Besan)- 2 tablespoons
How to use:
- Add gram flour to the cucumber juice to form a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on the skin and neck.
- Keep it on the face for at least 20 to 30 minutes until it gets dry.
- Wash the face clean with warm water and later dry it by patting with a towel.
Warning: Don’t rub, just gently pat with towel to dry the skin, as rubbing can inflict damage to the skin and can affect its elasticity.
This face pack can bring out the natural glow on the face.
5. Cucumber and Tomato Face Pack
Cucumber combined with tomato might sound like an old-school kitchen stuff, but it can be very beneficial with various skin benefits of tomato. It is very effective for reducing acne and rashes and can be used in case of painful sunburns.
Ingredients:
¼th Cucumber
½ Tomato (ripen)
How to use:
- Blend the peeled cucumber with the tomato to form a mixture.
- Apply the mixture on face and massage it in a circular motion for a few minutes.
- Keep the mixture applied on face for at least 15 minutes and then wash it with cold or lukewarm water.
A very effective face pack, this mixture of tomato and cucumber can make the skin look younger, brighter and radiant.
6. Cucumber and Watermelon Face Pack
Just like cucumber, watermelon contains a lot of water and some essential vitamins such as vitamin A and C. When the nutrients of cucumber combine with watermelon, they can have a large number of skin benefits.
Ingredients:
Cucumber (grated pulp)- 1 tablespoon
Watermelon (grated pulp)- 1 tablespoons
How to use:
- Mix well both the ingredients together
- Apply the mixture for at least 15 minutes
- Wash the face clean with lukewarm water
This cucumber face pack is effective for removing tan from the skin and helps in providing relief from sun damage.
7. Cucumber and Fuller’s Earth Face Pack
Fuller’s earth or commonly known as multani mitti is widely used as an ingredient of various skin products. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, dolomite and calcite. It has variety of skincare benefits and can be helpful in the treatment of acne and removal of blemishes and dark spots. Cucumber with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, add-ons to the benefits of multani mitti.
Ingredients:
Cucumber (juice)- 2 tablespoons
Fuller’s earth (multani mitti)- 1-2 tablespoons
Rose water- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Mix the fuller’s earth into the mixture of cucumber juice and rose water.
- Apply the mixture on the face for at least 15 minutes and later wash it off with warm water.
Effective in reducing acne, this face pack can absorb the impurities from skin and helps in deep cleansing.
8. Cucumber and Lemon Face Pack
Lemon and cucumber together sound like salad on the dining table, but when the anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber combine with the essential nutrients of lemon, they can together be helpful in bringing out the natural glow of skin by clearing the clogged skin pores.
Ingredients:
Cucumber juice- 1½ tablespoons
Lemon juice- ½ tablespoon
Cotton
How to use:
- Mix lemon juice with cucumber juice and use cotton to apply it on face.
- Keep it applied for at least 15 minutes and then wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
This face pack is effective for people with oily skin, as it can remove excess oil from face and helps in removal of tan from the skin.
9. Cucumber and Milk Face Pack
Just like curd, milk also contains lactic acid AHA that can be very effective for hydrating the upper layer of the skin. It can help in reducing the sun damage such as sunburns and helps in reducing pigmentation on skin. Milk and cucumber can together can give a new and shining glow to the skin.
Ingredients:
Cucumber (grated pulp)- 1-2 tablespoons
Milk- 2 tablespoons
How to use:
- Mix well both the ingredients.
- Apply the mixture on the face for at least 20 minutes.
- Later, wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
This face pack helps in providing a natural glow to the face of a person.
10. Cucumber and Papaya Face Pack
Papaya has a large number of skin benefits. It contains AHAs and can help in the removal of dead skin cells from the upper layer of skin. Besides the dead skin removal, it can help in reducing pigmentation and blemishes from the skin. When combined with cucumber, the mixture can make the skin look younger and brighter.
Ingredients:
¼th Cucumber
¼th Papaya (Ripen)
How to use:
- Cut both papaya and the cucumber into small pieces and then blend them to form a paste.
- Apply the mixture gently over the face and the neck and keep it applied for at least 15 minutes.
- Wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
This face pack is effective in reducing the signs of aging and provides natural glow to the skin.
11. Cucumber and Apple Face Pack
Apple, whether eaten or used in the form of a face pack with cucumber, has a large number of skin benefits. The nutrient that makes apple an amazing ingredient for skin care is vitamin C that is essential for the production of the new skin cells.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber
½ Apple
Oats- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Cut down cucumber and apple into pieces and later mash them.
- Add oats to the mashed mixture and put the complete mixture in a blender.
- After blending, apply the final mixture on the face for 20 minutes and later wash it clean with warm water.
This face pack is very effective for people with sensitive skin and produces a brilliant rejuvenating effect.
12. Cucumber and Egg Face Mask
Egg whites have astringent properties that help in the tightening of loose pores of skin. When used along with cucumber, it can help in making a loose and wrinkled skin tighter and can give glow to the face.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber (grated)
1 Egg white
How to use:
- Mix both the ingredients by using a whisk or just blend them.
- Apply the mixture on the face and the neck and let it dry for at least 20 minutes.
- Later, wash the mixture off the face with lukewarm water.
With its anti-aging effects, this face mask is very effective and can help in tightening a loose skin.
13. Cucumber and Orange Face Mask
Oranges and cucumber together can provide skin refreshment. And when used together in the form of face mask, they can refresh the skin from within. Oranges contain vitamin C that can help in boosting the growth of new skin cells and can bring out the natural glow of the skin.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber
Orange juice- 1-2 tablespoons
How to use:
- Blend the peeled cucumber and mix it with the orange juice to make a paste.
- Apply the paste evenly on the face and the neck for at least 15 minutes.
- Wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
This effective face mask brings back the natural glow and radiance to a person’s face.
14. Cucumber and Coconut Oil Face Mask
Coconut oil is widely used as an ingredient of various skincare products because of its natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It can help in moisturizing the skin and can be beneficial for the treatment of acne. When used with cucumber as a face pack, it can help in the treatment of an acne prone skin and can rejuvenate it.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber (grated)
Coconut oil- 1 teaspoon
How to use:
- Add the coconut oil to the grated cucumber and mix it well.
- Apply it on the face for at least 15 minutes and later wash it off from the face with lukewarm water.
This face mask is very effective for people with dry skin or a normal skin.
15. Cucumber and Mint Face Pack
Mint has anti-inflammatory properties. It is very effective in the treatment of various skin problems such as acne and rashes that are caused because of inflammation of skin. When these two ingredients are used together, they can help in soothing the skin from inflammation and gives it a natural glow.
Ingredients:
Cucumber juice- 1 tablespoon
Mint juice- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Mix well both the cucumber juice and the mint juice together.
- Apply the mixture evenly on the face and keep it intact for at least 20 minutes.
- Wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
This effective face-wash will bring out the natural glow on a person’s face.
16. Cucumber and Neem Face Pack
Neem is one of the essential herbs in Ayurveda with a wide range of uses in skin care because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It can help in the treatment of skin inflammation and along with cucumber, it can hydrate and moisturize the skin naturally.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber
Neem leaves- 4-6
Water- ½ cup
How to use:
- Put the neem leaves in water and boil them until they get soft.
- Strain the water and put the leaves away.
- Now, take the cucumber and blend it.
- Mix the blended cucumber with the neem water.
- Apply the mixture on face for 10-15 minutes and then wash the face with water.
Neem and cucumber together in a mixture and be very effective in washing acne and pimple off the face.
17. Cucumber and Turmeric Face Pack
Turmeric has a variety of skin benefits because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It can go deep below the pores of the skin and can help in reducing inflammation, relieving the skin. It can help in controlling acne and reduce scarring from the skin. Cucumber and turmeric together can help in cleansing the skin and makes it look younger.
Ingredients:
½ Cucumber
Turmeric- 1 pinch
Lemon juice- 1 pinch
How to use:
- Mash or grate the cucumber to form a pulp.
- Add turmeric and lemon juice to it.
- Apply the final mixture on face for at least 15 minutes and later wash it clean with warm water.
Cucumber face pack with turmeric is very effective for people with oily skin.
18. Cucumber and Avocado Face Mask
Avocados are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins. Thus, they have a large range of health and skincare benefits. Eating it directly or using it with cucumber by making a face mask can do wonders for the skin of a person.
Ingredients:
Cucumber juice- 2 tablespoons
Avocado pulp- ½ cup
How to use:
- Add avocado pulp to the cucumber juice and mix well.
- Evenly apply the mixture on the face and let it dry for 15-20 minutes.
- Once dried, wash it off from the face with warm water.
Very effective for softening the skin, this cucumber face pack can be useful for people with blemishes and dark spots.
19. Cucumber and Almond Face Mask
Almond in the form or almond butter contains a rich amount of omega-6 fatty acids, which when combined with the omega-3 fatty acids from cucumber can help in reducing the problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc. that are caused because of inflammation of skin.
Ingredients:
¼ Cucumber
Almond butter- 1 tablespoon
How to use:
- Cut the peeled cucumber into small pieces and add almond butter to it.
- Blend the ingredients together and apply the final mixture on the face.
- Wash the face clean after 10 minutes.
When these two ingredients are used together, they can be very helpful for people with dry skin.
20. Cucumber and Carrot Face Mask
Carrots contain beta-carotene which is one of the forms of vitamin A. Beta-carotene absorbed by body (either by eating carrot or using it as a face mask with cucumber) is later converted by body to form vitamin A, which is a strong anti-aging ingredient and helps in removing signs of aging such as wrinkles and pigmentation.
Ingredients:
Cucumber paste- 1 tablespoon
Sour cream- 1 tablespoon
Carrot juice- 1 tablespoons
How to use:
- Take cucumber paste (made by grating cucumber) and mix it with carrot juice.
- Add this mixture to sour cream and mix all the ingredients together.
- Apply the final paste on face for at least 15 minutes and wash the face clean with lukewarm water.
People with dry skin can use this face pack to get a flawless skin.
21. Cucumber and Baking Soda Face Mask
Baking soda is a strong exfoliant and helps in removing the dead skin cells from the skin. When combined with cucumber, the mixture can not only remove dead skin cells but also helps in refreshing the skin from within.
Ingredients:
Cucumber juice- 1-2 tablespoons
Baking soda- 1 teaspoon
How to use:
- Add baking soda to the fresh cucumber juice and mix it well.
- Apply the mixture on face for at least 10 minutes and then wash the face clean with water.
This face mask is very useful for people with acne and can help in acne removal, especially for people with cystic acne.
The skin masks listed here are easy to make and can be easily made in kitchen with some common ingredients. Apply these skin masks and get a flawless skin without spending a lot of money at an expensive beauty parlor.