Cool Cucumber Spa Treatments

Spas love cucumber for facial treatments because it is the same pH as our skin, helping to restore our protective acid mantle. Cucumber’s cooling, gently astringent alpha-hydroxy acids soften, tone, and nourish skin stressed from exposure to summer sun and heat. Reduce that heat-induced greasy feeling, soothe itchiness, tighten pores, reduce eye puffiness, and reveal truly radiant, dewy-fresh skin with these cool formulas for a refreshing spa experience at home.

Cucumber Astringent
An easy way to reduce oily shine:
Coarsely chop 1/2 a cucumber, peeled, and place in a blender; blend until smooth. Apply liberally to face and allow to stay on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat face dry.

Nourishing Cucumber-Avocado Facial Mask
This magic formula does it all: nourishes, tightens pores, and helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal fresher skin.

Place the following ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth:
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peeled cucumber
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peeled avocado
1 egg white
2 teaspoons powdered milk

Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then apply to face and neck. Leave the mask in place for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Splash cool water on after that, then gently pat dry.

Clear Skin Mask
If you are occasionally troubled by blemishes, this easy mask will help to prevent them.

Place the following in a blender and blend until smooth:
1/2 cucumber, peeled
1 tablespoon instant nonfat dry milk
1 teaspoon plain yogurt

Apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Radiant Facial Treatment
If your complexion is dull and oily, this easy formula will help you look glowing and radiant:

1 teaspoon grated cucumber
splash of rosewater

Apply to face and allow to stay for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Quick Fix for Puffy Eyes
Time-honored because it works:
Slice two thin rounds of cucumber, lie down, and place the cucumber slices over your eyes. Rest for 15 minutes, then remove cucumber.

Two Ways to Reduce Dark Circles Under Eyes
These are great for tightening sagging under-eye skin, too:

1. Apply grated cucumber, either alone or mixed with an equal measure of carrot juice, to area beneath eyes. Allow to stay on for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

2. Mix grated cucumber with milk and refrigerate 30 minutes, then apply to under-eye skin and allow to stay on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Toning Cucumber Mask

5 fresh mint leaves
1/4 medium cucumber
1 egg white

1. Chop mint finely. Peel and seed the cucumber, placing it with mint in a blender and puree. Beat the egg white separately until it holds stiff peaks. Fold it very gently into the pureed cucumber mixture.

2. Apply evenly to the face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with pure water and pat dry.

Read more: Beauty, Skin Care, cucumber, skin mask

By Cait Johnson, Managing Producer, Care2 Green Living.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jonn N.

10:42PM PDT on Aug 16, 2012

I so enjoyed perusing the various uses of the simple cucumber as a facial and eye refresher. Thank so much for shirring this wonderful tidbits of the cucumber. I have used some of the treatments you mentioned, especially the ones for the eyes. Will try the others as time allows. Thank you very much for your research and sharing.