Just like a whole host of other fruits and veggies, cucumber is a powerhouse ingredient when it’s used to formulate skincare. It’s packed with vitamins and other goodies that your skin is bound to love, especially if it’s dry, tight, or irritated.
So, instead of soggying up your sandwich with a few slices of green stuff, pick up a product that’ll let your skin soak up all the benefits of this ultra-hydrating ingredient. We promise it’s way more satisfying than a salad…
Here’s our go-to guide for incorporating cucumber into your skincare routine for a glowy and hydrated complexion with very little effort.
What are some cucumber benefits for the skin?
We’ve all seen the movies – there’s a reason every at-home beauty regime in the 90s touted a couple of slices of cucumber haphazardly thrown over the eyes as the peak of relaxation and self-care. Cucumber has been known as a hydrating and calming ingredient for decades, and you’ll find it in numerous skincare products that range from cheap and cheerful to luxury. So, what does cucumber do for your skin?
One of the key health benefits of cucumber is its unmatched hydrating effect. The high water content in cucumbers (they clock in at a whopping 96% water) means that they’ll support your body’s hydration levels, both when applied directly to the skin and included in your diet. They also contain polysaccharides, which can help the skin to lock in moisture. However, you can’t just rely on cucumber to keep your skin supple and moisturised for the long haul – be sure to find a product or build a routine that pairs cucumber with other hydrating ingredients to really give the skin the drink it needs.
Cucumbers are also packed full of vitamins, including some pretty crucial ones like vitamin A, C and E. Each of these have antioxidant properties, which allow them to combat the sneaky free radicals we all encounter when simply living our lives. If you haven’t heard of free radicals before, they’re essentially miniscule chemical particles that can wear away at the skin barrier and cause damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness. Antioxidants are a must in your skincare routine, as they can not only prevent incoming free radical damage, but have been found to reverse existing damage, too.
The vitamins and minerals contained in cucumber also mean that it can have an anti-inflammatory effect, cooling and soothing skin irritation. These anti-inflammatory properties make it an ideal ingredient in products such as toners and mists that can be spritzed onto irritated skin to relieve discomfort and even reduce swelling or visible inflammation.
Finally, cucumber is a mild astringent, which means it gently tightens and shrinks the pores and balances excess oil production as a result. These properties are ideal for anyone with oily or acne prone skin with visible pores. Plus, because cucumber is a natural and gentle ingredient, it won’t cause that dry, tight feeling that harsher astringents often can, making it dry skin-friendly, too.
Who should use cucumber?
As an all-natural ingredient, cucumber is perfect for every skin type, and consequently, can be incorporated into any routine. Whether you’ve got oily skin, dry skin, or something in between, staying hydrated is a must, making cucumber a great ingredient to use daily to lock in moisture levels.
Oily skin types in particular will reap the rewards of cucumber in their skincare routine, as it simultaneously shrinks pores that may be enlarged and balances the skin’s moisture levels. After all, oily skin can still be dehydrated (in fact, it often is) – so don’t skimp on the moisturising ingredients!
Those with dry skin will enjoy the refreshing, hydrating feel of cucumber-based products, as well as a little added protection against free radicals. Although everyone should protect their skin against pollution and the potential effects of the elements, dry skin types tend to see these effects a little earlier on or in an amplified way, so harnessing the power of cucumber’s antioxidant ingredients will put you ahead of the eight ball when it comes to visible signs of ageing, if preventing this is your goal.
And, there’s no question that red, acne-prone and irritated skin types will love adding cucumber into their skincare routines. The perfect soothing ingredient for those with painful pustules or cystic acne, rosacea, or dry, itchy patches, cucumber gives the skin some much-needed relief especially when used in a mist or serum.
When should you use cucumber?
Because cucumber is so gentle, it’s often paired with other, more active ingredients across various products to achieve different results. However, in essence, you can apply cucumber-based products daily, as long as it’s not grouped in with anything too harsh.
Our Teatox Glow Serum Spritz is the superstar product everyone needs in their routine for glowy and revitalised skin. This refreshing serum-turned-mist pairs cucumber with another well-known superfood, green tea, to really amp up the antioxidant benefits. This is fortified by the addition of hyaluronic acid, which is a humectant – AKA, an ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture – that also hydrates the outer layers of the skin. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a beloved skincare addition for a reason; by keeping your skin supple and moisturised it helps to delay the visible signs of ageing and gives you that fresh, dewy look all day long.
The result is a product that does double duty, hydrating and plumping the skin for a mega glow while simultaneously protecting it against damage from the outside world via a killer line-up of antioxidants. After cleansing, mist your Teatox Glow Serum Spritz onto damp skin to kick off the quickest and most effective skin transformation of your life – we don’t call this one the ‘7-day detox’ for nothing. Yummy ingredients plus actives… what’s not to love?
Good news – the undeniable benefits of cucumber are just a click away. Shop the Remake Teatox Glow Serum Spritz to unlock better skin without the fuss. Plus, check out our full range of ingredient-led, sustainably packaged, no-nasties skincare right now to take the guesswork out of your routine.