NEW DELHI: Calling all skincare lovers! Have you ever wondered why spas make it a point to put cool cucumber slices on your eyes during an indulgent facial? It’s because the cucumber is chock full of amazing benefits for the skin, and our experts want you in the know about how you can incorporate this juicy fruit into your daily regimen. Cucumber is a refreshing and cooling goodie that not only adds deliciousness and crunchiness to salads but offers many skin-loving perks too! Its natural properties have the potential to revive dull complexions and make you look your best with minimal effort. Not only that, but various vitamins, minerals, and amino acids found in cucumbers come with a variety of benefits to improve your glow inside and out!
Here are some cucumber skin benefits
Cucumber has exploded in popularity in recent years, and with good reason! Not only is it a great addition to your summer salads, but it also is packed with nutrients and vitamins that can provide tons of benefits for your skin.
Reduces inflammation and puffiness
Natural skin treatments are all the rage, and cucumber is leading the way when it comes to calming inflammatory skin conditions and reducing puffiness. The powerful combination of antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and polyphenols make cucumber a powerful choice for reducing inflammation. Additionally, the high water content in cucumbers is also thought to reduce symptoms of water retention and puffiness.
Applied directly to the skin or in a cucumber face mask, this fruit can be used cooled or fresh to reduce redness caused by sunburns or irritation.
Disappears dark circles and dark spots. If you’re one of the many people struggling with pesky dark circles, the solution may be surprisingly simple: cucumbers. Slice a fresh cucumber into thin slices and apply to the skin beneath your eyes.
Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with cool water. The natural astringent properties of cucumber work to reduce puffiness, plus the cooling effect temporarily constricts blood vessels, reducing swelling and helping banish those unsightly circles. And voila! Dark circles will be on their way out in no time at all.
Helps with acne-prone skin
Acne can be a huge skin-care problem - but did you know that cucumbers could help? Not only does it help to reduce inflammation and redness caused by a breakout, but it can also help keep your skin hydrated and balanced, which can ultimately contribute to clearer skin.
Cucumbers can help cure the scars from acne breakouts, thanks to their high levels of vitamins A, B1, C, and E as well as antioxidants.
Tighten pores
Rich in antioxidants and with natural mild astringent properties, cucumbers can help draw out dirt, oil, and other impurities from your pores for smoother, clearer-looking skin. Additionally, these fruits contain silica which helps create a smooth, matte look by helping to regulate sebum production—the oil that contributes to large pores.
Helps to reduce sebum production
This is good news for those with oily skin! Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C and amino acids which are essential to keep oil levels balanced. Additionally, cucumbers are high in salicylate, a beta-hydroxy acid, that can help reduce pore size, thus reducing oily skin.
Evens out skin tone
Cucumbers boast the ability to naturally lighten and clarify complexions, leaving the skin refreshed and revitalized. The secret lies in cucumber’s high content of super skin-friendly ingredients like Vitamin C, folic acid, caffeic acid, and natural astringents. These naturally occurring compounds help reduce puffiness and dark circles while diminishing excess pigmentation that causes an uneven complexion.
Another good explanation for why cucumbers can even out the skin tone is due to their ability to reduce skin irritation. Since many discolorations on our face are caused by redness and swelling in the skin, removing that inflammation through the cooling effects of cucumbers is thought to successfully even out tone and achieve a natural glow.
Combats aging signs
Cucumbers are an age-old secret to combat the aging process. Not only are they helpful in reducing signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, but they also hydrate skin and slow down collagen depletion to keep it looking smooth and youthful. All this is thanks to the various vitamins and minerals they contain, like Vitamin A which helps protect against sun damage, Vitamin B which helps keep the skin moisturized, and Vitamin K which facilitates wound healing.
In this sense, cucumbers are not only refreshingly hydrating but also full of antioxidants, such as vitamin A, folic acid, and fiber that can help fight the signs of aging and increase skin elasticity. Collagen and elastin, which give skin its elasticity and structure, are both created by Vitamin C — another powerful antioxidant found in cucumbers, meaning that these fruits can increase elastin and collagen production. (Agencies)
Also Read: Ways to use cucumber for cool and clear skin (sentinelassam.com)
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