Working Time:
3 - 5 minutes
Total Time:
25 - 35 minutes
Yield:
1 face mask
Skill Level:
Beginner
Estimated Cost:
$1-2
That cool, crunchy cucumber that you put in fancy drinks or toss into salads can also make a refreshing treat for your face.
Because they contain about 96% water, cucumbers can help hydrate thirsty skin and reduce swelling and puffiness on hot days. They’re also great for soothing skin irritation and cooling down inflammation from sunburns. In addition, the fruit of a cucumber is rich in vitamin C and its peel contains lactic acid—both nutrients are anti-wrinkle powerhouses.
This one ingredient recipe for a DIY cucumber face mask is simple enough to make every time your skin needs a hydration boost and is very easy on the wallet, too.
What You’ll Need
Equipment/Tools
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Electric blender
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Medium mixing bowl
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1
- medium to large cucumber
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredient
- Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
- Rinse your cucumber in cool water to remove anything that may be on the peel like dirt or bacteria.
- Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, carefully cut the cucumber in half. If your blender isn’t particularly powerful, you may want to chop one half into smaller pieces to make smooth blending easier.
- Take one-half of the cucumber and set it aside. The other half can go into the refrigerator to save for another mask or even a healthy snack. Cut cucumbers can last for up to a week in the refrigerator.
- How to Pick a Cucumber for Your Face Mask
- A firm cucumber without soft spots or blemishes is best for this recipe. Soft spots can mean that the cucumber has started to go bad. Look for one that has dark green skin with no yellow spots, which can indicate that the cucumber is too ripe and could produce a bad odor or color when blended.
- Blend and Strain the Cucumber
- Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
- Using your blender, puree half of the cucumber for 15 seconds or until the consistency is thick and watery.
- Place the fine mesh strainer over the mixing bowl and pour the blended cucumber into the strainer to separate the juice from the solids. Instead of throwing the solids in the trash, consider saving them to blend into a smoothie for added fiber and nutrients. If you don’t want to save them, try composting them so nothing goes to waste.
- For an extra-refreshing treatment, pop the juice into the freezer for ten minutes to cool it down before moving on to the next step.
- Apply Cucumber Face Mask
- Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
- Make sure your hair is away from your face. With your hands, apply the cucumber juice to your clean face using a circular motion to massage the ingredients into your skin. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.
- Wash Your Face
- Treehugger / Sanja Kostic
- Wash the mask off with cool water and dry your face by patting it with a clean towel. Avoid using hot water to rinse since it can dry out your skin.
Variations
Because of its simplicity, this mask can be easily modified using other beneficial ingredients. Depending on your skin type or what you are trying to achieve, several easy to find items can be added to the cucumber mask base for a variety of fun options, including:
Prepare Your Ingredient
Rinse your cucumber in cool water to remove anything that may be on the peel like dirt or bacteria.
Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, carefully cut the cucumber in half. If your blender isn’t particularly powerful, you may want to chop one half into smaller pieces to make smooth blending easier.
Take one-half of the cucumber and set it aside. The other half can go into the refrigerator to save for another mask or even a healthy snack. Cut cucumbers can last for up to a week in the refrigerator.
How to Pick a Cucumber for Your Face Mask
A firm cucumber without soft spots or blemishes is best for this recipe. Soft spots can mean that the cucumber has started to go bad. Look for one that has dark green skin with no yellow spots, which can indicate that the cucumber is too ripe and could produce a bad odor or color when blended.
Blend and Strain the Cucumber
Using your blender, puree half of the cucumber for 15 seconds or until the consistency is thick and watery.
Place the fine mesh strainer over the mixing bowl and pour the blended cucumber into the strainer to separate the juice from the solids. Instead of throwing the solids in the trash, consider saving them to blend into a smoothie for added fiber and nutrients. If you don’t want to save them, try composting them so nothing goes to waste.
For an extra-refreshing treatment, pop the juice into the freezer for ten minutes to cool it down before moving on to the next step.
Apply Cucumber Face Mask
Make sure your hair is away from your face. With your hands, apply the cucumber juice to your clean face using a circular motion to massage the ingredients into your skin. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.
Wash Your Face
Wash the mask off with cool water and dry your face by patting it with a clean towel. Avoid using hot water to rinse since it can dry out your skin.
- 2 tablesppons plain yogurt - to brighten skin½ teaspoon diluted tea tree oil - for acne (dilute 1 drop of tea tree oil with ½ tsp of water)2 tablespoons aloe vera gel - to reduce inflammation1 tablespoon oatmeal and 1 tablespoon honey - for exfoliation and moisture
If your skin is sensitive or you’ve reacted to face masks in the past, do a patch test beforehand by applying a drop or two of the cucumber juice on your forearm and leaving it for up to 20 minutes. If you do not experience any reaction such as redness, itching, or burning, the cucumber mask should be fine to use.
- Guelinckx, Isabelle, et al. “Contribution of Water from Food and Fluids to Total Water Intake: Analysis of a French and UK Population Surveys.” Nutrients, vol. 8, no. 10, 2016, pp. 630., doi:10.3390/nu8100630
- Mukherjee, Pulok K., et al. “Phytochemical and Therapeutic Potential of Cucumber.” Fitoterapia, vol. 84, 2013, pp. 227-236., doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003
