Cucumber for Skin, the Cooling Solution to Reducing the Appearance of Puffy Eyes

You’ve seen the images—the beautiful woman in the white robe with cucumbers on her eyes. Do cucumbers really help reduce that appearance of puffiness? According to the experts, they do!

Do cucumbers really help reduce the appearance of eye puffiness?

A Little More About This Ingredient

Scientifically called Cucumis sativus, cucumber is part of the gourd family, which includes pumpkins, squash, and melons. A creeping vine, the plant grows up trellises or other supporting frames, and has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit. The plant likes temperate and tropical environments, with temperatures between 60-90 degrees.

You may have heard the debate over whether the cucumber is a vegetable or a fruit. Similar to the tomato, it’s used as a vegetable, but is botanically a fruit, coming from a flower with the seeds inside. It tastes best when harvested young, as it’s tender and sweet. If left to grow older, it gets a tougher skin and turns yellow.

China has the honor of producing the most cucumbers, with Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the U.S. also on the map as prominent growers.

Internal Health Benefits of Cucumber

Like other gourds, cucumber is a good source of vitamin A, K, and potassium. Cucumber extracts have been found in studies to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and because they’re mostly water, they’re low in calories and make a great weight-loss food. They’re also a good source of fiber, helping to regulate the digestive system.

Because of the vitamin K content, cucumbers have the potential to promote strong bones, while the vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene may help reduce the risk of aging due to free radical damage. In addition, they’re natural cooling effect is believed to help relieve heartburn, while a detoxifying property may help dissolve kidney stones and boost energy.

Cucumber’s Benefits to the Skin

Cucumbers are the real deal for reducing the appearance of puffy skin. Here’s why:

• High water content: Cucumbers are about 90 percent water, which makes them super hydrating whether you eat them or apply them to the eyes. Particularly when stored in the refrigerator, cucumber can be super soothing and cooling.
• Reduce the appearance of puffiness: Cucumbers contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, which diminish the appearance of puffiness around the eyes.
• Cooling: A lot of natural skin care brands use cucumber in their after-sun remedies.
• Good source of silica: Silica is a trace mineral that contributes to a tighter, firmer look.
• Reduce the appearance of dark spots: The fruit has can lighten and brighten your look.
• Minimize the appearance of large pores: Cucumber is a natural cleanser and can help unclog pores. This property also makes cucumber juice a great natural toner.

Try It!

Can you guess which product of ours contains cucumber? Easy, right? It’s our latest cucumber based Anti-Aging Eye Cream. Try it for a more awakened, youthful look. We also have other unique products in our eye care collection, like our Fruit Ceramide Eye Serum, that are waiting to be explored. If you’re curious what an eye serum is, check out this article that covers the benefits of using an eye serum!

Do you use cucumber slices on your eyes? Please share your tips.