Make a Cucumber Based Facial Mask

Cucumber masks are some of the most basic and well-loved facial treatments for soothing skin and cleansing skin. Rich in water and essential nutrients, cucumbers contain a number of vitamins that brighten and vitalize the sensitive skin of your face. Instead of purchasing an expensive facial mask full of added ingredients, prepare a simple cucumber mask with just a few ingredients from you kitchen, and harness the rejuvenating power of cucumber!

Ingredients

Cucumber and Yogurt Mask

• 1 cucumber
• 1 tablespoon (14.7 ml) yogurt

Cucumber, Oatmeal and Honey Mask

• 1 cucumber
• 1 tablespoon (14.7 ml) oats
• 1 tablespoon (14.7 ml) honey

Cucumber, Egg, Olive Oil and Vinegar Mask

• 1 cucumber
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoon (29.5 ml) olive oil
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) apple cider vinegar

Steps

Making a Cucumber and Yogurt Mask

1. Peel the cucumber. A cucumber and yogurt mask is great for all skin types and is particularly good for dry skin or sunburnt skin. Begin making the mask by washing the cucumber, then cutting it in half. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark skin from one cucumber half.
   • If you don’t have a peeler, carefully slice the skin off with a small knife.
2. Slice the cucumber into chunks. Cut the peeled cucumber half into large chunks, then place the pieces in a food processor. You don’t have to be precise with the pieces, just cut them small enough so that they can be easily blended.
   • If you don’t have a food processor, you can also use a blender, the mixture may just be a little chunkier.
3. Add a tablespoon of yogurt. Measure out a tablespoon of yogurt and add it to the food processor. Try to use plain yogurt for the mask rather than a flavored variety that may have added ingredients.
   • If you have dry skin, consider adding a teaspoon of coconut or olive oil.
   • Yogurt contains lactic acid, which is great for refining and tightening pores. It is great for all skin types because it is gentle yet cleansing.
4. Puree the cucumbers and yogurt. Use the puree setting on your food processor or blender to blend the two ingredients. Puree until the mixture is fully blended into a wet paste.

Making a Cucumber, Oatmeal and Honey Mask

1. Peel the cucumber. A cucumber, oatmeal and honey mask is exfoliating and is great for oily or acne-prone skin. Prepare the cucumber by washing it, then cut it in half and peel one cucumber half either with a vegetable peeler or by slicing off the skin with a small knife.
2. Cut the cucumber into chunks. Slice the peeled cucumbers into big chunks to make the vegetable easier to blend. Then drop the cucumber chunks into a food processor or blender.
3. Puree the cucumber. Use the puree setting on your food processor or blender and blend the cucumber until it reaches a blended, soupy consistency. Then pour the pureed cucumber into a small mixing bowl.
4. Place one tablespoon of ground oats into the mixing bowl. Measure out one tablespoon of ground oats and drop them into the small bowl with the pureed cucumber. Make sure that the oats are ground, not whole, since you want your mask to have a smooth consistency.
   • If you only have whole oats, you can pulse them in the food processor to create a powder.
   • It’s most effective grind the oats by themselves if they aren’t already ground before you put in the other ingredients.
   • Oats exfoliate and remove dead skin cells while soaking up excess oils on your face.
5. Add one tablespoon of honey. Measure out and add a tablespoon of honey to the mixing bowl. Honey helps to soften skin and has strong antibacterial properties.
6. Stir the ingredients together to combine. Use a spoon to stir the cucumber, ground oatmeal and honey together. Stir until the ground oatmeal looks completely dissolved and the mixture is a wet paste.

Making a Cucumber, Egg, Olive Oil and Vinegar Mask

1. Peel a quarter of a cucumber. A cucumber, egg, olive oil and vinegar mask is a good option if you want to deep-clean the skin of your face. To begin making it, wash a cucumber, then cut off a quarter of it and peel it using a vegetable peeler.
2. Cut the cucumber quarter into a few pieces. Slice the cucumber quarter into a few pieces to make it easier to blend. Then drop these pieces into a food process or blender.
3. Separate the egg yolk. Crack an egg into a small bowl, then use a spoon to spoon out and remove the yolk from the egg whites. Be careful not to break the yolk as you are removing it. Drop the egg yolk into the food processor and dispose of the egg whites, or save them for use in cooking.
4. Add apple cider vinegar and olive oil to the food processor. Measure out and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the food processor, as well as two tablespoons of olive oil.
5. Puree all the ingredients in a food processor. Use the puree option on your food processor or blender to mix all the ingredients for the mask. Stop when the ingredients are blended together.

Applying the Mask

1. Wash your face thoroughly. Before you apply the mask, you need to make sure that you face is clean canvas. Remove any makeup or lotions you may have on your face and wash your face to fully cleanse.
2. Steam your face. Steaming your face before you apply the mask isn’t necessary, but it will help to open your pores and allow the mask to more deeply nourish your skin. To steam, soak clean towels in hot water, then wring them out and hold them against your face for around a minute.
   • You can also steam by holding your face over a bowl of hot water. Pour boiling water into a large bowl, then place the bowl on the table and sit in front of it. Lean forward and hold your face above the pot for a minute with a large clean towel draped over your head and around the sides of the bowl.
3. Apply the mask to your face. Wash your hands, then use your fingertips to start patting on the cucumber mask, beginning at your forehead. Leave a circle of uncovered skin around each eye so as not to irritate them. Make sure that the mask layer is at least a half centimeter thick.
4. Leave the mask on your face for fifteen minutes. After you have finished applying your mask, let it sit on your face for fifteen to twenty minutes. This gives the mask time to penetrate and cleanse your skin. Make sure not to touch your face during this time, as this could remove some of the mask.
5. Rinse off the mask with cold water. After the fifteen minutes are up, wash the mask away. Splash cold water on your face, and use your fingers to wipe the mask away. Wash your face with more cold water and use your fingers to gently scrub until all remnants of the mask are gone.
   • Cold water closes the pores on your face and seals in the nutrients and other benefits of the mask.
   • Try not to use a face cleanser to remove the mask, since it may be harsh after the mask. If you are having a lot of trouble removing the mask with just water, use a small amount of extra gentle cleanser.
6. Pat your face dry. Use a clean towel to pat your face dry. Your face should now feel fresh, soothed and moisturized! If you have extra dry skin, consider applying a few drops of facial moisturizer to trouble areas. Otherwise, enjoy your fresh and revitalized skin!

Tips

• Put two slices of cucumber over your eyes after you apply the mask soothe puffy under eye circles.
• Drape a towel over your shoulders before you apply the mask to catch any mess!

Sources and Citations

See also

• Smooth Skin with a Natural Face Scrub
• Do a Facial at Home
• Take Care of Your Lips
• Get Clear and Soft Skin Using a Raw Egg
• Make a Natural Large Pore Treatment
• Make a Skin Toner
• Give Someone a Facial
• Give Yourself a Food Facial
• Make an Egg Facial Mask
• Make a Basic Homemade Facial Scrub

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