Cucumber

What Is Cucumber in Skincare?

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is used in skincare as a light, cooling, skin-conditioning botanical. It appears on labels as cucumber fruit extract, cucumber juice, or cucumber seed oil, most often in toners, gels, eye creams, and masks, where it gives a fresh feel and helps the look of tired, puffy skin.

EWG Skin Deep rating for cucumber

It is a gentle supporting ingredient rather than a powerful active. Its main value is comfort, a cooling sensation, and light hydration.

Cucumber Quick Facts

How Cucumber Works on the Skin

Most of what cucumber does comes from three things: its high water content, its soothing feel, and the cooling effect of chilled cucumber products.

• Cooling and calming the look of skin: Chilled cucumber gels and slices feel cool, which can make the eye area look less puffy for a short time. Much of that effect comes from the cold itself, which is why chilled products and cold compresses work in a similar way.
• Light hydration: Extracts are usually delivered in glycerin, a proven humectant, so cucumber toners and gels leave skin feeling refreshed.
• Oil balance: In a study, 21 healthy volunteers applied a cream with 3% cucumber fruit extract to the cheeks for 4 weeks, compared with the same cream without extract. The cucumber cream significantly reduced skin sebum. Changes in melanin, hydration, redness, and water loss were not statistically significant (Akhtar et al., 2011).

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel assessed six cucumber-derived ingredients in 2014 and concluded they are safe as used in cosmetics, functioning as skin-conditioning agents (Fiume et al., 2014).

What cucumber does not do: older versions of this page said cucumber fights blemish bacteria, fades scars, and delivers meaningful vitamin C. The USDA data above show cucumber is very low in vitamin C, and the human study found no significant change in skin tone, so those claims have been removed. For real brightening, look to vitamin C.

How to Use Cucumber in Formulas

• Rate: Use cucumber fruit extract at 5%, the top of the supplier range.
• When to add: Add to the water phase at cool-down, below 40°C (104°F), to protect its fresh scent.
• Best formats: Toners, facial mists, aloe gels, eye gels, and light lotions.
• Preservation: Cucumber extracts are water based, so the finished product needs a broad-spectrum preservative.
• Storage: Keep the extract tightly closed, cool, and out of light. Store eye gels in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect.

About Fresh Cucumber Slices

Cold slices on closed eyes for 10 minutes are a simple, refreshing habit. Wash the cucumber first and use it right away. Homemade cucumber juice or puree has no preservative, so make only what you will use that day and throw out the rest.

Who Cucumber Suits

Cucumber suits every skin type. It is especially pleasant for oily and combination skin, which tends to prefer light textures, and for tired or puffy-looking eyes in the morning.

Sensitive skin: Cucumber is generally well tolerated, but anyone with a known cucumber allergy should avoid it. Patch test any new product on the inner arm and wait 24 hours. In DIY formulas, start at the lowest rate, 3%, and work up to 5% only if your skin stays comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cucumber good for your skin?

Yes. Cucumber is a gentle, cooling, skin-conditioning ingredient that the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel considers safe as used in cosmetics. It suits all skin types, but it is a supporting ingredient rather than a strong active.

Can you put raw cucumber on your face?

Yes. Fresh, washed slices can rest on the skin for about 10 minutes for a cool, refreshing feel. Rubbing slices over the face is fine too, but rinse afterward and do not store homemade cucumber juice or puree, since it has no preservative.

Do cucumber slices help puffy eyes and dark circles?

Cold slices can make morning puffiness look better for a short time, mostly because of the cool temperature. They do little for the look of dark circles. For that, see our glossary entries on under-eye bags and dark circles.

Can cucumber lighten or brighten skin?

Not in a meaningful way. In a 4-week study of a 3% cucumber extract cream, the change in skin melanin was not statistically significant. Cucumber is also very low in vitamin C, so for a brighter look choose a dedicated brightening ingredient.

Can I use cucumber on my face every day?

Yes. Cucumber toners, gels, and creams are gentle enough for daily use, morning and night. Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.

Can I leave cucumber on my face overnight?

A preserved cucumber gel or cream can be worn overnight. Fresh cucumber slices or homemade juice should be rinsed off after 10 to 15 minutes, because they dry out and can spoil on the skin.

Shop and Learn More

Products in this collection include the Eye Bright Argireline Cream and the Liquid Facelift Collagen Serum, shown below. For more on the eye area, read Best Eye Cream Uplift.

Sources

• Akhtar N, Mehmood A, Khan BA, Mahmood T, Khan HMS, Saeed T. Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2011;10(7):1206-1216. doi:10.5897/AJB10.1072
• Fiume MM, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety assessment of Cucumis sativus (cucumber)-derived ingredients as used in cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology. 2014;33:47S-64S. doi:10.1177/1091581814526892
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central. Cucumber, with peel, raw (FDC ID 168409): water and vitamin C content.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.