The Skin Saviours to Keep You As Cool As a Cucumber

In honour of NYLON’s favourite veg- okay, my favourite vegetable, we’ve decided to shed a spotlight on the soothing and refreshing Cucumis Sativus. You’re probably familiar with the on-screen image of a woman with cucumber slices over her lids to unwind, but it isn’t just to show us that she’s having some me-time. There’s more to this SuperVeg than that, so today, you two will be getting acquainted.
What is it? 
Pretty sure you don’t need a crash course on what a cucumber is, but the two most common ingredients that are featured in skincare formulas are cucumber fruit extract and cucumber seed oil.
How does it work? 
We all know that the flesh of the cucumber harbours mostly water, but the fruit extract and oil derived from it actually contains ascorbic acid, which is a form of vitamin C, as well as caffeic acid, both of which aid in calming down angry skin, reducing swelling by preventing water retention. That is why you’ll often see cucumbers being applied topically like we mentioned. They treat puffiness, burns, and even dermatitis, which is pretty impressive for such an unassuming vegetable.
It’s rich in beneficial minerals too, featuring a bunch of vital ones like potassium and magnesium to help strengthen the skin. And thanks to the silica, they possess hydrating nourishing and astringent properties as well, which is why cucumber is a must-have in your routine if you’re aching for glowing skin.
Here, we’ve rounded up a few of the most potent products to keep you hydrated and feeling just as cool as cucumber.
 

Ilia Cucumber Stick
Now this is a pretty interesting product. Ilia’s latest launch is actually a cooling toner in the form of a twist-up stick, so it’s meant to give your skin a quick boost of moisture when you need or want it. It’s got cucumber pulp to de-puff, so it feels extra good around the eye area, as well as aloe extract and chicory root to soothe the skin and amp up collagen production.
US$46, available from iliabeauty.com.
 

Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion
Made for oilier skin types, Mario Badescu’s Cucumber Cleansing Lotion is meant to be used as a toner. It contains cucumber fruit extract to refresh the skin, removing pore clogging residue to disinfect the skin’s surface. A word of caution: this contains 4% alcohol, so if you’ve got sensitive or dry skin, you might wanna try some of our other picks.
$38, available from Sephora.
 

Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Mist
If you’re looking for a facial mist that packs a serious punch of hydration, this is it. The Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Mist has an aloe and rose water base that’s topped off with Lactobacillus ferment (that’s right, the good bacteria), antioxidant-rich acai berry, and cucumber seed oil to refresh makeup and breathe some life into dull, tired skin.
$79, available from alliesofskin.com.

 

Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Eye Mask
This potent natural eye cream contains cucumber seed oil that works alongside arnica extract and Tata Harper’s Estate Grown Beauty Complex to target and reduce the appearance of puffiness and panda eyes, so no one will know that you’ve gone 48 hours without a wink of sleep. Though it’s labelled an eye mask, you can leave this on for however long you want, but with that price tag, you might wanna let it soak into your skin entirely.
$174, available from naturallybetterco.com.sg.
 

Intelligent Nutrients Renewal Complex Eye
Dermatologically tested, this ultra-light eye gel works to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness thanks to the cucumber fruit extract in it. The formula combines our star ingredient with antioxidants to minimise fine lines and wrinkles, too. Not bad for 15ml.
$65, available from Sephora.