Cutting a cucumber and eating it only with salt, as if it were a fruit or a snack, is one of the ways to enjoy the benefits of this very practical vegetable. Its consumption does not require us to overcook or season it, to invent fancy salads and fancy sauces, which makes it a simple and tasty food. Even when the cucumber is elaborated in a more intense way, as when it is preserved – the famous pickle –, it is still successful in the kitchen and can be used in the most varied types of recipes.
Cucumber, however, is not just used in cooking. Its power in beauty treatments has been known for many years, whether to soothe tired eyes or to tone the skin. Dermatologist Helena Zantut explains that, despite its main characteristic being its refreshing effect, it is also capable of hydrating due to the large amount of water it contains.
1 – The famous cucumber slices in the eyes
Because it has a high concentration of water, cucumber can help reduce puffiness and ease the signs of tired eyes. The ideal is to keep the cucumber in the fridge for a while before cutting it to use in the eyes. The cold also helps to improve the appearance of tired eyes. Keep the slices on them for about 15 minutes.
2 – Powerful hair rebuilder
For women who spend a lot of time in the pool, preventing chlorine from damaging the wires is an almost impossible task to accomplish. But the harmful effects of this chemical can be lessened with the use of a simple recipe that takes cucumber. For Helena, “cucumber moisturizes the hair, but it has limited effects, like any hair cream – so it’s a good idea to use it together with vitamins and other moisturizers.
You will need an egg, a tablespoon of olive oil and a quarter of a cucumber, peeled and beaten in a blender. Mix all the ingredients and spread through the hair, letting it act for 10 minutes. Then remove with plenty of water.
3 – Powerful tonic
Blend a cucumber in a blender, pouring the result over a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Wait for the “juice” to drain and add two teaspoons of honey. Spread with the help of a cotton pad on the face and neck, leaving the “mask” for 15 minutes and then removing.
4 – Moisturizing face mask
You will need half a cup of chopped cucumber, half a cup of chopped avocado, one egg white and two teaspoons of powdered milk. Blend everything in a blender until you get a homogeneous paste. Place the mixture in the fridge for half an hour, then spread evenly over your face. You can keep it for half an hour or until it is dry. Remove with warm water.
5 – Relaxing bath
In a tub of warm water, add two cups of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), a sliced cucumber, mint leaves, and a few drops of essential oil. Soaking in there for a while can have relaxing and refreshing effects.
6 – Face mask
Blending a small piece of cucumber with a drop of rosemary essential oil in a blender and then adding a clear whipped cream after that, you get a face mask that just shouldn’t be used around the eyes and mouth. Gently spread with fingers and remove 15 minutes later.
7 – Mask with yogurt
Blend half a cucumber in a blender with a tablespoon of plain yogurt. This mask can be applied to the face, neck and décolleté. Let the mask act for 15 minutes and then remove, rinsing with warm water.
Helena states that “cucumber is a vegetable that brings even more benefits if ingested, as it is rich in B complex (important for neurons), in lignan (which helps in the prevention of cancer), in addition to being very hydrating because it is rich in Water.
Do you have any cucumber recipes? Share with us in the comments.