There's a reason so many spas bring chilled cucumber towels to you while you're waiting for your treatment, or place slices over your eyes after your massage. Tara Mackey, the author of "Cured by Nature: How to Heal from the Inside Out, Find Happiness, and Discover Your True Self" and founder of The Organic Life, explains cucumbers not only revitalize skin, they can reduce swelling and puffiness around your eyes. "Cucumbers are an excellent source of skin hydration, as they are mostly water. They contain both vitamin C and caffeic acid, both of which help soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. These powerful acids prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for undereye puffiness, under-eye bags, burns and dermatitis," she says.
Fielding adds that if you're experiencing an unfortunate breakout, cucumber juice and ground oats mixed together create an effective DIY skin-clearing mask. Simply leave on your skin for ten minutes, wash off, and let your pores breathe.
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Cucumber Beauty Products
Yes to Cucumbers Calming Mud Mask, $2.99
Green clay and soothing cucumber extract tamp down inflammation and help balance irritated skin. Witch hazel clarifies for clearer, calmer skin in a flash.
Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask -- Deep Moisture Cucumber, $24
Have an important interview or a first date you're pumped about? Apply this hydrating mask that leaves skin looking smoother, dewier and younger.
Unfortunately, acne doesn't has an age limit, and thanks to unpredictable hormonal fluctuations, you might find yourself faced with zits regularly. For a natural approach to clearing blemishes, Jackson suggests turning your attention to your gym bag, where you're sure to find a post-workout snack that might help you out. "Almonds are amazing to eat for heart health, but almond oil is incredibly beneficial for skin. A natural acne fighter, almond oil has fatty acids that combat acne, causing reduced sebum on your face and clear pores," she explains.
Making almond oil at home isn't an ambitious undertaking with two easy steps: first, you crush almonds in your blender and then add olive oil. Once you have a semi-liquid concoction, let the oil drain off and apply directly to your face. Voila!
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Almond Beauty Products
Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Oil, $25.50
You get a lot of vitamins for your buck with this daily moisturizer alternative. While the almond oil helps balance your skin, the fatty acids create a smoother surface. To top it off, the infused with plum kernel oil adds vitamin A and E, and organic buckthorn oil gives you vitamin C.
Native to Southeast Asia, and present in many of your favorite Thai dishes, turmeric doesn't just add a tasty flavor to foods, but it has a ton of skin-care benefits, too. "It is widely known that turmeric has awesome anti-inflammatory properties, so you likely have seen a zillion smoothie recipes, juices and recipes with this incredibly powerful ingredient. Turmeric is also lauded for giving your skin a healthy glow, reducing redness, minimizing stretch marks and even helping acne scarring," Jackson says.
While you can definitely chop up some turmeric for your smoothie and put a dot on that zit on your cheek, you might be smarter to buy a packaged beauty product instead. Why? Because of it's natural vibrant yellow color, it's been known to stain skin. Certain formulated blends, like the one below, have mastered the fine balance of giving you the perks of turmeric without making you yellow.
