Cucumbers are a great skin friendly food, packed with nutrients and lots of water, they are great when applied to the skin and also when eaten, they make a fantastic ingredient base for your juice, or when added to a jug of cold water. 

The flesh of the cucumber  is mostly water, containing vitamin C and caffeic acid, both help soothe skin irritations, reduce swelling and prevent water retention, which is why they are often helpful for puffy eyes, burns and dermatitis.  They amazingly have the same pH as the skin so they help restore the protective barrier called the acid mantle. They also have fantastic hydrating, nourishing and astringent properties making them great for treating sunburn 

Vitamins  They are packed with Vitamins such as vitamin C a mega antioxidant to help fight skin ageing.  Vitamin K beneficial for blood clotting and strengthening capillary walls making it great for  dark circles under the eyes. This is why a couple of cucumber slices placed over tired, puffy eyes in the morning makes you look refreshed. Pantothenic acid, or vitamin B-5, is amazing for holding water in the skin making it a great hydrating nutrients and  vitamin A helps control your skin’s production of melanin making it beneficial in balancing dark spots, its also beneficial for cell turnover,  good eye sight and healthy bones. 

Minerals  The skin of a cucumber is rich in fiber and contains minerals such as silica, potassium and magnesium. The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. Cucumber juice is often recommended as a source of silica to improve the complexion and health of the skin, plus cucumber’s high water content makes it naturally hydrating—a must for glowing skin.