Cucumber Extract

 

Cucumber and Cucumber Extract

Cucumbers may do more for your skin than for your palate. These cylindrical fruits, are a member of the melon family, and have properties that soothe and soften the skin. Fight inflammation.  Add antioxidants, and help renew the skin.  

The flesh of the cucumber is mostly water, but also contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, both of which help soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling.  Cucumbers provides a cooling quality, making them appropriate to help soothe mild burns, particularly sunburn. They can also reduce swelling and relieve minor skin irritations.

Cucumbers are a source of several compounds that fight inflammation and aging, including cucurbitacins and cucumerin. The older you get, the fewer antioxidants you have in your skin to combat wrinkles and sun damage. Your skin has the ability to absorb antioxidants. Cucumber can help restore some of these.
Cucumbers contain vitamin C, an antioxidant. They also have plenty of vitamin K, also an antioxidant. Pantothenic acid, or vitamin B-5, is another compound found in cucumbers that helps your skin retain moisture. The vitamin A, or retinol, in cucumbers fights dark spots and freckles because it helps control your skin's production of melanin.
Cucumbers are a source of silica, which, as a precursor to collagen, can help fight wrinkles. A May 2011 issue of the "Archives of Dermatological Research" published a study concluding that the presence of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, makes cucumber juice a particular effective ingredient in anti-wrinkle products.