Why do people put cucumbers on their eyes?
Placing sliced cucumber on the eyes is one of the oldest and most common cosmetic home remedies. Its main benefits seem to come from the cucumber's cooling and hydrating effects. For many, cucumbers can help reduce puffiness, lighten dark circles, and make your eyes look and feel more refreshed.
However, this may depend more on what's causing your puffy eyes and dark circles, and less on the cucumber itself.
Putting cucumber on eyes that are puffy or swollen from crying or allergies could work well. It could also help with dark undereye circles that are due to staying up too late, for example. But it won't do much for cosmetic eye issues related to genetics, aging or certain health conditions.
Benefits of cucumbers on eye skin
Cucumbers have a very long list of reported benefits for the skin. People have been adding the fruit to skin treatments for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It's said to work wonders for the skin due to its superfood chemical makeup, which includes:
- Folic acid and other B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Silica
- Lignans
Cucumber contains these components and more, though they're found in relatively low concentrations. So, it's unlikely that putting raw, sliced cucumber on the eyes can convey those benefits to your skin. And some of those elements, such as vitamins C and K, need clinical-grade preparations to be safe on the skin in effective amounts.
Despite the cucumber's amazing reputation, there's been very little research on its cosmetic effects. And those studies looked primarily at cucumber juice and extract, which are more concentrated than raw slices.
Chilled cucumber slices
Putting plain cucumber on the eyes does seem to have a few nice benefits. It's widely used to soothe and temporarily hydrate and de-puff the delicate skin around the eyes.
Dryness and fine lines
Cucumbers are made almost entirely water (over 96%), a lot of which can sink into dry skin. In some cases, this can help to plump up fine lines and give skin around the eyes a smoother, fresher appearance.
The hydrating powers of cucumber on the eyes are only temporary, though. This is mainly because water alone isn’t enough to properly hydrate skin from the outside. It needs to be followed up with a quality moisturizer. One small study even found that skin was less hydrated after one week of applying cucumber extract cream.
Swelling and dark circles
To reduce swelling and dark circles, cucumber slices need to be cold. They seem to work as simple cold compresses on the skin, rather than a means to transfer the cucumber’s vitamins and micronutrients.
Things like lack of sleep, allergies or a salty meal can lead to inflammation and fluid retention around the eyes. Inflamed, dilated blood vessels can also be more visible under the skin in this area, causing dark circles to appear. Applying something cold constricts the blood vessels, which can make them less visible and slow down the swelling.
Cucumber extract and juice
For your skin to get more impact from cucumber, you need a much higher concentration than raw slices can provide. For example, a few studies have looked at the possible active properties in cucumber juice and extract.
They suggested that certain concentrations may be effective when used on the skin as:
- Antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatories
- Melanin inhibitors
- Sebum inhibitors
However, most of these studies weren’t carried out on people, or even on skin.
Cucumber in cosmetics
Many over-the-counter (OTC) skin creams and other products contain cucumber extract or juice. And while some of these products may do more than moisturize skin, there isn't enough science to say exactly what they do for sure.
Most OTC cosmetics only contain 1% cucumber water or 3% extract. In fact, cucumber's official function in OTC cosmetics is only as a "skin-conditioning agent.” This designation means it mainly acts as a lubricant or humectant.
A better way to access cucumber's skin nutrients may be with homemade preparations. After all, it’s been used that way for centuries.
Side effects of putting cucumbers on your eyes
Most people won’t experience any side effects from putting cucumbers on their eyes. Raw cucumbers don’t contain high amounts of any harsh chemicals, so they’re considered generally safe.
However, people who are allergic to cucumber should never put it near their eyes. People should also be cautious with cucumber if they have other certain allergies, including:
- Latex
- Ragweed
- Celery
- Carrot
- Watermelon or other gourds
There is some evidence that people who are allergic to these may also develop a reaction to cucumber.
Always be cautious about putting any kind of cosmetic, even if made with cucumber, near the eyes. Make sure the product is intended for use on the eye area first.
How long should you keep cucumbers on your eyes?
The main benefit of cucumbers comes from their coolness. It’s good to keep them on your eyes as long as they still feel a little cold.
This is usually only for a few minutes, but you can flip them over when the first side starts to warm from your body temperature.
Keep your eyes healthy with regular eye exams
A chilled slice of cucumber can do a lot for your eyes. Not only is it a great way to soothe tired, irritated eyes, but it can also help with eye redness, puffiness and even some types of dark circles.
Symptoms like these are usually short-lived and harmless. Lack of sleep, allergies and other temporary upsets can all bring them on. However, if these symptoms are persistent, they could be signs of an underlying health issue, especially if there's no obvious cause. See your eye doctor if you have red or swollen eyes that are painful, itchy or lasting more than a day or two, particularly if it is affecting your vision.
Yearly eye exams are key to keeping your eyes healthy. Don't wait until you notice vision or other eye symptoms to see your eye doctor for a checkup.
READ NEXT: How to get rid of eye bags
