Cucumbers: Cliche or...?

Cucumbers are a cliche spa day accessory. Slices over your eyes are said to depuff and soothe. Personally, I’m a fan of the ritual.

I added cucumber to quite a few items in our spring line. WHY? Because it's abundant in vitamin B1, linoleic acid, phytosterols, and tocopherols, of course! The benefits of cucumbers can be found in all parts, so it's important to diversify your application strategy.

Vitamin B1 is a precursor to collagen production. We know collagen is helpful for aging complexions but it's even more important in wounded, picked at skin. B1is a water-soluble vitamin found most abundantly in the flesh of the cucumber. The coolest thing about it is that it is available transdermally. Applying directly is the perfect way to specifically target problem areas. This vitamin is unfortunately not very stable in hot situations but keep well of what's left in watery mediums, like hydrosol. Ideally you should make yourself a cooling poultice with fresh cucumbers to really cash in on this very valuable vitamin.

Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that builds ceramides. Yes, your body makes the components needed for a strong moisture barrier. In fact, supplementing with ceramides rather than this essential fatty acid trains your skin to NOT make ceramides for itself. Lazy skin is not resilient and will become dependent on these supplements to function well. Linoleic acid also prevents the formation of comedones, like blackheads and superficial whiteheads, by dissolving contaminated sebum. Cucumber seed oil is an excellent choice for a purgative massage, you can literally feel the gunk exiting your pores

Phytosterols are found abundantly in most vegetable and seed oils. Internally, phytosterols are like anti-cholesterol, very similar in appearance but cockblocks cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Nice. Externally phytosterols are effective at preventing damage from UV. Not sun screening so much as moderating the damage UV radiation can cause by fortifying the collagen production process and managing the inflammatory response. The supportive friend every complexion needs living in the sunny southwest.

Tocopherol is a fancy word for vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a reliable fat-soluble antioxidant. Tocopherols are a must-have in the high desert skincare arsenal for preventing UVB damage and encouraging healthy cell replication. Did you know most commercially available vitamin E is sourced from allergens like almonds and soy! Our bodies use vitamin E liberally. It's a major component of our naturally occurring sebum. As if you needed another reason not to strip away your natural oils every day. This antioxidant is most effective when used internally as well as externally so be sure to include sunflower seeds, most nuts, kiwi, mango, and/or broccoli sprouts in your diet.

You can find cucumber in the spring season of our Refurbish, Spotless, and Equilibrium serums, Natural State aloe cleanser, and hydrosol. Available online in our shop or at West of 3rd 224 Beale St, Kingman, AZ.