If you remember how the salon scenes looked circa the 2000s (both in movies and real life), you’ll realise that slapping cucumber slices on the eyes was a common sight.
Turns out, cucumbers have taken the spotlight yet again, this time because of TikTok. TikTok remains a thriving platform for new and emerging makeup and skincare trends every day.
With around 5.5 million views for #frozencucumber, we had to investigate this trend and decode it for you. So here’s all about the icy and chilly trend that’s gone viral and how.
What is the frozen cucumber hack?
As the name suggests, the trend refers to freezing cucumber pieces and using it on the skin to avail the benefits of skin icing plus the hydrating and soothing cucumbers, both at once. Through this trend, frozen cucumbers were established and advertised as a ‘naturally soothing’ replacement for gua shas and jade rollers. When you think of it, what are the prime uses of such tools? Massaging, de-puffing and de-stressing the skin. Well, frozen cucumber can do all of it and more. So all you need to do to jump on the bandwagon is basically rub a piece of frozen cucumber on your face and run it in the way you would run those tools.
Benefits of frozen cucumbers
Cucumbers are packed with upto 96% water, meaning they are loaded with water and endow the skin with a punch of hydration. Besides this, they are packed with vitamin B, C and K that help brighten, hydrate and soothe the skin plus take care of the darkness under the eyes also. Since cucumbers are mostly water, cold cucumbers soothe and calm inflamed, red or irritated skin by soothing all of it with anti-inflammatory properties. Cucumber, especially frozen cucumber, also helps to tighten and minimise pores and shrink their appearance noticeably.
The right way to do this
To use frozen cucumbers on your skin, you must cut a cucumber and place a piece in a plastic bag and freeze it. Once frozen, rub one end of the chopped cucumber (the end that exposes the inner bit) on your skin and give your skin a nice and instant facial by promoting lymphatic drainage and cooling the skin. Don’t leave a piece of cucumber unwrapped in plastic in the freezer since it may accumulate germs and bacteria. While some people reuse the piece a couple of times, it’s best not to do so since you wanna steer clear from infections and breakouts.
The final verdict
Yes, this is definitely one of those mind-boggling hacks that works for real plus is super easy and cheap. You may not essentially replace your tools with this because: a) cucumbers are best only for one-time use, b) you should ideally rub a cucumber on a bare face, which means you can’t use this over products like gua shas and jade rollers. However, it’s a great hack to give your face a quick icy and hydrating facial.
