Cucumber eye treatments: Myth or skincare hack?

CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane speaks to Liezel van der Westhuizen, a fitness and wellness coach. 

Listen below:

According to Van der Westhuizen, 'it works' for eye treatments, as long as they're chilled/cooled because they contain:

• 95% water, so it's hydrating on the skin.
• Vitamin C and folic acid help stimulate new cell growth and reduce oxidative stress.
• A cooling effect to aid puffiness and inflammation.

Van der Westhuizen says research shows that cucumber extract is a common ingredient in eye creams and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries because it is:

• Nutrient-rich. 
• Hydrating.
• Full of antioxidants.
• Full of anti-inflammatory properties.

Things to prioritise when placing cucumber treatments on the eyes:

• Wash cucumbers before placing them on your eyes to clean them of pesticides.
• Ensure that they are not too cold; frozen cucumbers can burn the skin or cause irritation.
• Avoid using cucumber eye treatments if you're allergic to them.
• Avoid placing cucumbers on dry, irritated or broken skin.

It's recommended to use cucumbers on the eyes for around 10-15 minutes or remove them when the 'cool' feeling wears off.

Van der Westhuizen says this is no quick fix for fatigue.

"This isn't the overall answer, if you're exhausted and fatigued or had a late night... It's just five or 10% that's going to help with that. Enough sleep and hydration will also make a difference."

- Liezel van der Westhuizen, Fitness and Wellness Coach

While clinical trials on cucumber slices on the eyes are limited, the compounds in cucumber have been proven to be beneficial for skincare.

If you're keen to try this one, do a patch test by placing cucumbers on your hand or arm to prevent any allergic reactions before placing them on your eyes.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.