Cucumbers
ALMOST DAILIES
Art illustration by Heidi Borchers - © 2001
Ahh. The poor lowly cucumber. No one thinks much about this boring salad veggie. So why is it that every spa picture you see has a woman laying there with cucumber slices on her eyes? Well, cucumbers are so cooling and relaxing. No more taking cucumbers for granted!
Cucumber usage goes far back into history. It is said that Cleopatra used cucumbers in her beauty routine. Did you know that cucumbers are 95% water and that the inside of a cucumber can be as much as 20 degrees cooler than the outside air temperature? The skin of the cucumber has a high mineral content and is good for your hair and skin. [I’m thinking that is probably why Cleopatra was so taken with cucumbers.]
Recipe for relaxation: After a hard day’s work, cut up a cucumber and lie down with some cooling slices on your tired eyes. When you are refreshed, then use the rest of the cucumber in your dinner salad.
Recipe for pretty face: Fresh Cucumber and Fresh Mint facial mask
½ cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
½ teaspoon fresh mint leaves, chopped
Peel and slice the cucumber, place in a blender and chop or puree, add mint leaves and yogurt, and blend. Apply to your face, let sit 10-15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water. Helps tighten skin and is good for all skin types.
