Home facial using cucumbers

Before you start

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Wash all the bowls, whisk, utensils, spoons, cups and whatever equipment you will be using for this facial with soap and water. Sterilize these. (Note: do not boil glass items as these can crack and the splinters can injure you. Certain plastics can melt if boiled so watch out for that). Make sure all surfaces you use for preparing this facial are clean. Remember. For home facials, hygiene and cleanliness is all important.

Wash a cucumber thoroughly. Blend the cucumber with a little distilled water. Strain the mixture to separate the pulp from the juice. Keep half the pulp in a bowl and the other half in another bowl. Put the juice into a bowl.

Put 1 tablespoon of rice flour into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of cucumber juice to it. This is the cucumber scrub

Put 1 tablespoon of milk (or skim milk if your skin is oily) into another bowl. Add1 teaspoon of cucumber juice to it. This is the cucumber cleanser

Add 1 tablespoon kaolin powder to a bowl of cucumber pulp. Stir well. Add cucumber juice if necessary to make a smooth paste. This is the cucumber mask.

Fill a kettle with water and set that to boil.

Wear a hair band or shower cap to keep your hair off your face.

Get ready some cotton pads and a clean towel

Now you are ready for your facial.

The facial

Dip a pair of clean cotton pads into the cucumber cleanser. Use these pads to wipe your makeup off your face. Discard leftover milk.

Wash off the cleanser with lots of water.

Massage the cucumber scrub gently into your face. Discard leftover scrub.

Wash off the scrub with lots of water.

Dry your face with a clean towel.

Pour boiling water into a bowl of cucumber pulp

With the towel forming a 'tent' over your head and the bowl, keep your face about 20cm above the bowl. (Caution: Skip this step if you are an asthmatic. The steam could trigger an attack. Skip this step if you have thread veins. The heat could worsen your condition )

Relax and let the steam cleanse your face for 10 minutes.

Spread the cucumber mask on your your face

Put 1 slice of cucumber over each eye if you like.

Relax for 10 minutes

Remove the cucumber slices

Wash your face with lots of water.

Dip 2 new cotton pads in the remaining cucumber juice and use it as a toner to clean your face further.

Excess cucumber juice can be used to cool down and tone your neck, chest and the rest of the body too.

Here are some soothing products with cucumber.

If you want the full benefits of alpha hydroxy acid, or beta hydroxy acid (gentler than alpha), try these