Cucumber Extract will Give Your Skin a Natural Biochemical Makeover - By: Laura Thomas

You might not have previously considered cucumber extract as a natural skin care product, but it is gaining in popularity as an increasing number of people are shying away from synthetic commercial preparations as the toxic properties of a growing number of chemicals are being discovered through research.

Even propylene glycol, the antifreeze product, has been used in skin products. This improves the absorption of other ingredients of the product into your skin by rupturing the cell membranes, and leaving your skin open to attack from external toxins including carcinogens. Some of these should not be so much 'skin care' as 'skin scare' products.

There are other chemicals present in many skin care products that are used in industrial detergents, because they improve the wettability of the preparation on your skin. Would you rub a detergent into your skin? If not, then why use these products? The answer is simple: ignorance.

Many ingredients lists are so obscure that you won't recognize what is really contained in the product. Natural substances, such as cucumber extract, don't have such added ingredients because the natural substances themselves can penetrate your skin without doing the cells any damage. They don't need synthetic surfactants because they easily wet out on your skin without any external help.

Any chemical that opens up your skin to allow a cosmetic to penetrate it will also allow undesirable bacteria and polluting toxins to enter. These skin penetration agents cannot distinguish between good and bad substances trying to get inside your skin- they are chemicals with no brain!

So, given that we accept that a natural skin care product such as cucumber extract is better for you and your skin than a synthetic one, in what way does it benefit you and why should you use it? It's all very well using a natural product for the right reasons, but there's no point if it is going have little effect on your skin.

In fact, most natural products offer more benefits that the synthetics, without the disadvantages of the synthetic on your health in general, and on that of your skin in particular. Many natural products can be used for specific skin problems; cucumber extract is frequently used a salve, used when the skin is irritated by something. This is largely due to its astringent properties that can soothe and relieve dry and puffy skin.

However, it is for its antioxidant and moisturizing properties that it is most used, largely due to its content of Vitamin C, a string antioxidant that protects against exposure to atmospheric pollution, and also its protein and lipid content that offers emollient and moisturizing properties. The astringency revitalizes your skin, the lipids and proteins give a lovely smooth and silky feel and the extract also removes dead skin cells and help to relieve the irritation of acne skin, and prevent the blockage of pores by sebum that leads to acne.

That is not to suggest that cucumber extract is a cure for acne, only that it helps to maintain a healthy skin and can therefore do nothing than help. If your skin feels a bit slack or loose, is looking or feeling a bit worn, and you feel that it could do with a good biochemical makeover, then cucumber extract should be your choice, rather than any of the multitudinous synthetic products on offer.

About the Author

To find out more about cucumber extract and how it can help you to maintain your youthful looks, visit Laura's site at Castle Baths and give your skin care a kick start with this and other natural oils and butters that keep you looking younger for longer.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Laura-Thomas/53300

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