TikTok is obsessed with this frozen cucumber hack that makes redness and irritation a thing of the past

Honestly, nothing surprises us with TikTok anymore

Portrait Of Young Confident Women With Cucumbers On Eyes - stock photo
(Image credit: Getty Images / Caroline Tompkins / Refinery29 for Getty Images)

Just when we thought we knew everything there was to know about skincare, TikTok strikes again with this wonderfully weird, frozen cucumber hack.

TikTok is our go-to place for all things make-up and skin-care from that game-changing eyeshadow hack to which of the most popular skincare products and top ingredients to buy. But this most recent viral hack is... interesting to say the least.

TikTok has definitely made us do a few strange things in the past, like making bath tea and seeing how we’d look next to Harry Styles (we make a very attractive couple if we do say so ourselves). Now skincare enthusiasts are telling us to rub a whole, frozen cucumber on our face—and we’re mad for it. The idea of putting cucumber on your eyes isn't new, obviously, but the frozen bit elevates this 80s boujie beauty flex. 

Young female applying glossy make-up - stock photo

(Image credit: Getty Images / Jonathan Knowles)

TikTok user Alexa Rae Loebel began the trend after suffering from skin irritation. In her now-viral video, she shows herself rubbing a stick of frozen cucumber over her face in the morning. She says doing this first thing will leave your skin fresh, glowing and your make-up will go on flawlessly.

In the video, she says it reduces puffiness, irritation and redness. In a follow-up video, she also adds that her dark circles are nowhere to be seen.

@alexaraeloebel

You’re welcome 💕 #fyp #skincare #skincareroutine #frozencucumberhack #skincaretips #skincaretiktok #skincare101 #skincarecheck #glow

♬ STAY - The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber

Others have been quick to jump on the trend, and now there are hundreds of TikTokers massaging their face with ice-cold cucumbers.

@audrajeang

#eyeslipsface #frozencucumberhack #skincare #skin #skinhacksathome #undereyebags #acne #acnetreatment

♬ Pretty Girl - Clairo

It makes sense in that using cold water and ice on our face is known for reducing inflammation, toning the skin and reducing the size of pores. Marilyn Monroe herself used to wash her face only with ice water.

Cucumber is an added bonus because it’s full of antioxidants and vitamins. According to Medical News Today cucumber is an excellent source of vitamins C and K and research suggests that it reduces inflammation and dark circles.

All you need to do for this hack is buy a cucumber, cut off the end and pop it in the freezer. In the morning, wrap the uncut end in a towel or cloth to protect your hands and gently rub the cucumber around your face, using an upward motion. Also, remember to cut the end off each time you use it so that you’re using a clean cucumber surface each time.

Naomi Jamieson
Lifestyle News Writer

Naomi is a Lifestyle News Writer with the Women's Lifestyle team, where she covers everything from entertainment to fashion and beauty, as well as TikTok trends for Woman&Home, after previously writing for My Imperfect Life and GoodTo. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied illustration at Plymouth University but lept into the media world in 2020, after always having a passion for writing and earned her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ.


Before working for Future Publishing’s Lifestyle News team, she worked in the Ad production team. Here she wrote and designed adverts on all sorts of things, which then went into print magazines across all genres. Now, when she isn’t writing articles on celebs, fashion trends, or the newest shows on Netflix, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee, drawing and probably online shopping.