Steaming your face
Facials are incredibly good for your skin, but they’re not cheap. The cost of getting them at a salon once per week or even once per month adds up quickly. Not everyone has the budget necessary to indulge in this spa treatment — and even if the cost isn’t an issue, some people simply don’t have the time to make the trip.
Fortunately, you can get the benefits of a facial at a fraction of a cost, and in the comfort of your own home by steaming your face yourself. You don’t need formal training to pull it off, but there are certain products you should use and a procedure you should follow. Get all the information you need in this article about how to steam your face.
What does steaming your face do?
At a basic level, steaming involves exposing your face to a source of steam. There are different types of steaming techniques you can try, from keeping it simple with a pot of water to investing in a facial steamer.
Benefits of steaming your face
So, why would you want to steam your face? There are a variety of compelling reasons.
Hydration
The process of steaming moisturizes your face by ramping up oil production; increased oil production hydrates your skin better.
Release of impurities
While steam facials increase the production of oil, they don’t worsen acne. In fact, they help acne clear up and reduce the chance of getting acne in the future — steaming achieves this by opening your pores. When your pores are opened, they release impurities like bacteria and dead skin cells that cause acne.
Release of sebum
Sebum is an oil that your sebaceous glands produce to lubricate your hair and skin. Unfortunately, sebum can cause blackhead and acne breakouts if it gets trapped beneath the surface of your skin. Steam facials release sebum just as they do impurities, thereby reducing the potential for breakouts.
Promotion of elastin and collagen
The acceleration of blood flow driven by steaming promotes the production of elastin and collagen. When your body produces more of these two proteins, the younger and firmer your skin will look.
Enhancement of skin care product absorption
Certain factors affect your skin’s ability to absorb skin care products. One of these factors is permeability. The more permeable your skin is, the better it can absorb topicals.
Deep cleansing
Much like permeability, the cleanliness level of your skin also affects its ability to absorb skin care products. Sometimes your skin needs a deep cleanse for this reason. Steaming loosens dirt buildup and opens your pores. The latter makes blackheads easier to remove because they’re softened. The overall result is a deep cleanse.
What you’ll need to steam your face
There are several different techniques you can use to steam your face if you’re not using a facial steamer. Below is a list of basic products, plus a few extras you may want to add.
A gentle face cleanser
A hair tie to secure your hair (if it’s medium-length or long)
A small pot
A ceramic or glass bowl (avoid plastic, as it emits plastic molecules when heated)
Four towels — one to pat your face dry, one drape over your head and two to place under the bowl
Optional items
A facial mask
Herbs or essential oils
How to steam your face
This is the basic procedure for steaming your face without a facial steamer. If you choose to apply a facial mask after you steam, it’s critical to follow it up with a toner. That said, using a toner is a good idea even if you don’t use a mask. You can also add herbs or essential oils to the water if you prefer. Certain herbs and essential oils offer specific benefits.
Bring one to two cups of water to a boil in the pot.
Wash your face with the gentle cleanser as the water is coming to a boil. It’s critical to avoid harsh cleansers and exfoliating scrubs prior to steaming.
Pat your face dry with one of the towels.
Pour the boiling water into the bowl.
Add the herbs or essential oils to the water if you’re using them. Add them once the water is in the bowl, not when it’s still boiling in the pot.
Drape one of the towels over your head, letting it drop down over each side of your face. This will trap the steam and direct it towards your face.
Be very careful about how close you place your face to the water. You should never feel like you’re struggling to breathe or that your skin is burning.
Steam your face for five to 10 minutes. Never exceed 10 minutes.
If you’re going to apply a facial mask, you should do so after you finish steaming.
Apply the toner after you rinse the mask off. You should apply the toner immediately after steaming if you didn’t use a mask.
Apply the moisturizer.
The best facial steamers
It’s imperative to follow the instructions that come with your steamer. This will help you avoid damaging your skin or harming yourself in any other way.
Panasonic Spa-Quality Facial Steamer: available at Amazon
This portable facial steamer quickly deep cleans your face. The device can do this because it emits ultra-fine steam. Since the facial steamer produces fine steam, you’ll spend less time in each session. Panasonic’s Spa-Quality Facial Steamer is also portable. The unit is on the expensive side, but you get a spa-quality steamer for the investment.
Kingdom Beauty Nano Ionic Facial Steamer: available at Amazon
This unit is a great choice if you’re working with a limited budget. It’s a good quality facial steamer that is extremely quiet and heats up water fast.
EZBASICS Nano Ionic Face Steamer: available at Amazon
An affordable facial steamer that generates effective nano-ionic steam, this unit is a good pick at a lower price point. It includes a five-piece skin kit that allows you to remove blemishes and blackheads. The steamer is constructed of non-irritating, non-toxic, eco-friendly ABS. You can use essential oils with this unit.
Pure Daily Care NanoSteamer 3-in-1 Nano Ionic Facial Steamer: available at Amazon
The NanoSteamer is a spa-quality device that can steam your face, warm towels in its extra chamber and humidify a room. You can remove blemishes and blackheads using the included five-piece skin kit. NanoSteamer is unique in its ability to provide 30 minutes of working time due to its 200-milliliter water tank.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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