Whether you get a professional steam treatment in a spa or do it yourself at home, it provides you multiple skin health and beauty benefits. However, there is no need to spend time and money for making a trip to a spa or salon; you can pamper your skin to a spa-style facial in the comfort of your own kitchen. A relaxing steam facial benefits the skin in many ways, and it costs almost nothing. The steam boosts circulation; deep-cleans blocked pores and loosens blackheads. For an extra-special herbal steam facial, add a handful of aromatic dry or fresh herbs. Adding the plants to the hot water releases their nutrient-rich aromatic oils having anti-bacterial and astringent properties, which are then absorbed by your skin.
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How To Steam Your Face At Home?
1. Wash your face with a mild facial cleanser and lukewarm water. Make sure to remove all of your makeup and any dirt, oil or sweat that’s sitting on the surface of your skin. It’s essential that your skin be clean when you steam it. Your pores will dilate, and if you have dirt or makeup sitting on your skin, it might make a way inside and cause infection.
Pat your face dry with a soft towel before you proceed further.
Tip: If you have long hair, tie it back.
2. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. You don’t require much water. Pour 3-4 cups of water in a pot and bring the water to a full boil.
3. Pour the steaming water into a bowl. If you want to pamper your facial skin as part of an at-home spa treatment, pour it into a large glass or ceramic bowl. If you just want a quick steam, you can leave the hot water in the pot.
Caution:
(i) Don’t pour the water into a plastic bowl so as not to allow small plastic molecules getting involved in your facial steam.
(ii) Be very careful that you do not burn yourself! If you decide to leave the water in the pot, then keep in mind to remove it from the heat source before using it.
4. Place whatever vessel you’re using on a few folded towels on a counter top or another safe, sturdy surface.
5. Add Essential Oils Or Herbs (OPTIONAL): Now’s the time to add in essential oils or herbs to the water to make the treatment a little special as per your needs:
(i) Add a small handful of fresh or dried herbs, if desired.
(a) For Oily Skin: Mint or Lavender
(b) For Soothing Sensitive Skin: Calendula, comfrey or chamomile
(c) For Dry Skin: Mint.
(d) To Cleanse Pores For All Skin Types: A piece of licorice root
(e) For Relaxing: A handful of organic rose petals or orange blossoms – they serve as sweet-smelling facial.
(ii) Adding just a few drops of an essential oil can double up the steam treatment as an aromatherapy session, so it will be a 2-in-1 treatment.
Notes:
(i) Make sure to add the herbs or essential oil after you’ve taken the water off the boil. Otherwise, the benefits and scents will quickly evaporate.
(ii) If you don’t have any special oils or herbs, try herbal tea! Through in a few herbal tea bags in the hot water. Chamomile, mint, and chai all make excellent steams.
6. Steam Your Face: Lean over the bowl with your face close enough to the steaming water to feel it steaming your face, but not so close that your skin feels like it’s burning or you’re having trouble breathing fresh air. Create a steam tent by draping a large bath towel over your head so that it drops down on either side of your face, trapping the steam so that it concentrates near your skin.
Tips:
(i) A typical steam lasts about 10 minutes, so you may like to sit down while steaming your face. However, doing this for 5 minutes is enough to get most of its benefits.
(ii) Make sure not to steam your face longer than 10 minutes. Stop sooner if your skin feels uncomfortable or if you have sensitive skin or acne. If you are suffering from acne or other skin issues, steaming for a longer time can aggravate the acne conditions.
Note: For most effective Facial Steaming, use this Warm Mist Facial Steamer
7. Wipe Your Face: After steaming, the debris and impurities are loosened and become soft. This is the perfect time to eliminate them. Either you can use a cool washcloth to remove them and close your pores or use a clay mask. Smooth clay mask over your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash it away with warm water and pat your face dry with a towel.
Tip: If you don’t have a clay mask, you can use any of these natural exfoliant.
Caution: Never use a strong exfoliant on your skin after steaming, especially if you have acne. Since your face will be slightly swollen and your pores will be open, scrubbing it could cause it to become inflamed
What To Do After Steaming Face?
8. Tone Your Face (OPTIONAL): Now you may use a facial toner to help cleanse your pores thoroughly. Apply it to your face in gentle strokes using a cotton ball.
You can use any of these homemade toners.
9. Moisturize Your Face: Steam and heat can cause the skin to dry out, so it’s suggested to follow your seam treatment with a good moisturizer. If you like, you may use any of these natural moisturizers.
Note: If you want to apply makeup then first allow the moisturizer completely absorb into your skin.
