Since time immemorial, women have been using steaming as an integral part of their beauty routines. Be it during a facial, cleanup, or simply to add a beautiful flush to your appearance, steaming your face is irreplaceable.
There are a lot of ways in which you can steam your face. While a simple bowl of hot water is enough to open your pores and unclog them, you could even add a little bit of lemon, salt, dried herbs, or an essential oil of your choice to help the process work better.
To ensure that you are steaming your face correctly, here’s a step-by-step guide that you can follow.
How to Steam Your Face Properly
Step 01: Start by filling a big bowl with water and then heat it until it comes to a boil.
Step 02: While the water is boiling, thoroughly clean your face to ensure that there is no dirt, makeup, or any other residue on your face.
Step 03: Once the water has boiled and you’ve taken it off the stove, add a few drops of any essential oil of your choice to the water. You could even add a little bit of green tea or mint leaves.
Step 04: Finally, cover your head and the bowl with a thick towel to ensure that the steam doesn’t escape. Carefully bend towards the bowl and steam your face for about 10 minutes.
Following these steps ensures you get the maximum benefits of steaming your face from the comfort of your home whenever you like!
1. Cleanses Your Skin
One of the biggest benefits of face steaming is that it helps open your pores, pushing out the dirt, oil, and sweat clogged within and providing a deep cleansing effect. It also allows all the natural oils to flow freely, preventing any future blockage or build-up. And all of us know that unclogged, clear pores mean lesser acne and breakouts in general, right? How cool is that?!
2. Gets Rid of Blackheads
Another great benefit of steaming your face regularly is that it is an effective and economical way to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. When you let blackheads and whiteheads stay on the skin for a long time, they eventually start to get painful. But steaming helps open up your pores, loosens the gunk inside, and thoroughly cleans your face. This is what helps get rid of those blackheads and gives your face a smooth, clear, and glowing appearance.
3. Promotes Better Blood Circulation
Sometimes, despite having a proper skincare routine, your skin still looks dull and dehydrated. The main reason behind this could be poor blood circulation in the area. But this is where face steaming benefits your skin greatly. The steam helps in opening up the pores and increases perspiration. This helps in dilating your blood vessels and helps increase circulation in the area, delivers oxygen, and keeps your skin looking healthy and youthful.
4. Eliminates Dead Skin
One of the key benefits of face steaming is it acts as a natural exfoliator that helps to eliminate dead skin cells to reveal fresh and glowing skin underneath. Additionally, a build-up of dead skin cells makes your face look dull, tired, and withered and over time leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. But if you steam your face regularly, then it provides mild exfoliation and the natural anti-aging properties of this technique make your skin look healthy and youthful.
5. Makes Your Face Mask Show Better Results
Want to increase the efficacy of your usual face mask? Pair it with steaming your face and see better results. Steaming your face after applying a face mask helps open up your pores, unclogs them, and makes the face mask penetrate deep into your skin without any obstructions. After you’ve steamed your face with a face mask on, always use cold water to remove the face mask and seal in the pores by rubbing an ice cube all over your face and neck area.
6. Helps Heal Breakouts and Prevents Them from Coming Back
All of us hate how a pimple usually ends up making an inevitable appearance on your face right before a really important event. But an amazing benefit of steaming the face is that it helps you get rid of the breakout safely without leaving behind any infection or scar. All you need to do is steam your face for three to four minutes, let the steam work its magic for about half an hour, and then rub an ice cube on the affected area for about five minutes. This will calm the inflammation, reduce redness, and draw out all the pus to soothe your skin.
7. Thoroughly Rids Your Skin of Makeup
If you are someone who wears makeup every single day, then it is highly advisable that you steam your face at least once a week to help get rid of trapped makeup in your pores. It also helps kill bacteria that your skin could be harboring and keep it free from any infections.
Frequently Asked Questions About Benefits of Steaming Face
1) Is it good to steam your face every day? A. No, you should not use steam on your face every single day. Although the benefits of steaming face are far too many, steaming every day can prove to be slightly harsh as the pores will not have enough time to close. Therefore, limit the process to 10 minutes once a week for the best results.
2) What should one do after steaming their face? A. After you’ve steamed your face, always rub a cube of ice all over your face and neck area. Next, use a toner to help balance the pH levels of your skin and close your pores completely. Finally, use a moisturizer to fortify your skin’s natural barrier.
3) What essential oils are good to use while steaming your face? A. Essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree, and ylang-ylang are amazing when added to the hot water. This is because they help deliver necessary nutrients to your skin and keep it healthy and glowing, not to mention their soothing scents that will leave you relaxed.
In conclusion, incorporating a face steamer into your skincare routine can offer numerous benefits that will leave your skin feeling refreshed, clear, and rejuvenated. From cleansing your skin and getting rid of blackheads to promoting better blood circulation and making your face mask work better, the advantages are plentiful. Just remember to steam your face correctly and not overdo it to avoid any potential harm to your skin.
Disclaimer
The information presented in this article is based on publicly available sources and personal experience. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional or medical advice. Always consult with a dermatologist or skincare professional before starting any new skincare routine, including the use of a face steamer.