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Up Your Skin Care Game with Face Steaming

Are you looking for ways to up your skin care game naturally and with spa like results?

Face steaming is one of the best ways for your face to feel and look fresh and smooth. And it’s like being in a steamy, relaxing sauna!!

A face steam is a simple method for an at-home facial and a shorter time commitment than going to the spa. (Not to mention the cost.)

Is steam good for your face? Yes, and by adding the best essential oils and herbs for face steaming, you can cleanse and nourish the skin with luxurious results!

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Related: 20 Natural Skin Care Tips from the Experts

What are the benefits of facial steams for your skin?

Steaming face benefits go far beyond the relaxing feeling of a steamy spa atmosphere. Let me break it down for you, explaining how a facial steam works and how you can benefit from adding one to your natural skin care routine.

8 Benefits of Face Steaming

Cleanses Impurities:

• Face steaming opens up your pores allowing the release of dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt, and other impurities that clog pores. All of which helps to prevent blemishes.
• If you are experiencing blackheads a face steam can help soften them making it easier for removal.

Reduces Excess Sebum:

• Sebum is a natural oil produced by our sebaceous glands. It’s purpose is to lubricate our hair and skin. But, when sebum is trapped beneath our skin’s’ surface it can create a breeding ground for bacteria leading to blemishes and blackheads. A facial steam helps to release trapped sebum oil as it opens the pores.

Increases Circulation:

• A combination of warm steam and increased perspiration while facial steaming dilates your blood vessels and increases circulation. What does this do for your skin? The boost of blood flow nourishes your skin and delivers oxygen resulting in a natural, healthy glow.

Hydrates & Moisturizes:

• Facial steaming hydrates the skin and naturally moisturizes your face.  

Promotes Collagen and Elastin Production:

• Increased blood flow experienced during a steam facial promotes collagen and elastin production. This results in firmer, younger-looking skin. I find it’s highly noticeable after a face steam.

Boosts Absorption:

• Facial steaming increases the skin’s permeability enabling for better absorption. This means following a facial steam the moisturizer or other skin product you apply penetrates deeper into the skin.

Promotes Relaxation:

• Just the feeling of warm steam on your face is relaxing. By adding herbs and essential oils to the face steam you can soothe the body and mind.
• Additionally, while face steaming you can focus on your breathing, taking slow deep breaths helping to de-stress.

First, things first

Now that you know all the incredible of face steaming, the next step is to select your ingredients. There are three main ingredients to a facial steam, and the first is a base.

Base options for Face Steams

You can choose to keep it simple when it comes to selecting a base for your face steam. But many love to enhance their steam with other options, adding to the perks.

#1 Water:

Tap water is the most accessible and free. Distilled water has no chance of bacteria with it. Or Mineral Water, possibly with a higher PH level. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of these. You’ll be boiling the water to start anyway.

#2 Hydrosols:

Also known as floral water are used in everything from personal cosmetics to home fragrances to food. The most common hydrosol being rose water, is a beauty ingredient like no other.

Rose is known to soothe, soften, brighten, and tighten the skin. It plays a key role in these rose DIY beauty recipes to support the appearance of youthful-looking skin while promoting an overall healthy complexion.

Learn all about floral water from the experts at The Herbal Academy. Marlene Adelmann, Clinical Herbalist and Founder of The Herbal Academy, says, “Lavender, rose, calendula – hydrosols, we love them all!”

#3 Herbal Tea:

Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties, herbal tea has amazing beauty benefits.  Herbal tea can be applied in an abundance of natural ways to help smooth, hydrate, tighten, and brighten your skin.

In fact, research has found that green tea and others that contain polyphenols have protective and anti-aging benefits when applied topically. They’re good for us from the inside – out!

Add loose-leaf herbal tea or matcha powder for a fun soft green color to your face steam. Or use one of these green tea beauty recipes for results you’ll want to share!

Herbs for Face Steaming

Adding dried or fresh herbs to a facial steam offers many extra benefits! Here’s a list of some of the best herbs to use for face steaming.

Chamomile Flowers –

A well-loved herb, chamomile helps to reduce cracked, dry skin and inflammation, according to research.  Making it great for dry and sensitive skin types. Add a handful of chamomile flowers to your facial steam or enjoy it in a Soothing Chamomile Lavender Milk Bath.

Calendula Flowers –

Have you seen these in person or hold them in your hand? Dried calendula flowers are BIG compared to most dried herbs. They make a beautiful addition to face steams are recommended for normal to combination skin.

Rose Petals –

Rose is a well-known herb to soothe, soften, brighten, and tighten the skin. Including rose petals as a face steam ingredient is not only beautiful, the scent is powerful too!

Rosemary Sprigs –  

Rosemary’s naturally antibacterial and antiseptic properties make it a great herb for face steaming. I love to combine it with lemon, peppermint, or lavender for a lovely fresh scent.

Lavender Buds –

Popular for its scent, lavender is a lovely facial steam ingredient. Lavender’s calming, fresh aroma is known to promote restful sleep. Add dried lavender buds to your face, steam, or use to make lavender goat milk soap.

Peppermint Leaf –

There are numerous uses for peppermint leaf. Its fresh, energizing aroma and antibacterial properties make it a great addition to a face steam. I highly recommend it if you need to open up your sinuses too!

Essential Oils for Face Steams

If you’re looking for a face steam ingredient to pack a punch – essential oils are it!

They provide a wonderful natural aroma to face steaming and contain a wealth of skin-loving properties.

But, with so many essential oils to choose from, how do you know which are the best essential oils for your skin? Start by taking our Skin Type Quiz to discover your skin type.

Then check out the handy essential oils for skin guide in the Life-n-Reflection Simple Living library.

Normal Skin Type Essential Oils for Face Steam:

Steam for up to 10 minutes

• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Ylang-ylang
• Chamomile
• Rose

Dry Skin Essential Oils for Face Steam:

Steam for up to 5 minutes

• Geranium
• Lavender
• Myrrh
• Rose
• Frankincense
• Cedarwood
• Chamomile
• Sandalwood
• Jasmine

Oily Skin Essential Oils for Face Steam:

Steam for up to 10 minutes

• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Lavender
• tea tree
• Ylang-ylang
• Chamomile
• Lemon
• Cypress
• Rosemary
• Sandalwood
• Orange
• Lemongrass

Blemish Prone Skin Type Essential Oils for Face Steam:

Steam for up to 10 minutes

• Geranium
• Cedarwood
• Lavender
• Tea tree
• Rose
• Chamomile
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Frankincense

Sensitive Skin Type Essential Oils for Face Steam:  

Steam up to 10 minutes

• Helichrysum
• Lavender
• Rose
• Jasmine
• Geranium
• Frankincense
• Sandalwood
• Chamomile

Mature Skin Type Essential Oils for Face Steam:

Steam up to 10 minutes

• Rose
• Frankincense
• Myrrh,
• Helichrysum
• Sandalwood
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Cypress
• Jasmine
• Rosemary
• Ylang-ylang
• Orange

How to Face Steam

Now for the fun part!! Use the reference guides above to choose your base, dried or fresh herbs, and essential oils based on your skin type, budget, likes, and dislikes.

Prepare a comfortable place to sit and steam, such as a table and chair. Put on some Zen sounds or music. Pull back your hair to ensure it stays away from your face.

Then cleanse your face with your regular face wash and rinse with lukewarm water. Try my recipe for a cleansing aloe vera face wash.

5 Steps to Creating an At Home Face Steam

1. Heat 2 to 4 cups of your base over the stove top until a soft simmer begins.
2. Add up to 1 tablespoon of dried or fresh herbs in any combination you like to the simmering water.
3. Allow the mixture to simmer for three minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Pour the contents of your face steam into a large bowl. Allow to cool until the steam is warm to your hand.
5. Last, add up to 12 drops of essential oils for face steaming based on your skin type to bowl.

How to Face Steam without a Face Steamer

Once your face steam is warm, not hot, and essential oils are added, use immediately.  

Drape a towel over your head to create a tent and lower your face to about 8 to 12 inches from the bowl. Avoid putting your face too close to the steam. Increase the distance from the steam as needed for your comfort by raising your head.

Now, steam for up to 10 minutes to open pores and enjoy the aromatherapy benefits. A steam burn can be more damaging than a burn from boiling water. So, be especially careful and limit it to 10 minutes.

What do you do after you steam your face?

After face steaming, rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry. Next, apply moisturizer using upward strokes.

Last, gently massage your cheeks, neck, and forehead with your fingertips. If you have an essential glow serum, a facial massage is a great way to apply it!

As you might recall from above, the effects of your moisturizer or serum will be enhanced after a facial steam. So natural nourishing products are best. Avoid products with these five ingredients.

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How often should you steam your face?

Add a facial steam to your skin care routine for best results based on your skin type.

Normal Skin: face steam as often as once a week.

Oily to Blemish-Prone Skin: face steam as often as twice a week.

Dry Skin: face steam on a bi-weekly routine.

Sensitive Skin: face steam once a month. (You may want to seek advice from a dermatologist first.)

Mature Skin: face steam on a bi-weekly routine