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From dermaplaning to Moxi lasers, there are many facial treatments you can do all at varying budgets to improve the look and feel of your face. But face steaming is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to treat yourself to an at-home spa experience because you really only need two things: heat and clean water. It’s known for helping with product absorption but what are some of its other benefits? Keep reading to find out the five skin benefits of facial steaming.
1. Helps Products Absorb Into the Skin
Product absorption is one of the most universally well-known benefits. Facial steaming causes your pores to open which then allows your skincare products to be better absorbed into your skin.
When skincare products are better absorbed, they become more effective. Steaming helps increase the penetration of active ingredients, such as retinol and vitamin C. You will see the best results if these are applied immediately after steaming.
The Hype: 4.1/5 “This is one of those things you don’t know you need until you start using it. Now I steam at least 4-5 times a week and it has taken my skincare to the next level. I love this!”
2. Hydrates the Skin
Moisture and hydration are often thrown around together but they are actually quite different. Skin lacking moisture needs oil. Moisturizers and a good skincare routine can easily take care of this.
Skin lacking hydration needs water. Using a facial steamer is a great way to add water back to your face. All skin types (even oily skin!) need hydration. As an added bonus, your skin will look plump and have a nice glow to it.
The Hype: 4.5/5 35k+ reviews “This Nano Steamer does exactly what it’s supposed to do! It’s almost like having a mini sauna at home.”
3. Helps Unclog Pores
Facial steaming loosens dead skin cells, bacteria, and other impurities that cause clogged pores. I believe steam is one of the best ways to prep your skin for blackhead removal. It’s gentle but very effective.
The steam will help soften your skin which will allow extractions to be much easier. Steaming your face will help bring pimples to the surface so you can extract them safely.
The Hype: 4.5/5 “You will be able to see significantly clearer and brighter skin the next day when you wake up. Definitely a 5 stars product.”
4. Helps With Circulation
The experts pretty much all agree that using a facial steamer will help with circulation. The steam helps open pores and increase perspiration. This in turn dilates your blood vessels which cause blood circulation.
The increased blood flow during a steam facial promotes collagen production and elastin production. This results in firmer, youthful-looking skin.
The Hype: 4.6/5 “I have been using this facial steamer every day since I purchased it (for a week) and I already notice a big difference in my facial complexion. I am very satisfied with this purchase and recommended it to anyone.”
5. It’s Fun!
Lastly, doing facial steaming at home is like having a spa experience. It allows you to unplug and unwind for a little bit. You can play soothing music, have some essential oils going in a diffuser, and just relax. You don’t even need to spend a ton of money on a fancy steamer if you don’t want to; there are plenty of DIY ways to achieve the same result.
The Hype: 4.6/5 “Never thought I needed a facial steamer and it has changed my skincare routine. Every woman needs one to have a spa day at home.”
How To Steam Your Face
All methods, whether they are DIY or not, will start with dry and clean skin. One DIY method is to get a clean towel wet with hot (but not too hot) water and lay the hot towel over your face until it turns cold. A good rule to go by is if your towel is too hot to touch then it’s too hot for your face.
Another DIY method is to fill a bowl with moderately hot water and stick your face over it. You will want to cover your whole head with a clean towel so none of the steam escapes. Make sure your face is not too close to the hot steam so you don’t get burned.
If you decide to go the route of a facial steamer machine, then here are a few tips to keep in mind:
When filling your steamer, you will want to use warm (not hot) water. While some people may prefer distilled water over tap water, there is no data supporting that one is better than the other.
Steaming for too long can cause some serious burns. A good rule of thumb is to start with ten minutes for your first time. How do you feel? How does your face look? If you feel great, stick with the 10 minutes.
If you are noticing irritation or feel overly hot, then I would cut back on your time. When steaming, evaluate what is a safe distance for you where you can still feel the steam but are not getting burned.
As far as frequency, you can usually steam about two to three times a week. If you have dry skin, I would recommend starting one to two times a week.
While these five benefits can make a big impact on the quality of your skin, unfortunately, not every skin type should be using a face steamer.
If you are prone to redness or have rosacea, I would not recommend steaming as the steam will just bring more redness to your face-which is the exact opposite effect you want. Proceed with caution if you have super sensitive skin. The steam could cause inflammatory skin conditions to flare up.
There are just so many facial steamer benefits and it allows me to create my own home facial. Needless to say, facial steaming was a great addition to my skincare routine.
Now that you know how to make your skin glow via facial steaming, you may be wondering what to do with your brows to get your best look. Check out Threading vs Waxing Eyebrows-I’ve Done Both and This Is What I Like Better!
