In this post:
- Is steaming good for your face?
- What happens when you steam your face
- What do you use to steam your face?
- How long and how often should you steam your face?
- What do you do after you steam your face?
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Is steaming good for your face?
As a steamer now for many years, I’ve found steaming to be a God-send for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I steam for just a couple minutes a few times a week, and find that it gives me that fresh, pore-less glow that no other treatment can seem to do.
But I’m not the only one to extol the benefits of steaming. Steam baths can be traced back to Ancient Greek and Roman times. Even then, it was known that hot steam was a way of purifying and deep-cleansing both the skin and body, and it was a daily ritual for most people at the time.
Steaming presents a number of benefits for people of all ages. Whether you’re fighting acne or the signs of aging, or if you’re after a calming, deep-cleanse, anyone can enjoy the benefits of steaming. Read on to see what exactly happens when you begin to steam your face.
What happens when you steam your face
1. Your circulation increases. When your temperature rises from the hot steam, the receptors on your skin respond, dilating the blood vessels in the skin and increasing blood flow. This also delivers oxygen and nutrients to your skin tissue, giving you that healthy “glow” associated with steaming.
2. It fights acne. By deep-cleansing your pores, steam is one of the best weapons you can use to fight acne. Clogged pores are key to forming acne. When you steam your face, it opens up the pores and softens the skin cells, releasing any dirt, blackhead plugs, or excess oil that causes acne.
3. It enhances the effectiveness of other products. Once you steam your face, your skin becomes much more receptive to other skincare treatments (e.g., anti-aging creams or acne treatments). By opening your pores up from the steam and removing any dirt or excess oil, your pores will be better able to absorb any follow-up products you use.
4. Toxins are removed. When you steam, your pores naturally perspire, lifting dirt, dead skin cells, and any other debris that are trapped in the skin pores. This naturally detoxifies your skin.
5. You fight the signs of aging. Steam helps to loosen the dead skin cells on your face, providing a natural exfoliation and increasing the cellular turnover. This also gives you that fresh, healthy glow that comes with steaming.
6. It promotes relaxation. Steam has long been used as a way to naturally relax and detoxify the body. Couple it with aromatherapy and/or essential oils (e.g., lavender or tea tree oil), and you’ll look and feel amazing.
7. Your skin becomes more hydrated. When done on a once or twice-a-week basis, steaming can help to provide an extra boost of hydration. The heat and moisture associated with steaming makes your skin more receptive to other treatments, thus allowing lotions and other hydrating products to further penetrate your skin, combating dry skin more effectively.
8. Your sinuses will stay clear. The warm steam helps to moisturize your sinuses, making it easier to breathe (a bonus if you have any sinus congestion).
What do you use to steam your face?
I use a portable steamer
that I bring nearly everywhere with me when I travel. It’s far easier and quicker to use than boiling a pot of water every time. I’ve used several different brands and styles over the years now, but I always come back to this one. It’s super affordable and it will last forever. I’ve been using mine for 3+ years! Plus, you can also add in essential oils for an extra boost of aromatherapy when you steam. I like both lavender
and lemon
essential oils. Just a couple drops in the water tank is all you need!
How long and how often should you steam your face?
If you are new to facial steaming, you may be wondering, “how long should you steam your face?” Well, it varies. If you steam more often (more than a couple times a week), it’s recommended that you steam for only a couple of minutes, or 5 minutes maximum. If you steam once or twice a week, it’s ideal to steam for about 10 minutes per session.
If you suffer from more sensitive skin (e.g., rosacea or eczema), then it’s advised that you keep your steaming to a minimum. Although I suffer from both, I find that I have no problems steaming 3-4 times a week. However, I do use topical ointments that help to keep these skin issues at bay, so that may be why my skin can handle the steam well.
What do you do after you steam your face?
Depending on what skin conditions you have, your after-steam routine may vary. For me, I need to treat both my acne and hydrate my skin. I’ll immediately apply a non-comedegenic lotion after (like Neutrogena’s for sensitive skin
), and then apply a nourishing under-eye cream
. If I have any acne flare-ups, I’ll spot treat them, as well. My go-to is Clean & Clear’s
.
