It seems like everyone and their mum has an eight-step skincare routine. Acids, tretinoin, masks, essences – we’re always looking for the next breakout-busting, radiance-giving, beauty trend. Steaming your face is a tried-and-true method to unclog your pores, soften skin, and get the glow you’ve always wanted.
The Benefits Of Steaming Your Face
It Cleanses And Unclogs Your Pores
When your skin is exposed to heat or steam, your pores open up. This makes it easier to get rid of trapped oil, dirt, or sebum. Whether you’re removing blackheads or just trying to get a deeper cleanse, steaming your face is the right way to go.
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It Softens And Hydrates Your Skin
Steam is just basically hot water vapour that soothes and moisturises your face. Plus, steam promotes healthy oil production to prevent your skin from drying out.
It Prevents Nasty Breakouts
While it shouldn’t be the only solution to your pimple problems, steaming your face can be an easy and effective treatment for acne. Dead skin, oil, dirt, and other gunk can get trapped in your skin, allowing acne-causing bacteria to grow. Opening up your pores makes it much easier to get rid of impurities and stop acne once and for all.
It Prepares Your Skin For Your Routine
If you’re spending money on skincare, you’ll want to get the most bang out of your buck. Steaming your face is a great first step to an effective routine. Open pores absorb products much better so you can get more benefits without wasting your expensive masks or creams.
It Gives You A Long-Term Boost
Facial steaming increases blood circulation to your face, which comes with a whole host of beauty-boosting benefits. Better circulation means your skin gets more oxygen, which promotes the production of collagen and elastin, nourishes your face, and gives you a radiant glow.
How To Steam Your Face
There are tons of different ways to steam your face at home. The three common methods are:
Using Hot Water In A Sink Or Bowl
This method is the easiest and most accessible of the three, but it’s also the least effective. All you have to do is boil several cups of water with the herbs or oils of your choice. When the water is sufficiently hot, you hold your face six inches above the water. Steam your face for five to ten minutes, taking breaks as needed.
Using Warm Towels
Warm towels are another method of steaming your face with items you already have at home. The biggest problem with using warm towels is that you may overheat your face and actually damage your skin if you aren’t careful.
Boil some water with herbs or oils. Soak a towel (big enough to cover your face) in the hot water. Wring out the towel so that it is damp, but not soaking wet. While reclining or lying down, place the towel over your face. Then leave on for five minutes or so.
Using A Facial Steamer
Facial steamers are specially designed to deliver the right amount of steam for the right amount of time. This prevents over or under-steaming, so you can maximise the benefits and minimise the risk.
Set up your facial steamer per the instructions. Wait for a few minutes while it warms up. Place the steamer on a nearby table and put your face several inches over the steamer. Steam for a few minutes, giving yourself breaks in between, to test out how your skin responds to the steamer.
Preparation
No matter which method you use, remember to thoroughly wash your face with a gentle cleanser prior to steaming. Steam only once a week for a maximum of 10 minutes per session. Any more and you could damage your skin. You should also consult with a dermatologist if you have major skin problems like severe acne, eczema, or rosacea before steaming your face.
Steaming Your Face At Home Versus Professional Face Steamers
Estheticians usually steam your face right before a facial. Of course, getting it done by a professional is always better – they use better equipment, can infuse oxygen or other antibacterial treatments, and know exactly how much steam you need. But going to a professional can be pricey.
You can still reap the benefits at a much lower cost with an at-home steamer. The best ones are surprisingly very effective, affordable, and accessible – you can buy them online or even find them at your local Target or Kmart.
Four Best Facial Steamers You Can Buy In Australia
4. Homedics
Cost: $AUD49
The Homedics Facial Sauna helps improve skin tone and texture. It comes with adjustable controls for your comfort, as well as an inhaler and custom facial mask. The large opening means some steam will escape, which lets you can target a wider area easily. Plus, it’s super affordable, too!
3. Panasonic
Cost: $AUD252.94
Panasonic’s Spa-Quality Nano Ionic Facial Steamer may be pricey, but that’s because it uses advanced technology to turn water into nano steam particles. These particles are smaller than regular steam particles, so they are better able to moisturise, purify, and detoxify your skin.
2. KingdomCares
Cost: $AUD44.90
Compact, sleek, and portable, the Kingdom Cares Nano Ionic Facial Steamer is a great budget choice for at-home facial steaming. The UV steriliser purifies the water to better combat dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities. It’s also multi-purpose – you can use it as a humidifier or just to warm up towels.
1. Dr Dennis Gross
Cost: $229.78
Celebrity dermatologist and doctor to the stars Dennis Gross is back at it with another flawless product. The Dr Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer works wonders on your pores. It turns water into micro-particles to better penetrate and cleanse your skin, providing incredible hydration in less than 10 minutes.
Skin Care Is Worth It
Steaming your face may be an extra step in your skincare routine, but it’s more than worth it. In as little as five minutes, you can remove impurities, moisturise your skin, prevent acne, and make the most out of your skincare products.
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