The best facial steamer you didn't know you already had.
At-home facial steaming a few times a month has great benefits for your skin and relaxation benefits as well. There are a few different skin steaming machines you can purchase online, one of which I mention in my “Esthetician Recommended Facial Tools” blog post. BUT, did you know you most likely already have everything you need at home for a spa-like facial steam session? All you need is a heatproof bowl, tea kettle, or saucepan, and a bath towel. That’s all you need to give yourself a great facial steam treatment! I like to add scrub me skin tea or a plain green tea bag to the water to infuse the steam with antioxidants for glowing skin. Below I have detailed an at-home facial steam routine and an instructional video so you can enjoy your own, at-home facial steam.
Benefits of steaming your face at home:
When incorporated into your routine correctly, steaming your face at home can help soften skin, bind moisture to the skin, and soften debris in the pores. Warm steam on the skin adds moisture that can help soften dead skin cells and also debris that could be in the pores. This is why steam with a clay mask is beneficial for congestion and steam before exfoliation is helpful for dull skin. The moisture from the steam can also help bind other hydrating products like a hyaluronic acid serum or a facial moisturizer to the skin when the product is applied directly after steaming. While at-home facial steaming has a lot of great benefits we have to be careful not to harm our skin by steaming too often or getting the steam too close to the skin. I recommend steaming your face once a week at the most and making sure the steam always feeling warm, not hot.
scrub me secret: this at-home facial steam routine uses scrub me skin tea to add antioxidant-rich and complexion clearing benefits to the facial steam. By adding this tea bag to the boiling water you will create a steam that is infused with all these great plant-based ingredients like green tea, eucalyptus, calendula petals, chamomile, and more.
Facial steam routine:
Fill your tea kettle or a small saucepan with water and put it on the stove or kettle warmer to boil.
Gather your other items; skin tea (or green tea if you don’t have the skin tea), metal or heatproof bowl, and bath towel
Once the water is boiling CAREFULLY pour the water into your bowl. Fill about halfway or less. Do not burn yourself.
Add the tea bag to the water and stir it in with a utensil
Hover your face above the steam coming from the bowl and find a comfortable distance from the steam. If you’re too close to the water in the bowl it may be too hot for your skin. Avoid touching the edges of the bowl as the bowl may be hot.
Take your bath towel and carefully cover yourself and the bowl to make a little “tent” over yourself.
Hangout inside your tent for 1-3 minutes or however long is comfortable for you.
Lift the towel and you’re done!
scrub me secret: if you have congestion or breakouts apply the oil clearing mask or your favorite clay mask before steaming your face. This will help to detox your pores. Gently remove your clay mask with warm water (not the hot water from your bowl) after you finish steaming and apply toner and moisturizer.