Do a Steam Facial

Steaming your face is a relaxing way to treat yourself at the end of a long day. It helps to increase circulation in your face and opens your pores so you can cleanse away impurities. To do a steam facial, you start with a steam, then use a mask to draw dirt from your pores and finish with toner and moisturizer. If you're short on time, a quick shower steam is also beneficial. See Step 1 and beyond to learn both methods.

Steps

Doing a Full Facial

  1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. You only need a few cups of water to do a proper steam. Boil the water on the stove or in the microwave.
  2. Wash your face. While the water is heating, wash your face to remove makeup and dirt. Use a gentle face cleanser and warm water. Removing makeup and dirt is a must before steaming, because steaming opens up your pores, and anything on your face will be able to get inside and cause irritation or pimples to occur.
    • Don't exfoliate your face before steaming it. This could increase the likelihood that the steam treatment will irritate your skin.
    • After washing your face, pat it dry with a towel.
  3. Pour the water into a bowl. Pour it into a glass or ceramic bowl resting on a folded towel or two. Part of the facial experience is to add some beauty to your day, so if you have a pretty bowl on hand, use that one! If you're in a hurry, you can also just use the pot you boiled the water in.
  4. Add herbs or essential oils. You don't have to add anything to your steam, but to make it truly special you can add some fresh or dried herbs or essential oils that will release beneficial aromas. An herbal teabag will also do the trick! Try the following herbs and oils to enhance your steam:
    • Use lemongrass or peppermint for an energizing steam.
    • Use chamomile or lavender for a relaxing steam.
    • Use peppermint or eucalyptus for a cold-conquering steam.
    • Use sandalwood or bergamot for a stress-relieving steam.
  5. Hold your face over the steaming water. Drape a towel over your head so that it creates a sort of tent over your face, and hold your face over the water. Keep your face over the steam for about 10 minutes. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, allowing the heat to awaken your face and open your pores.
    • Don't steam your face for too long, or get too close to the hot water. The heat can cause inflammation if exposure is too high.
  6. Smooth a mask over your face. The next step is to use a mask to pull the impurities from your now-open pores. A clay mask works well if you have one on hand. Mix the clay with some water and smooth it over your face. Let it sit on your face for about 15 minutes before gently rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
    • Instead of a clay mask, you can use plain honey to achieve the same effect. Also check on wikiHow on how to make your own facial masks if you so choose.
    • If you don't wish to do a mask, just rinse your face in fresh water after you're finished steaming it.
  7. Use a toner to close your pores. Time to close up your pores again! Do this so that after your facial, dirt doesn't get into your pores. Using a toner after steaming will help your face look toned and fresh. Use a cotton ball to apply the toner of your choice to your nose, forehead, cheeks and chin.
    • Apple cider vinegar makes a great natural toner - try it out!
    • You can also use lemon juice as a toner. Try this on a small area of skin prior to using on your whole face, some individuals may be more sensitive to this than others.
  8. Moisturize your face. The final step in your facial is to apply a moisturizer to keep your face hydrated. Steaming it can actually dry it out, so this is an important step. Smooth on your favorite moisturizer, or try a face-softening oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or argan oil. Pay attention to the ingredients on oils to verify that they natural and have no harsh chemical additives.

Doing a Quick Steam

  1. Turn on the hot water in your shower. Leave it running until it's very hot and you see and feel steam. This method will steam more than your face - you'll get a full-body steam treatment.
  2. Rinse your face while it heats. Just like you would for a full-fledged facial steam, it's a good idea to cleanse your face of dirt and makeup before you begin steaming it.
  3. Stand with your face in or close to the steam for about 5 minutes. There's no need to use a towel to direct the steam to your face, since you'll be standing a column of steam trapped in by the sides of your shower. Let your face steam for about five minutes, then turn the heat down to a milder temperature to finish your shower.
  4. Put on a mask while you finish your shower. To enhance the results, you can use a drugstore face mask or a scoop of raw honey to cleanse your pores while you're finishing up your shower. Put it on after you finish steaming your face, then rinse it off at the end of your shower.
  5. Apply toner and moisturizer. When you finish your shower, pat your skin dry and apply toner, then moisturizer to your face. You might want to apply moisturizer to the rest of your body, too, since the hot steam can cause your skin to dry out.

Tips

  • Use a face cleanser immediately afterward to remove the impurities while your pores are still open. Rinse with cold water to close your pores and seal them.
  • Be sure your face has no traces of visible makeup, dirt, or oil. It might be advisable to do a quick once-over with a washcloth or use a remover wipe.
  • Add 2-3 drops of tea-tree oil to the hot water for acne.
  • Add green tea to boiled water for best results.

Warnings

  • During/after steaming all the underground bacteria will be brought to the surface of your skin, so do not panic if it looks worse. Blemishes might be more noticeable for up to an hour after patting dry. Just apply a spot treatment for now.

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