Facial steaming helps clean your skin, reduce inflammation and prevent acne breakouts.
While modern-day steaming is an indispensable part of a DIY facial spa, this ritual actually goes back to a thousand years. Elaborating steam baths with botanicals, oil, clay, and minerals has always been a ritual of the royals.
Soothing warm steam opens up your pores and allows the natural oils within the skin to flow. This increases your blood circulation and softens the surface layer of your dead skin. Thus, facilitating the release of dirt, oil, and bacteria from the pores.
Steaming also improves your skin’s permeability and enables better absorption of moisturizer. Facial steaming has a myriad of benefits the most powerful ones are – removing blackheads and reducing acne breakouts. The increased blood flow also promotes collagen and elastin production which results in firmer, younger-looking skin.
Along with these beauty benefits facial steaming is also beneficial for your mental health. It relieves stress, combats anxiety, and promotes a feeling of calmness. Check out these benefits of facial steaming for health and beauty.
Benefits of Facial Steaming for health and beauty
1. Facial Steam for Acne
Facial steaming allows the pores to open up. Furthermore, it allows the dirt and excess oil to loosen up in the pores of the skin for deeper cleansing. Facial steaming also helps eliminate the build-up of acne-causing bacteria and balances the sebum levels. This results in lowering acne breakouts. However, this must be noted that steaming alone cannot clear out acne.
2. Facial Steam promotes Circulation
Facial steaming aids in increasing perspiration that dilates the blood vessels. Furthermore, this promotes blood flow in the skin. This means a better supply of oxygen and other essential nutrients to the skin. Consequently, this process helps in increasing collagen and elastin production in the skin. This results in firmer and younger-looking skin with a natural healthy glow.
3. Facial Steaming hydrates dry skin
Studies have shown that facial steaming is beneficial for dry skin. It helps loosen up the trapped sebum in the pores. This cleansing also promotes the production of natural oils in the skin and keeps it naturally moisturized. Steaming also helps to increase the permeability of the skin resulting in better absorption of other products and promoting deep moisture lock in the skin.
4. The essential oil in Facial Steaming
Adding in the essential oils in the steaming bowl is not just to create a soothing environment. This is also a healthy step in a skincare regime. Science has already proven the benefits of essential oils in aromatherapy. For instance, Lavender oil is extremely beneficial in healing dry skin or problems related to dry skin, such as dermatitis and eczema. On the other hand, for acne, eucalyptus has proven to be a great option.
5. Facial Steaming helps relieve congestion
Doctors today have recognized the benefit of facial steaming for clogged sinus treatment. Steam can loosen mucus inside the airways and ease breathing by releasing the mucus. During the pandemic, doctors and healthcare partners have widely recommended patients with congestion try out steaming with essential oils to help ease the discomfort due to congestion. It also helps in reducing sinusitis, headaches, and other problems related to congestion.
6. Steam inhalation for a healthy heart
Studies have shown that steam inhalation can significantly improve your heart health. Researchers found that steaming can improve blood circulation in the body by dilating the blood vessels. This improved circulation results in lowering blood pressure which promotes your heart health.
7. Facial Steaming for mental health
Facial steaming is a relaxing experience that promotes feelings of calmness and relaxation. It aids in releasing stress. Studies have shown that steam inhalation before bedtime can improve your sleep quality. It is often a recommended natural treatment for people suffering from insomnia. You can also add essential oils or other herbs to promote calmness.
DIY Facial Steaming at Home
There is no doubt that facial steaming has numerous benefits, not limited to skincare only. Due to its cheap and accessible nature, it can be enjoyed at home as well.
Here are some DIY facial steaming ideas for you:
Add herbs like camomile and tea to promote better health for your skin. Tea has antioxidant properties which are good for your body inside and out.
You can also try steaming with a warm towel for a more relaxing experience. Use a warm towel instead of a steam bowl and cover your face with it and lean back and relax for 5 minutes.
Word of Caution
Steaming can cause serious burns especially if you have sensitive skin. If you are using the towel method for steaming then make sure that the towel is warm and not hot. People with eczema and dermatitis must be cautious as it might cause skin irritation and burns. So, it is recommended to limit the session to a couple of minutes to get the benefits.
It is also important not to overdo it as that can cause inflammation or rashes. Facial steaming is not recommended more than twice a week and never do it for more than 10 minutes. The best is to do it for 3 to 5 minutes. Prolonged exposure can cause acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, or melasma.
Your Takeaway!
Facial steaming is a very crucial step in your skincare regime. It can help make your skin slightly softer and more hydrated. It unclogs your pores and helps in better circulation of natural oils. Its efficacy is proven for generations. Try this simple skincare routine this Sunday and feel the soft, gentle touch of your skin!
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