Steam Your Way To An Acne-free Face

Whether you suffer from acne or you have an acne-free face, steaming your face once in a while in essential for maintaining a healthy and clear complexion.

Clogged pores are one of the major contributors to acne breakouts, including blackheads and whiteheads and some other skin conditions.
Regular steam treatments, as a part of your skincare routines, are a great way to promote thorough pore cleansing.
Although steaming your face seems as simple as putting your face over a bowl of hot water, you have to take steps to ensure that you do it correctly, to avoid doing some damage to your skin.

Benefits of steaming your face 

➤ Face steaming provides so many benefits for your face. It fights acne, heals acne scars and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
It does this by opening up your pores and causing you to perspire. Doing so sweats away all the dirt, debris, grime and excess oil that are blocking your pores and causing your acne.

➤ You are not able to remove all these accumulated dirt and dead skin hidden in the pores by relying only on the surface cleaning you do daily with just your hands, soap and water. Face steaming will thoroughly clean out your pores.

➤ The heat stimulates the flow of oxygen and other nutrients by increasing the circulation of blood to your facial tissues, giving you a more youthful and warm glow.

➤ It loosens up the unappealing and stubborn blackheads and pimples and makes them easier to remove; this helps to minimise acne scarring.

➤ It is a simple and inexpensive (if you do a home steaming, instead of visiting a spa) way of keeping your skin healthy, clean and radiant.

➤ It helps to counteract the early signs of ageing and it brightens up your skin tone by removing all the impurities trapped in your pores and under your skin.

➤ When your face is properly steamed, it makes it easier to better absorb all the nutrients in your natural oils and natural face creams or butter when applied to the face.

➤ It can also calm you down and help you feel more relaxed, especially if you added some calming essential oils or herbs in the water. If you're in need of a relaxing evening at home, then a facial steaming, with added calming herbs and oil, is one to consider.

The steaming process

A bowl of hot water with added essential oils 

1. Fill a kettle with clean water and set to boil.

2. Wash your face thoroughly and do a light exfoliation.

3. Tie your hair back with a towel or headband to keep it out of the way.

4. Just before taking the water off the fire, it's optional to add some herbs and oils like mint, lemongrass, eucalyptus oil, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil, etc making it easier for them to seep into your skin while you're steaming.

5. When the water boils, pour some into a wide bowl or a face steamer and set down on a flat and stable surface.

6. Lean over the steamer or bowl and drape a big towel over your head so that it covers both your head and the steamer. This creates a sauna for your face.

7. Remain that way for up to 10 minutes. When you are done, wash your face with cold water to seal up your pores. Ensure you apply moisturiser or natural oil soon after.

Note

Do not overdo it.

Steam your face no more than twice a week.

Do not steam more than 10 minutes at a time. 

Make sure the temperature of the water is not scalding before using it.

Do not do, if;

* Your skin is very sensitive.
* Your skin is inflamed or easily inflamed.
* You suffer from certain fungal infections.

Over to you

Do you have at-home "spa" treatments? 
Will you steaming your way to an acne-free face? 
Let us know in the comment box below. 

Happy steaming!