Steaming. It's the best thing you can do for your face in my opinion, and if you say no, prepare for a faceful of steam! But what is it? What does it do? How do I do it? What do I need? If you've been living under the rock of I-haven't-steamed-my-face, I'm here to help!
What is steaming your face?
Steaming your face is when you get a pot or a bowl full of hot water, and stick your face over it to open up your pores to release all the gunk clogging them up!
Who's it for?
Anyone with skin, but it's really good for oily, combonation, or acne prone skin.
How often can I do it?
2-3 times a week, spaced out by at least a day. I usually do mine once a week since steaming is time consuming.
Is taking a hot shower the same as steaming?
No, not at all!
How do I do it?
It's not quite as simple as sticking your face over hot water. You'll need a pot filled with water- I use tap, but if you're picky, you could use another type. You want it to the temperature of just about to boil, then let it cool down a bit. While it's cooling down, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, preferably cream. Some people like to put essential oils or dried herbs/flowers when they steam their face for aromatherapy, but I didn't really notice any difference for my skin. I do stick a tea bag in though so I can have tea fterwards though. Pour the water into a bowl if you want a spa like atmosphere, although I keep mine in the pot. Make sure the water's still giving out a good amount of steam- then stick your face about five to six inches aove the water, or where you can breathe a mixture of hot/cool air. Drape a towel (I use a tea towel) over your head to "catch" the steam so that it opens your pores. Wait for about eight minutes, taking "breath brakes" every thirty seconds to a minute. If you're comfortable breathing in hot air, wait for five minutes. After the alloted time period, raise your head up. You'll notice there's some condensation, but it's not bad or anything. After I steam my face, I like to put on a clay mask to suck out impurities- I like this one, it's one of my favorites. Ignore whatever the face mask package says- leave it on for ten to fifteen minutes. Take it off with something exfoliating like a sonic cleansing brush or washcloth, then put on a rich moisturizer.
Have a lovely day! xoxo