Your skin is one of the best indicators of good overall health.
If you have that healthy, natural and glowing look, your self-confidence will increase and you’ll feel better inside and out. Healthy skin can be challenging to achieve and maintain. Eating well, exercising and staying hydrated is an excellent place to start.
Cutting out bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeine excessively, and avoiding stress and too much sunshine can also help, as can maintaining a good personal hygiene and cleansing regime. Maintaining healthy skin can also be more of a challenge the older we get. As our bodies age, they produce less collagen, a naturally occurring protein that is the building block of every cell in the body. No matter your skin type, we all have some form of a skincare routine, but how can you level up and get that spa experience from the comfort of your own home.
Skin steaming is becoming an increasingly popular way to hydrate the skin and leave it feeling fresh and nourished.
• What is Skin Steaming?
Contrary to popular belief, pores don’t actually close, they just stretch and become more pliable when exposed to hot water and steam. Cleansing your face with a steam session twice a week will open the pores on your face to not only promote better circulation but to soften any blackheads, which makes them easier to remove. It can also loosen any build-up of dirt that is stuck in the pores.
• What are the benefits of Skin Steaming?
There are several benefits to skin steaming, all of which can help improve your complexion and give you a healthier, more youthful-looking appearance:
• Boost hydration
If you’re prone to flaky and dry skin then steaming is the way forward. Steam helps to hydrate your face and works as a natural moisturiser.
• Relieve sinus congestion
A blocked nose and aching ears during a cold are one of the longer-standing symptoms when you’re ill. Facial steaming helps unblock and relieve congestion.
• Promote circulation
Warm steam dilates your blood vessels which increases circulation and leaves you with a healthy, glowing complexion.
• Reduce acne
If you suffer from skin conditions such as acne, steaming your face may benefit you. It allows the release of dead skin cells and bacteria that contribute to acne.
• Soothing your facial muscles
Just like a relaxing face mask, skin steaming, especially with added essential oils, works a treat after a long day to calm both your skin and mind.
• Release trapped sebum
Sebum is an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands. It protects the skin with a moisturising barrier. However, if your body produces too much, this leads to clogged pores and acne.
• Promote skin elasticity
The increase in blood flow during a steaming session means your skin looks and feels firmer and reduces the signs of ageing.
• Improve skin absorption
Steam increases the skin’s permeability which means it helps your skin to better absorb skincare products. So, during your post-steam skincare routine your moisturisers will soak into the skin that much better than before.
It should be noted that if you have inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea or extreme eczema you may want to avoid steaming your skin or limit the sessions for three minutes maximum.
• Different Skin Steaming Techniques
Don’t panic - you don’t need to fork out on an expensive spa treatment to reap the benefits of skin steaming. There are three main ways to steam your face from the comfort of your own home.
The first is using a bowl or sink of hot water, draping a towel over your head and holding your face over the water at about a six-inch height. Do this for five to ten 10 minutes twice a week and incorporate essential oils into the water for an added calming or invigorating affect.
The second technique is not so different from the first. Instead of holding your head over a sink or bowl, soak a small hand towel in the hot water, wring it out and place the towel on your face while lying down for five minutes.
The third option you can choose is using a face steamer. The benefits of using a facial steamer is that they offer more powerful steam than the other two methods.
• Herbs & Oils for Skin Steaming
There are many plants, herbs, spices and botanicals that are known for their therapeutic properties and adding some of these to your steam water will be extremely beneficial for both your skin health and overall wellbeing.
Herbs such as chamomile really benefits those with skin inflammation and sensitive skin. Rosemary helps those with oily skin. Adding Eucalyptus oil to the water is a perfect addition for acne-prone skin, while Geranium helps to tighten and tone the skin. For people with dry skin or who suffer with eczema, Lavender oil works well to relax the skin with its aromatherapy benefits.
A weekly or twice weekly skin steaming session is a great way to unwind your body and mind while also ensuring you maintain healthy glowing skin.
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Disclaimer:
Information and other content provided in Lily & Loaf blogs should not be construed as medical advice and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise. If you have any medical concerns, you should consult with your health care provider.
