When it comes to addressing your skin concerns you likely get plenty of advice from friends, family, and social media. But you never really know if all advice is really true or if it will work for you. One skin care tidbit you may be curious about is whether there are benefits to steaming your face.
You’ve most likely heard of facial steamers opening clogged pores and providing other skin care benefits, which makes face steam sound like a great addition to your skin care routine — but is it really? Keep reading to learn once and for all — is steam good for your skin? Bonus: if it is, we’ll also talk about how to safely steam your face at home.
What Will Steaming Your Face Do?
At the root of this question is whether or not steam can open up your pores. Unfortunately, this age-old skin care advice is a myth. Your pores are always open! So, in this way, steam isn’t super beneficial to your skin.
Of course, there are other claimed benefits to steaming at home. And with those, there is some truth to what you’ve heard — even if it isn’t specifically for your face. According to the Mayo Clinic, steam emitted from a humidifier increases moisture levels in the air and can alleviate cracked lips and other health concerns.
When properly maintained, the steam can keep dry, cold weather conditions from being too harsh on your skin. If you need further reason to consider investing in a humidifier, the American Academy of Dermatology also lists humidifiers as one of their top dry skin relief tips. Alternatively, you can add a face steamer to your skin care regimen, which is specifically meant for the skin on your face.
Note: You may have skimmed over the key phrase ‘properly maintained’ above, but you’ll need to pay attention to maintenance if you want to combat dry skin with the help of a humidifier. The Mayo Clinic states that proper maintenance is necessary as a dirty humidifier can quickly breed bacteria and mold, leading to illness.
What Are the Rules for Steaming?
Steaming your face at home is actually really simple. If you want to multitask while reaping the benefits, consider hanging out in a room with the door closed and your humidifier turned on. Bonus points if the room is on the smaller side, like a bathroom. As the room fills up with steam, you’ll be simultaneously steaming your face. Use this time to give yourself an at-home manicure or catch up on a new book.
Alternatively, you can use a face steamer to steam your face. This device is specifically made to steam your face at home. Fill it with water and hold it a few inches from your face —always follow the directions that go with the specific steamer you’re using. Allow the steam to pass over your complexion for a few minutes, and you’re done.
Should I Wash My Face After Steaming?
Instead of washing your face before, you’ll want to wash directly after and then apply your skin care as usual. This is to remove any residue or oils that came to the surface of your skin during the steaming process.
Is It Good to Steam Your Face Every day?
Even if you enjoy steaming, you shouldn’t do it every day — you can do ten minutes a week at most. Similar to many skincare practices, steaming everyday can become harsh on the skin and your pores.
Via: Lorealparisusa.com
