The Benefits of Facial Steaming

Let's face it, no pun intended. Our face is the first and last thing someone sees. So why not look your best?

 

There are many things you can do to dress up your gorgeous features; like being "get beat by the beauty god's", but even that is only temporary. After you wash off all that makeup you are left with your true self. No worries you can fix any blemish.

Wearing makeup and applying heavy oils have a down side to them. All of these things can stress the skin out and cause your pores to clog and in turn producing acne, whiteheads, blackheads and oily/dry skin. Blackheads come from hormonal changes, certain drugs, and oily skin just to name a few.  The excess sebum clumps together with dead skin cells and blocks the hair follicle (the base and canal in the skin from which a hair grows). Acne is caused by hormonal changes, causing over production of oily skin, greasy makeup and many other things.

Steaming your face can help to restore the natural pH and relax you after a long day. It helps to increase circulation in your face and softens your pores so you can cleanse away impurities. Although, do to your pores not having muscles, your pores can't open or close, there is no such nothing. Pore sizes are genetically determined. Exfoliating is also crucial, since it removes pore-enlarging dead cells from the skin’s surface.

But, you can reduce the appearance of them by properly cleaning, cosmetic treatments/ makeup or cool water: Choose products with alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, astringents such as witch hazel or fruit enzymes in them. Yet, these things are also temporary.

You may have heard of adding cool water to your face to close your pores. What really happens is called goosebumps which is caused by the contraction of the arrector pili muscle. A tiny muscle in the skin. It's attached to the hair follicle. It contracts in response to cold and although it may seem the pores are closed, its not. Pilomotor reflex is what cause this effect. The muscle pulls on the hair follicles until the skin warms back up and the pore reappears. Now that you know. Let's get to steaming

You don't need and fancy gadgets or even to leave your home. Try this.

Full steam ahead DIY steaming

• Clean face out any topical dirt or makeup

What you need:

• 1 kettle ( if you don't have a steaming system)
  1 large glass bowl
  Purified water
  Herbs or tea, if desired
  1 large towel
  1 face cloth

• Fill kettle with water and bring to boil. Pour water into a large glass bowl, and add loose herbs, tea, or essential oils. Then, hover your face approximately 6 in (15 cm) above the bowl and place the large towel over your head like a tent, entrapping the steam. Relax in this position for 5 to 10 minutes. Those with sensitive skin should not steam for more than 5 minutes, and should hover 8 in (20 cm) away from the bowl.

• After steaming, blot your skin gently with face cloth and apply a our Jasmine Floral Water & Toner and follow up with a natural moisturizer. It is important to do this post-steam to restore any moisture and tone the complexion that has been perspired away. For a full evening of skin pampering, gently exfoliate before steaming, and apply a treatment mask afterward, creating a mini-facial experience. This will leave your skin feeling refreshed, clean, and detoxified

However, if you have certain skin conditions that are aggravated by sweating or increased blood circulation, such as rosacea or a fungal infection, then facial steaming may do more harm than good for you [sources: American Academy of Dermatology].

 

 

Sources:

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Steam-Facial

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/71615.php