Why steam your skin before cleansing?
In the normal state, the skin pores are closed, and on the surface of the epidermis there is a mixture of dead cells and discharge from the sebaceous and sweat glands. And this is even without a layer of makeup.
There is no point in starting many manipulations on the skin, especially cleansing, without special preparation. Therefore, before starting most cleaning techniques, the skin is steamed.
At the same time, surface contamination softens, the upper layer of the epidermis loosens and the pores open. Comedones and acne are removed much easier and less painful. Skin trauma and the risk of infectious complications are significantly reduced.
Before chemical cleaning with acids, steaming makes the effect of the procedure much stronger and longer lasting.
Contraindications
Like any cosmetic procedure, steaming has a number of contraindications, which you should familiarize yourself with before steaming your face.
- Do not steam your facial skin at home if your skin has inflamed acne or pimples;
- If your skin is sensitive, treat the procedure with caution. The risk of irritation and even capillary stars is very high;
- Girls with rosacea should refuse this procedure;
- After the session, your face will become vulnerable, so do not use mechanical methods to clean it. Don't squeeze pimples! The steamed epidermis can respond to this by the appearance of a scar.
The article answered your questions about how to quickly steam your face at home. Remember that this procedure is very useful when done correctly. It will help your skin become beautiful and healthy, improve your complexion and moisturize it.
What can be used
First you need to clean your face of makeup, wash your face, and you can do a light scrub. Then you can start steaming. There are several ways to do this.
- Steam bath. At home, you just need to hold your face over a bowl of hot water or herbal decoction. In this case, you need to cover your head with a thick terry towel. After about 10-15 minutes, it will be noticeable that the pores have opened, the skin has warmed up, softened and moisturized.
- Warm compress or application. It can also be done with warm water or a decoction of medicinal herbs (for example, chamomile, calendula or celandine). In this case, a napkin or towel should be soaked in a warm solution, wrung out and applied to the face until cool, then repeat the application until the skin softens. Essential oils also work very effectively here, and you can choose the most suitable one for each skin type: for dry skin - rose or fir essential oils, for combination skin - bergamot and jasmine, for problem and oily skin - lemon and mint, for aging skin - lavender and orange .
- Steaming mask. You can prepare it yourself at home (more on this below), or purchase a ready-made one or visit a cosmetologist who will do everything using professional cosmetics.
Why do you need to prepare your skin in advance?
Steaming is an important and necessary step for facial cleansing in the salon or at home. Not a single cosmetologist will undertake the procedure of “cleaning” the face without this procedure. Firstly, it is dangerous due to injury to the skin (especially if it is important to remove purulent rashes, squeeze out pimples, remove blackheads). Secondly, a steamed face quickly releases all impurities, and cleaning can achieve remarkable results. Sometimes you can prepare your face quickly. It happens that you have to steam your face a little longer. But soft, glowing skin and a smooth, velvety texture will be the reward for your efforts.
Why preparation is useful:
- hot steam and other means wash away dirt, excess sebum, remnants of dirt and dust from the dermis that have blown onto the face with the winds;
- The stratum corneum of the skin softens, and this helps to remove it. Do not think that softening is important only for mechanical cleaning - it is also mandatory before peeling.
- pores expand. They should also be open to any manipulations by cosmetologists (and self-cleansing). This way, the pores will release all the accumulated dirt and facilitate the penetration of masks and medicinal compositions, enhancing their healing effect.
- sometimes hot steam clears blackheads without external influence. Steam itself has a slight disinfecting effect, especially if not ordinary water, but an antiseptic is used to make it.
- prepared skin becomes much softer; Just apply a little pressure to make the pimple pop out.
Steaming is especially useful for mature skin: in the process, it is saturated with oxygen, blood circulation is stimulated, and collagen is also produced. It is responsible for the firmness and elasticity of the skin, stopping aging.
How much cleaning should be done? Cosmetologists do not give a direct answer to this question. It all depends on the degree of skin contamination and the structural features of the epithelium.
There are many options for steaming your face at home. You can steam your face over a bowl of warm water the old fashioned way, or buy a good vaporizer - a modern device for steaming the skin. It is possible to take advantage of the achievements of the cosmetic industry - apply a special gel or mask. We will tell you about the most proven methods and explain the rules for their use. Before learning what and how you can steam your face for cleaning, we advise you to remember a few general rules. Then the procedure will go perfectly.
Take note:
- Only clean skin can be treated with steam, without visible traces of decorative cosmetics. Otherwise, they can penetrate through the pores into the pores and cause irritation.
- Hair should be collected: hairs can stick to the forehead, causing discomfort.
- It is better to lubricate your lips and eyelids with baby cream or oily Nivea - the areas are delicate and can be easily damaged by hot steam.
- As a container, it is preferable to choose glass pans with a thick bottom. It is hygienic and glass holds heat better without burning your hands.
- For those with rosacea, it is better to choose gentle methods: use pharmaceutical masks, gels, or simply apply a hot, damp towel to your face, leaving it on your face for 5-7 minutes.
This small instruction will serve as a safety precaution for you, and at the same time will significantly improve the result. Now let's move on to the main thing - we will teach you a step-by-step procedure for preparing for “cleaning” your skin at home.
Let's proceed to step-by-step facial cleansing (you can see the whole process in detail in the photo).
At home, the process should look like this:
- Boil water in a kettle.
- Pour a little dry chamomile into the bottom of a thick saucepan (buy the flowers at the pharmacy, save the filter bags for other purposes).
- Let the water cool to 60 degrees (to avoid burns, the steam temperature for cleansing your face at home should not exceed 50-60 degrees).
- Pour water over chamomile.
- As soon as it is brewed, we lean over the pan and cover it with a towel.
- You cannot expose your face to the stream of steam - otherwise you can easily get burned.
- The cloth or towel must cover you completely: the steam will not escape. If you inhale your face deeply while steaming, the lungs will open, phlegm will come out, and breathing will be freed.
- The optimal procedure time is 10-15 minutes. This is enough for the pores to open and the dermis to become softer.
- After the steaming session, we blot our face with a clean paper napkin (or a very soft cloth) and proceed directly to cleansing the face.
How steaming masks work
The mechanisms of action of the masks differ. They are:
- Thermoactive - warm the skin, improve blood flow, open pores. There are many manufacturers - Nuxe (France), Styx (Austria), budget domestic KORA and New line.
- Hydrating gels are applied coldly, dry and seal the epidermis with a film, thereby not causing increased redness and inflammation of the skin elements. When using both, they are applied to cleansed skin and covered with a napkin. Waiting time 10-15 minutes.
Preparing for steaming
Before starting the procedure:
- Make sure your skin and hands are thoroughly cleansed. You don’t want to introduce an infection into the cells of the steamed epidermis, do you?
- before steaming your face at home, make sure that there are no visible inflammations on your face, otherwise the problem will worsen;
- cleanse the skin with cleansing gel or milk;
- then use a soft scrub. It’s ideal if you use a homemade scrub, but an industrial scrub is also suitable.
- after this, remove the hair from your face by wearing a special bandage, cap or using hairpins.
Preparing a homemade scrub:
- normal and combined - take a spoonful of natural ground and a spoonful of yogurt or. Stir and the product is ready! Massage your face with it as you would with a regular scrub, and then carefully remove any remaining residue.
- fatty - 10 g of lemon juice, a tablespoon of sea salt and 15 g of yeast. Mix the yeast with lemon and put in hot water for a couple of minutes, then add salt while stirring the mixture.
- dry and sensitive - mix crushed oatmeal with milk.
How to steam your skin yourself
At home, you can steam your skin without any problems. If sensitive skin does not allow thermal procedures, masks will come to the rescue.
You can purchase ready-made ones at the pharmacy. They are gel-like, usually aloe or cactus based. When dry, they form a dense coating on the skin - a film, under which the skin quickly warms up. It’s cheaper and easier to make masks yourself. Moreover, preparing and using them is not at all difficult.
Supplementing steam with decoctions
What else can you use to steam your face to achieve an even better effect? Cosmetologists recommend supplementing the steaming procedure with mild cleansing solutions based on medicinal herbs and some medications. For example, instead of chamomile, take calendula, St. John's wort, mint, linden flowers, and rose petals.
It is great to complement the steaming procedure with a decoction of potatoes, to which a little baking soda and starch are added - the substances disinfect the epithelium, loosen dead cells, and at the same time tighten (especially if you drop a few drops of tea tree ether into the solution).
Before steaming your facial skin at home, prepare an infusion of hot water with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, Miramistin, chlorophyllipt (it comes in the form of an oil or alcohol solution). This will help pimples heal faster and prevent inflammation, which sometimes occurs after mechanical squeezing of pimples.
Dandelion, lemon, and parsley leaves are also suitable as additional means for steaming the face: they even out the tone and lightly whiten. There are other modern methods. Let's list the most popular ones.
The steaming time depends only on the structure of the epithelium and the state of its health. Any open wounds or neoplasms should be a reason to consult a doctor. But usually 15 minutes is enough for high-quality preparation for cleaning from blackheads, pimples, and subcutaneous fat.
It is advisable to repeat the procedure once every 21 days for owners of dry, sensitive facial skin. For oily dermis, the interval can easily be reduced to 10-14 days.
Rules for using homemade masks
All masks should be applied to skin that has been cleaned of cosmetics, washed with running water and dried with a towel. In this case, the adhesion to the skin will be maximum. It is best to carry out the procedure 2-3 hours before bedtime. After steaming and cleaning, it is not advisable to go outside, especially in winter.
By skin type:
- on dry skin, steaming can be done no more than 3 times a month and no longer than 5-7 minutes;
- for normal, you can do it once a week for 7-10 minutes;
- and if you have oily skin, steaming can be done every 5 days and for 15-20 minutes.
Masks are applied freshly prepared and warm, slightly warmer than the surface of the skin.
While the mask is on the face, it is undesirable to move... Facial expressions create folds on the surface and the film mask can tear. It is better to lie down for a while and relax your facial muscles. It is also not advisable to perform physical work while the mask is on your face. This will cause the skin under the mask to sweat and may cause skin irritation and the spread of inflammatory elements.
For convenience and a better thermal effect, you can cover your face with a napkin, pressing it tightly to the mask (leaving only holes for the nose and eyes).
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Contraindications for steaming
Steaming is a rather serious procedure that has a number of contraindications.
- You should not steam your face while wearing contact lenses. In addition, you need to consult with an ophthalmologist in advance to determine whether such a procedure can be performed. Some medical conditions (such as eye pressure) prevent the eye area from being heated.
- Do not steam the skin at high temperatures.
- Steaming is contraindicated for rosacea on the face. High temperatures can cause a blood vessel to rupture.
- You should not steam your skin if you have enlarged pores. This will make the problem worse.
- If you have asthma, steaming (especially with some herbs) may trigger an attack.
- During pregnancy, steaming should be extremely careful. During this period, the skin is very sensitive and may react unexpectedly. The same applies to the lactation period.
- For cardiovascular diseases, steaming is undesirable.
- If the skin is dry, steaming is rarely necessary, since the procedure is considered drying. But for oily skin, steaming is very useful.
- Cleaning after steaming should be very careful; if scars remain, they will take a very long time to heal.
In general, the procedure should not be done more than twice a week. If you have thin and sensitive skin, steam your face once every 10 days, not more often.
Steaming is a fairly effective, but at the same time aggressive procedure. If done correctly, it can eliminate many cosmetic problems. And if you don't take precautions, you can harm your skin. If after the procedure you notice the formation of spider veins on your face, it means that steaming is contraindicated for you, your capillaries are too weak. And further. The first steaming is best done by a cosmetologist with professional equipment and under the supervision of a specialist. This will allow you to become familiar with the intricacies of the procedure and receive specific recommendations for caring for your skin type. Beauty does not require sacrifice, it requires care and attention!
Recipes
For home use, masks are prepared from the simplest ingredients and applied freshly prepared, hot (but not scalding). They can also be used after taking a bath or in a sauna. In this case, the exposure time should be reduced a little, so the skin will already be warmed up.
Honey mask with yolk
Mix one tablespoon of honey with the yolk of one egg and heat the mixture in a water bath. Add a teaspoon of olive or almond oil to the already warm mixture. Apply for 15-20 minutes. The mask is suitable for normal and dry skin.
Oatmeal mask
To do this, you need to cook oatmeal in water, adding only 1 teaspoon of soda to the finished mixture. Apply hot to face and keep for 15 minutes. Optimal for normal and combination skin.
Semolina mask
This is a dense semolina porridge cooked in water, but without adding anything. Also apply hot for 20 minutes. Suitable for normal skin.
Potato mask
Boil the potatoes with their skins on, then peel them while hot and grate them finely. Can be mixed with a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply to face and cover with a tissue for 10 minutes. Works very well on mature aging skin, stimulates collagen synthesis.
On potato water
After boiling the potatoes, take 100 ml of the resulting water, add 1 tablespoon of soda and 10 drops of tea tree oil to it. You can apply several layers to your face and renew after drying. Suitable for oily and problem skin.
Clay mask
Mix 1 teaspoon of clay (white or green), 1 teaspoon of zinc ointment, and one and a half teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice.
Heat the resulting pulp in a water bath and apply hot to the face until completely dry. The mask best steams oily skin and dries out inflammatory elements in problematic skin.
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Mustard mask
Mix 2 teaspoons of clay with 0.5 teaspoon of dry mustard powder, bring with hot water to a paste-like state. You can add a few drops of lemon juice. Apply before the skin warms up, the exposure time can be from 3-5 minutes to 15 minutes.
Alternative methods
It happens that the skin needs to be prepared, but there is no desire to fuss and run around with pots. In this case, modern alternative cleansing manipulations will be needed. Some are extremely pleasant to use. Which ones do cosmetologists recommend choosing?
Known alternatives:
- Special pharmaceutical masks. They are made from natural materials soaked in medicinal plant extracts. Just put the mask in water, squeeze it out lightly, and apply it to your face. After 15 minutes, remove the mask.
- Ready-made masks are sold. They are applied to previously cleansed skin and kept for the time specified in the instructions. They contain substances that come into contact with water and generate heat. They are ideal for anyone for whom thermal procedures are contraindicated. Warming gels, emulsions and other ready-made formulations have a similar effect.
- For lovers of fashionable novelties, we suggest using a vaporizer instead of a saucepan. This is a smart device that produces thin streams of steam. There are models that allow you to saturate the steam with herbal esters, extracts, and aromatic oils. Vaporizers often have an ozonation function. It disinfects the skin and enriches cells with oxygen. The big advantage of the devices is that they have a timer and automatically heat the water to a temperature that is safe for humans.
Video about the cold steaming method:
Finally, there is the cold hydrogenation procedure. This technique is used exclusively in beauty salons; it is not advisable to use it at home. And how long to steam your face with cold (sounds, of course, paradoxical) only a cosmetologist should know.
Professional steamers
For those with sensitive skin who prefer not to prepare care products, professional cosmetic steaming masks have been created.
Their operating principle is the same - creating a dense film on the surface of the skin, under which it is heated. Pores expand, blood flow and metabolism in tissues improve. Many of the masks contain additional healing, caring or anti-aging components.
What are there
Masks can be inexpensive (which are always available in a regular store) and professional (sold in pharmacies or cosmetology clinics).
The composition mainly contains components such as clay, zinc, aloe, chamomile, etc.
- Garnier, Skin Naturals (zinc + clay + plant extracts, excellent against blackheads), Artlife (a series of thermal masks with red clay), Floresan (white clay - gently heats and dissolves impurities without causing irritation) have excellent masks with clay.
- Oriflame has a warming mask with aloe (it is warmed up immediately before the procedure), Eveline (this one also contains rejuvenating coenzyme Q10).
- With guarana for deep hydration, the Samtea professional mask can generally replace a whole care complex of products.
- With cayenne pepper and ginseng from the Skinlite brand - it perfectly warms up, dilates blood vessels and rejuvenates the skin.
- With alginates (algae derivatives), Algo Naturel deeply moisturizing film mask. It creates a very dense coating on the skin and causes it to heat up very quickly.
Professional cream that instantly warms up the skin from Biox - Thermal Experience Mask.
Excellent professional lines for skin cleansing include Holy land (Israel), Holika holika (Korea), Image Skin Care (USA), Academie, Nuxe (France). They are sold mainly in cosmetology clinics or on special websites. To ensure their correct selection and use, companies provide training.
Terms of use
- Before starting use, be sure to read the instructions. Do not keep the mask on for longer than prescribed so as not to cause overheating and dehydration of the skin.
- It is advisable to conduct a skin allergy test before first use. It is done on the skin of the forearm a day before the intended use of the cosmetic product.
- Before applying the steaming mask, the skin must be cleaned of cosmetics and care products, washed with soap and water or foam and moisturized with lotion. It is recommended to apply a rich cream to the area around the eyes and lips - it will protect the delicate skin in these places and it will not lose moisture.
- Gather your hair so that it does not touch your face.
- If the product is correctly selected and used, the skin after the steaming procedure will become clean, moisturized, and even in color.
Drawing conclusions
You can soften your skin and properly prepare it for cleansing from acne and blackheads at home. An important condition for the safety of manipulation is careful attention to health and compliance with all precautions. Be sure to apply an anti-inflammatory cream after steaming procedures, directly after cleaning. Then you are guaranteed clean, healthy skin.
Before you start cleaning your face, you need to steam it properly. The effectiveness of cleaning and the subsequent condition of the epidermis depend on this process. There are several ways to steam your face at home.
Some people prefer to use a simple and free method - covering themselves with a towel over a container of boiling water, others buy special masks and gels for steaming the face.
There are also special sauna inhalers
for steaming and moisturizing the face.
The essence of all methods is to open the skin pores as much as possible. This will allow you to cleanse your face with maximum efficiency.
Before the procedure, you should cleanse your face well with a scrub or peeling. It is better to use warm water for washing.
First way
Make a decoction from a mixture of dry herbs, add a drop of essential oil (for example, orange or lavender) to hot water and lean over a container of steam, covered with a towel. In order for the pores to open well, the steaming process should last 10-15 minutes. When the skin becomes soft and moisturized, it should be quickly wiped with lotion and proceed to further cosmetic procedures. This can be facial cleansing at home or nourishing masks, which work much better after steaming, since open pores allow nutrients to easily and quickly penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.
To prepare a decoction for our procedure, you should use herbs and oils for a specific skin type. For oily types, lemon, thyme and peppermint oil will be effective. For normal skin, the herbs lavender, nettle, sage and rosemary oil are good. For dry - a decoction of chamomile, linden and rose or grape oil.
Second way
For this steaming you need a natural cotton napkin. Keep it in the hot herbal decoction for a couple of seconds, squeeze it well and put it on your face. Leave until the fabric cools down. Repeat the procedure 3-4 times.
Third way
For this procedure, you need masks with a facial steaming effect. In cosmetology departments, their range is quite diverse, and the results are simply amazing. These masks are indispensable on vacation and business trips, because only 3-4 minutes are enough for your face to acquire a healthy appearance and tone. These masks contain extracts of medicinal herbs, berries, cream, etc.
Steaming is very important for healthy skin, but it should be remembered that this procedure has its own contraindications and it is better to avoid it if there are inflammatory processes or allergic reactions on the face.
Karina 24.11.2013 14:38
I quote Vic:
By the way, I also like to steam my face, unlike salon cleansing, the skin is not injured. I also have a B. Well steam inhaler, although at first I bought it only for children, but now I use it successfully myself))).
A really good inhaler, I also bought it for my children at first, because it is very dangerous to breathe over a saucepan, especially for children.
And as it turned out, it steams the face, also at 5+, now there is no need for steaming masks, which had little effect, but here I steam it, clean the pores, apply cream and it turns out almost as good as salon cleansing. Any woman is ready to make every effort to remain beautiful and irresistible always. But the modern world in every way prevents her from doing this, because polluted air and food with chemical impurities negatively affect the health and appearance of the skin. Therefore, women very often complain about the occurrence of acne, blackheads and other inflammations. Masks and various cleanings will help cope with the disaster. Read below about how to steam your face before starting cosmetic procedures.
Contraindications to the procedure
There are many conditions that are not conducive to steaming.
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Absolute contraindications (permanent):
- Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, heart failure). A prolonged thermal procedure can provoke hypertensive
- Bronchial asthma, heating the skin can cause an attack of suffocation.
- Allergic swelling, dermatitis - can spread rapidly over the face and body.
- Fragility of blood vessels, rosacea.
- Serious skin diseases such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, systemic vasculitis.
- Enlarged pores. The steaming procedure will expand them even more so that you will then have to use pigment-constricting agents.
Relative contraindications (temporary):
- Pregnancy (especially if accompanied by complications)
- Lactation
- Acute infectious diseases with a febrile state are a contraindication to any thermal procedures.
- Skin irritation, injured skin.
- Wearing contact lenses (they must be removed before steaming).
Precautionary measures
Steaming, like any other heat treatment of the dermis, is considered quite aggressive for the face. In some cases, cosmetologists strongly recommend using gentle techniques, and even better, under the supervision of a doctor.
The following are considered contraindications:
- high blood pressure;
- rosacea (spider veins, spider veins);
- heart and vascular diseases;
- bronchial asthma;
- upper respiratory tract diseases at the acute stage;
- sinusitis;
- inflammation and cysts of teeth;
- migraine of unknown nature;
- dermatitis.
You cannot use masks, gels, or even warm your face over steam if you are undergoing some physical procedures - they can conflict with hot steam and cause complications. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to do an allergy test: some decoctions can cause asthma attacks and lead to Quincke’s edema.
Possible side effects
- Enlargement of skin pores - this should occur for a short time. But after the skin cools, the pores should close. If steaming or cleaning is carried out incorrectly, expansion may persist.
- Dry skin - can appear when dry or normal skin types are steamed, or when it is heated for too long.
- Dilated blood vessels and spider veins - appear when the skin is heated and cooled too quickly, so the procedure is carried out gently, not with hot materials.
- An allergic reaction is possible for anyone. For prevention, a skin test is necessary.
- An increase in inflammatory elements - when warming masks are applied and kept for a long time on the skin and deep in the pores, favorable conditions are created for the development of infection. The solution is to treat the skin with an antiseptic before steaming it.
- Skin burn - happens either on sensitive skin or when applying hot materials - paraffin, napkins, masks. Vaporization should also be used with caution.
- The appearance of ulcers and wounds at the site of inflammation means that the surface of the pustules has become thinner and the contents have come out. This is a signal that the skin needs to be thoroughly treated with an antiseptic.
Steaming facial mask (video):
Warming face mask: deep cleansing of pores (video):
Test: mask from Garnier Skin Naturals (video):
Steaming the face is a necessary way to prepare the skin for further cosmetic procedures: cleansing, peeling, microdermabrasion, injection procedures. It can be effectively carried out both at home and in a cosmetologist’s salon. The main thing is to follow all the rules and precautions.
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What are the benefits of steaming for the skin?
Many people make the mistake of thinking that steaming is only a preparatory stage. Steaming itself and exposure to hot vapors is already a procedure. Let's look at how it affects the skin.
- Steaming helps deeply cleanse the skin. With the help of hot steam, the epidermis is cleansed of excess sebaceous fat, cosmetic residues and city dust.
- Steaming helps soften the dead skin layer, making it easier to remove. It is believed that steaming is a preparatory stage not only for mechanical cleaning, but also for peeling.
- Steaming can expand your pores. This is done for two reasons. Firstly, it is a deep cleansing. If you apply a mask with gelatin and activated carbon to steamed skin, it penetrates directly into enlarged pores, grabs all the contents (sebum, dirt) and removes it from there. This way you can get rid of comedones. The second purpose of open pores is the effect of medicinal masks and lotions. Any medicinal composition will work much better if it penetrates deep inside the pore.
- Steaming helps not only remove blackheads, but also fight acne. Hot steam from an antibacterial solution gently disinfects the surface of the skin without damaging it by friction.
- Why is cleaning so much more effective after steaming? The fact is that the prepared skin itself is ready to remove all unhealthy and inflamed pore cores. All you have to do is apply light pressure.
- Steaming also saturates the skin with oxygen. And when she gets enough nutrition, she shines with health and beauty.
- This procedure is also useful for mature skin. Hot steam stimulates active skin regeneration and promotes collagen production.
Considering all the beneficial properties of steaming, the procedure can be done as preparation for cleansing and as a separate event for skin care.
Step-by-step facial steaming
To properly steam your face before cleansing, use methods approved by experienced cosmetologists. You should choose the method that is most convenient for you.
The most effective include:
- Steam baths.
- Masks and other means.
- Warm napkins and towels.
If you want to achieve the maximum effect from steam baths, then use special steaming compounds. It is important to know what skin type they are suitable for.
The second way is to make your own fabric mask. Cut an oval out of clean fabric that matches the contour of your face. Then make slits for the eyes, lips, nose. Soak a cloth in the hot mixture and then apply to face. After the mask has cooled, repeat the procedure. Then rinse your face 4 times. Throw the used mask in the trash, as it is considered disposable.
The third method is an application of warm napkins. This express method is carried out using fabric napkins (or towels) soaked in healing compounds. Add 2-3 drops of essential extracts (lavender, neroli, ylang-ylang, etc.) to the liquid.
Progress of the procedure:
- Prepare and cool slightly the herbal decoction.
- Place a napkin in it. Then take it out and squeeze it thoroughly.
- Gently apply the napkin to your previously cleansed face.
- Keep until completely cool.
Steaming should be repeated 3 times. Napkins must be made of cotton.
The first session is recommended to be carried out in a beauty salon equipped with special equipment. This will help you become more familiar with the nuances of the procedure, as well as receive individual advice from a specialist in caring for the epidermis.
Cleaning consists of several steps. Home steaming steps:
- Pull your hair into a ponytail to keep strands from sticking out onto your face. Tie short hair with a special bandage or scarf.
- Lubricate the lip area and area around the eyelids with a rich cream to protect them from hot steam.
- Fill the basin with boiling water. You need to wait until the steam becomes comfortable. The face should be approximately 20 cm from the surface of the water.
- Drape the towel over your head until it covers you completely. If you are using a “home sauna”, you do not need to cover yourself.
- Perform the procedure until the skin softens and sweats from the steam effect.
Approximate time spent above the steam: from 5 to 20 minutes. The drier the facial epidermis, the shorter the session should last. Afterwards, remove the towel and lightly dry your face with a dry cotton cloth.
They begin to cleanse. It is performed with a sterile instrument or clean hands. To complete the cleansing, it is necessary to tighten the pores by applying cold. Rub your face with ice cubes. To freeze, instead of ordinary water, take strawberries, cucumber pulp, infusions (chamomile, mint, calendula).
After the session, you need to make a restorative mask. Opened pores will absorb nutrients. However, you should not load the epithelium with a thick textured fatty product, it will only clog the pores.
The session is recommended to be performed before bedtime so that the epidermis can rest after exercise.
You should take steaming seriously and weigh the advantages and disadvantages. The efforts made will not go unnoticed. As a result, the woman will get beautiful and glowing skin.
For sensitive or dry epithelium, steaming should not be performed more than once every 12 days.
Steaming with herbs
It is advisable to supplement the steam with herbal decoctions, because most plants have healing effects:
- Calendula (marigold) perfectly disinfects problematic epidermis. Dosage: 3 tbsp. l. herbs per 250 ml of water. Instead of marigolds, coltsfoot will do,
- Chamomile is used for redness, swelling, and irritation, as it wonderfully soothes the dermis. Dosage: 1 tbsp. spoon per 1000 ml of water,
- St. John's wort will enlarge pores and cleanse them of black plugs. Dosage: 2 tbsp. spoons per liter of water,
- nettle will improve the turgor of the aging epidermis. Dosage: 4 tbsp. spoons per 0.5 liters of water.
Brew the herb with boiling water in a container, then leave for several minutes.
The following recipe is suitable for those who want to whiten their face and eliminate age spots. Pour a glass of boiled water over a bunch of parsley and several dandelion flowers. Boil the mixture for a few minutes, then leave to cool. Strain the solution and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to it.
How to steam your face with baking soda
Soda solution is used mainly for mature epithelium. Boil several potatoes in their skins and remove them from the pan. Add 1 tbsp to the remaining water. a spoonful of soda, then add 10 drops of tea tree ether.
Baking soda will eliminate fine wrinkles around the eyes. Potatoes will supply the epidermis with starch, which will compensate for its lack of collagen. And the ethereal extract will tighten sagging skin.
The benefits of steam baths. Contraindications
Exposing your skin to warm steam is immediately beneficial for several reasons.
Firstly, high temperatures help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow and, as a result, help saturate the skin with the oxygen and nutrients it needs.
Secondly, toxins and waste products begin to be actively removed, thus reducing the number of existing inflammations on the skin and reducing the likelihood of new ones occurring.
Thirdly, during the procedure, the pores open and the thickened sebum located in them softens, after which it is easily removed, that is, blackheads are eliminated. Also, at the same time, the activity of the glands normalizes.
Fourthly, steaming is beneficial not only as an independent measure of facial care, but also as preparation for other cosmetic procedures, for example, deep cleansing, applying various creams and masks, etc., since all the beneficial substances will penetrate much deeper.
Thus, while taking steam baths, a comprehensive cleansing of the skin occurs, accompanied by an increase in its elasticity, moisturizing and saturation with necessary elements, as well as an improvement in complexion and the removal of puffiness.
The procedure is universal; it can be performed on women of any skin type. Only the duration will differ. Oily dermis can be in contact with steam longer than dry and sensitive ones.
However, there are still contraindications, such as:
- purulent inflammation on the face,
- rosacea and other vascular problems,
- acute respiratory tract diseases (you must first consult a doctor).
A steam bath is almost always an integral part of blackhead removal. It can act either as an independent or an auxiliary procedure. Let's talk about how to do it correctly so that the pores are cleaned.
An unimaginable rhythm of life, an unsatisfactory environmental situation, and chronic fatigue do not at all contribute to skin health.
It is constantly subject to stress, gets dirty very quickly, so as a result, the pores are clogged with the products of the sebaceous glands - dead cells, as well as remnants of powder, other cosmetics, and street dust.
Steaming, which will become a regular procedure for deep cleansing the skin, will help you forever forget about annoying pimples, unsightly enlarged pores, and comedones.
If a girl knows how to properly steam her face before cleaning, she will avoid possible injury to the skin and prevent purulent infection.
It is also recommended to steam the skin immediately before shaving or depilation. The scraper, blade and epilator handle glide much easier over steamed and well-scrubbed skin.
At the same time, there should be no pain from such a procedure, and the likelihood of ingrown hairs is minimal.
Cleaning
Cleaning steamed skin at home is not difficult at all. Wash your hands thoroughly with disinfectant soap and begin cleaning immediately. Delay threatens to close the pores, which will significantly complicate your task and make cleaning more painful. [adsense1]
- Wrap your fingers in a sterile bandage.
- It is best to start cleaning from those areas of the face where there are the most blackheads. Most often they are the cheeks and nose. Press down on both sides of the blackhead and carefully remove it.
- Repeat this manipulation as many times as necessary.
- If individual comedones are not removed, leave them until the next procedure. Excessive pressure can cause serious injury to the skin.
- Treat any red or inflamed areas with alcohol-based lotion or salicylic alcohol. For the next 2 days, refrain from using cosmetics and do not do intensive facial treatments.
You can also use a Uno spoon. You can buy it in online stores or cosmetology stores. This device is designed specifically for facial cleansing. On one side of the spoon there is a protrusion with holes, and on the other there is a sharp and thin needle. You can easily squeeze out blackheads with a protrusion. If you decide to use this tool, be sure to first boil it and treat it with alcohol.
READ ALSO: Main symptoms and recommendations for the treatment of white purulent plugs in the tonsils in the absence of fever
The most effective face masks in the sauna
What masks are best to make in a bath for facial skin?
Recipe with kefir. A simple and affordable method to moisturize the skin in a sauna and get rid of fine wrinkles. Apply a layer of kefir to your face and rub it into the skin with gentle, light movements. Leave the product on for about 12 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Recipe for white or blue clay for cleansing the skin. You will need purified water and clay. The product not only cleanses pores, but also helps to quickly eliminate inflammatory processes and reduce the number of acne. Preparation is very simple - just mix the ingredients until the consistency of sour cream. After the mixture dries on your face, you can soak it and wash it off.
This should be done carefully so as not to stretch the skin. Mask based on oatmeal. Ingredients: oat flakes, egg yolk, milk, 1.5 tsp
olive oil. The flakes are steamed with boiled hot milk and infused until mushy. After the mixture has cooled slightly, beat in the yolk and pour in the oil, mix the ingredients well. Do not keep on face for longer than 20 minutes. Honey mask. Apply honey only after the face and body have been well warmed up under the influence of high temperatures and steam. After this, you should cleanse the skin with a scrub and rinse everything off with water. Only after these procedures, the components are applied to the facial skin in a thin layer with massaging movements. Use only fresh honey. Scrub mask made of salt and soda. Can be applied almost immediately after visiting the bathhouse. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 1:2. Apply with gentle, careful movements so as not to damage the skin. Then leave the mask on your face for 3-4 minutes and rinse with water. A good effect of moisturizing and smoothing wrinkles can be achieved by applying baby cream or honey after the mask.
Recipe for a lemon mask for whitening and cleansing the face. 10-12 minutes after visiting the steam room, rub half a lemon on your face. Do not touch the areas around the mouth and eyes. After holding the lemon juice for 20 minutes, wash everything off. Finely grated cucumber has the same effect. Nourishing mask based on yeast. Brewer's yeast, olive oil and egg yolk are mixed into a homogeneous mass. It is applied to the facial skin for 12-15 minutes and washed off.
- Recipe for use in a bath for problem skin and against wrinkles. Suitable if pimples and blackheads often appear on your face. For the mask 2 tbsp. l of heated honey is mixed with half a lemon juice and a spoonful of wheat bran. Can be used both as a mask and as a scrub.
- Mask for brightening the complexion in the bath. Take dry seaweed, carefully grind it into a powdery mixture and mix it with fresh cottage cheese in a 1:1 ratio. Apply the mixture to the neck and face for 20 minutes. The mask is washed off with water at room temperature. It is worth using sour cream as an additional ingredient.
- Scrub made from dry orange peels. They are crushed into powder, diluted and filled with water. For dry skin, it is recommended to add olive oil.
- Recipe for a nourishing mask with a rejuvenating effect. Chop half a banana well with a fork, add a little milk and mix until smooth. Apply the mixture to a cleansed face. The time to use the mask is no more than 20 minutes. It is advisable to remove everything after the procedure with a damp cloth and wipe it with a cotton swab or cotton pad, after moistening it in milk.
- Banana-citrus mask – cleansing + rejuvenation + getting rid of wrinkles. You will need 60-70 grams of softened banana, 1 tsp. orange juice, 1.5 tbsp. fresh homemade honey. A homogeneous mass is prepared from the components and applied to the face. The mixture can be easily removed with wet wipes, after which you should wash your face with water.
When using any mask, it is better to lie down and not move to avoid excessive facial expressions.
In order for the results of the procedures performed to last for a long time, it is important to remember that after visiting a sauna or steam bath it is better not to apply creams, gels or decorative cosmetics to the skin. The face and body should completely rest after such cleansing and rejuvenation
By visiting a sauna, you can not only have a pleasant, but also a useful time, improve your well-being, rejuvenate, and cleanse the skin of your face and body.
The article was verified by an expert - beauty blogger @lil4olga.