Breathe Easy and Look Good Doing It!

Posted by GladGirl Team on June 10, 2014

Sure, we’ve got chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and lasers to zap fine lines, eradicate acne, and rejuvenate skin…but sometimes a good ole fashioned beauty trick works just as well—and is free, free, free! Why not keep things simple with a restorative facial steam? Soaking in some steam helps clear away acne, softens and moisturizes skin, and even releases sinus pressure and nasal congestion.

Skin Benefits

Our skin cells are programmed to regenerate every 28 days…when we’re young. The older we get, the more those skin cells cling to the skin’s surface, refusing to make way for new skin cells. Skin starts to take on a dull finish, lines become permanent, and skin feels dry and taut. It needs our help to slough away the old skin cells and make room for the new. A facial steam does just that! No matter how well you clean your skin, there’s debris trapped under the surface that you can’t see. And it’s wreaking all sorts of havoc on your skin! A weekly facial steam dislodges the impurities so you can enjoy blemish-free skin. The heat from a facial steam causes you to sweat. Sweat is essentially 99% water. Perspiration washes away toxins, impurities, trapped bacteria and dirt that’s settled deep into your pores. There’s a particular kind of acne that’s especially bothersome—blackheads! Your skin produces a natural oil called sebum in the sebaceous glands of your hair follicles. These follicles easily become clogged by excess sebum and bacteria, leading to breakouts and blackheads. A facial steam is an effective means of freeing that trapped dirt and oil. Your skin quite literally breathes easier during and after a facial steam. The heat from the steam gets your circulation pumping and directs it to the skin. Blood vessels expand and increase blood flow, delivering nutrients and oxygen to skin cells and tissue. Take a look at your skin after a facial steam, and be prepared to be impressed by the radiant glow you see staring back at you in the mirror!

Health Benefits

It’s well known that a hot shower can make you feel better when you’re sick by opening up your nasal cavities, releasing congestion, and soothing coughs and sore throats. A facial steam imparts the same benefit, loosening mucus so that you can breathe freer. Here’s a tip: add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to your facial steam. The properties of eucalyptus help soothe inflammation.

How to Steam

1. Remove makeup and tie your hair back away from your face
2. Warm water to approximately 110° F
3. Pour water into a bowl and add your favorite ingredients. You can rip open a tea bag and pour in the leaves. Or add lemon slices, cinnamon cloves, and peppermint leaves
4. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel, making a “tent”
5. Steam at an approximately 12- to 18-inch distance—too close and you can break the capillaries under the skin!

Steam for five to seven minutes and finish off with a cold water splash. Apply a hydrating moisturizer (the skin is primed to absorb all the good stuff) and top off your fresh look with some soft, natural eyelash extensions! All it takes is a once-a-week facial steam to keep your skin looking and feeling its best!