Steam baths: simple and effective

What herbs are used for steam baths?

Steam itself has a healing effect on the skin, and if you supplement it with a herbal decoction, the effectiveness of this procedure will increase several times. For these purposes the following are used:

• Bay leaf - this steam bath for the face will give the skin firmness and elasticity and increase blood circulation.
• Licorice – removes toxins.
• Celandine - widely used in facial steam baths for acne. It perfectly fights inflammation, acne, age spots, and relieves the skin of herpetic eruptions.
• Plantain – has tonic and calming properties.
• Wormwood - a bitter herb will relieve acne, blackheads, blackheads, dermatitis, rashes, and also cope with fine wrinkles.
• Burdock perfectly disinfects, opens and cleanses pores.
• Chamomile is an excellent choice for dry skin. A steam facial bath with chamomile will cleanse pores, soothe irritations, relieve inflammation and have a rejuvenating effect.
• Calendula is ideal for those with oily, problem skin. It has powerful bactericidal properties, dries out inflammation and heals wounds.
• Oregano – perfectly cleanses and tones.

Steam facials at home

In order to be a beautiful owner of glowing healthy skin, it is not at all necessary to visit beauty salons. A steam bath is also available to you at home.

Before the procedure, it is necessary to cleanse the skin of the face, be sure to apply a rich cream, paying attention to the eyelids and the area around the eyes. For convenience, it is better to tuck your hair under a shower cap or put it in a high bun.

Well, now about the main thing: how to make a steam bath for the face? To do this, you will need any pan or wide fireproof cup. In a suitable container, you need to bring a liter or a half of the decoction to a boil (the herbs should be selected depending on the desired effect), remove from the heat and let stand for a minute or two (immediately after boiling, the steam is too hot and will damage the skin). After waiting the prescribed time, you need to breathe over the broth from a distance of 30-40 cm, covered with a terry towel. The procedure time is selected depending on the skin type, but more on that later.

Benefits of steam baths and contraindications

A steam bath is ideal if you need to refresh or cleanse your facial skin. This procedure is deservedly called the most effective in terms of cleansing.

1. Firstly, steam normalizes the functioning of the fatty and sebaceous glands, which means it prevents the appearance of comedones and other problems.
2. Secondly, by expanding the pores, the process of further cleaning and caring for the skin is significantly simplified.
3. Thirdly, skin metabolic processes and blood microcirculation improve.
4. Fourthly, a face with smooth and rejuvenated healthy skin always looks well-groomed.

However, this useful and pleasant procedure is not suitable for everyone. And this especially applies to those diagnosed with bronchial asthma or hypertension. Steam cleaning is not recommended for facial irritations and diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis. It is not advisable to do steaming for those who have a lot of hair on their face or blood vessels located close to them. Particular care should be taken by those with dry skin prone to allergies, rashes and peeling.

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Aftercare

What to do after a facial steam bath? After the procedure, you need to wash your face with water at room temperature and pat your face dry with a napkin using smooth movements. After 15-20 minutes, it is recommended to apply your usual care cream or nourishing mask. Those with oily, problem skin are advised to continue cleansing: for this you can use a scrub, a spoon of Uno, or a mixture of baking soda and salt. After a steam bath, the pores of the face are enlarged, and the dirt and oil present in them can be easily removed. Such regular cleaning can once and for all get rid of deep impurities and give the skin cleanliness, freshness, even color and health.

Precautionary measures: going outside immediately after a steam bath is extremely undesirable, as this can provoke excessive pollution and, as a result, an inflammatory process. It is best to make it a rule to perform this procedure before going to bed. It is possible at other times, the main thing is that you have the opportunity to lie down for 20 minutes after the procedure.

What complications may arise after mechanical facial cleansing?

Since the method is quite crude, unpleasant phenomena may occur after it. Redness and rashes should go away within two to three days. Prolonged hyperemia may indicate that the order and hygiene of the procedure were violated, the patient has too sensitive skin, or he did not adhere to the specialist’s recommendations. A cosmetologist may suggest procedures after facial cleansing. They involve the use of soothing masks with calendula, chamomile, and aloe.

The swelling goes away even faster – in just a day or two. If this does not happen, it’s time to visit a dermatologist and find out the cause of the unpleasant manifestations.

After the facial cleansing procedure, small hematomas may also appear, which becomes evidence of the master’s excessive zeal, as well as neglect of contraindications.

If safety and disinfection rules have been violated, then inflammatory processes may appear already on the second or third day. Such manifestations also require consultation with a dermatologist.

Allergic manifestations can also be an unpleasant surprise. They can arise from drugs and products that the master used in the process. That is why only a trusted and reliable cosmetologist or dermatologist should have a facial cleansing; care after the procedure may require the use of special formulations. They are recommended to be purchased only by an experienced master.

Recipes for steam baths

There are many recipes for preparing infusions used to maintain beauty:

1. Steam baths for oily skin (1 tablespoon of raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water):

• Chamomile + mint.
• Sage + coltsfoot + horsetail.
• Juniper berries, calendula, birch bark, chamomile.
• Oak bark, mint, chamomile, linden blossom.

Each decoction can be supplemented with 2-3 drops of essential oil. For oily skin, it is better to use tea tree, lavender, sage and pine.

A facial steam bath with baking soda has a beneficial effect: it perfectly softens pores, relieves inflammation, and fights peeling. In addition, after steaming, oily skin must be further cleansed. To do this, you need to use a tampon soaked in boiled water, dip it in soda and salt (preferably sea salt) and “walk” it along the massage lines all over your face, removing blackheads and cleansing the ducts of the sebaceous glands.

2. Steam baths for dry skin (the proportions are the same as in previous recipes):

• Chamomile + licorice + bay leaf.
• Orange zest + comfrey + rose + dandelion.
• Linden + hawthorn + sage.

3. Steam baths for normal skin:

• Bay leaf, marshmallow, cloves, fennel, rose, chamomile.

These herbs can be used either individually or in combination with each other (1 tablespoon per liter of water). You can give yourself additional pleasure from the procedure by adding essential oils of sandalwood, lavender or bergamot to the decoction.

4. Steam baths for combination skin:

The choice of herbs in this case depends on what type of skin you gravitate towards: if it is drier, then herbs should be chosen that are suitable for dry skin, if oily, then vice versa. Owners of the combined type can afford a steam bath once every ten days.

5. Steam baths for aging skin:

• Licorice, ginger, nettle, mint, eucalyptus, bay leaf.

Steam baths with the addition of cinnamon, fennel, and lemon zest are ideal for aging skin. You can also add rosemary or sage essential oils. The duration of the procedure should be no more than 5 minutes. Steam baths for aging skin should be done no more than once a month. Such procedures ensure that the skin is saturated with moisture, acquires elasticity and firmness, and fine wrinkles are smoothed out.

Recipes

Baths and face masks eliminate peeling and create a softening and healing effect. The most effective recipes:

• With sage for expression wrinkles. Ingredients: five drops of rosemary oil, 150 ml of sage decoction, which should be quite concentrated. The decoction is filtered and mixed with essential oil. Steam treatment time for leather is about ten minutes. Under the influence of hot air, the skin is saturated with natural ingredients, and the production of elastin is activated. After several procedures, the face is rejuvenated and looks refreshed.
• Steam facials for acne. Ingredients: chamomile flowers – 15 g, water – 1 liter, tea tree ether – 7–9 drops. Pour chamomile into a container, add water, boil for ten minutes, strain, add oil. The exposure time of the steam bath is 7–10 minutes. The procedure will help restore the condition of the epidermis, dry out ulcers, and normalize the secretion of glands.
• From blackheads. Ingredients: 20 g of yarrow and ½ liter of water. The herb is poured with boiling water and infused for about 3-5 minutes. Steam exposure time is 10–12 minutes. The procedure is effective in the fight against comedones, for softening sebaceous plugs, and removing impurities. A deep cleansing of the epidermis is performed.
• Steam bath to cleanse pores on the face. Ingredients: string and chamomile – 5 g each, tea rose ether – three drops, water – 300 ml. The herbs are crushed, poured with boiling water for 3–5 minutes, then floral essential oil is added. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes. After completing the steam cleaning, it is advisable to wipe your face with lemon juice. The procedure activates processes inside cells, tones and smoothes the skin. Helps restore a beautiful complexion and moisturizes the skin.
• To fight acne. Ingredients: 10 g of calendula, five drops of pine ether, half a liter of water. Calendula is brewed and essential oil is added. Exposure time is 3–5 minutes. Boric alcohol is used to wipe the face after the procedure. If you use such a sauna regularly, the development of pathogenic microorganisms is stopped and the healing of rashes is accelerated.
• For dry skin types. Ingredients: paraffin – 30 g, almond oil – 5 ml, lavender ether – two drops. The paraffin is heated in a water bath, the oils are mixed. First, a mixture of oils is applied to the skin, then paraffin is distributed with a spatula. The exposure time is half an hour. The procedure helps to quickly restore the skin, eliminate dryness, and smooth out wrinkles. It has an effective effect if the skin has lost its elasticity and often flakes. Helps eliminate irritation and relieve swelling.
• For oily skin. Ingredients: 10 g nettle, 5 g mint, orange and sandalwood oil - two drops each, water 300 ml. Essential oils are added to the brewed concentrated decoction. Exposure time is about 10 minutes. The skin is cleansed and toned, the functioning of the sebaceous glands is normalized, metabolic processes are improved, irritation and greasiness are eliminated.
• For normal skin type. Ingredients: elderberry 1 tbsp. l., parsley - 1 tsp, water - 200 ml, patchouli essential oil - three to four drops. Elderberry and parsley are crushed and poured with boiling water, brewed for fifteen minutes, then ether is added. Exposure time – 7 minutes. After the procedure, a moisturizing cream is applied to the skin. A steam bath is recommended to maintain freshness and rejuvenation, improve complexion and strengthen capillaries.
• For combination skin types. Ingredients: plantain and linden flowers – 5 g each, water – ½ l, bergamot ether – seven drops. The herbs are brewed and mixed with essential oil. The duration of the procedure is six to eight minutes. Helps perform emergency skin cleansing for rapid skin restoration and renewal. With the help of SPA sessions, you can remove comedones and solve the problem of enlarged pores.
• To achieve the desired effect when performing steam baths, it is advisable to use only natural ingredients. It is not recommended to add soda or alcohol-containing products to a mask or bath; they can harm the skin, especially if there are rashes or ulcers.

Thanks to facial care using steam, you can cleanse and heal the skin, making it tightened and fresh.

Reviews

How effective are facial steam baths? Reviews from women who have tried this procedure at least once indicate that the ladies have extremely positive impressions. If you believe the comments, using steam baths as regular care can completely get rid of existing problems. Just 5 minutes a month, and what an effect: skin is moisturized, elastic, firm, glowing with health and beauty!

Additional recommendations

Is it a pity to pour out the cooled broth? Then there is a great solution for you! The broth can be frozen in the form of cubes and used for daily morning washing. The beneficial effects will become noticeable after a week of use: the general condition of the skin of the face, neck and décolleté will improve, you will say goodbye to dark circles under the eyes and puffiness that appears after sleep. In addition, ice cubes will saturate the cells with moisture and increase elasticity. An additional “bonus” will be skin hardening: daily exposure to low temperatures expands the body’s functional reserves, improves immunity and enhances protective properties. Contraindications to such manipulation are: the cold season, the presence of a vascular “mesh” on the face, exacerbation of a skin disease, the presence of damage or abrasions on the skin, increased sensitivity, as well as colds. If there is at least one item from the list above, it is better to postpone the procedure.

Another great way to use the broth left after a steam bath is to rinse your hair with it. Any herbal decoction, regardless of its composition, will have a beneficial effect. It is only necessary after washing and applying the balm to rinse your hair and dry it in the usual way, in the air or using a hair dryer. With regular use of herbal decoctions, your hair will be filled with strength and moisture. Rinses are a great option for those who want to grow their hair in a short time. Thanks to this, they will become obedient, well-groomed, and will cut less hair. Herbs will also relieve problems such as itchy scalp, excessive oiliness, and dandruff.

It would seem so easy and simple to take care of yourself! Any herbs are available today, available for sale in every pharmacy, and the procedures themselves do not take much time and effort. All you need is desire - and your skin and hair will be filled with health, will attract the admiring glances of men, and will arouse the envy of women. Love yourself, take time, take care of yourself - and the result will not keep you waiting!

Indications for using a steam sauna for the face

They make up an impressive list:

• The need to cleanse the skin of the face;
• The presence of sebaceous plugs that clog pores and subsequently cause inflammatory processes on the skin;
• Accumulation of dead skin cells on the skin;
• The need to prepare the skin for various cosmetic procedures - for example, applying cream, face mask, etc.;
• The appearance of inflammation, irritation, redness on the skin;
• Deterioration of blood flow in the skin tissues of the face;
• Unhealthy skin color;
• Impaired ability of the epidermis to regenerate;
• Accumulation of toxins and other harmful substances in the skin layers.

Steam sauna for the face: results from use

If you have sensitive skin, you should not overuse facial steam sauna treatments.

These are not all the caveats that need to be taken into account.

There are the following contraindications to the use of the device:

• Pores are too wide;
• The proximity of blood vessels to the surface of the skin, their expansion;
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• Presence of bronchial asthma;
• Cuperosis.