There are so many products and remedies that are reported to draw out the toxins and impurities from your pores but a natural way you could achieve this is by using steam for acne.

I’m all for natural substitutes for unclogging pores if they give the same effect as chemical based ones.

Basically a facial steam is a sauna for the face. It is a great way to hydrate, detox and nourish the skin. They are not complicated to do or hard to apply to your skin care regime.

Let’s take a look at what steaming your face can achieve for your acne condition …

The main benefit of using steam is that it opens the pores allowing the flow of sweat to flush out the toxins from the skin. And since sweat contains salt, a bacteria fighting product, it will help to kill some of the bad bacteria that is causing your acne.

Do I cleanse skin before or after steaming?

To get the most benefit from this method it is best to cleanse both before and after steaming. Cleaning before ensures that the skin is clear of make up and impurities meaning the steam can get straight to work.

The steam itself will help in the removal process, but it’s always better to give it a helping hand.

It is also advised to cleanse after using steam for acne because the warm water softens the skin. This means that it’s easier to cleanse away dead skin cells and is thus more effective.

How Often Do I Use Steam For Acne?

Steaming should be carried out two or three times a week as a home remedy. If you do it anymore than that your skin will probably become dry and your body will compensate  by producing more oil which can clog pores and cause more problems …

… definitely don’t want that!

We’re trying to get rid of the pimple beasts not encourage more to set up home on our faces.

Adding Essential Oils To The Water

When I first started using steam for acne I just used water,but after some research I came across the benefits of adding some essential oils.

Essential oils are very powerful and just a few drops to your facial steam is all that is needed for you to benefit from their healing properties.

It’s totally up to you whether you add them or not … perhaps try certain oils suitable for your skin type and see how it goes.

You can always just go back to using water if you don’t find essential oils help.

I find the oils penetrate the skin and help with healing … and of course they smell nice too!

Depending on your skin type, there are certain oils that are best to use for that particular type.

Normal skin

If you’re steaming your face it’s best to use mandarin or lavender oil for normal skin.

Steam For Acne Oily skin

Oily skin types have good results with lemon or eucalyptus oil.

Dry skin

If you have dry skin, it responds well to steaming with rose or chamomile essential oils added to the water.

Here are some popular facial steam solutions.

Peppermint Rosemary Facial Steam

Ingredients

1 gallon (3785ml) of water
4 drops of peppermint essential oil
4 drops of rosemary essential oil

- Pour the water into a large bowl and wait until it cools down a bit … I tried steaming my face when it was too hot and my chin was stinging and my face was blotchy for a while … obviously you want to avoid that!

- Add the oils

- Then you’re ready to steam your face with a towel over your head for around ten minutes.

- Gently pat your skin dry when you’re finished.

- Peppermint is an emollient. It smoothes and soothes the skin. It is also a great antiseptic.

- Rosemary is a muscle relaxant.

Tip: This facial steam also clears sinuses and alleviates headache – 3 problems sorted at once!

Lavender Cleanser for Clogged Pores

Ingredients

1 gallon of almost boiling water
6 drops of lavender essential oil

- To an almost boiling water, add lavender essential oil
- Hold the face over the bowl with a towel covering the head
- Stay like that for 10 minutes
- Pat dry

Lavender is a muscle relaxant, soothing agent, conditioner and astringent.

Tea Tree Oil Facial Steam

Add 4-5 drops of tea tree oil into a gallon of hot, boiling water .. that’s all for this solution.

Tea tree oil is a potent antiseptic, it prevents and heals infections. This facial steam is ideal for oily, acne prone skin.

Pore cleansers will help the clogged pores open, but will leave them vulnerable to additional dirt getting in.

To close pores, you can go ahead an apply an astringent mask that will close the pores or use a facial toners which also close the pores.

Acne Facial Steam

2 drops of lemon oil
1/2 cup chamomile herb

1 drop lavender oil

Oily Skin Steam

2 drops lemon oil
1/2 cup rosemary herb
1 drop bergamot oil