Healthy, well-groomed facial skin is the key to success and a "visiting card" of not only women, but also men. However, this is a serious work: to achieve a really good result, daily washing and applying cream for the night can not do. A steam facial bath is an inexpensive, affordable skin care procedure for everyone, the result of which will not be long in coming. Details are in the article.
What is a steam bath useful for?
Even infrequent procedures (once a month is enough) can beneficially affect the skin:
- Blood circulation improves.
- Pores open and clean: the dirt and toxins collected in them are removed to the surface.
- The skin becomes smooth, soft and moisturized.
- The complexion improves due to oxygen saturation and improved metabolism.
- The sebaceous and sweat glands are activated.
Contraindications
Steam bath for the face is contraindicated in persons:
- Hypertensive patients.
- Asthmatics.
- Having inflammation and infection on the face.
- With reinforced hair on the steam exposure area.
- With dilated pores and blood vessels on the skin.
What herbs are used for steam baths?
Steam itself has a healing effect on the skin, and if supplemented with herbal decoction, the effectiveness of this procedure will increase several times. For these purposes are used:
- Bay leaf - such a steam bath for the face will give the skin firmness and elasticity, increase blood circulation.
- Licorice - removes toxins.
- Celandine - is widely used in steam baths for face acne. It fights well with inflammation, acne, age spots, relieves the skin from herpetic eruptions.
- Plantain - has a tonic and soothing effect.
- Wormwood - bitter grass will relieve acne, black spots, blackheads, dermatitis, rashes, and also cope with small wrinkles.
- Burdock - perfectly disinfects, opens and cleanses pores.
- Chamomile is an excellent choice for dry skin. A face steam bath with chamomile will cleanse the pores, soothe irritations, relieve inflammation and have a rejuvenating effect.
- Calendula - ideal for owners of oily, problem skin. It has a powerful bactericidal property, dries inflammation and heals wounds.
- Oregano - perfectly cleanses and tones.
Steam facial baths at home
In order to be a beautiful owner of radiant skin health, it is not at all necessary to visit beauty salons. A steam bath is available to you at home.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to cleanse the skin of the face, be sure to apply a greasy cream, paying attention to the eyelids and the area around the eyes. For your convenience, it’s better to put 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 a wide refractory cup. In a suitable dish, bring a liter and a half decoction to a boil (herbs should be selected depending on the desired effect), remove from heat and let stand for a minute or two (immediately after boiling, the steam is too hot and will damage the skin). After holding the set 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 type of skin, but more on that later.
Follow-up care
What to do after a steam bath for the face? After the procedure, you need to wash yourself with water at room temperature, gently pat your face with a napkin. After 15-20 minutes, it is recommended to apply a normal care cream or a nourishing mask. Owners of oily, problem skin are recommended to continue cleansing: for this, you can use a scrub, a spoon of Uno or a mixture of soda + salt. After a steam bath, the pores of the face are enlarged, and the dirt and grease contained in them can be easily removed. Such regular cleaning is able to once and for all get rid of deep pollution, give the skin cleanliness, freshness, even color and health.
Precautions: going out immediately after the steam bath is extremely undesirable, as this can provoke excessive pollution and, as a result, the inflammatory process. It is best to make it a rule to perform this procedure before bedtime. It is possible at other times, the main thing is that you have the opportunity to lie down for 20 minutes after the procedure.
Duration and frequency of procedures
The duration of the session depends on the type of skin:
- Dry skin - steam baths are not recommended. It is allowed, if necessary, to carry out the procedure no more than once every two months. Session duration - no more than 3 minutes.
- Normal skin - a steam bath can be done once a month, the duration is about 5 minutes.
- Oily skin - not more than twice a month, the duration of the procedure is 8-10 minutes.
Recipes for bath formulations
There are many recipes for making infusions that are used to maintain beauty:
1. Steam baths for oily skin (1 tbsp. L. Raw materials per 1 liter of boiling water):
- Chamomile + mint.
- Sage + coltsfoot + horsetail.
- Juniper berries, calendula, birch bark, chamomile.
- Oak bark, mint, chamomile, lime blossom.
Each broth can be supplemented with 2-3 drops of essential oil. For oily skin, it is better to use tea tree, lavender, sage and pine.
The steam bath for the face with soda has a beneficial effect: it perfectly softens the pores, relieves inflammation, and struggles with peeling. In addition, after steaming, oily skin must be further cleaned. To do this, you need to use a swab dipped in boiled water, soak it in soda and salt (preferably sea salt), and “massage” it along the entire face along the massage lines, removing black spots, 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 peel + comfrey + rose + dandelion.
- Linden + hawthorn + sage.
3. Steam baths for normal skin:
- Bay leaf, marshmallow, cloves, fennel, rose, chamomile.
These herbs can be used both individually and in combination with each other (1 tbsp. Per liter of water). You can give yourself additional pleasure from the procedure by adding essential oils of sandalwood, lavender or bergamot to the broth.
4. Steam baths for combination skin:
The choice of herbs in this case depends on what type your skin gravitates to: if it is drier, then herbs should be chosen suitable for dry skin, if oily, then vice versa. Owners of the combined type can afford a steam bath every ten days.
5. Steam baths for aging skin:
- Licorice, ginger, nettle, mint, eucalyptus, bay leaf.
For aging skin, steam baths with the addition of cinnamon, fennel, lemon peel are ideal. You can add rosemary or sage essential oils. The duration of the procedure should be no more than 5 minutes. Do steam baths for aging skin should be no more than once a month. Such procedures contribute to the fact that the skin is saturated with moisture, acquires elasticity and firmness, and small wrinkles are smoothed out.
Reviews
How effective are steam baths for the face? Reviews of women who have at least once tried this procedure on themselves, indicate the presence of ladies exclusively positive impressions. If you believe the comments, the use of steam baths as a regular care can completely eliminate the existing problems. Only 5 minutes per month, and what effect: the skin is moisturized, supple, supple, glowing with health and beauty!
Additional recommendations
Sorry to pour 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 effect 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 cells with moisture and increase elasticity. An additional "bonus" will be hardening of the skin: daily exposure to low temperature expands the functional reserves of the body, increases immunity and enhances protective properties. Contraindications to such manipulations are: the cold season, the presence of a vascular "mesh" on the face, exacerbation of a skin disease, the presence of lesions or abrasions on the skin, hypersensitivity, and also colds. If there is at least one item from the above list, it is better to postpone the procedure.
Another great way to use the broth left after the steam bath is to rinse his hair. Any herbal decoction, regardless of its composition, will have a beneficial effect. It is only necessary after washing and applying the balm to rinse the hair and dry it in the usual way, in the air or with a hairdryer. With regular use of herbal decoctions, the hair will be filled with strength and moisture. Rinsing is a great option for those who want to grow hair in a short time. Due to this, they will become obedient, well-groomed, will be cut less. Herbs will also relieve problems such as itching of the scalp, excessive greasiness, and dandruff.
It would seem so easy and simple to take care of yourself! Any herbs are available today, are available in every pharmacy, and the procedures themselves will not take much time and effort. Only desire is necessary - and your skin and hair will be filled with health, they will attract the admiring glances of men, will cause the envy of women. Love yourself, take time, take care of yourself - and the result will not be long in coming!