Everything You Need To Know About At-Home Facial Steaming

We know that steam is a nightmare for your hair, a life-saver for your wrinkled shirt, and a great cure for sore post-gym muscles. But what about your skin? With more at-home facial steamers popping up on the market, it’s tempting to hop on the bandwagon. But when, how and why should we be using them?

What are the benefits of facial steaming?

We’re not talking about a bowl full of Olbas oil and a towel over your head here, this facial steaming uses the power of a machine pumping out hot steam as part of an at-home facial process. Celebrity facialist Joanne Evans uses steaming as a key part of her in-clinic treatments. ‘It helps to gently warm the skin, dilating the pores to aid cleaning’, she says, telling us it’s key for her before the extraction process (getting the dirt out of those pesky pores). ‘It also boosts blood circulation, releases toxins, and penetrates the products deeper into the skin’, she adds.

Skin expert Michaella Bolder is also a huge fan. 'Facial steaming is the only way to full open pores, with the heat and moisture making them expand', she says, 'The bonus to this is you can really deeply clean the skin and work cleansing oils or balms, exfoliating products, masks and oils into the skin further than you would if it was at its usual temperature with closed and stable pores.' The result, she says, is perfectly clean and polished skin 'awaiting a surge of hydration that the skin will drink immediately before the skin cools and the pores tighten'. Sold.

What are the biggest misconceptions around facial steaming?

‘Some people believe that it damages and agitates the skin’, says Joanne, ‘or that it enlarges the pores long term’. Done correctly, she tells us, neither of these should be an issue. ‘If you do have sensitive skin, or are prone to broken capillaries then start slowly (only for a short time) and wear a barrier mask to protect the skin’, she suggests.

What are the risks when it comes to trying facial steaming yourself?

Having the steamer too close or too hot can cause capillaries to break, and, post-steam, people have a tendency to get over-zealous about extractions, which can cause scarring if not done properly. ‘If you're worried or a first timer, I suggest booking an appointment with a specialist first’, advises Joanne, ‘to ensure the correct treatment and advise on how you can upkeep yourself’.

How should you use a facial steamer at home?

Firstly, read the instructions on your device carefully. Then maybe read them again. Each steamer will differ in power and temperature so will have different guidelines on positioning and duration of use. Joanne recommends steaming after cleansing, no more than once a week, and to follow it with a mask and moisturiser to get hydration deep into the skin.

The new steamers on the market can ensure you get the deepest clean possible, and enable your products to work even more efficiently, boosting your at-home facial to new heights.