Facial steamer FAQs:

What are the benefits of facial steaming?

Steaming your face helps to soften all the oil and dirt that’s been sitting inside your pores, making it much easier to extract any blackheads and unclog your pores. Steam will allow your pores to open up, which loosens the build-up of dirt.

Hotter skin will also become more receptive to the skincare products you apply on top, so your skincare routine will be levelled-up. Your facial serum, moisturiser and eye cream will be more effective, because products work more effectively on a clean surface, and the active ingredients within them can be penetrated deeper into the skin.

And that’s not all: warm steam helps to dilate blood vessels and increase circulation which helps skin appear plumper.

Oh, and the benefits of facial steaming aren’t just skin deep. Steaming is good for your mental health and physical health, too, allowing you to switch off after a long day (grab yourself an essential oil diffuser while you’re at it) and banish sinus congestion.

How long can I steam my face for?

Hitting the sweet spot is key when it comes to facial steaming. Sure, you can’t argue with the wealth of benefits – but steam your face for too long, and things won’t be so rosey. Steaming your face for too long will cause skin to dry out… which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid.

Ten minutes once a week is widely regarded as a good amount of time to steam your face for. Twice a week at the most.

Cleanse before you steam your face, then after facial steaming, use your favourite cleanser once more to remove any dirt that might be sitting on the surface of your skin after being drawn out. Then, apply your favourite retinol serum, hyaluronic acid serum and moisturiser – but do it within 60 seconds, before the steam starts to evaporate from your face.

Are facial steamers safe to use?

Generally, yes, as long as you use the facial steamer as instructed and don’t go over the recommended steaming time. However, anyone who suffers from rosacea or eczema should avoid facial steaming altogether. It can trigger redness and sensitivity.

Facial steamer vs. hot towel: What’s the difference?

This is an old school method of facial steaming, and hanging your skin over a boiling hot bowl of water won’t do any favours. Why? As experts and dermatologists will tell you, the temperature of the water and the resulting hot steam is likely far too high for your precious skin to take. It’s also far too easy to steam your skin for too long, especially if you doze off while hanging there. The best facial steamers come with timers so you can steam for just the right amount of time. There’s also the fact that facial steamers emit nano-sized steam particles that are rich in negative ions that penetrate the skin more effectively than regular steam.