The unexpected skincare benefits of facial steamers

Ever come out of a steam room, looked in the mirror and been pleasantly suprised to see an undeniable glow to your complexion?

While you might be making use of the steam room for it's relaxation and post-workout benefits, they can also be great for your skin. 

Although we're not all lucky enough to have access to a steam room every week, we can still reap the skin care benefits with an at-home face steamer.

If you've ever wondered why your skin looks so good post-steam, or you're thinking of giving it a crack, these are the six main skin care benefits you can expect...

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Increases circulation 

When your skin sweats, your blood vessels dilate so more blood can flow into the area, in turn delivering more oxygen to the skin tissue. This helps to revive dull, lacklustre skin and leaves you looking rosy and glowing. 

Detoxifies skin

If you live in the city, your skin is probably dying for a good detox. 'Sweating out toxins'  sounds like pseudo-science BS, but there is actually some truth to it. When you sweat, dead skin cells and, anything else that's stuck in your pores rise to the surface, giving the skin a deeper cleanse than usual. You'd be suprised (and frankly, disgusted) by the amount of gunk that gets trapped in your face just by living your daily life, so by giving your face a deep clean with a steamer you will help clarify your complexion.

Softens skin 

Dead skin can make you look a little dull. As we get older, our cellular turnover slows down and we need a bit of assistance - this is where face steamers come in. Face steamers provide exfoliation benefits by helping us shed dead skin cells, leaving our skin soft and plump. 

Kills acne-causing bacteria 

When your pores open up, it pushes bacteria that's clogged in them to the surface. Clogged pores are a major contributer to acne, so by doing a face steam once or twice a week you can help get rid of the germs that cause pimples and nip any future breakouts in the bud. 

Increases effectiveness of skin care products

After you've finished steaming, get straight into the rest of your skincare routine. As your pores have opened up during the steam, your skincare products will be able to penetrate deeper and provide better results. Make sure you slather on extra-hydrating serums and oils to replenish any moisture lost during the steam. 

bh loves: Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum, Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum, Nimue Super Hydrating Serum, Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil - Face, Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil, Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil - Dehydrated Skin 

Relax and unwind

Had a tough day? Mix in a couple drops of a relaxing essential oil with your steamer for a premium at-home spa experience. Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your complexion, so taking a few minutes to chill out and breath in some calming essential oils can help you to unwind and properly de-stress. 

bh loves: endota spa Signature Blend Essential Oil, Buckley & Phillips Meditation Essential Oil Blend, Raww Lavender Pure Essential Oil

Have you tried a face steamer before?

Main image credit: @desiperkins via @vanityplanet