My best friend, Kendall, obsesses over her skin.  She moisturizes, exfoliates, and extracts meticulously in order to keep her skin glowing.  However, Kendall also does something to her skin that I had never heard of before: she steams.  No joke, she has a little steamer that she puts her face into.  When she told me this, I was skeptical.  I knew that steam opened your pores, but I did not think that it could possibly benefit my skin.

However, after some research I realized that steaming your skin is a primeval practice dating all the way back to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans.  At about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, steam will make you sweat thus adding moisture and cleansing your skin of impurities.  In some cases, steaming can help in treating acne and preventing future breakouts.  Plus, steaming encourages blood flow which promotes beautiful, healthy skin.

When treated for a spa facial, steaming is an essential part of the process.  However, if you do not have the time (or the coin) to hit up the spa, you can still get the benefits of steaming in the comfort of your own home.

All you need is a pot, a stove, a towel and some water and you are ready to steam.   Just fill the pot with water about a quarter of the way, set it on the stove, and wait for the water to come to a boil.  In no time the pot will then begin to steam.  Carefully stand about a foot or so away from the steam (you don’t want to burn your face!) and then use a towel to contain the steam.   Only expose your skin to the steam for ten minutes at the most.  The skin on your face is extremely sensitive and over steaming can cause more harm than good.  Once you are done steaming, run a hand towel under cold water.  Then proceed to press the towel to your face. By doing so, you will close up your pores so that they are no longer susceptible to the toxins in your environment.

Lastly, remember to only steam your skin twice a week at the most.  Over steaming can cause the delicate blood vessels in your face to become inflamed. Inflammation will only leave your skin looking red and blotchy.

Will you try steaming over the long weekend? Comment below and let me know what you want me to write about next!