How to Do a Steam Facial

Co-authored by R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH

Last Updated: October 22, 2022 References Approved

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a DIY facial after a long, stressful day, and using steam can take your facials to a whole new level. Steam helps open up your pores so it’s easier to draw out impurities and deliver your skincare products deeper into your skin. The steps below will walk you through how to do your own steam facial right at home.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Full Facial

1
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. You only need a few cups of water to do a proper steam. Boil the water on the stove or in the microwave.^{[1]
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2
Wash your face. While the water is heating, wash your face to remove makeup and dirt. Use a gentle face cleanser and warm water. Removing makeup and dirt is a must before steaming, because steaming opens up your pores, and anything on your face will be able to get inside and cause irritation or pimples to occur. ^{[2]
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Research source} If you have especially sensitive or dry skin, it might be prudent to reduce the chance of experiencing irritation by forgoing exfoliation and opting for a gentler technique.
- After washing your face, pat it dry with a towel.^{[3]
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Tip: Gently exfoliating your skin before steaming can help strip away excess oil and grime.

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3
Pour the water into a bowl. Pour it into a glass or ceramic bowl resting on a folded towel or two. Part of the facial experience is to add some beauty to your day, so if you have a pretty bowl on hand, use that one! If you're in a hurry, you can also just use the pot you boiled the water in.
4
Add herbs or essential oils. You don't have to add anything to your steam, but to make it truly special you can add some fresh or dried herbs or essential oils that will release beneficial aromas.^{[4]
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Research source} An herbal teabag will also do the trick! Try the following herbs and oils to enhance your steam:^{[5]
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- Use lemongrass or peppermint for an energizing steam.
- Use chamomile or lavender for a relaxing steam.
- Use peppermint or eucalyptus for a cold-conquering steam.
- Use sandalwood or bergamot for a stress-relieving steam.
5
Hold your face over the steaming water. Drape a towel over your head so that it creates a sort of tent over your face, and hold your face over the water. Keep your face over the steam for about 10 minutes. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, allowing the heat to awaken your face and open your pores.
- Don't steam your face for too long, or get too close to the hot water. The heat can cause inflammation if exposure is too high.^{[6]
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6
Smooth a mask over your face. The next step is to use a mask to pull the impurities from your now-open pores. A clay mask works well if you have one on hand.^{[7]
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Research source} Mix the clay with some water and smooth it over your face. Let it sit on your face for about 15 minutes before gently rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
- If you don't wish to do a mask, just rinse your face in fresh water after you're finished steaming it.
Tip: Instead of a clay mask, you can use plain honey to achieve the same effect.
7
Use a toner to close your pores. Time to close up your pores again! Do this so that after your facial, dirt doesn't get into your pores. Using a toner after steaming will help your face look toned and fresh. Use a cotton ball to apply the toner of your choice to your nose, forehead, cheeks and chin.^{[8]
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- You can also use lemon juice as a toner. Try this on a small area of skin prior to using on your whole face, some individuals may be more sensitive to this than others.
Tip: Apple cider vinegar makes a great natural toner - try it out!^{[9]
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Moisturize your face. The final step in your facial is to apply a moisturizer to keep your face hydrated. Steaming it can actually dry it out, so this is an important step. Smooth on your favorite moisturizer, or try a face-softening oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or argan oil.^{[10]
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Research source} Pay attention to the ingredients on oils to verify that they natural and have no harsh chemical additives.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Doing a Quick Steam

1
Turn on the hot water in your shower. Leave it running until it's very hot and you see and feel steam. This method will steam more than your face - you'll get a full-body steam treatment.
2
Rinse your face while it heats. Just like you would for a full-fledged facial steam, it's a good idea to cleanse your face of dirt and makeup before you begin steaming it.
3
Stand with your face in or close to the steam for about 5 minutes. There's no need to use a towel to direct the steam to your face, since you'll be standing a column of steam trapped in by the sides of your shower. Let your face steam for about five minutes, then turn the heat down to a milder temperature to finish your shower.
4
Put on a mask while you finish your shower. To enhance the results, you can use a drugstore face mask or a scoop of raw honey to cleanse your pores while you're finishing up your shower.^{[11]
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Research source} Put it on after you finish steaming your face, then rinse it off at the end of your shower.
5
Apply toner and moisturizer. When you finish your shower, pat your skin dry and apply toner, then moisturizer to your face. You might want to apply moisturizer to the rest of your body, too, since the hot steam can cause your skin to dry out.

Expert Q&A

Question

How should I prepare for a steam facial?

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. R. Sonia Batra is a board certified Dermatologist and the Founder of Batra Dermatology based in Los Angeles, California. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Batra specializes in lasers, medical devices, patient and public medical education, and skin cancer research. She received her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in Public Health, and her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees from Harvard University. As a Rhodes Scholar, she earned a Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Oxford. She completed her residency training in Dermatology at Stanford University. Dr. Batra has contributed and reviewed for the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and JAMA Dermatology. She is also a co-host of CBS’ Emmy award-winning television show, The Doctors.

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Hold off on using any products that contain retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids for at least three or four days before you do a steam facial. Those ingredients are good for treating acne, but they can sensitize your skin and make it a little bit more inflamed when combined with steam.
Question

Will this reduce pimples and oil on my face?

Celina Larraine Mack

Community Answer

Yes. Steam opens the pore; the clay mask helps pull impurities out of your skin; and the toner, lemon or honey closes the pore. A good weekly routine of this process, eating right, and drinking plenty of water should help pimples. Remember to use clean makeup brushes as well.
Question

Can I do a steam facial daily?

Community Answer

You can, but I don't do it more than a couple of times a week. If you take hot showers daily, your face will already get a steam facial of a simple sort. Too much of a good thing isn't good!

Warnings

During/after steaming all the underground bacteria will be brought to the surface of your skin, so do not panic if it looks worse. Blemishes might be more noticeable for up to an hour after patting dry. Just apply a spot treatment for now.

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