Steaming your face is a fantastic practice that helps to clear out your pores, hydrate your skin, and improve texture. You can add different additives to your steam to target your individual needs, like balancing your oil or reducing breakouts.
When you’re done steaming your face, the work doesn’t end there. To maximize the benefits of facial steaming, a proper aftercare routine is important.
What should you do after steaming your face? The answer depends on your skin type and your goals. At the very least, you’ll want to apply a good moisturizer to lock in the hydration and prevent your face from drying out.
You can take additional steps to improve your skin’s texture, like using a mask, exfoliating, or using special serums.
In this article, we’ll go over the best post-steaming practices for each skin type so that you can get the most out of this wonderful practice.
For Normal Or Combo Skin
If you have normal or combination skin, you’re in luck. This skin type requires the least maintenance.
To find out if you have normal or combo skin, pay attention to how your skin behaves a few hours after you’ve rinsed it, provided that you don’t apply any product. If your skin doesn’t feel tight or dry and has normal oil production (not too shiny) in the t-zone, you probably have normal/combo skin.
If you have an oily t-zone and light dryness on other parts of your face, like your cheeks or jawline, this could also mean you have combination skin.
If this sounds like you, the best thing you can do after steaming your face is:
- Exfoliate
- Rinse with cool water
- Apply a moisturizer
Exfoliating will help get rid of any of the dead skin cells and excess oil that steaming cleared out of your pores. This will “finish” the job that steaming started and help your start off with a clean slate.
We recommend using a gentle exfoliator that isn’t too rough or harsh on the skin. You can either use a physical exfoliator or a chemical one, as long as they are gentle.
After you’re done exfoliating your skin, rinse everything off with cool water. Not only will this feel great after steaming, but it will also help tighten your pores and calm your skin.
Lastly, we always advise you to seal everything in with a good moisturizer. Steaming your face brings additional hydration to your skin, but if you don’t seal it in, it can lead to dryness, especially in the parts of your face that don’t get a lot of oil naturally.
For Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, steaming your face can help balance out your oil production, but don’t stop there. A good after-care routine will help your face remain balanced longer and prevent unwanted breakouts.
To find out if you have oily skin, cleanse it in the morning and don’t apply any products for a few hours. After that, you can put a thin tissue to your face and check to see if any visible oil has transferred to it.
You can also use your phone to do this test – simply bring it to your cheek as if you’re talking to someone on the phone. If your face leaves an oily imprint on the screen, you probably have oily skin.
Other signs to look for: face looking shiny unless you use mattifying powders or foundations, frequent breakouts in the t-zone, clogged pores, and almost no issues with dry or flaky skin.
If this sounds like you, your post-steaming routine should consist of the following steps:
- Rinse with cool water
- Use a gentle toner with glycolic acid
- Use a serum with niacinamide
- Apply a lightweight gel moisturizer
Rinsing with cool water immediately after steaming your face is going to feel great! It will also help close your pores now that all the gunk has been steamed out of them.
The next step is optional, but we highly recommend using a toner that contains glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliator that also helps control oil and prevents acne. It’s a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) so it helps remove some leftover dead skin cells and balances your oil production.
Once you’ve applied that, you can also use a light serum containing niacinamide. It’s a form of Vitamin B3 that is gentle enough to use on most skin types. Niacinamide also regulates oil and helps shrink pores.
If you don’t want to use a serum, you could also just find a moisturizer that contains niacinamide – it’s a common ingredient in many moisturizers.
This brings us to our next step. Moisturize! Don’t make the mistake of believing that oily skin doesn’t need additional moisture – it does. In fact, properly hydrated skin tends to produce less oil.
For oily skin, we recommend using a lightweight moisturizer that won’t clog pores or add oiliness. Gel moisturizers containing aloe vera are a great option.
For Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, it’s imperative that you properly hydrate and lock moisture in after steaming your face. While steaming is hydrating and healing, it can dry you out if you don’t take additional steps.
How do you know if you have dry skin? Perform the same test we described above- cleanse your face in the morning and don’t put any product on afterwards. Wait a couple of hours.
If your face feels tight and dry, and there is no visible or noticeable oil production – you probably have dry skin. If you often suffer from dry patches, flakiness, or a tight sensation, you most likely have a dry skin type.
Here’s what you should do after steaming your face if you have dry skin:
- Apply a rich face mask
- Use a serum containing hyaluronic acid
- Apply a thick moisturizer
The first step is to replenish some of the moisture that may have gotten steamed out of your face. For that, we recommend using a face mask. Since you’re already pampering your skin with a facial steam, a face mask will feel like an extra self-care step.
You can either use a sheet mask or a mask from a tub. Just make sure it’s hydrating – avoid clay masks. Look for ingredients like shea butter, honey, oils, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
Once you wash your mask off, boost hydration by applying a serum that contains hyaluronic acid. This ingredient attracts water molecules into your skin and boosts your skin’s natural hydration.
Lastly, seal everything in with a rich creamy moisturizer. You can skip the previous step if your moisturizer already contains hyaluronic acid. Look for a thick and goopy moisturizer with ceramides and hydrating ingredients.
For Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin requires extra TLC after steaming because the heat can irritate it. Although steaming your face can have a calming effect on your skin, the immediate aftermath of steaming can leave you feeling red and blotchy.
If you have sensitive skin, you probably already know it. Sensitive skin tends to react to a lot of different products, become red easily, and show signs of dryness in some spots. You might feel irritated when using certain products, and even temperature changes can affect the color and texture of your skin.
Because of this, you want to be very careful about what products you use after steaming your face. Your skin will already be vulnerable, so your goal is to calm it down and seal in the moisture.
Here’s what we recommend doing after steaming your face if you have sensitive skin:
- Rinse your face with cool water and a gentle cleanser
- Moisturize with a gentle moisturizer
For sensitive skin, it’s best to keep things simple. First, you’ll want to rinse your face with cool water. This will help calm it down and bring the temperature back to normal.
We also recommend using a little bit of cleanser as you rinse your face. This is important to ensure that none of the ingredients from your steam water settle into your skin and cause a reaction on your face.
Once you’ve cleansed your face, use a gentle moisturizer to lock the hydration in. We recommend using a product that you know and trust. Sensitive skin needs simple ingredients, so aim for something that contains no fragrances, parabens, or active ingredients.
If you’re noticing a lot of redness post-steam, try a moisturizer that contains calming ingredients, chamomile, to soothe and soften your skin.
For Congested Skin
Congested skin is skin that is prone to breakouts and acne. A lot of times, congested skin and oily skin go hand in hand because oily skin is the one most likely to have congestion. However, it’s possible for you to have congestion with every skin type.
You’ll know if you have congested skin if you have a lot of bumps, clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and cystic acne.
You might benefit from a congestion-focused routine after you steam your face. Steaming can really help open up your pores and release some of the gunk, which can really improve your texture.
Here are some additional steps you can take after steaming to target your congestion:
- Use a comedone extractor
- Exfoliate
- Use a salicylic acid serum
- Apply a lightweight moisturizer
Immediately after your facial steam is a perfect time to carefully extract some of the bumps on your skin. Your pores will be nice and open, and you’ll have an easier time removing some of the gunk safely.
We urge you to use a comedone extractor – a special tool that helps you “squeeze” your pimples in a safe and gentle manner. Never use your hands, and always sanitize your tools before doing this.
Apply the comedone extractor to whiteheads that are close to the surface, and don’t push too hard if they’re being stubborn.
Once you’ve done that, gently exfoliate your skin to remove any leftover grime, skin cells, and sebum. You can use a physical exfoliator or a chemical one, just make sure it’s gentle enough to use on your skin.
Next, you can use a serum or moisturizer containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid reduces redness and gets rid of swelling and irritation. It helps further unclog your pores and remove sebum from them. It works well for most skin types because it doesn’t dry out your skin or cause irritation.
Lastly, never go without a moisturizer when steaming your face. Apply a lightweight mositurizer. Some moisturizers contain salicylic acid, so you might be able to combine two steps into one.
Otherwise, try to select a moisturizer that works well for your skin type. If you are on the oilier side – stick with something light and gel-based. If you have dry skin, go for something thicker and more nourishing.
What Are The Benefits Of Face Steaming?
If you haven’t tried steaming your face yet, you might be wondering what all the hype is about. Well, it turns out there are a lot of benefits from face steaming regardless of your skin type.
Face steaming is a lot like going to the spa or a sauna. It’s a treatment that you can do once a week that boosts the appearance of your skin and targets specific concerns.
Here are some of the most common benefits of face steaming:
- Hydrates the skin
- Opens up and unclogs pores
- Softens the skin
- Promotes circulation
- Boosts exfoliation and looses the bonds holding on to dead skin cells
- Helps absorb skincare products better
That last point is the main reason that following up with the right aftercare is important. You increase the benefits of facial steaming by applying healing products immediately after.
These products have a bigger impact if your skin has just been steamed because your skin absorbs them better.
If you do one thing after steaming, it should be applying a moisturizer. Steaming does a great job of hydrating your skin, but in order to keep that hydration in, a good moisturizer is imperative.
How Often Should I Steam My Face?
You should not steam your face every day. We recommend steaming your face once a week for the best results. Your mileage may vary depending on your skin type.
Oily skin might be able to tolerate steaming twice a week, whereas sensitive skin might need to go a couple of weeks before steaming.
Pay attention to how your skin feels and trust your gut.
What Should I Do Before Steaming My Face?
We talked a lot about the best practices for after-steaming, but is there anything you should do before you steam your face?
The most important thing to do before steaming your face is to wash and cleanse it. You want to steam your face when there is no makeup or dirt on it. Steaming your face can open up your pores, and you don’t want any dirt to get into them, right?
So start with a fresh face. Make sure that you don’t use any harsh cleansers and don’t rub your skin too hard prior to steaming. You also want to make sure that your skin doesn’t have any open cuts on it. Basically, make sure your skin is healthy and clean before you subject it to 10-15 minutes of steam.
Final Thoughts
Steaming your face comes with a lot of benefits like hydrating and softening your skin. To take advantage of this treatment and maximize its effects, we recommend following it with a good after-care routine. We hope this post helps you find the best routine for your skin type.
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