5 ways steam works wonders for your beauty

This inexpensive beauty treatment can give you healthy hair and glowing skin.

By: Kriti Saraswat | | Updated: March 19, 2015 10:26 am

When water is boiled for a few minutes, it turns into vapour or steam. These fumes are extremely beneficial for your beauty and are often used in salons for hair and skin treatments. The good thing is, you can make use of steam right at home and give yourself a mini beauty makeover in an inexpensive way. Here’s how steam benefits your hair and skin.

Gets rid of blackheads and whiteheads

If you’ve got a clean-up done anytime, you will be familiar with the process where steam is given on the face and then blackheads and whiteheads are extracted. This is because steam helps open the pores which makes it easier to extract them and prevent new ones from forming on your skin. it loosens the blackheads and whiteheads. Here’s how you can do this at home.

Steps:

Wash your face with a cleanser and then boil water in a steamer. Once the fumes start coming out, cover your head with a towel and let the steam come on your face.
Keep moving your face from one side to the other so that it does not feel too hot. Do this for a couple of minutes till you can bear the heat.
Now looking into the mirror, and using a tweezer, gently extract the white and blackheads. You can apply a bit of pressure to squeeze them out but do not be harsh as it can damage your skin.
Once you’ve done this, wipe your face and take a cold splash to close the pores. Here are some more ways to get rid of them.

Keeps skin glowing

Facial steaming can help you give glowing skin. It helps remove dead skin cells that get accumulated and give your skin a dull look. These dead cells also give rise to bacterial growth which can lead to problems like acne. Once this layer is taken off, the skin looks more radiant. Here’s what you have to do.

Steps:

Use a steamer to get some steam on your face for a few minutes.
Next, wipe off your face with a clean towel and wash your face as well.
Apply sunscreen. Also include these fruits and vegetables in your diet for glowing skin.

Prevents acne

Pimples are a common occurrence during teenage years and many suffer from it later too. But steam can help control this beauty problem. Acne is usually caused when pores are clogged with dirt and sebum. When you take steam on your face, you unclog these pores and the dirt and oil are eliminated which prevent the formation of pimples. Here’s how to do it:

Steps:

Take steam on your face the same way as explained above.
Once the pores are opened, use a clean tissue to wipe off the dirt and sebum. Do not pop an existing pimple but clean the area surrounding it.
You can squeeze your skin to clean better.
After wiping it off, wash face with cold water and pat dry.
For better results, you can also apply a pack of multani mitti or fuller’s earth on your face.

Prevents skin ageing

The skin begins to age once you enter yours 30s. It does not renew itself that easily and the blood circulation also reduces. Steaming can help improve blood circulation by dilating these blood vessels in response to the heat which results in better blood flow. Also, the skin perspires which helps release toxins from it and prevents the moisture from escaping. This makes the skin look more supple and young.

Steps:

Take steam on your face as explained above.
Massage your face in circular motions to increase blood flow.
Wash your face with cold water.

Nourishes hair

Your hair and scalp also benefit immensely when you use steam. Even when you go for a hair spa, they use steam for the same purpose. It opens the cuticles which help in better penetration of any hair pack and also boosts blood circulation. Here’s what you need to do.

Steps:

Since most salons have head steamers, they make you sit under it so that steam is directly transferred to your scalp. At home, you can use a towel.
Boil water in a pot and place a towel on it. After a few minutes, take the towel and wrap it around your head.
Do this multiple times till you feel the need. Once your scalp and hair are slightly wet, apply a hair pack and cover your head with a shower cap.
After 30 minutes wash your hair with a mild shampoo.

Tips

If you have access to a steam room, you can reap in its benefits for your entire body. Sitting for a few minutes in this room will help eliminate toxins and better the blood circulation. After your steam session, make sure you take a shower and moisturise your skin. Here are some more health benefits of a steam bath.

Even though steaming is beneficial, it should not be done too often. Stick to once a month or twice a month if you have very oily skin. Also, if you have a skin disorder such as rosacea or extremely sensitive skin, you may want to consult a skin specialist before you do facial steaming. Did you know steam inhalation can get you relief from a cold?

Image source: Getty Images

Published : January 28, 2015 5:07 pm | Updated:March 19, 2015 10:26 am

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