Skin Care

DIY Facial Steam With Lavender For Clear Pores

Saturday, January 31st, 2015

Posted By Susannah Compton

 

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If you’ve ever had a facial and the esthetician used steam on your face to gently open your pores, you know just how soothing and pleasurable that ritual can be. Steaming isn’t just about giving you a pampering experience. It promotes circulation, which increases the flow of oxygen and other nutrients to the face. A steam can help dislodge accumulated dirt, bacteria, blackheads and other unsavory debris by softening and opening the pores. Steam creates a fine mist on the face that helps draw out these impurities better than your normal face washing routine. All of these benefits help your complexion look its best.

Adding potent essential oils and soothing herbs to the steam enhances the experience. Lavender is a great addition to any steam because almost every skin type benefits from it. Lavender is so gentle, it’s one of the only essential oils that can be applied to skin neat. It is antibacterial and thus a great preventative treatment for acne. I probably don’t have to tell you, but it’s also incredibly calming and is the perfect tonic for the nervous system. You can take your steam to the next level by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to the bowl. Alternatively, you can use an herbal tea blend of lavender.

How to Steam Your Face with Soothing Lavender

  • Boil a pot of water and pour into to a glass or heat-safe bowl. Anywhere from 1-3 cups of water is sufficient. Don’t use too much or it will be difficult to handle.
  • Add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to the water. If you are using herbal teas bags instead, add 2 sachets to the water.
  • Allow water to cool slightly, then lower your face over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to create a steam tent.
  • Breathe deeply and enjoy the sensation of your pores opening for 5-15 minutes.

You’ll be pleased with the rosy, clear complexion that results from a quick steam. People with extreme sensitivities or skin conditions like severe acne or rosacea should pass on this ritual.

For other ways to pamper your skin, try our collection of all-natural facial cleansers and exfoliants.

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About Susannah Compton

Susannah Compton is the founder and formulator behind Florescent, a line of 100% botanical perfumes she blends in small batches from organic and wild crafted aromatics. Plant-based skincare and cosmetics are a way of life for Susannah, who writes about clean beauty and the benefits of botanical ingredients for No More Dirty Looks, Thoughtfully Magazine and Integrity Botanicals. Florescent, however, is Susannah’s personal expression of healthy beauty. Susannah has been working with botanical aromatics for years, blending first for therapeutic purposes before delving into the art of perfumery. Having rarely experienced the depth and complexity of true botanicals in conventional perfume, she learned the art of blending and created what her heart desired — a scent that would move her the way perfume should. In search of those elevating, ethereal bouquets of scent, Susannah honed her skills behind the perfume bench. She launched Florescent in the spring of 2015 to share the lush experience and pleasing ritual of real perfume.