I’ve been known for my unconventional skincare methods. They often involve herbs or essential oils and sometimes rubbing ice or even mud on my face. There are so many plants in nature that provide a wide variety of skin benefits. This herbal face steam is a great way to get some of those benefits!
I’ve done steams before, mainly for congestion or upper respiratory support. An herbal face steam makes for a wonderful all natural facial. It’s really simple to do and doesn’t require any fancy equipment.
You can even pick and choose which herbs you want to use. Just use one, or use a combination of whatever you have on hand that will work.
The Best Herbs For a Face Steam
There are lots of different plants that work well in a face steam and you probably already have some in your pantry. Feel free to mix and match from this list or use something completely different. Just be sure it’s not something that will irritate your skin.
Here are some of my favorite herbs to use in herbal face steams.
- Rose petals – Rose has long been used for glowing, more youthful skin. The fragrant petals also have potent aromatherapy benefits that soothe heartache. A 2015 study noted rose helped improve skin elasticity, moisture, and reduced wrinkles.
- Lavender flowers – Soothing and calming to skin, lavender is a skincare favorite. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory and helps repair damaged skin.
- Mint leaves – Refreshing and invigorating, hot mint relaxes arteries and stimulates circulation for faster healing. It’s also a rich source of vitamins and minerals that thirsty skin craves!
- Calendula flowers – Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, calendula has a wide and long history of use for healing wounds and damaged skin.
- Chamomile – The flowers and leaves have a floral, apple-like scent that’s calming and relaxing. It has the same effect on skin and is great for soothing irritation and damaged skin.
- Comfrey – This plant is another favorite of mine for skincare. Both the flowers and leaves are very efficient at healing damaged skin and even bone. It stimulates tissue repair and cell proliferation.
- Echinacea – People use the flowers or leaves topically for a variety of skin complaints, including damaged skin, eczema, varicose veins. Echinacea is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-viral so it’s also helpful for acne.
- Helichrysum – This herb has cheery yellow flowers with potent skin benefits. It’s drying, warm, and astringent, so pair it with a demulcent herb like violet or marshmallow if you have really dry skin. A 2020 study looked at a nightcream that contained helichrysum and found it significantly improved wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and UV spots
- Horsetail – A wonder herb that is full of micronutrients, including silica for more resilient skin. It’s also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial and is traditionally used for improving wrinkles, acne, and moisturizing the skin.
- Lemon – Not just for lemonade, lemon has so many uses for skin too. The juice is high in vitamin C and acids, while the peel has volatile essential oils that uplift the mood and brightens dull and damaged skin. A 2013 study found lemon juice was even more effective for acne than the conventional option tested.
How to Do an Herbal Face Steam
I prefer to use herbs that are more gentle on the skin and don’t have strong volatile oils that can irritate my skin or eyes. Cinnamon and oregano come to mind!
You might have seen some of the face steamer machines in stores or online. Companies usually use plastic to make facial steamers, so you’re getting steam heated in plastic directly on your pores. A pot on the stove isn’t as fancy, but sometimes simpler is better (and cheaper!).
You also can’t add herbs into the face steamer tank or it can cause damage. Again, another win for doing it the old fashioned way.
Step by Step Face Steam Directions
If you’re looking for a more specific recipe, here’s one to start with.
Rejuvenating Herbal Face Steam
A relaxing way to open pores, moisturize skin, and improve blemishes and signs of aging.
Yield: 1 face steam
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Place the water, lemon, and herbs in a clean pot and gently bring it to a boil with the lid on. This helps preserve more of the volatile oils.
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Turn the heat off and lean over the pot with your eyes closed. Be sure not to get too close or you’ll get a steam burn! I’ve found that as the water cools I’ll edge closer. You can also drape a towel over your head to trap more of the steam in.
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Once the pot is done steaming, compost your herbal face steam.
The herbs I used here can be mixed and matched with any skincare friendly herbs. Just aim for about 1/3 cup of herbs total.
You can save some time and mix the herbs up in bulk for later. Just add 1/4 cup of each (or however much you want) and store in a large glass jar. Scoop out 1/3 cup when you’re ready to use. Then you’ll just need to add the freshly sliced lemon and water to make your face steam!
What are some of your favorite herbs to use for skincare? Have you done a steam before? Leave a comment and let us know!
