Facial steaming stands as a cornerstone in skincare treatments, and if you’ve ever indulged in a professional facial, chances are you’ve experienced the gentle billows of steam enveloping your face. For patrons of spas and salons who want to put their best face forward, facials are an indispensable way to keep their skin clear and healthy, especially if the skin on the face has suffered from damage from the sun, acne, and other issues. Esthetician professionals looking to get a facial steamer for their practice should understand the ins and outs of these new facial devices in order to arrive at the best option for their personal needs.
What is a Facial Steamer?
A facial steamer is a modern way to offer clients revitalizing facial treatments that steams the skin and helps cleanse the tissue far deeper than traditional facials would. Through these steamers, you can implement a skincare regimen and healthy base that results in lasting improved appearance and dermal health. This means with repeated facial treatments, you’ll look and feel a million times better, especially if you had skin issues around your face before.
Benefits of Facial Steaming
Facial steamers offer numerous benefits, making them a popular tool in both professional and at-home skincare routines.
Deep Cleansing
One of the primary purposes of facial steaming is to open up the pores. The warm steam helps to soften the skin’s surface, allowing pores to loosen and unclog. Throughout the day, our skin accumulates dirt, oil, and other impurities, which can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne if not properly removed. Through the use of warm steam, the skin starts to sweat, helps open up the pores, allowing the dead skin cells to soften and release the debris and dirt that is underneath the skin. This also helps your skin become more receptive to your skincare treatments and products for acne and other blemish-causing conditions.
Enhanced Product Penetration
Following steaming, the skin is in a prime state to absorb skincare products. With the pores dilated and the skin softened, any serums, masks, or moisturizers applied post-steam can penetrate more deeply, maximizing their efficacy. One of the most well-known benefits of facial steaming is better product absorption. Along with helping to regulate excess oil, open pores from hot steam also make your skin more receptive to absorbing skincare products.
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Relaxation and Therapeutic Benefits
Facial steaming doesn’t just benefit the skin-it also provides a soothing and relaxing experience for clients. The sensation of warm steam enveloping the face can help to relieve tension, promote circulation, and induce a sense of calm. Warm steam on your face? Yes, please! It’s one big invite to close your eyes and loosen up any tension in your face and neck muscles.
Detoxification
In addition to cleansing the pores, facial steamers can also aid in detoxifying the skin. Sweating is one of the body’s natural mechanisms for eliminating toxins, and steam can stimulate this process. Think about, for instance, when you go into the steam room at the gym. You feel lighter and more "pure" once you step out, right? The same benefits apply to your skin.
Preparation for Extractions
For clients with congested pores or stubborn blackheads, facial steaming is often used as a precursor to manual extractions. The softening effect of the steam makes it easier for estheticians to gently remove comedones (clogged pores) without causing trauma to the skin. One of the benefits of using a facial steamer is that it makes extractions easier. Sebum, or excess oil produced by the skin, can sometimes get stuck and harden inside of a follicle, leading to clogged pores. The combination of warm steam and open pores allows blackheads and whiteheads to get released easier.
Improved Circulation
The hot steam produced from your steamer dilates blood vessels and helps boost circulation. This increased blood flow can nourish the skin and give it a healthy glow.
Types of Facial Steamers
Navigating the world of esthetician steamers can be challenging for professionals in the beauty and spa industry. There are several different types of facial steamers that you can use.
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Professional Facial Steamers
These are machines that are made for in-house facials, ideal for in-house treatments due to their automatic steam production and built-in seating for optimal client comfort. Consider pairing your steamer with a professional treatment chair for the complete setup.
Facial Steamers with Magnifying Lamps
Some facial steamers come with magnifying lamps that allow the professional to look at the skin as it is being steamed.
Portable and Handheld Options
These make it easy to take facial steamers anywhere.
At-Home Steamers
In-home steamers are an option, but clients should understand why they’re far less desirable than an in-house treatment.
How to Use a Facial Steamer
Using a facial steamer at home is easy. To use a facial steamer, just plug it in, wait for the steam to start steaming from the spout, and voila! You’re ready to use your facial steamer and reap its benefits. Each facial steamer is different, but it should take about 30 seconds to heat. You can use a facial steamer morning or night. Use your steamer for 5-10 minutes, and no more than 15 minutes.
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Step-by-Step Guide for At-Home Steaming
Here's a detailed guide on how to incorporate a facial steamer into your skincare routine:
- Cleanse Your Face: The first step to an at-home steaming treatment is to wash your face. Always make sure you’re using your facial steamer on clean skin to remove excess oil and makeup. You can also use your facial steamer to aid in double cleansing. Cleanse before steaming to remove excess oil and makeup, steam, then cleanse again for a deeper clean into those open pores.
- Exfoliate (Optional): Slough away dead skin cells and ensure your face is squeaky clean by exfoliating. Using steam on your skin during exfoliation helps soften and loosen dead cells.
- Prepare the Steamer: Prepare the steamer before beginning the facial. Each model steamer is going to work differently than another, but they all use a basic setup.
- Fill the Water Tank: A face steamer comes with a water tank, and in a similar fashion to an iron, this water is then evaporated to produce steam. Always use distilled water in your steamer since regular water contains chemicals that can clog up the steamer.
- Place the Water Tank: Insert the water tank into your steamer. Turn on the steamer and allow the water to heat up, per the instructions that came with your facial steamer.
- Steam Your Face: Turn on your steamer and allow the steam to fall over your face. You can control the temperature, adjusting it to your liking. If you want to lock in the steam, place a towel over your head while using the steam machine. Be sure that the client closes their eyes as they use the steamer to avoid irritating the eyes. Keep a safe distance between the steamer and the client’s skin to avoid steam burns. Always keep a distance of at least five inches between you and the steamer-and keep your eyes closed to avoid the heat irritating them.
- Apply a Face Mask (Optional): Now that your face is prepped, you’ll want to apply a face mask so you can reap all the benefits of your steam session. You can also steam your face while you have a hydrating mask on to help more moisture bind to your skin.
- Use Serums and Moisturizers: After using your facial steamer, give your face a quick second wash with warm water, then proceed to use serums and moisturizers. After the process of steaming has ended, the face should be treated with a toner, serum, and a moisturizer. Opening up your pores with steam makes the skin much more receptive to products you put on your face afterward, enhancing their effect. Make the most of the hydration boost by sealing it in with a moisturizing sleeping mask.
- Clean the Steamer: Unplug the steamer and then empty out any excess water from the tank to ensure that nothing is left in the machine to mold or mildew between uses. Keep your steamer clean. Regular cleaning prevents mold, mildew, and ensures it functions effectively.
Integrating Facial Steaming with Other Facial Tools
Here’s a list of facial treatment tools you can use at home to increase the results you desire from your home care and make you feel like you’ve really brought the esthetics room into your own house! These items are listed in the order I would use them as an esthetician in the treatment room. I started with the steamer for pore cleansing and ended the list with cooling globes that would finish off the treatment.
Facial Scrubbers
This gentle vibrating facial scrubber also gives you a great little facial massage that stimulates circulation. This tool is best for carefully removing dry surface cells and rejuvenating the skin by stimulating oxygen, blood, and lymph movement.
Jade Rollers
Daily facial rolling can help decrease puffiness and redness. Store it in the freezer for extra de-puffing benefits! Your skin will love the feeling of a cool jade roller. Roll each section of your face that you are working on 6-10 times.
Gua Sha Stones
You can also use this stone for lifting and facial contouring movements that can be practiced daily. The comb-looking edge of this tool can be used to help erase fine lines.
LED Light Treatment
Red LED light therapy helps stimulate and regenerate collagen and elastin, helping anti-age skin. Blue LED kills bacteria under the skin. This helps clear and rid the skin of active breakouts, acne, and cysts.
Microcurrent Tools
This tool is for those looking to really tone, tighten, and lift their skin. It uses a current to strengthen, tighten, and lift tissues when you massage in an upwards motion.
Cooling Globes
Gliding these cold facial globes onto your skin helps reduce redness, puffiness, close pores, and relieve facial pressure. If you have a headache or allergies using these across your forehead will feel amazing. Puffy eyes can be cared for with these also.
Important Considerations and Precautions
While facial steaming offers numerous benefits, it's essential to use it correctly and be aware of potential risks.
Frequency of Use
Avoid using the steamer too frequently. Overuse can lead to dehydration of the skin and breakdown of collagen, leading to sagging and aging. Both experts recommend keeping your steam time under 15 minutes and limiting it to once or twice a week. Any more than that and your skin can actually become dry and inflamed.
Skin Sensitivity and Conditions
Be cautious when considering steaming for clients with certain skin conditions like melasma, severe acne, eczema, rosacea, or broken capillaries. Facial steaming can be harmful if you know you have really sensitive skin or have a condition like eczema or rosacea which can be further exacerbated by heat.
Water Quality
Always use distilled water in your steamer. You need to also be sure you are using distilled water in the tank since regular water contains chemicals that can clog up the steamer.
Distance and Temperature
Be mindful of the steam temperature and the client’s comfort. Since steam burns are the largest safety concern, users need to know to avoid getting too close when applying the steam directly to the face.
Skin Type Compatibility
Facial steaming is good for those with oily or acne-prone skin because it softens the sebum so you can more easily remove impurities. But it's not good for all skin types.
DIY Facial Steaming
Don't DIY facial steaming. You have no control over an open pot of water and the few dollars you save aren't worth the risk of the potential burns you could end up with. Instead, go the safer route with one of these at-home tools.
Choosing the Right Facial Steamer
Choosing the right esthetician steamer involves understanding the different types available, their features, and the benefits they offer.
Technology and Features
Look for steamers with innovative technologies like ionic or nano-steam, which enhance the penetration of water molecules into the skin.
Safety and Maintenance
Always prioritize steamers that are easy to clean and maintain. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent mold or mildew buildup.
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