Facials: Should I Steam My Face Before or After Cleansing?
If you’re interested in cosmetic dermatology, it’s likely that you’ve heard of facial steaming before. While this practice does come with some benefits, it’s important to know when to perform it during your skin care routine. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about steaming your face as part of your skin care routine.
What Are the Benefits of Steaming Your Face?
As we said before, steaming your face comes with a few different benefits. First and foremost, it allows for easier cleansing. The heat from the steam can help soften your skin and make it easier to get dirt and oils out of your pores. It also may help promote circulation in your face. In turn, you may see a healthy, natural glow appear on your face post-steaming. Not only that, but steaming can help your skin better absorb the products you use on it. Since the steam has a softening effect on your skin, it will be more permeable when it comes time to apply the rest of the products in your routine. Last but certainly not least, steaming your face is incredibly soothing. If you’re looking for a great add-on to your nighttime skin care routine, then it’s definitely worth considering steaming your face.
Do You Cleanse Before or After Steaming Your Face?
The answer to this question is that more often than not, steaming should occur both before and after you cleanse your skin. In most cases, you’ll want to cleanse your skin before you steam in order to remove dirt, pollution, oil, and makeup. This will also prevent these from seeping deeper into your pores while you steam. And once you’re finished steaming, it’s recommended to cleanse your skin again before you continue with your skin care routine. Most facials will involve some form of steaming after a gentle cleansing and before moving on with deeper cleansing practices like peels or purifying masks. If you’re adding facial steaming to your at-home skin care routine, make sure you cleanse beforehand and perform another gentle cleanse after you steam and before you move on with the rest of your routine.
What Order Should You Complete Your Skincare In?
There’s more to it than just steam, though. If you want to add steam to your skin care routine, it’s important to understand what order the rest of your products should be applied in as well. Let’s take a quick look at the ideal order for your skin care routine.
1. Cleansing. Cleansing should be the first step in your skincare routine after you remove your makeup. This will provide a clean base for the rest of your skin care products.
2. Steaming. Steaming will allow your skin to soften and become more permeable. It will also loosen up oils and dirt in your pores.
3. Masking. After you steam and potentially cleanse your skin once more, it’s time to add a mask. Masks can help purify your skin, extracting excess sebum and impurities.
4. Moisturizing. Using the right serum and moisturizer at the end of your skin care routine can help lock in all of the great properties of the other products you used. Don’t forget SPF!
Are you interested in adding steaming to your skin care routine? If you have questions or you want to book a facial to try facial steaming for yourself, don’t wait to set up a consultation with our team at North Pacific Dermatology today.