11 Best Essential Oils For Face Steaming
What are essential oils? Essential oils are potent concentrated plant oils. Why are they potent? These oils contain the compounds of the plants in its concentrated form. It is so powerful that direct application on the skin can cause side effects. However, these oils have a mesmerizing aroma and several therapeutic benefits, including face care.
Skincare is an essential part of healthcare. The main focus of skincare is on the face. Face is the mirror of the mind and the heart; in fact, face is the mirror of the mind and heart health. There are many ways of taking care of the face and the one that holds prominence here is face-steaming.
Subjecting the face to moderate steam has numerous health benefits for the skin. Adding essential oils for face steam amplifies these benefits, because essential oils are a powerhouse of medicinal compounds.
These compounds not only affect the skin, but they get absorbed into the body through the permeable skin and affect other systems of the body. Now, cleaning the face with steam is perhaps the easiest part in the entire process of face steaming; the difficult part is choosing the right essential oil or oils. With so many options, a novice would get lost in the sea of essential oils available online. So here are some choices we have made for you.
11 Best Essential Oils For Face Steaming
1
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is amongst the popular choices for face steaming. The oil has been proven to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties in many researches. It eliminates the bacteria from the unclogged pores and gives the skin a glow. Regular use of the oil can lower hyperpigmentation and diminish scars. Because of its potency it should be used sparingly, utmost once or twice a week. Those with acne prone skin can buy tea tree oil and perform face steaming weekly.
Tea Tree oil is suitable for acne prone skin
2
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus leaves have been long used for medicinal purposes. This use of eucalyptus increased manifolds when its essential oil came into the marketplace. It has two benefits when used for face steaming – it removes the stubborn dirt and it opens the respiratory tract (because eucalyptus oil is one of the best oils for sinus and throat congestion).
It also stops the bacteria from spreading. The essential oil of eucalyptus is also used to improve dry skin. It has antioxidant properties that tackles the free radicals within the body and reverses the damage caused to the skin due to oxidative stress.
Eucalyptus oil is suitable for all skin types
3
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is the go to essential oil in times of uncertainty. It has antimicrobial properties that can eliminate bacteria and keep the skin clean and soft. Lavender oil is also a mood stabilizer and relaxes the mind. Using face steam with lavender oil has multiple benefits.
The oil extracted from the uber popular Lavandula species of plant is renowned world over for its fragrance and therapeutic benefits. Its mild impact on the skin makes it a good choice for people with all skin types.
Lavender oil is suitable for all skin types
4
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil has antibacterial properties and is effective in deeply ingrained dirt. The aroma of peppermint energizes the mind. While it is recommended to do face steaming with lavender oil at night, it is recommended to do face steaming with peppermint oil in the morning.
Those with oily skin and acne prone skin can use peppermint oil to reduce sebum, and prevent breakouts. It also reduces blemishes. An additional benefit of steaming the face with peppermint oil is clearing the respiratory tract. The menthol content in the oil is scientifically proven to soften phlegm and remove it from the respiratory tract.
Peppermint oil is suitable for oily skin and acne prone skin
5
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon, again, has an invigorating effect on the senses. Lemon juices have been used to remove bacteria from the face and give it a glow. By using lemon oil on the face while steaming will remove the biofilms and prevent acne breakouts.
It will also brighten the skin and give it a glow. Extracted from the Citrus limon species of flowering plant, the acidic nature of the oil makes it difficult for bacterial accumulation.
Lemon oil is suitable for oily skin with large pores
6
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium is supposed to the safest essential oil. It has anti-inflammatory properties that have a soothing effect on the skin. It can be used by those affected with skin conditions such as rosacea.
Geranium oil is extracted from the shrub Pelargonium graveolens and has a pleasant aroma. Hence face steaming with geranium oil has supplementary benefit of aromatherapy.
Geranium oil is suitable for sensitive skin
7
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil has antibacterial properties that remove acne causing bacteria from the pores. This oil is also a non-comedogenic and hence does not allow bacteria to cling on to the pores as it creates a shield on the skin.
Rosemary oil is suitable for all skin types
8
Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood oil has the following ingredients alpha-Santalol and beta-santalol and santenone. It has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and is used to reduce irritation due to any infections.
It is also applied regularly to fade away scars left behind by pimples. Sandalwood is the oldest solution to treating skin related issues. Its use in Ayurveda has been extensively evidenced.
Sandalwood oil is suitable for infection prone skin
9
Lemongrass essential Oil
Face steaming with lemongrass oil, which has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, prevents skin problems caused by bacteria. Lemongrass detoxifies the face and neutralizes damage due to free radicals.
The source plant of this oil is Cymbopogon, which belongs to the grass family. Lemongrass oil is used in cosmetic product to treat skin infections.
Lemongrass oil is suitable for all skin types
10
Clove Essential Oil
This may seem as a strange choice, but clove oil has powerful anti-ageing properties that can reverse fine lines and wrinkles when applied regularly. The spiciness of clove oil also improves the blood circulation in the face which brings good nutrients for the skin.
The oil from the Syzygium aromaticum tree is best to get rid of puffiness of the face and to lower the appearance of red spots on the face.
Clove oil is suitable for all oily combination skin types
11
Oregano Essential Oil
The essential oil of oregano has antioxidant properties. It is used to counter the ageing caused due to free radicals and oxidative stress. The vapors of this oil rejuvenate the skin and give it its youthful appearance. Oregano can be applied via face steam to soothe skin conditions including rosacea. However, consult a dermatologist before first use.
Oregano oil is suitable for all skin types
A Little Bit More On Face Steaming
Face steaming is a popular technique to remove dirt from the face and get softer younger looking skin. There are face steamers available which makes the entire process much more convenient. Think of face steam as a steam bath for the face wherein a stream of steam is continuously and directly applied to the face for some time.
The warm and moist steam opens the pores making it easier to remove the dirt, toxin and oil that have attached themselves deep in the epidermis. It becomes a relaxing treatment when essential oils are added to the water or steam. It increased the blood flow; and if certain essential oils with rubefacient properties are used, then the face becomes rosy and plump.
Face steam rose in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the flourish of spas and salons. Then ecommerce made products and information available at one’s fingertips, and people started steaming face at home.
Nowadays, it is just a regular process for cleaning the face. However, face steaming is an ancient practice used for its healing and aesthetic properties. The steam cleanses the face off dirt and toxins and affects the sebaceous glands. Steaming face with the right essential oils also has an anti-ageing effect which helps get rid of wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet. Steaming your face on a regular basis has anti-ageing benefits besides getting cleaner and tighter skin.
