Things You'll Need:
- 4 cups boiling water
- Essential oils according to skin type: lavender, clary sage, tea tree oil, lemon, ylang ylang, rose geranium and rose
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Step 1
Begin by cleansing the skin with a non-abrasive soap such as glycerin or a gentle chamomile soap that contains no fragrances that can irritate the skin.
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Step 2
Boil the water and add the lemon slices in a large bowl. Place the bowl on a flat surface such as a counter top or table.
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Step 3
Drape a large towel around your head to trap the steam that will rise from the boiling water. Stand carefully over the bowl of hot water, while draping the towel around your head. Steam will rise to the face.
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Step 4
Keep your eyes and mouth closed. If you choose to add other essential oils or other herbs to the hot water, they can release into the air and may be irritating to the eyes.
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Step 5
Steam sensitive skin for no more than 10 to 15 minutes. Adding lavender, ylang ylang or Roman chamomile is appropriate for sensitive skin.
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Step 6
Steam dry skin for up to 15 to 20 minutes as tolerated but not much longer than that. Adding lavender, Clary sage or rose essential oils are appropriate for dry skin.
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Step 7
Steam oily skin for 15 to 20 minutes also but not to the point of discomfort. Adding lavender, tea tree oil and lemon essential oils are appropriate for oily skin.
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Step 8
Steam combination skin that is partly dry and partly oily or perhaps somewhat sensitive, for no more than 15 minutes. Again, gauge according to your sensitivity. Adding lavender, tea tree, rose geranium or Clary sage is appropriate for combination skin.
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Step 9
Dry your face with a towel after steaming. If you have blemishes this is the time to use sterilized tools that are designed to extract them. Do not use your hands as they may infect the blemish. Moisturize your skin according to its type and apply sunscreen to protect it.
