Make this beautiful facial steam to pamper your skin or for the perfect DIY Holiday gift
A jar of botanicals for facial steams is not only beautiful, it’s great for you skin and makes a perfect gift. And it’s an easy DIY that works perfectly with the Oui yogurt jars and lids from WeckJars. Our hand scrub is another project ideal for these jars.
We use steams when we’re congested or have sinus pressure. It does a great job of loosening everything up. But what does steaming do for your skin?
According to Healthline, facial steaming is a magical skin treatment that opens up your pores and loosens dirt buildup. It can also soften blackheads. This also allows for the release of dead skin cells, bacteria, and impurities that can contribute to breakouts. This process also releases trapped sebum. Sebum coats, moisturizes, and protects your skin but when it gets trapped beneath the skin’s surface, it creates a bacteria free-for-all that can cause breakouts.
The steam also hydrates your skin, promotes circulation and blood flow which encourages collagen and elastin production. The result of this? Firmer, younger looking skin. It also improves the absorption of skin care products (make sure you’re using good stuff!)
And if all that wasn’t enough, it is incredibly soothing and relaxing. Adding herb and essential oils for aromatherapy can increase the stress relief! There are many good options to include in a botanical facial steam. Keep in mind with your essential oils though that you do not need very much. A couple drops go a long way.
The facial steam recipe is very flexible.
There are loads of herbs and botanicals that are good for your skin. Let’s look at a few recommended by Awakened Skin:
Lemongrass – lemongrass can help balance skin oil, tighten pores, and firm the skin
Rosemary – rosemary has toning properties that tighten skin as well as antibacterial properties that can help with blackheads
Elder Flowers – elder flowers are soothing and balancing, perfect for breakout prone skin
Lavender – good for all skin types, lavender is soothing and can calm irritated skin
Lemon balm – lemon balm tones, balances and refreshes the skin.
Calendula – calendula is good for skin that is sensitive, damaged, or irritated
Chamomile – chamomile has a soothing and calming effect on dry skin
Hibiscus – hibiscus helps hydrate and moisturize dry skin
Plantain – plantain leaves help nourish, soothe and calm skin as well as draw out impurities
Rose – rose has a toning effect on skin and is both stimulating and soothing.
When mixing up a facial steam, have fun with it. You can mix up a good sized batch so it’s ready when you are. You only need a couple tablespoons for each steam session. If you’re making these for a gift and using the Oui glass yogurt jar, your recipient will get 3-4 steams out of the contents. Any of the Weck lids would be great the wooden, cork or traditional glass with clips, and you can have fun fancying up the jar.
Include a card or note with the gift with the following:
“To use, place 2 tablespoons in a large bowl. Boil 3-4 cups of water. Pour water over mixture. Grab a towel and drape it over your head to create a tent over the bowl. Keep enough distance from the water so you don’t burn yourself but be close enough to feel steam. Do this for about 10 minutes, taking breaks when you need it and then rinse with cool water.”
You can also include information about each of the ingredients that you choose to include.
The recipe below will fill about 4 jars. Depending on the containers and quantities you are using, adjust that amounts accordingly. Since this recipe is super flexible, have fun with it. If you’re adding essential oils, use approximately 6-8 drops per cup of botanicals.
Botanical Facial Steam
Materials
- ¼ cup each of four different dried flowers/herbs such as: chamomile, rose petals, lavender, and calendula (or any of the above listed ingredients)
- 4 drops roman chamomile essential oil
- 4 drops lavender essential oil
- (Other oil ideas: geranium, rosemary, tea tree, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and store in airtight container
- To use, place 2 tablespoons in a large bowl. Boil 3-4 cups of water. Pour water over mixture. Grab a towel and drape it over your head to create a tent over the bowl. Keep enough distance from the water so you don’t burn yourself but be close enough to feel steam. Do this for about 10 minutes, taking breaks when you need it and then rinse with cool water.
