The Best Facial Steamer For An At-Home Spa Experience 

Looking to upgrade your skincare routine without spending a fortune on professional facials? A facial steamer will do just the trick!

The relaxing hot steam you enjoy during a day at the spa does far more than just help you unwind. It softens your skin's surface and opens your pores, allowing for a deeper clean and better product penetration. So if you're ready to achieve your best skin ever and enjoy a spa-like experience right from your own home, it's time to purchase a facial steamer.

Below, we've rounded up the best facial steamers. But to help you find the right product for your steam sesh, you'll first need to understand what facial steamers are and how they work.

Is steaming good for your face?

These handy at-home devices are a favorite amongst beauty editors, celebrities, and skin care gurus— and for a good reason too. When done correctly, a facial steamer can be great for your skin. A five to ten-minute steaming session can do wonders to open up clogged pores and help products to penetrate deeper layers of your skin. But be warned, incorrect use can cause burns and serious damage to your skin.

Facial steamers aren't always beneficial for finicky skin, so you'll want to speak to your dermatologist before trying one if you have rosacea, eczema, or other skin conditions. The hot steam dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can worsen redness and aggravate extremely dry skin.

What are the benefits of facial steaming?

In addition to helping you unwind, facial steaming has a number of benefits:

• Opens pores for better cleansing— A good facial steamer will help open your pores, allowing for a deeper cleanse.
• Softens skin for better pore extraction— In addition to opening your pores, the moisture from the warm steam softens them, too, making it easier to remove impurities that lead to blackheads and breakouts.
• Improves product absorption— Opening and clearing your pores allows the active ingredients in skincare products to penetrate deeper.
• Helps hydrate dry skin— The moist steam helps soften oil deposits in your pores, helping regulate oil production and hydrating thirsty skin in need of moisture.
• Promotes increased circulation— The hot steam speeds up blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients for plump, glowy skin.
• Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles— Along with an effective anti-aging skincare routine, regular facial steaming can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Best Facial Steamers for Your At-Home Spa Day

This celebrity-approved Pro Facial Steamer from Dr. Dennis Gross is undoubtedly one of the best facial steamers on the market. The professional-grade facial device delivers micro-steam technology for superior hydration and pore softening. A wide nozzle allows for even steam coverage throughout the effective nine-minute cycle. Additional splurge-worthy features include an automatic shut-off and a convenient carrying handle.

At only $39.95, this Pure Daily Care Nano-Ionic Facial Steamer and Humidifier is a great option for budget-conscious beauty lovers— especially those with acne-prone skin. The portable facial steamer uses an ultrasonic vaporizer to generate nano-ionic steam. These negatively charged water molecules are up to 10 times more effective at penetrating the skin. Its larger 200ml water tank allows for up to 30 minutes of silent operation.

Plus, it comes with a five-piece skincare kit of stainless steel blemish extractors to help remove blackheads and blemishes. But remember to be extra gentle with your extractions because your skin will be extra sensitive once it's steamed. You'll need to learn how to use the extractors correctly to avoid damaging and scarring your skin.

If you're serious about skincare, try this Pro Hydro Mist Steamer from Sarah Chapman. An esthetician-approved skincare device is a good option for all skin types. Plus, its compact design is super travel-friendly, so you can enjoy a steam session anywhere, anytime.

What makes this sleek device one of the best facial steamers on the market is its nano-sized steam particles. This nano-ionic steam is rich in negative ions that help remove dirt, makeup, and excess oil trapped in your pores. Regular use can help fight acne, even skin tone, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Is your dull skin in desperate need of extra hydration? It's time to add this Vanity Planet Aria Facial Steamer to your bathroom shelf. The beauty editor-approved ionic facial steamer detoxifies and softens skin, improves blood circulation, and makes your skin more receptive to skincare products.

After steaming your face, slather on a thick moisturizer for maximum hydration. For added relaxation and healing benefits, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the water tank before your next steam treatment. The soothing scents and warm steam feels luxurious after a long day.

At only $30, this Danielle Creations Facial Steamer is the best bet for beauty lovers on a tight budget. It's designed for deep pore cleansing and ultimate hydration— right at home!

The wide nozzle allows for even, full-face coverage during every treatment. Even a few minutes of steaming will help rid your pores of the built-up bacteria, dead skin cells, and other pore-clogging gunk that leads to blackheads and acne breakouts.

While some steaming devices can be too intense for sensitive skin, this Conair True Glow Moisturizing Mist Facial Sauna System is gentle enough for anyone to use. The soft mist won't cause redness and irritation as it opens your pores and reinvigorates your senses. Plus, the three-step skincare system includes a facial cleansing brush, exfoliating brush, and moisturizer sponge to complete your at-home spa treatment. Other noteworthy features include an automatic shut-off function and battery-powered operation for better portability.

Leave your skin to feel fresh, smooth, dewy soft, and radiant with this Prospera Hot Mist Nano Steamer! Unlike the other steamers, this one has a UV lamp built into sterilized steam so that it can reach your skin with the purest and most effective condition. And unlike the other steams, this unit also has an adjustable nozzle that allows you to steam any part of your body.

If you are looking for a self-love and self-care steamer for your home spa, then look no further than this facial steamer with an extendable arm ozone tabletop. The unit features a PTC ceramic heating element to vaporize clean water to produce hot mist in seconds. With built-in UV light, it can produce an Ozone seam that will reach your skin with the purest and most effective condition. At the same time, you can add your favorite essential oil to diffuse for your skin to absorb. With the extendable arm and 360-degree rotatable spray, you can adjust according to your needs to have a perfect facial spa.

If you are looking for a portable design that you can carry pretty much anywhere with you then look no further. With a single-button and ergonomic design, this Nano Ion Facial Steamer will allow you to get a spa-like steam facial to open pores to deeply penetrate and cleanse away impurities.

How to Use an At-Home Facial Steamer

Using your facial steamer correctly is key to achieving the best results. Before diving into daily use, start with a short, weekly steam treatment and slowly increase the frequency and duration as your skin adjusts.

Preparation

Each facial steamer operates slightly differently, so you'll need to read the directions thoroughly before your first use. Steam temperature and water particle size vary from product to product, meaning the duration of your steaming sesh may too.

First, cleanse your face to remove makeup, dirt, and excess oil before steaming. While many steamers claim to be effective at removing makeup, you'll want to wipe off as much as you can before use. Secure your hair with a headband or hair wrap to prevent it from getting in the way.

Place the steamer somewhere you can sit comfortably and keep your face a consistent 5 to 10 inches away. You shouldn't feel like you're straining your neck or hunching over to use the steamer. For a more spa-like experience, dim the lights and turn on some soothing music.

Steaming

Next, fill the steamer's water tank with fresh water. For added aromatherapy and skin-soothing benefits, try adding a drop or two of the following essential oils:

• Lavender— This relaxing essential oil helps reduce stress and soothe sensitive skin. It's the perfect addition to a steam session just before bed.
• Chamomile— Just like your favorite cup of chamomile tea, a few drops of the essential oil will help you unwind while reducing inflammation and soothing sensitive skin.
• Orange— This energizing scent is a great addition to any morning steam session. In addition to invigorating your senses, orange essential oils also help to unclog pores and brighten dull skin.
• Eucalyptus— Your congested sinuses and clogged pore will thank you for adding a drop or two of refreshing eucalyptus.

As a rule of thumb, your facial steaming session should only last about ten minutes. Steam your face for only two to three minutes at a time, taking a short break to check in on your skin. If at any point the steam feels too hot, hold your face further away and keep your session short to prevent overuse and potential burns.

Once you're finished, dump out any leftover water and dry the inside of the water tank with a paper towel. Wipe the face nozzle clean before storing the device.

DIY- Steam With Towels

If you are on a budget, you can still steam your face at home with some DIY steaming with warm towels. First, turn on the hot water tap and fill your sink or a bowl with hot water to soak your towels. You can even fancy it up with dried herbs and flowers. Soak your towels and wring them out, so the towel is damp, then place the towel on your face. Make sure it covers as much of your face as possible, including the eyes. Leave it on for about 5 minutes.

After Care

Avoid any harsh scrubbing during cleansing or exfoliation. Your skin will be extra sensitive immediately after steaming, so be extra gentle. Be sure to pat your face dry instead of rubbing to prevent aggravating your skin with your towel.

Because your pores are freshly cleared and fully open, they're ready to absorb the active ingredients in your favorite skincare products. Use hydrating serums, moisturizing creams, and anti-aging products, but avoid using harsh acids, intense scrubs, and any unfamiliar products that may irritate your skin.

Enhance your spa experience by using a jade roller, gua sha tool, or just giving yourself a nice facial massage before you finish up.