3 DIY Steam Facials for a Younger You in 3 Weeks
Last season’s chilly temperatures and moisture-sapping air might leave our complexions looking irritated, dull, and puffy in the early days of spring. The revitalizing and rejuvenating remedy? Tea-infused steams!
“Steam opens up the outer layer of skin to enhance the absorption of tea’s anti-aging nutrients so they can easily repair winter-worn skin,” says Beverly Hills aesthetician Brigitte Beasse, who’s worked with Gwyneth Paltrow and Uma Thurman. Just choose a recipe below, hold your face 6″ above the bowl, drape a towel over your head, and let the steam envelope your skin for five minutes. Do twice a week for a more youthful you in three weeks.
To Calm Redness
If your skin feels dehydrated, irritated, or ruddy, you can heal it with chamomile. The herbal brew’s anti-inflammatory properties calm irritation, and its flavonoids apigenin and quercetin constrict blood vessels to reduce redness, says Beasse. “Pairing it with tea tree oil — an antiseptic that kills bacteria on skin’s surface — speeds healing.”
To make: Add 2 chamomile tea bags and 2 drops of tea tree essential oil — like NOW Foods Essential Oils Tea Tree ($6.85, Vitacost.com) — to a heat-safe bowl with 4 cups of boiling water.
To De-Puff
If you feel bloated and puffy in the face, the simple solution is black tea. Its caffeine revs circulation to flush away trapped fluids and reduce swelling while antimicrobial tannins help fend off bacteria, says Beasse. For a healthy boost, add eucalyptus essential oil. Its cineole opens up congested airways.
To make: Add 2 black tea bags and 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil — like Aura Cacia Eucalyptus Exhilarating Essential Oil ($7.99, Target.com) — to a heat-safe bowl with 4 cups of boiling water.
To Boost Radiance
Dead skin buildup can result in a lackluster complexion. To the rescue: matcha tea. “Its detoxifying chlorophyll pulls skin-dulling dead cells and toxins from deep within pores,” says Beasse. Bonus: Adding in rosemary essential oil helps boost circulation, giving skin a gorgeous rosy glow.
To make: Add 2 tbsp. of powdered matcha and 2 drops of rosemary essential oil — like Eden’s Garden Rosemary Moroccan Essential Oil ($6.95, EdensGarden.com) — to a heat-safe bowl with 4 cups of boiling water.
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This article originally appeared in our print magazine.
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