A DIY Face Steam to Relieve Congestion Fast
‘Tis the season for congestion. Whether you have a cold, the flu, or just a bad case of the sniffles, sinus congestion is no fun to deal with. Feeling stuffed up in the face can leave you more tired during the day and even interfere with your sleep. Luckily, besides taking cold meds, there are a few simple ways to combat congestion naturally. One of my favorites is a facial steam.
Facial steams are a popular beauty treatment that are often offered at spas and salons. The warm steam helps to open up the pores and allow any impurities like oils and bacteria to make their way out.
Interestingly enough, doing a facial steam works on the sinuses just as well! The warmth from the steam helps to open up your air passageways by reducing swelling in those membranes. When you do one, you should expect some mucous to come loose, so get the tissues ready!
How to Do a DIY Face Steam for Congestion
There are a few ways to do facial steam for congestion. The easiest is to simply boil a pot of water, then carefully, put the water into a large heat-safe bowl. Sit somewhere comfortably and place the bowl of hot water down in front of you. Drape a towel over your head and the bowl so the steam is confined, relax, and feel the relief! Be sure to sit with the steam for at least 10 minutes.
You can also use ingredients in your steam to enhance its congestion-fighting effects. I’m a huge fan of adding a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon, and ginger, which all aid in fighting colds and sinus congestion. If you’re using a face steam for allergy congestion, try adding lavender essential oil. To do it, just add five drops of each of your oils to the hot water, and follow the same instructions as above!
And of course, you can be a little fancier and use a facial steam machine like this one from Zenpy (Buy on Amazon, $37.98). These devices have a reservoir where you can just add water, plug it in, and enjoy a constant steam for 10 minutes.
We hope this hack helps you breathe and sleep better all season long!
