Calming Floral Steam for Dehydrated Skin

I don’t know about you, but transitioning from summer to fall to winter is one of the most difficult times for my skin. It seems as though my skin can’t make up it’s mind whether it is too oily or too dry. Trying to find the perfect moisturizer is always a challenge, and it never seems to feel “right”. It seems as though the more I try, the more my skin stands in protest. Over the years, I have tried all sorts of creams and moisturizers. Masks and toners; some not as nutritious as I would have liked them to be. Now, I have found that less is often more, especially when it comes to skin care. The less I try to change my routine, the better off I am for it. My skin can once and for all find it’s own balance with it’s own natural oils. Occasionally I will nourish it with some manuka honey or jojoba oil if I feel it needs, but no matter how effortlessly I try to care for my skin, winter gets me every year. It always blows in with a cold and dry air that leaves me dehydrated and dry. Even if I drink plenty of water, and try to moisturize with natural oils, my skin is often still feeling dull and lack-luster. Let’s first get clear about the difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin. Dehydrated skin is lacking water, where dry skin is lacking oil. Often people think they are the same so when they have dehydrated skin they will slather on the oil, but it doesn’t seem to do the trick. The reason is because their skin is actually lacking water and needs to be hydrated. One of the best ways to do this, of course, is by drinking tons of water. However, even if you are drinking your fair share, and your skin still feels dehydrated, like me in the winter, then this post is for you. If your skin is dried out from over-cleaning it, then a good moisturizer should help you to re-instate oils. Better yet try skipping the soaps and just washing with water so your skin retains most of it’s natural oils. For me, even water can dry me out, so I often skip that step all together. Recently I purchased some dry herbs to experiment with after reading about the benefits of a facial steam. It is exactly what I was missing for the harsh winter weather. The warm steam will open up your pores for a wonderfully-deep cleanse while allowing the benefits of these herbal scents to seep in and nourish your skin. While you hover over the steam, take deep breaths in and slowly let it out. Not only will this benefit your skin, but help to calm your mood and reduce your stress levels due to the calming properties of lavender and camomile. In addition, the lemongrass has detoxifying properties that adds to the cleansing nature of this steam. Make this a weekly ritual and feel your body, mind, and soul benefit from it.

Have I sold you yet? Alright, let’s get steaming. And don’t forget to enjoy the process! Your attitude going into this will likely be one of the most beneficial parts.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 spoonful dried lavender
• 1 spoonful dried camomile
• 1 spoonful dried lemongrass
• 4 cups water
• heat safe bowl
• towel

What to Do:

1. Bring about 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot or a kettle.
2. Add all your flowers to a heat safe bowl and slowly pour your boiling water over top.
3. Cover your head with a towel as you allow your face to hover over the steaming bowl. Don’t let your face get too close, about 7-10 inches should do, but feel it out. You want it to be warm/hot but not unbearable by any means.
4. Breath deeply in and out, enjoying the floral scents and steam for about 5-10 minutes. Allow yourself to come up for air if you feel you need to.
5. Rinse your face with luke warm water and pat dry.
6. Finish with your favorite oil or moisturizer if you’d like. I like this step as my pores are still a bit open and welcome the moisturizer nicely.
7. You can scoop out the contents and enjoy the floral water as a tea, use as a toner, or add a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to use as a hair rinse.

Enough for 1 steam.