Make This Natural Herbal Face Steam With Just 5 Ingredients [Recipe]

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Our skin bears the burden of our carelessness on a daily basis - in the driest season, when the air itself is parched of moisture, we still can’t seem to keep up with our eight glasses of water a day, leaving our skin dry and dull - especially when less sunlight is still to be found. And so all sorts of ailments befall us, from chapped lips to premature aging and flaky foreheads. I’ll be the first to admit that as much as I enjoy my skincare routine, it easily falls to the wayside due to my chronic illness or general busyness, my exterior being low on my list of priorities when my joints are aching.

What can we do about dry skin, besides simply hydrating with water and moisturizer? At this point in the season, our skin needs more than simple maintenance. We need a repair. And the best way to jump start this process is to incorporate the spa-like but deceptively simple practice of an herbal face steam.

What does face steaming do?

• The heat from face steams loosens oils to aid in the removal of unwanted substances, like excess sebum (oils produced by your skin follicles), dirt and bacteria.

• Since acne is caused by excess sebum trapped in your follicles prompting bacteria growth, face steams help combat acne.

• When your pores are open and warm, they can more easily absorb hydration as well as any skincare products you apply afterwards.

• The heat from the steam also results in increased circulation, promoting healing.

• Face steaming is also a meditative, calming practice you can incorporate into your mindfulness routine.

I’ll get into all of the details for how to make your own diy face steam at home below, but first let's talk a bit about the individual plants, flowers and herbs we will be using in this recipe. You’ll only need four herbs for this project, but if you feel like substituting something for one listed below there’s no harm in making the recipe your own. You’ll be able to mix up a batch in less than 5 minutes, and be well on your way to a calming self care ritual that is affordable, natural and zero-waste.

This recipe comes from the Botanical Skincare Course from Herbal Academy and its corresponding book of recipes - you can see my full review of this in depth course here and sign up for classes by clicking here.

Benefits of Chamomile

Because chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties in the form of powerful antioxidants including polyphenols and phytochemicals, it helps to protect against long-term and short-term skin inflammation. Chamomile may also accelerate cell and tissue regeneration, promoting healing. It is also antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic. With all these powerful actions, this beautiful apple scented bloom may help to treat an active acne breakout, reducing bacteria and cleansing the skin, whilst also preventing future breakouts.

Benefits of yarrow

Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Herbal legend has described that yarrow (Achillea millefolium) was named after Achilles, the Greek mythical hero who used it to stop the bleeding wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan War in 1200 BC. In Medieval times, yarrow leaves were rolled up and stuffed in the nose to stop bleeding. It is particularly beneficial in reducing inflammation; it's effective in speeding healing, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reducing redness, unclog pores, calm irritation and reduce acne scars.

Benefits of lavender

Aside from its lovely scent, lavender’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties make it an incredibly useful plant for our skin. It can soothe and calm skin, help fight acne, and even help heal minor cuts and burns. It is useful for rashes and skin irritations caused by medical conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. Some studies have shown that the antioxidants in lavender may even help to reduce wrinkles.

Benefits of thyme

Thyme has been widely acknowledged as one of the most used herbs since as far back as ancient Egypt. Thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae, also known as mint, family. Due to thyme’s high thymol content, it kills bacteria and fungus. Thyme has the benefit of antifungal and antiseptic properties. With its circulatory and medicinal properties, Thyme fortifies the skin and provides relief from itching and tightness caused by dry skin.

History of facial steaming

Face steaming is a part of an Ayurvedic therapy called 'Swedana', that helps to remove toxins from the skin and deeply cleanses the pores. Turkish hammam bathhouses, which were both social and wellness hot spots for cleansing and relaxing in steamy rooms, are one of the earliest examples of steaming as self care—their origins can be traced back to the Roman empire. The first commercial face steamer was produced in 1903, though of course you don’t need any special tools to steam your face - a large bowl and a towel to drape over your head are all that is necessary. 

Does steam actually open your pores?

Using warm water to “open” your pores is technically impossible. Since your pores aren't muscles, they can't voluntarily open and contract, so hot water and steam won't open your pores. What steam can do is loosen the sebum (oil) in your face, allowing it to slide out of the pores easily when you wash with cleanser. So why do your pores look “smaller” when you apply certain treatments? It’s actually caused by tiny blood vessels expanding in your skin, causing minor swelling that pushes the pores closer together. The size of your pores is dictated by the amount of collagen in your skin, genetics and many other factors. It cannot be permanently altered.

Face steams are so easy to make and use - in their most basic form, all you need is hot water! Of course, adding herbs, aromatic oils and other compounds to the hot water can result in a supportive infusion with multiple benefits. I encourage you to experiment with different herbal combinations that you are drawn to. If you don’t like one of the scents of the ingredients listed below, sub it out for rose petals or something else. Herbal steams for your face also make sweet and thoughtful gifts for birthdays and holidays alike - blended together they can create a beautiful rainbow effect. I have blended cornflower, rose and lavender for a blue red and purple confetti that looked amazing packed into tiny clear glass test tube vases with a little cork topper.  

If you are just learning about herbalism, facial steams are a great easy beginner DIY skincare project and introduction to herbal remedies, using plants that are considered generally safe for most. And if you find you have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate many products directly applied to your face, a steam can be a gentle way to incorporate these herbs into your routine without a direct topical application.

You will need a large bowl that is glass or ceramic. We don’t want to use plastic or anything that may contain other harmful chemicals that could vaporize and be released into the steam through the hot water. You will also want to grab a lightweight small towel to cover your head with and trap the steam inside a little makeshift tent. I wouldn’t use a heavier bath towel as it could place undue strain on your neck and the last thing we need is a sore neck from what is supposed to be a relaxing experience! I do also recommend choosing a spot where you can comfortably sit at a height where the bowl is resting on a table you do not have to stoop or bend to relax in front of, and (though I know how tough this can be!) eliminate all distractions - you don’t want a child asking where their favorite bear is or TikTok notification to startle you into splashing yourself with the hot water!

Once your blend is ready, put your phone on silent and unplug, allowing yourself to fully embrace these few minutes of peace and tranquility in your busy day, unwinding and resetting your face and heart for the challenges to come and giving yourself permission to just be.

Herbal face steam by Herbal Academy

An herbal steam with antimicrobial and antiseptic herbs can be a lovely way to pamper and support irritated, acne-prone skin.

Ingredients

2 tbsp chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flower

2 tbsp lavender (Lavandula spp.) flower bud

2 tbsp yarrow (Achillea millefolium) aerial parts

2 tbsp thyme (Thymus vulgaris) aerial parts 

2 quarts (64 fl oz) water

Directions

 ● Combine herbs in a wide glass or ceramic bowl.

 ● Heat water to boiling, then pour over herbs.

 ● Sit comfortably with face positioned 10 inches from the bowl—close enough to feel the steam, but not so close as to be burned by it.

 ● Cover head with a towel, creating a tent over your head and the bowl.

 ● Steam face for approximately 5 minutes.

 ● Splash cool water on face and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Will you try this recipe? Learn herbalism with Herbal Academy by clicking here