Using Herbs for Facial Skin Care & Toners
Whether you call them facial herbs, facial teas, facial steams, or facial toning herbs, our organic Herbal Facial Teas are a great addition to your facial care regimen.
Herbal Facial Steams
A facial steam, one of the most ancient practices for facial skin, is marvelous for your skin.
Congested pores, dull complexion, uneven skin, whiteheads, and blackheads are often signs of clogged skin pores. Clogged pores can be caused by a number of factors such as excess fat and oil, dead skin cells, environmental pollution, makeup residue, and dirt.
Steaming expands pores, loosens dirt and debris in pores, and allows pores to breathe as impurities are forced out. The warm moist heat hydrates the skin, improves circulation, relaxes muscles, plumps wrinkles, loosens debris, softens rough skin, and allows the moisturizer you apply afterward to penetrate deeper.
An organic herbal facial steam can stimulate circulation and bring a bright complexion and rosy glow back to dry, dull, lackluster complexions. They are also delightfully relaxing!
Basic Herbal Facial Steam Recipe:
- Place 3 tablespoons to ¼ cup of herbs into the muslin bag
- Place the bag in a pot or heatproof bowl about 3 quart size
- Pour 2 quarts of boiling water over the herbal bag
- Cover and steep for at least 10 minutes
How To Use:
- Wait a few minutes to allow the water to cool slightly--be sure steam is not too hot
- Place a bowl on a heatproof surface where you can comfortably sit
- Holding your head 12 inches from the bowl, drape a large towel over the head and bowl to capture steaming herbal water
- Allow the steam to bathe your skin a minute or two and then raise your head a bit and take a few breaths of fresh air
- Repeat the process for a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes
- If at any time it gets too hot under the towel--lift a corner to let in a little cool air
- As the herbs steep, the rising steam will open your pores and carry the aromatic herbal oils your skin
- Splash face with cool water to close your pores and pat dry
- When finished empty the bag and compost the herbs
- Rinse the muslin bag and allow it to dry
Facial TONER
Some people like to use a toner in between washing and moisturizing.
A toner should be made with natural ingredients. A “natural” face toner is a toner without alcohol, preservatives, or synthetic ingredients. Although these natural toners will not provide all of the super astringent and cleansing that you get from a more traditional toner, they will not strip your skin either.
Simple Herbal Facial Toner Recipe
- Fill a muslin bag with 1/4 cup of herbs
- Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herbal bag
- Cover and steep for at least 10 minutes
- Allow to cool and remove herbs from tea
How to Use:
- Use cotton balls or clean fingertips to apply the herbal facial toner after cleansing
- Some people prefer to pour it into a small spray bottle and spritz it on
- Our tea formula, alcohol-free and non-drying, does not need not be rinsed
- Extra tea will last about 7 days if refrigerated in a non-aluminum container
- When finished empty the bag and compost the herbs
- Rinse the muslin bag and allow it to dry
Our herbal facial teas are great all on their own but it is easy to combine facial herbs with other great skincare additives, like honey or apple cider vinegar, most of which can be found in your kitchen cupboards.
Find a more comprehensive look at using facial teas and toners plus creative recipes, read our blog, Using Herbs for Facial Skin Care & Toners
A Few Important Notes:
Although many people benefit from facial steams, they are not appropriate for everyone. Steam facials should not be used for those with cystic acne or rosacea and heat and sweating can often irritate eczema.
For folks who have extremely sensitive, damaged skin or who are prone to developing tiny broken veins or capillaries, herbal steams can be irritating and should be avoided unless suggested by a health care provider.
People with health conditions such as asthma or heart trouble should consult their physician before doing facial steams. If you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin, you should always do a skin patch test before using any new product.
Just like you should not sit too long in a steam room, you do not want to facial steam too long or too often. Listen to YOUR skin! A word of caution-- If you feel light-headed or woozy during steaming, stop at once.
For external use only!
