As much as we love facials, we also understand that not everyone has the budget to fit in a $60-$70 professional facial (including extractions) every 4-6 weeks. Digging deep (no pun intended!), I am about to share with you something that has never failed me: a facial steam done at home.

Quick disclaimer: Before you begin boiling the water, please make sure to clear the table where you will be performing this facial steam. Since you are working with very, very hot water, it is of great importance to work carefully. Safety before anything!

Now that we are done with that, we are about to share with you our perfect at home steam facial:

Step 1: Clear the table that you will be using for your facial steam. Make sure there is nothing in your path from the stove to the table. Last thing you want to do is stumble while carrying a pot of hot water!

Step 2: Place a dish mat or towelette where you will be placing the hot pot of water so that you don’t burn the table.

Step 3: You will need another bigger towel to surround the bowl and your face (to keep the steam in). Leave this on the table as well.

Step 4: Simmer water in a nice sized pot (deep). Add a pinch of sea salt (regular salt if sea salt not available).

Step 5: When water is boiling, turn off the stove. Carry pot to the table slow and carefully. Place on towelette.

Step 6: Grab the bigger towel. Stand over pot of water, leaning face towards steam.

Step 7: Wrap towel around pot and face so the steam can stay concentrated on your face.

Step 8: If this is your first time with a steam facial, then only perform this for 2-3 minutes.

Step 9: Make sure you are not too close to the pot. If the steam feels overwhelming, open a small gap in the towel to bring in cool air.

The only thing you should be careful about is that if you keep at the steam facial for too long, sometimes scab can form around the acne making it look harsher than it is.

Just as a precaution, for the first time only perform this steam facial for 2-3 minutes.

Performing this steam facial has resulted in my acne healing within the span of 24-48 hours, leaving my skin smooth and healthy. I specifically performed this steam facial a week before my university graduation which was very rewarding.

Of course, mud masks are a cheap alternative and also help your skin but there is something quite therapeutic about a steam facial. Perform one and let us know how you like it!

[Pictures Coming Soon!]

We also started talking about how if we had a website like this back then (10-15 years ago), how much time and energy this could have saved us.

So let me get to that question. You know, the question that if you don’t answer, can’t lead you to improvement of your skin…. The reason that you’re here.

What Type of Skin Do You Have?

Before you make any assumptions, this question is more deceptive than you think. For years, my sister always thought she had “oily” skin. And as for myself, my skin shifted from “oily” to dry especially when I moved to the northeast.

It was only until recently when we consulted with a local dermatologist that we realized that we have hormonal acne. In simple words, our bodies are producing extra levels of testosterone resulting in acne breakouts.
That’s why you see women with horomonal disorders break out more around their periods. Sometimes taking birth control pills can help the acne clear up (because they essentially stop the menstrual cycle) but this is only a temporary solution. Not to mention, perhaps some women are uncomfortable messing with their cycles.

If you have oily or dry skin, it is essential to keep your skin properly clean and moisturized. But if you have hormonal acne, then it’s best to consult your dermatologist.

I Can’t Afford to Consult With a Dermatologist Right Now…

IF that is the case, then the easiest thing you can do is watch your menstrual cycle. Dedicate a small calendar to tracing your period/menstrual cycle and right down the dates when you experience severe acne breakouts. Also note when your menstruation period starts and when it ends. Track it for 2-3 months.

By doing this, you can clearly see if there is a direct correlation between your cycle, hormones and acne. Of course, some times things aren’t that simple; you may be suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or the rare Cushing’s syndrome.

Before you go down that road and panic, the first step is to take notes. Your dermatologist may also need this information to determine your acne breakout cycle.

Before You Leave…

No matter what type of acne and blemishes you are suffering from, we have accumulated the top 10 products that have personally affected us in a positive way. You can get this free pdf resource by subscribing to our newsletter below.

We promise not to spam you (we hate spam just as much as you do!):

The Mia only works at one speed and there is just one-button that needs to be operated to get it going.

The benefits of the Sonic Skin Cleansing system are numerous and it aims to do the following:

• Significantly reduces dry skin patches, blemishes and oily areas.
• The gentle action makes it possible for twice daily use, thus increasing product absorption.
• Removes up to six times more makeup removal and leaves the skin looking smoother and younger.
• More than twice as effective compared to manual cleansing
• Assists with the appearance and reduction of visible pores
• Suitable for use on all skin types
• The brush heads can be interchanged with other Clarisonic products

Now That You Have Heard What This Baby Can Do…

Editor’s Note: My sister own the Clarisonic Mia cleansing system and she absolutely loves it. Watching her be quite happy with the results, I’ll be ordering it in the next two weeks.

If you are looking for a Skin Cleansing System that is recommended by skin care professionals, is waterproof and comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty, then the Clarisonic Mia is definitely for you.

All the positive reviews can’t be wrong and the fact that it made it into our Top 10 Skin Care Products That Will Help You & Your Wallet special speaks to the effectiveness of this skin care tool.

• Vitamin A against Acne – as vitamin A has retinoids, they are often used to treat acne and other skin disorders. This is mostly prescribed by dermatologists and can be taken both orally and topically. Vitamin A enriched foods include carrots, tomatoes, citrus fruits, yellow squash and pumpkin. Vitamin A, used properly, can lead to healthy skin.
• Vitamin C for Wrinkles and Skin Aging – vitamin C plays to major roles in caring for the skin. One is that it synthesizes collagen which is a key structural protein of the skin. The other one is to act as an antioxidant which helps reduce skin damage caused by free radicals. Proper consumption of vitamin C may reduce wrinkles and improve the skin’s texture.
• Vitamin E for Sun Protection – vitamin E lotions can help the skin prevent sunburns and damages caused by ultra violet light. A fair amount of vitamin E should be applied to the body 20 minutes before going out or being exposed to the sun to give the skin enough time to absorb it deep into the epidermis. This can also reduce the risk of skin cancer and other skin conditions which detract from your goal of beautiful skin.

A healthy eating habit and good supply of vitamins can definitely help you maintain the freshness and radiance of your skin. Everybody notices your face, so you should do your best to take good care of it. If you want beautiful skin, whether it’s your face or body, be sure to incorporate vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E into your diet or through your dermatologist.

A glycolic acid peel is a skin treatment composed of acid, designed to slough off your old skin to leave you with smooth beautiful skin. Usually it takes several treatments to notice much of a difference. A couple of years ago, you could only get this treatment from a skin care professional. However, today, it’s a different story!

Professional glycolic acid peels can cost a nice chunk of money and sometimes need to be repeated. If you are considering trying it, consider using a product you can purchase yourself and apply at home.

By trying this at home, you can also start by selecting a glycolic acid peel with a low percentage of acid to test on your skin. You can start with Glycolic Acid Peel 20% and gradually make your way to Glycolic Acid Peel 35% and so on.

From personal experience, at times when tea tree oil failed me, the above mentioned products haven’t. It is normal to feel a tingly, warm sensation on your face and your face will probably appear pinker than usual for a few hours.

As always, test product on a small part of your face!

Think about it: You wake up in the morning, apply make-up to your face, go outside, sweat. While washing your face does the job temporarily, think of all the dirty you’re accumulating in your pores. Just to give you an example, have you ever used face strips especially for your nose? What comes after peeling is a horrendous view of what was in your skin. You will see blackheads, whiteheads, all the junk blocking your pores.

To attain beautiful skin, it is necessary to let your pores breath. While money can be tight and most people view getting a facial view on a monthly basis a bit extravagant, consider doing this every couple of months. In between, make it a necessary routine to use mineral based face mask. Remember, beautiful skin requires daily work!

Without further ado, here are 5 things that you need to immediately reduce or cut out of your diet completely so you can be on your way to beautiful, healthy skin.

1.  Soda

This one is really hard for most people due to how readily available and cheap it is.  After all, you can get soda from the grocery store (24 packs), gas station, fast food, restaurants.  It is ridiculously easy to develop this bad habit.  In fact, most people substitute soda for water.  I have personally struggled with this and have reduced my intake to as low as 1-2 times a week.

2. Diet Soda

You thought you would cut out the sugar with regular soda and switch to diet soda?  Pretty slick and I can see why you would turn to diet soda.  Common thinking is that soda contains lots of sugar and consuming too much sugar results in unhealthy skin.

How about considering the fact that it’s not all about the sugar but also the ingredients that go in a soda.  Grab your diet soda can and read all the ingredients.  Bet you can’t pronounce them.  Let go of the diet soda can…. just walk away!  I will say that if you do get an urge once in a while, opt for diet soda!

3.  Fruit Juices

In general, fruits are great for you!  Fruit juice can be great for you as well, but not the sweetened kind.  Did you take a look at how much sugar is in one cup of orange juice?  How about apple juice?  Opt for organic, natural juice or even home-made fruit juice.  Takes a few minutes and tastes deliciously refreshing!  Be sure to blend apple and carrot juice together, 1 cup.. you’ll thank us later!

4.  Fried foods

Take a look at what you consume on a daily basis.  If it includes 2-3 x at a restaurant or fast food restaurant, you’re in trouble.  I don’t blame you: cooking your own meals can take a little bit of time and effort and what’s better than calling a hot pizza for delivery, waiting for you right when you get home?  Or how about the $1.00 menu at McDonald’s?  Mhmm.

Well, all those fried and greasy foods play a huge role in not only weight gain, but also breaking out your skin.  It’s hard to face the fact especially when these eating habits are ingrained in people so deeply.  Let go of all fast foods for two weeks.  Then the week after, drop the habit of eating at regular restaurants to maybe once a week.  It’s hard, but not impossible.  Think about the end goal here: healthy, acne-free, beautiful skin!

5. Desserts

Who doesn’t love a banana split sundae or a fudge brownie sundae?  These desserts might put you in a blissful mood thank to their high sugary contents, but you won’t feel so beautiful when you see acne breakouts on your face.  Cakes, pies, cookies, desserts–all of these delicious foods have a very high amount of sugar in them.  The problem isn’t with eating one slice of cake a week; it’s the fact that we don’t think before picking up a slice of cake what’s in it.  Soon enough, you’re treating yourself to one dessert a day.  Seemingly deserving yet a dangerous habit especially if you get bad breakouts from sugar.  Instead, opt for healthy and delicious fruits or fruit desserts you can make yourself.

While it can be hard to face that all these habits are what cause your acne, it’s better if you embrace this and modify your eating habits.  At first it may seem like a daily struggle but sooner than later your taste buds will change and you will be able to see the difference in your skin.  If your goal is beautiful skin, then you must embrace a healthy diet.  Make sure to kill these 5 destructive eating habits asap!

From personal treatment and when using consistently (this is key), I saw major improvements in my skin. Tea tree oil comes from a tree specifically found in Australia called Melaleuca Alternifolia (don’t worry, I can’t pronounce it either).

The part that is used for the treatment of acne are the essentials oils of the tea tree. Long before tea tree oil was used for acne, it was used for cuts, infections, amongst other things thanks to its healing properties.

Before you race over to the store, you should know that not all tea tree oil products are made the same. We will give you our whole-hearted recommendation at the end of this article. The key to enjoying the healing effects from tea tree oil is to use it consistently every day before bed (after a good face wash).

The only so-called negative is that a few people consider the smell of tea tree oil to be on the strong side, while others embrace the earthy smell (which subsides as time passes). A daily routine needs to be kept in order to enjoy any progress with your fading acne. The most effective tea tree oil products are the ones that are 100% tea tree oil (many products come diluted).

The product that we are recommending instructs not to use it as it comes but rather to dilute it. As always, first timers should test on a small area of the face. Be cautious the first few times and dilute the tea tree oil. I have personally used this product as it comes and have not experienced any problems. You will be amazed at the dirt loosening onto the cotton pad. Check out Dessert Essence 100% Tea Tree Oil if you’re interested. It is a small price to pay for beautiful skin and it ships quickly for me.

After a few weeks, you will notice your healthy and glowing skin.  After all, who doesn’t want beautiful skin?

Please note that before performing this “at home steam facial” to obtain beautiful skin, make sure that you won’t be conducting this with children or pets around.

For beautiful skin, please try the fool proof “at home steam facial”.  For a more beautiful skin, please try the following steps:

Choose a medium sized pot. It is essential that the pot is not huge in size so that you don’t spill hot, boiling water when carrying it to a nearby table.  Boil a few cups of water (no more than 4-6 cups).  Add quarter tablespoon of salt, as that will help cleanse and purify your skin, resulting in cleansed and beautiful skin.  If this is your first time trying this, start off with a pinch of salt.

While you wait for the water to boil, prepare the area where you will conduct this steam facial.  Use a mat so you don’t burn the table when the time comes to set the pot on it.  Also, get a nice full-size towel so you can wrap it around your face when the pot is ready.

Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the stove.  Grab the pot and move to the prepared area on nearby table.  Seat yourself in front of pot and lean your face over the pot.  Grab the towel and wrap it around your face and the pot, so the steam comes up directly to your face.

You will feel warm, tingly sensation, especially if this is your first time.  If the steam is too hot, move your face away from the pot or open towel slightly to let in cool air.  Perform this for 6-8 minutes.  Beginners should tackle this for 2-4 minutes the first couple of times.  If you have sensitive skin, tackle for only 1-2 minutes and don’t be afraid to stop if you’re not sure how your skin will react!

Doing this once a month clears your skin and often improves (in some cases, heal) acne paving way for beautiful skin. This should ideally be performed once a month.

Please remember to be extremely careful if this is your first time.  Some people can feel irritation and if not done properly, this could result in much worse.  Remember, always test the first time before plunging right into any first-time experiments with your skin.  We all want beautiful skin but use common sense!