DIY Facial Steam & Nutrition for Healthy Aging

Whatever your age, it’s never too early to take care of your skin! Here’s a how-to for a DIY facial steam (no special equipment necessary!), and nutrition for healthy aging

These last couple years I have been thinking a bit more about my something that I didn’t really care about before: aging. With the onset of gray hair and wrinkles (I’ve got both!) came a renewed interest in taking better care of my skin and overall health.

One of my favorite natural skincare routines over the years has been facial steams. Doing a facial steam is something that I admittedly haven’t done in a while, but it used to be one of my favorite Saturday night self-care rituals. My older sisters taught me how to do facial steams back when we were teenagers, and I am getting back into steaming as a way to help with healthy aging.

Facial steaming is a great way to improve circulation to your skin and it helps to remove impurities from your pores. It’s such a natural and healthy way to take care of our skin. No chemicals or harsh scrubs! It’s something that I am going to pass on to my daughter as well so she can take the time to appreciate and care for her skin as she moves into the teen years.

Not only does facial steaming help your skin, it also helps with sinus and bronchial congestion by moistening those tissues and loosening congestion. This is a great thing to do a couple times a week during cold and flu season! My son is starting to do this to help with his dry sinuses during the dry winter months.

Steps for a DIY at-home facial steam

1. Wash your face and neck
2. Heat 2-3 cups water to boiling in a pot or kettle
3. Pour the water into a bowl and add a couple drops of essential oil if you like (don’t add too much, they can be strong!), or add fresh herbs like rosemary or lavender
4. Hold your face above the bowl at a comfortable distance (about 5-6 inches above the water or whatever you can tolerate) and cover your head and the bowl with a large towel
5. Close your eyes and relax in the steam for about 10 minutes
6. Once you are done, dry your face and continue with your regular facial routine (toner, moisturizer, etc.)

It’s best to do a steam in the evening when you’re ready to relax and take off your makeup from the day. It will make your face a bit red and it will open up your pores, so it’s not something that you’ll want to do at the start of your day.

Proper nutrition for healthy aging

If you want to improve your skin and develop a natural and healthy anti-aging routine, regular facial steams aren’t the only thing that can help. The best approach to healthy aging includes a diet low in processed foods and sugar, plenty of water, and has a balanced mix of healthy fats and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Proper nutrition is imperative to good skin, and supplements are another great way to improve your skin condition from the inside out. Douglas Laboratories believes that healthy aging isn’t just about living longer, but living healthier for longer and improving health from the inside out. Douglas Laboratories produces high-quality and science based supplements designed to help people achieve healthy aging and active lifestyles.

Some of the Douglas Laboratories supplements that are great for healthy aging include:

• QUELL Fish Oil ® – EPA/DHA Plus D: composed of Supercritical CO2-extracted oils in triglyceride form, produced in Germany. EPA and DHA found in fish oils are important for joints, vision, nerves, and heart health
• Ultra HNS (Hair, Nails, Skin): supplies high dose biotin, methylfolate, vitamin C, zinc and Cynatine® HNS for healthy hair, nails and skin.*
• Biotin 8 mg: supports healthy glucose metabolism, nerve function, and nail strength*
• Hyaluronic Acid®: low molecular weight hyaluronic acid for joint and skin health*

It’s never too early to think about healthy aging! We are all aging since we everyone grows a bit older each day, so taking the time to incorporate good skincare routines, healthy nutrition habits, and a supplement regimen is important for overall health.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

*Please consult your healthcare practitioner before introducing any new nutritional supplements into your daily routine — especially if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition.