Steaming is another skin care fundamental. A facial steam or sauna surrounds your face with an herb's essential oils. A steam won't remove dirt and grime, but it will soften the skin's surface enough to help cleanse and unclog pores. The heat increases circulation and relaxes facial muscles while the combination of steam and essential oils acts as a moisturizer. I know exfoliation sounds like a term more suited to reforestation than beauty, but aestheticians consider it one of their most important tools.
Exfoliation is the removal of dull, dead surface skin.
Carefully scrubbing your face exposes underlying, fresh skin and encourages the growth of the undeveloped skin in the skin's deepest layers. I recommend exfoliation to everyone but those with the most sensitive complexions. It is important that exfoliation be performed properly, using gentle, circular movements. If overdone, too much new skin is exposed before it is ready to face the world. Avoid the chemical exfoliants used by some beauty salons and even natural products containing ground almond shells, which are too harsh for the face.