Thinking about buying a facial steamer? You’ve come to the right place. This quick review of the Panasonic facial steamer will help you make an informed decision before spending a dime. It paints a realistic picture of what this facial steamer can and cannot achieve as far as your skin care goals are concerned.
If you’re new to facial steaming in general, be sure to keep reading for the full buying guide and FAQs about facial steaming.
Panasonic Facial Steamer Review (Model EHSA31-VP)
What’s Included
- A 50ml water tank
- Power cord
- Six-minute deep cleaning
- User manual
Top Features
- Ultra-fine steam: The whole point of using a facial steamer is to get the steam to penetrate deep into your pores. The EH-SA31VP releases nano-sized steam particles that are a thousand times smaller than regular steam particles. They penetrate easily and deeply into your skin to dislodge dirt from pores and hydrate your face effectively.
- Quick at-home treatment: As the water tank is small, it takes less than a minute for steam to generate. For larger sized water tanks, you will have to wait two minutes or longer.
- Solid plastic construction: The plastic design is quite sturdy and also convenient if you plan to pack the steamer in your luggage bag on vacations and extended trips
- Compact size: The Panasonic facial steamer (EH-SA31VP) does not take up much space. You can easily seat it in your bathroom cabinet, dressing table or luggage bag/backpack.
- Attractive design: If you care about how your face steamer should look, well, the Panasonic design won’t disappoint you. Also, as looks are largely a matter of personal preference, you may find facial steamers from other brands to be better designed.
- Noiseless operation: Low-quality facial steamers may make clicking noises. A defective product may also demonstrate this symptom. The EH-SA31VP does not suffer from this problem.
- Two year warranty: The Panasonic facial steamer offers a two-year warranty, which compares favorably against the usual 1-year warranty on most products in this category.
- Good value for money: Reasonable price for a very high quality product. Click here to check the latest price.
Potential drawbacks
- Six minutes of steam in one session: Ten minutes is an ideal time for one steaming session. Avoid steaming your face for more than 12 minutes as any longer can have a drying effect on your skin. The EH-SA31VP ‘s smaller water dispenser offers only six minutes of steam. If you’re aiming for a 10-12 minute session, you will need to refill and undergo two sessions. But if you have acne or sensitive skin – in which case you should shorten the steaming duration – the product should do just fine.
- Less stronger steam flow: The low capacity also means that steam flow, although consistent, won’t be as strong as steamers with larger capacities. Usually, steamers with big water dispensers generate steam that can last for 15 minutes, and the steam is used on both the face and hair. If you want a hotter steam experience, you can consider moving the steamer an inch or two closer to your face.
- No automatic shut-off: Many facial steamers will turn off when the water level runs low, to prevent the tank from boiling dry. The EH-SA31VP lacks this safety feature.
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Tips for Using the Panasonic Facial Steamer at Home
Follow these steps to get the most out of your Panasonic facial steamer:
- The first step is to prepare your skin for steaming. Cleanse your skin with a mild cleanser to remove superficial dirt. You can exfoliate prior to the session. This is to remove dead cells that can clog the pores. Use a gentle face scrub that does not cause irritation. Some people may use a homemade sugar or salt scrub.
- Fill the water dispenser. Follow instructions on how much water to fill as provided in the user manual. Know the power requirements or the batteries that need to be used. Also check how many seconds/minutes it will take for the steamer to start generating mist.
- Set the mist at your preferred temperature. Position your face a comfortable distance away. Turn your face to the left and right to ensure that every part of your face receives the warm goodness of the steam. If this is your first time steaming your face, check how your skin responds to the steam for a minute or two. Very sensitive skin, particularly skin with rosacea may react adversely to too much steam. You can do an initial test by placing a warm cloth against your skin for about two minutes. If your skin turns red, you may be getting sufficient steam for your skin type and not need a facial steamer.
- Post facial steaming, rinse your face with water and pat dry with a towel. You can also follow up with a face mask.
Sometimes, we may over-steam our face. In this case, you’ll want to avoid further stressing your skin. Limit exposure to the sun and don’t steam your face for a few weeks. Sip on water and fresh juices to stay hydrated. Include collagen-boosting foods such as walnuts, tomatoes, red bell peppers and sweet potatoes.
Facial Steamer Buying Guide
What does a facial steamer do?
A facial steamer is a good beauty and personal care investment for many reasons.
Deep cleanses and removes toxins from your skin
Cleansing is the easiest way to maintain healthy skin. A skincare regimen is incomplete without a deep cleanse. For women who spend many hours outdoors or in polluted environs, deep cleansing is vital to maintain the radiance and texture of their skin. If your profession requires you to wear make-up regularly, deep cleansing cannot be recommended enough.
While washing your face every day may seem enough, it seldom is; here’s why: the human skin is covered in dead skin cells, pollutants, dirt and bacteria. Your body lends you a hand by shedding nearly 50 million dead skin cells each day. Washing your face every day prevents the dead skin cells layer from becoming thicker and gets rid of superficial dirt and pollutants. It also provides your face with necessary hydration, and of course freshens you.
Deep cleansing using a facial steamer delves a bit deeper, and removes the impurities clogged in your skin. It targets the pores of your skin to dislodge dirt from weather elements, cosmetic products, and any bacteria residing on your skin (these are usually harmless bacteria, but you can do without them!).
It is also important to mention that deep cleansing supports the removal of toxins from the skin. Toxins can be traced to two sources: beauty products (make-up, lotions, creams, and so on) and diet. The skin’s natural defense causes toxins to come out through rashes or other skin conditions. A quality facial steamer increases skin perspiration, which helps with removal of toxins.
Reduces Blemishes
Steaming removes blockages from pores and reduces the look of blemishes. It is also helpful for mild acne. The steam loosens pores and allows blackheads to be gently extracted. By removing pore blockages, facial steaming also does its bit to avoid breakouts triggered by accumulation of dirt and antigens.
Note that steaming will not prevent acne. In fact, you should not attempt to extract large pimples or blemishes with a facial steamer. Steaming can be counterproductive on inflammatory acne, worsening its inflammation and redness. If you have severe acne, broken/raw/irritated skin, or a skin condition such as rosacea, please consult your dermatologist before using a facial steamer.
Steaming prepares your skin for extractions of blackheads and some small blemishes. But do understand how extractions can be done safely, particularly if you are trying a facial steam for the first time.
Boosts blood circulation
According to the University of Minnesota, massaging and stroking the skin with both hands improves blood and lymph circulation. This, in turn, stimulates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells. Facial steaming offers similar benefits. The heat from steam dilates blood vessels, which enhances blood flow.
In our 30s, signs of aging become noticeable on our skin. Our skin takes longer to renew and blood circulation may also become sluggish, particularly if we don’t lead active lifestyles. Steaming is a convenient way to improve circulation in the face and help keep your skin healthy, supple and youthful.
A face steam also prepares your skin for more effective application of make-up. After the hot steam has softened your skin, you can wash your face and put on a face mask that closes your pores. Then you can apply a primer and get about beautifying your face. Your make-up will last longer and you won’t have to deal with excess build-up as steaming would have cleared your pores.
You can also steam your face to remove make-up. By opening up your pores, the steamer will allow make-up and dirt to come off easily.
Choosing the Best At Home Facial Steamer
Brands:
A reputed brand is a safe bet. There’s a reason that companies like Panasonic have been around for decades. For a device that I’m planning to fill with hot water and place up against my face – I want a brand I can trust.
Steam quality:
A facial steamer should do a far better job of steaming your face than what the traditional method allows. One of its key value propositions is the quality of steam emitted. This Panasonic facial steamer offers deep-penetrating nano-sized steam particles, that easily work their way into your skin.
Space:
For practical purposes, larger facial steamers are less preferable to their more compact counterparts. It is cumbersome to carry a big face steamer from one room to another or take it in and out of storage. And if you plan to take it along on your vacation, to a fashion shoot or another event/occasion, size will definitely matter.
Dispenser capacity:
The more water the dispenser can hold, the more steam you will get per session. If you plan on steaming your face once a week, you will want to get it done without stopping to refill for a second session. A product that does not generate at least five minute of continual steam per session may not cut it.
Temperature:
Experts recommend steaming temperatures of no more than 110-115 degree Fahrenheit. You’ll want to ensure your device offers temperatures close to this range. If the steam is not warm enough, it won’t be effective. And if the steam is too hot, it creates a big safety hazard.
Price:
A spa quality facial steamer will cost somewhere in the range of $60-100. The Panasonic EH-SA31VP Facial steamer is my personal pick for the best balance of price and quality. Check the latest price here.
FAQs about Facial Steaming
1. How far should you keep the facial steamer from your skin?
Ensure that you maintain a minimum distance of 10 inches from the unit. If you come closer, the hot mist of steam may irritate or even burn your skin. Some users find 10 inches also a tad uncomfortable and prefer to move two or more inches away.
2. Is there a particular skin product that you should avoid applying after a facial steam?
Avoid exfoliating your skin after a steam session. As your pores will be open, scrubbing your face could cause irritation and inflammation.
3. Is there a particular skin product that is recommended after a facial steam?
A face mask is more effective after facial steaming. Smooth a clay or other nutrient-rich face mask over your face for about 15 minutes. Avoid using a harsh mask whose strong cleaning agents may irritate your softened skin. If you will be using a peel-away mask, opt for a gentle product that you can easily pull away from your face.
4. Other than skincare, what are some other reasons to use a facial steamer?
If you have nasal congestion, facial steaming with eucalyptus, bergamot or mint essential oil can feel relieving. After an exhausting day, facial steam aromatherapy with sandalwood or bergamot essential oil will relax and soothe you. If you’re looking to reenergize, replace with lemongrass or cedarwood essential oil. A facial steam a few minutes before going to bed can promote relaxing sleep. According to the Journal of Natural Medicines, inhaling patchouli essential oil may have a sedative effective and help you sleep more easily.
5. How often should you steam your face?
If you have regular skin, you can steam your face every one or two weeks. If you have oily or acne-prone skin with clogged pores, twice per week will suffice. Individuals with dry skin can steam their face once every two weeks. Avoid steaming more than two times a week as this can make your skin too dry and even cause sagging, redness and wrinkles. Too much heat can dehydrate collagen strands and result in breakage.
Check the latest price on the Panasonic Facial Steamer here.
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