Can You Use A Humidifier As A Facial Steamer?

Facial steaming is a fantastic step to include in your skincare routine. With a steamer, steam is directed to the face, hydrating and loosening pores. This aids exfoliation, allows for blackheads to be removed, etc.

Sounds a lot like a humidifier! A humidifier is also a device that creates more moisture in the air, and many of us have these in our homes already.

Can you use a humidifier as a facial steamer? Can you skip the steamer and just use a humidifier?

The short answer is no, you can’t use a humidifier as a facial steamer. Facial steamers are significantly different from typical room humidifiers. Even if you are talking about a facial humidifier, they still differ from what a facial steamer can do to your skin.

In this article, we’ll go into detail on facial steamer vs humidifier, and explain the similarities and differences. Let’s dive in.

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What Does A Facial Steamer Do?

Before we talk about any substitute for a facial steamer, let us first clear out what it does to your skin. Facial steamers produce steam, which is typically at a warm/hot temperature (though it can be cool, too). The steam will help cleanse the pores. It helps dilate the pores so that anything that’s clogging can be removed.

That also helps release the trapped sebum and bacteria. Therefore the steam can help with acne problems like blackheads that keep refilling. 

Due to dilating the pores, it also helps with the absorption of the products you’d be using after the steaming session. It also improves circulation, hydrates the skin, and promotes the production of collagen and elastin.

Also, don’t forget that the warm steam can feel soothing and relaxing as well, especially when facial steaming herbs are added! This is especially true with professional-grade facial steamers. 

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Can You Use A Humidifier As A Facial Steamer?

As described above, there are many benefits to facial steaming. Although a humidifier may look like a steamer because it also produces a mist, it does not provide the same benefits.

You can try to use a room humidifier if you want… you might just end up harming your skin in the process. 

Room humidifiers add moisture to the air. Although they can also be used to add moisture to your skin when you use them just like facial steamers, they are almost certainly not as clean.

The mist produced in a humidifier can contain bacteria. You don’t want to introduce more bacteria into your skin because it can also worsen your acne problem. 

Even if you nuke your humidifier with UV light to remove any bacteria from the mist, the temperature of the mist will still be cold. There’s no easy way to warm up the humidifier steam to be the same as a facial steamer.

Most humidifiers, even the facial, ones make use of ultrasonic technology, which doesn’t heat up the mist. 

There are some products that are advertised as both facial steamers and No products found.. Facial humidifiers use both warm and cool steam, but they are otherwise the same as facial steamers. More on these later.

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Who Should Use A Facial Steamer?

A facial steamer  would be best for those who want to deeply cleanse their face. With the heat of the steam, the oils can be easily removed.

This can prevent clogged pores.

The heat will also be useful in making the skin absorb other skincare products better. 

Facial steamers could also be used who want to improve their dull skin by removing dirt and sebum. It is also great for aging skin as it can help encourage the production of elastin and collagen. 

However, those who have sensitive skin may not be compatible with the facial steamer. Those who have rosacea or those with redness should also avoid it because heat can worsen their skin condition. 

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Who Should Use A Facial Humidifier?

Humidifiers  are great for those who are looking into keeping their skin hydrated. Due to ultrasonic technology, humidifiers produce a fine mist that can easily be absorbed by the skin.

Humectants like hyaluronic acid also get better absorbed when humidifiers are used because the moisture requirement is met. 

This facial device is best for those with dry skin. It can only help with hydration and moisture. Those who may also have skin that sensitive to heat and would want to hydrate their skin can use this product. 

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Facial Steamer vs Humidifier: Which Should You Get?

Although there are facial steamers and separate facial humidifiers sold in the market, there are now products that combine both benefits. Such combination facial steamer humidifiers  also make use of nano ionic technology to improve the penetration of the steam on the skin.

These also provide the same benefits you get out of usual facial steamers. 

There are also some products that allow you to control the temperature. Those products can help you better customize your session.

If you only need hydration, then go for the cold mist. If you want to deeply clean your face as well, then switch to the heating option. 

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Final Thoughts

Facial steamers can level up your skincare routine by deeply cleansing the face, improving absorption of other products, improving circulation, and influencing the production of elastin and collagen.

Room humidifiers shouldn’t be used as substitutes for the facial steamer. They are not as clean and they do not produce similar effects as the heated steam. 

Heat plays an important factor in the effects brought about by facial steamers. Even if you are to consider facial humidifiers, their effect is still different and would not be an ideal substitute. They are limited to hydrating the skin only.

The great news is that there are products that combine the function of a facial steamer and facial humidifier in one. These can be used to target different skin concerns.