Saunas are great for the skin.
They often cause blood vessels to dilate. This process alone increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, delivering a surge of nutrients, oxygen and cells involved in healing processes.
In other words, the skin goes into overdrive to receive all the internal resources it needs to rejuvenate itself. This boost in circulation, in addition to toxin removal, is a primary reason sauna lovers tout a natural healthy glow after sessions in the best home sauna they can afford.
However, while saunas provide circulation and cleansing benefits, the high heat also inevitably causes water loss through sweating. Sauna heat can leave your skin feeling parched and vulnerable. This means that proper post-sauna skincare is crucial.
Post-Sauna Skincare Routine for Restored Radiance
Follow these must-take steps immediately after exiting a sauna to ensure proper care for your skin.
Step 1: Rinse with Lukewarm Water
Head for the showers right after. Rinse away sweat and surface impurities. But make sure to avoid extremely cold or hot temperatures – they may shock or irritate the skin further.
Use lukewarm water – around body temperature. It gently cleanses while maintaining your skin’s current comfortable state. Also, make sure that you rinse for at least sixty seconds – to ensure that you wash away all traces of sweat, dirt and debris lifted during your sauna session.
Step 2: Cleanse Gently with Non-Stripping Formulas
Follow your rinse by massaging your favorite facial cleanser onto damp skin. As heat exposure leaves skin sensitive, stay far away from foaming cleansers or scrubs with large granules. These abrasive formulas may contain irritating sulfates and fragrances.
Step 3: Exfoliate Sparingly
Use a soft microfiber cloth to lightly buff away surface buildup one to two times per week. You may also incorporate a liquid exfoliant with PHAs – which offer lighter exfoliation better suited to post-sauna skin.
It’s best to skip manual scrubs, granular exfoliants, or intense chemical peels. Avoiding them will ensure you don’t strip your skin post-sauna. The heat already leaves skin compromised, so avoid unnecessary irritation from harsh exfoliation.
Step 4: Apply Soothing Facial Toner
Look for a toner with hydrating and repairing ingredients like:
- Rose water to calm inflammation
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid to attract moisture to thirsty skin
- Aloe vera to cool heat-exposed skin
Spritz the toner directly onto your face in sweeping motions. Or, saturate a cotton round and gently smooth over the skin. Make sure you apply toner while the skin is slightly damp to maximize hydration benefits.
Step 5: Nourish Skin with Targeted Serums
With clean, toned skin ready for nourishment, it’s time to tap into the power of concentrated serums. These skin-transforming formulas pack a punch with active antioxidants, humectants and nutrients to precisely tend to unique skincare needs.
Rotate serums over the week based on skin goals:
- Dryness/sensitivity: Hydration boosters with glycerin, ceramides and peptide complexes
- Dullness/uneven tone: Brightening vitamin C and botanical extracts like licorice root
- Aging concerns: Retinol alternatives to stimulate collagen-likee bakuchiol or red algae
- Acne-prone skin: BHAs like salicylic acid to keep pores clear
Apply serums before heavier creams which may prevent deeper absorption of key ingredients into the dermis. Use 2-5 drops and gently pat upwards into the skin.
Step 6: Lock In Moisture with a Nourishing Moisturizer
Emollient moisturizers improve hydration while restoring your skin’s delicate acid mantle disrupted by sauna sessions. Look for ingredient lists featuring skin-healthy lipids that reinforce your moisture barrier.
Must-Have Moisturizer Ingredients:
- Ceramides: Help seal in moisture and reinforce the lipid barrier
- Plant oils: Squalane, jojoba, rosehip and marula absorb easily without greasiness
- Humectants: Glycerin, honey and hyaluronic acid attract hydration
- Soothing extracts: Oat beta-glucan, aloe, green tea and chamomile
Focus on creamy, balm-like moisturizer textures that create an effective occlusive barrier to keep hydration locked into newly cleansed pores. Apply using gentle outward motions until cream fully absorbs without any greasy residue.
Step 7: Protect Your Glow with Mineral Sunscreen
Your skin remains heat-sensitized long after emerging from saunas, making sun protection a vital final step.
Broad spectrum mineral SPF contains natural UV blockers like zinc oxide ideal for sensitive post-steam complexions. So apply it liberally to all exposed areas of the skin. Doing so will ensure that you shield your refreshed sauna glow from environmental aggressors.
The Importance of Customizing Your Post-Sauna Routine
While the above skincare regimen covers universal post-steam essentials, it’s important to customize steps to your unique skin type and concerns. Not everyone requires every step, and some individuals may benefit from additional targeted relief.
Here’s how to adapt your regimen based on individual needs:
Oily/Breakout-Prone
- Swap traditional creams for gel-based moisturizers
- Incorporate clay masks weekly to balance excess oil
- Use oil-free mineral SPF formulas
Dry/Mature Skin
- Add a nourishing facial oil packed with ceramides
- Exfoliate less frequently (1x week max)
- Choose a richer night cream
Sensitive Skin
- Always check ingredient lists for common irritants
- Stick to fragrance-free formulas
- Use calming botanicals like chamomile, green tea, and aloe.
Pay attention to your skin and adjust your routine accordingly. With time, you’ll discover the ideal care regimen for maintaining your post-sauna glow.
Additional Soothing Relief After Intense Sauna Sessions
If your skin feels especially parched, sensitive or irritated after an intense sauna session, consider adding the following extra relief steps:
Soothing Facial Mask
Give skin deep levels of moisture by applying a hydrating facial mask after toning and serum steps. Look for soothing, sensitivity-calming ingredients like oat beta-glucan, aloe and panthenol. Smooth an even layer, avoiding the area, and relax for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
Hydration Boosting Sheet Mask
These innovative masks provide concentrated doses of skin-healthy ingredients via tiny cutouts in the sheet. The material helps potent serums better penetrate while giving your other products time to fully absorb underneath. Apply for 15-20 minutes for super-charged nourishment.
Calming Facial Mist
Keep a facial mist formulated with botanicals like rosewater, green tea and chamomile by your side as you relax post-sauna. The aromatherapeutic scent provides comfort while the humectants give your skin an instant moisture top-up whenever needed. You can spritz as often as every 5-10 minutes for hydration without irritation.
Moisture-Sealing Face Oil
If your skin craves an extra surge of soothing lipids, smooth a few drops of antioxidant-rich botanical oil over cream or SPF as your final step. Rosehip, marula, jojoba, squalane and tamanu absorb quickly without clogging pores while reinforcing your acid mantle. Use anytime your skin needs fortifying.
Maintaining Your Sauna Glow Between Sessions
The right homecare regimen doesn’t stop after one sauna session. Regular sauna-going and diligent daily skincare is what provides cumulative benefits over time. Here’s how to maintain your healthy complexion glow:
Cleanse Gently Twice Daily
Stick with non-stripping cleansers without sulfates or fragrances which may irritate skin between sauna visits. Cleansing morning and night keeps pores clear of dirt, oil and debris that may dull your glow.
Exfoliate Strategically
Gently exfoliate skin 1-2 times per week max to slough away dead surface cells revealing brighter skin underneath. Be extra gentle if you are also using saunas regularly.
Hydrate with Antioxidants
Serums and antioxidant-rich creams fortify your skin barrier against environmental elements trying to dull your glow. Vitamins C, E, botanical oils and ceramides all help reinforce and protect skin.
Nourish Overnight
Supercharge your post-sauna glow by applying ultra-hydrating overnight masks as the final step of your nightly routine. These dense creams saturate skin with emollients while you sleep. You’ll wake up with supremely plump, supple skin ready to take on the day.
SPF Always
Vigilant SPF use maintains glow by preventing dark spots and hyperpigmentation from sun exposure leading to uneven tone. Reapply every two hours.
Signs Your Post-Sauna Skincare May Need Adjustments
Pay attention to your skin’s signals to determine if your current post-steam regimen needs any tweaks for optimal results.
Watch for these clues:
Ongoing dry patches and tightness
If dryness persists between sauna sessions, reinforce your lipid barrier with more regular use of ceramide serums and creams. Add a facial oil for extra protection as the last step before SPF.
Increased breakouts
Clogged pores from infrequent cleansing or moisturizers that are too rich can lead to fresh breakouts. Incorporate salicylic acid for its pore-clearing properties and consider lighter gel formulas. Always rinse immediately post-sauna.
Redness and sensitivity
If your skin stings, or appears irritated, skip exfoliation. Stick to gentle cleansers. Also, avoid irritating essential oils and fragrances. Always monitor your skin closely when trying new products.
Ready to Achieve Your Healthiest Sauna Glow?
Now, you can finally reap all the aesthetic rewards of sauna sessions. Radiant, smooth, evenly toned skin awaits on the other side of a 15-minute session.
Just make sure that you listen closely to your skin’s needs and fine-tune these steps over time. Commit to post-sauna care with the same vigor as your wellness rituals, and you will be guaranteed a noticeably luminous complexion that screams total body health.
