The 3 Best Facial Steamers for an At-Home Spa Day, Tested by Our Beauty Editor

Only a few, including one created by a leading dermatologist, passed my vetting process.

Facial steamers are one of my favorite skincare tools — and as our beauty editor, I’ve tried plenty of devices. They range from professional LED facials to at-home solutions, like blackhead extractors and acne-zapping high-frequency wands. Skincare professionals, such as dermatologists and estheticians, incorporate facial steamers into their in-office and spa treatments, and I’ve personally experienced their benefits. But as someone who knows what it’s like to ball on a budget, I wanted to revisit at-home facial steamers as a relatively affordable skincare enhancement tool.

Ahead, I explore what you should know about shopping for and using at-home facial steamers, along with my top three recommendations based on my testing experience.

The Best Facial Steamers

• Best Overall: Dr. Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer
• Best Multipurpose Facial Steamer: Vanity Planet Aira Ionic Facial Steamer
• Best Compact Design: Skin Gym Voda Nano Ionic Facial Steamer

What to Consider

FACIAL STEAMER BENEFITS

• Facial steamers are safe for at-home use: Facial steamers are a much safer alternative than resting your face over a boiling pot of water. (Ahem, please don’t ever do that, or you risk burns or hot water bubbling up into your nose, mouth, or eyes. Yikes.)
• Facial steamers are low-commitment: You only need 5-15 minutes to experience their skincare benefits. For example, the Vanity Planet Aira Ionic Facial Steamer can be used for up to 15 minutes up for no more than three times weekly. This model also has an automatic timer that shuts down the machine once the water is evaporated.
• Facial steamers open pores: They are best known for helping to open pores and softening blackheads for easy removal with tools such as comedone extractors or pore strips.
• Facial steamers help clear sinuses: Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, M.D. says steaming helps clear your sinuses, so they’re the perfect addition to someone’s at-home allergy care routine. And with an uptick in COVID-19 cases and the upcoming flu and cold season on the horizon, this skincare tool can offer some much-appreciated relief.
• Facial steamers boost hydration: Steaming helps moisturize the skin, especially when you follow up with other skincare products, such as a face moisturizer, face cream, or hydrating face mask. Bansal adds, “Steaming releases toxins from your skin, loosens dirt and debris in your pores, and allows the products you apply afterward to penetrate deeper.”

All of those benefits sound amazing, right? But before you get to steaming, Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D., FAAD, assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has a couple of tips. She suggests removing your makeup before steaming but advises against using a facial steamer if you have rosacea, because “the heat may trigger a flare.”

YOUR SKIN TYPE

Now that you’re in the loop about why you should incorporate facial steamers into your at-home skincare routine, let’s talk about how to shop for one smartly so you can save time and avoid wasting money. Or even worse: Your giftee exchanges your thoughtful beauty gift idea for store credit.

Those with normal, combination, oily, and acne-prone skin types will benefit from using a facial steamer the most because it opens up your pores and helps remove gunk. Those with dry skin can use a facial steamer but should start off using it weekly and only increase as necessary.

USE WARM STEAM

Get this: Excessive heat can aggravate sensitive skin or skin dealing with eczema and rosacea, so you should avoid facial steamers altogether if you’re dealing with active flare-ups of either skin condition. When your face isn’t flaring up from rosacea, your safest bet is to use a facial steamer that emits a steady stream of warm air rather than piping hot. In my experience, warm steam is extremely effective at opening up my pores before using pore strips, exfoliating, or applying clay masks.

Speaking of steam, another factor to consider is nano-ionic technology — like in the Skin Gym model — because it boosts hydration, which is especially important as we stare down winter. Nano-ionic steam has a negative ionic charge that does an even better job at softening pores, so it’s an added feature worth investing in for enhanced results.

How We Chose

Now that you understand who would benefit from incorporating a facial steamer into their routine, here’s further insight into how I selected the three featured winners.

SIZE AND PORTABILITY

Before purchasing a facial steamer, consider the size of your bathroom and potential storage spots. Since I recently moved into my first studio apartment in a major city, I have first-hand experience with organizing beauty products in cramped spaces. Hence, all of my recommendations are relatively compact and portable.

Given their small sizes, these facial steamers would make for excellent gifts for college students living in dorms or student athletes who are looking to amplify their self-care routine. You can easily carry my suggestions from your bathroom counter to your bedroom vanity or kitchen counter and store them on your closet shelf with one hand. I’ve also packed mine in a suitcase flying cross-country.

My advice for anyone who can’t bear to be without their new face steamer: wrap your clean clothes around the steamer for cushioning. Once I finish packing everything, I like to pop my steamer in the center of the luggage and zip it up. I travel fairly frequently, and noticed over the years that when airline staff load and unload my rolling suitcases, very rarely does my luggage get dinged up in the center versus the corners or top of my suitcases.

WATER STORAGE TANK

Next, I considered the water storage tank. The larger the tank, the more water it can hold meaning you’ll experience a longer, more consistent warm steam. While initially enticing, owning a facial steamer with a large water storage tank isn’t necessary for our daily lives. These larger powerful models are designed with professional estheticians in mind who are steaming multiple people each shift and performing hundreds of extractions daily. That’s not typical for daily living, so they were omitted.

And don’t worry: My travel-friendly picks have a relatively smaller water storage tank, but I think they work just as effectively as their larger counterparts. Plus, they still emit an impressive flow of steam, cost less, and have a much smaller footprint.

Removable water tanks are also preferred because they’re easier to clean and dry upside down to prevent gross mold growth. Not to say facial steamers with fixed water storage tanks are bad; they collectively earned thousands of glowing top marks from online reviewers, too.

PRICING

I eliminated facial steamers on either extreme end of the price spectrum because typically products that are unusually cheap aren’t from reputable companies and anything costly prices out some readers. Plus, the pricier facial steamers tend to be massive ones that are designed for spa professionals in mind rather than someone like us who requires something more compact. (There are also hundreds of random white label companies on Amazon, such as this under-$20 model, but they’re just folks whom are looking to make a quick buck and don’t prioritize creating top-tier products.)

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Now that you have a better understanding of the various factors I considered I wanted to briefly highlight my top three winners. A huge component of my job as beauty editor of Best Products is hands-on testing items to deliver you, well, the best products that legitimately deliver on their promises.

For this story, I tested several options, but only three stood out. They seamlessly marry form with function, actually help enhance my skin in both the short and long-term, and are relatively affordable. Boasting unique attributes ranging from emitting defined nano-ionic steam and an adjustable nozzle, these facial steamers are truly the best of the best. And with the upcoming holidays on my mind — gifting is a 24/7 thing around these parts — I am confident they’d be a welcome luxury beauty gift for someone who could use a reminder to embrace self-care.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

I omitted larger, spa-grade facial steamers with princely price tags and tiny models from the running. For example, the Yunyilan Portable Nano Facial Steamer is popular among our readers. While the $13 price is certainly enticing, it’s just too small to deliver an adequate steam for at least five minutes to help open up the pores. I also cut bulky steamers, like the EZBasics model that can also steam our hair because that’s more niche and for naturalistas like myself. (TBH, if you’re looking to help your hair masks and hot oil treatments deeply penetrate y0ur hair follicles more, you’re better off using a hair dryer.)

I also enjoy using Plum Beauty products, and typically suggest its tools for anyone looking for affordable skincare tools, like a face massager. However, when I revisited its facial steamer I purchased I noticed it leaked a little despite never dropping or damaging the device. Perhaps since my steamer is a few years old, that could be partially why the leaking occurred. While not necessarily a dealbreaker for some people who got their money’s worth from a cheap $30 facial steamer, I didn’t appreciate this happened. Curious if this was an isolated incident, I researched online and noticed some reviewers also had issues related to leaking and electrical errors with their steamers, so I skipped the brand.

TL;DR

Facial steamers are safe for almost everyone, including those with sensitive skin. There are hundreds of facial steamers available on the market, but only three winners passed my research and testing process.

Using a facial steamer is an extra step worth taking once or twice a week to further enhance the effects of your skincare routine, and the Dennis Gross model hits all of the right marks to earn the title of best.

I’ve been a fan of Dr. Dennis Gross skincare products for years — and so have stars like Zoë Kravitz, Olivia Palermo, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. I’ve been using this facial steamer from the brand (founded by a board-certified dermatologist) on an off since 2019 and can attest to its quality and durability.

I consider Dr. Dennis Gross the top beauty gift idea for anyone with limited bandwidth due to the steamer’s super fast start-to-steam time. Not only does the Pro warm up quickly, but it releases micro-steam, a mist that both hydrates and purifies my complexion in just 9 minutes — the fastest among all the steamers I tested. So if you’re impatient or gifting someone who really doesn’t have much bandwidth for self-care, this Dr. Dennis Gross facial steamer is an excellent gift idea.

This is my facial steamer of choice because it provides ultra-hydrating effects that open pores to prep them for all of my post-steaming needs — serums, extractions, and face mask — you name it. The wider nozzle enables me to steam my entire face in one go, which isn’t the norm for other facial steamers on the market. Given the design, I notice my complexion looks especially dewy and refreshed in a shorter amount of time compared to when I use a different steamer or none at all.

I also find this machine is easy to clean and load up with water. And frankly, the white and orange color scheme looks gorgeous on my bathroom windowsill, providing a nice touch of style in my otherwise millennial gray bathroom. The compact design is also a win for anyone who lives in a small apartment like myself or even a shared dorm room.

Lastly, I also appreciate the 5-foot-long cord and attached carry handle for easy portability, allowing me to plug and steam anywhere the mood strikes, such as my desk, kitchen, or bathroom.

The only con I can think of while using this facial steamer is that Dr. Dennis Gross recommends we use distilled water — it’s flat and stripped of calcium and magnesium from the tap — for the best results. TBH, I just use tap water or if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll pour water from my purifying Zero Water pitcher. However, I haven’t had any issues with how my skin looks, feels, or reacts to using New York tap water. My facial steamer also never experienced any visible signs of wear and tear from using tap water. Proceed with your own caution, but based on my long-term testing, using tap water in this steamer is a non-issue.

Gifting someone who is a trendsetter can be tricky. Luckily, we’re all about discovering and testing the best new beauty products in the game. I found a gift-worthy facial steamer that has the potential to become the next big thing that will delight even your most hard-to-please loved one without exceeding your budget. With thousands of views (and counting) on TikTok, Vanity Planet’s facial steamer marries form with function and growing online buzz. And as our TikTok-obsessed editor, I just had to get my hands on the Vanity Planet Aira Ionic Facial Steamer.

The glossy white and rose gold is absolutely gorgeous, but it isn’t just aesthetics that make the Ionic a worthwhile purchase. In addition to it clarifying my complexion by unclogging pores, I’m impressed by the quality of the steam it emits from the 85 mL water reservoir. Aria provides the Goldilocks of steam — it strikes the balance of emitting a steady flow of just right warm steam that covers a wide section of my face in one go.

Overall, I can attest that the the ionic steam provides a pro-grade feel without the expensive professional price tag. I like that the steam is noticeably warm but not excessively hot that could lead to any potential discomfort for those with sensitive skin. The nano-sized water molecules also do a wonderful job of hydrating and softening my skin.

Interestingly, I found this model not only helped improve my skin, but my sinus pressure while dealing with a cold. Based on that positive experience alone, I’d say this is well worth owning, especially if you or your giftee have seasonal allergies or are prone to colds. (Recent reports find that COVID cases are still high across the country, including in Michigan and California. Given that a stuffy or runny nose is associated with the coronavirus, this gift could also help alleviate some discomfort your giftee might be dealing with now or in the future as temperatures drop.)

I also love that it’s a breeze to set up and is the only worthy facial steamer that comes with three essential oil baskets, so you won’t need to purchase a separate pricey diffuser. Sometimes I’ll even let mine run in place of my Bluetooth-equipped diffuser when I just want a light scent next to my desk when working from home or next to my bed while watching TV.

Some shoppers might consider the 1-2 minute waiting period annoying, but that timeframe hasn’t bothered me. I’ll usually fiddle around goodies in my medicine cabinet to pick out my self-care routine for the evening. Pro tip: Consider multi-masking for enhanced results. I’ll use a Cinq Mondes kaolin clay face mask on oily areas, such as my T-Zone and the hydrating Epionce face mask on my dry cheeks.our skincare routine, and the Dennis Gross model hits all of the right marks to earn the title of best.

Rounding out this lineup is the Skin Gym Voda Nano Ionic Facial Steamer. You might recognize the name Skim Gym, as I’ve previously featured its tools in our guides to the best high-frequency wands, face massagers, and red light therapy devices.

While I certainly am drawn to the feminine pink and white motif, Voda Nano goes beyond aesthetics. For example, Skin Gym is the only featured winner that’s equipped with a 30-degree adjustable nozzle. This unique detail ensures my entire face is fully covered in warm steam. It’s also practical for anyone who wants to steam their décolletage (like those dealing with chest acne), use sheet masks on their chest, or easily remove unwanted body hair.

What I enjoy most about using this facial steamer is that it’s truly compact and doesn’t take up much room on my relatively small standing desk. (It’s only 5.5 inches tall, 4 inches wide, and 5 inches deep, so it could permanently side on your tiny nightstand or slim beauty chest, and you’d likely still have room to show off your other goodies.)

It is also the sole winner equipped with suction cups on the bottom to help prevent accident spills. Your favorite klutz or teen who might not be super gentle will appreciate this feature. I also appreciate that it comes with a 64-inch-long cord with a Velcro strap to prevent the device from entangling with other cords on my desk.

Using this facial steamer is truly a no-brainer. Simply fill up and close the water tank, plug in the device, and hit the one/off button. It emits an enjoyable vapor that remains consistently warm throughout each session rather than getting cold or uncomfortably hot at the tail end or beginning of each use.

Given the additional safety features, I’d say it could be a welcome treat for your hard-to-gift preteen, skincare enthusiast, or skincare newbie alike.