You’re going to love these Lush-inspired Dream Steam facial tabs.
These DIY acne facial tabs are simple to make, attractive, and effective at calming and clearing your skin. Drop a fizzy steamer tab into a bowl of hot water; the steam helps open pores while the essential oils—lavender and chamomile—soothe your skin and senses. Rose petals and rose essential oil help reduce redness and calm sensitive skin.
Use these steamer tabs alongside other natural skincare recipes for healthier skin.
- To cleanse your face, try a customizable foaming face wash for your skin type or a peppermint-charcoal soap to improve circulation, unclog pores, and remove impurities.
- To tone and tighten pores, use a gentle tea tree toner to control oil and reduce redness, or a simple DIY facial toner customized for your skin type.
- To moisturize, finish with a nourishing face serum tailored to dry, oily, sensitive, mature, acne-prone, or normal skin.
Benefits of these DIY Dream Steam tabs
- Minimize the appearance of pores — Steam opens pores and helps dislodge impurities, oil, and dirt. After steaming and cleansing, pores appear tighter and smaller.
- Soothes and calms — These tabs are gentle enough for sensitive skin and help reduce redness and inflammation. The blend of lavender, chamomile, and rose essential oils calms irritated skin and eases redness from weather, diet, or stress.
- Helps prevent and reduce acne — By opening pores, calming inflammation, and delivering antibacterial benefits from the essential oils, these steam tabs can help clear existing blemishes and reduce the likelihood of new ones.
- Relaxing spa experience at home — Beyond skincare benefits, the aromatic steam provides a calming, spa-like moment. Place a tab in hot water, drape a towel over your head, and breathe deeply to unwind.
How to make facial steamer tabs
Yield: about 16 facial steamer tabs when using a heart-shaped silicone mold; yields will vary by mold size.
Step 1 (optional): sprinkle dried rose petals in the bottom of silicone molds
This adds a decorative touch and enhances the spa feel. They also make lovely gifts—fill a jar with tabs, add a label and ribbon for a pretty present.
Step 2: combine dry ingredients
Add 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup citric acid to a glass bowl and mix thoroughly until uniform.
Step 3: add essential oils and blend
Stir in the essential oils until they’re evenly distributed through the dry mixture:
8 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops rose essential oil
4 drops chamomile essential oil (Roman or German)
4 drops tea tree essential oil
Step 4: add witch hazel
Add 2 to 3 tablespoons witch hazel. Start with 2 Tbsp and add a little more only if needed. The mixture should resemble damp sand: able to form a loose ball that breaks apart when dropped. Use a spray bottle for the witch hazel to avoid activating fizz prematurely—too much moisture now will reduce fizzing when you use the tabs.
Step 5: pack the mixture into silicone molds
Press the mixture firmly into molds (about 2 Tbsp per cavity works well) using the back of a spoon or your fingers. Firm packing helps the tabs hold their shape once dry.
Step 6: dry completely and remove from molds
Allow the tabs to dry fully before unmolding. Drying time depends on humidity—anywhere from several hours to a few days. In humid conditions, use a dehumidifier or dry in a low-humidity area. Once dry, the tabs should pop out cleanly.
Step 7 (optional): label and jar them as a gift
Package your steamer tabs in a pretty jar with a label for gifting.
Recipe summary
Yield: about 16 facial steamer tabs (depending on mold size)
Step 1 (optional): sprinkle dried rose petals in molds.
Step 2: mix 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup citric acid.
Step 3: add essential oils—8 drops lavender, 6 drops rose, 4 drops chamomile, 4 drops tea tree—mix thoroughly.
Step 4: add 2–3 Tbsp witch hazel until mixture feels like damp sand.
Step 5: pack into silicone molds firmly.
Step 6: let dry completely and remove from molds.
Step 7 (optional): label and jar as a gift.
How to use Dream Steam tabs
- Start with a clean face.
- Place 1–2 facial tabs into a wooden, glass, or ceramic bowl.
- Pour hot, steamy water over the tabs.
- Close your eyes to avoid steam or oils getting in them.
- Use a towel to create a steam tent over your head and the bowl.
- Hold your face over the steam for a few minutes to open pores. If you get too warm, lift the towel and move away until you cool down, then resume.
- Pat your face dry with a clean towel.
- Use a toner to balance skin.
- Finish with a face serum to lock in moisture.
Where to find supplies
Baking soda — widely available in large quantities at bulk retailers.
Citric acid — available from specialty suppliers or online retailers.
Witch hazel — found at drugstores or general retailers.
Dried rose petals — look for culinary- or craft-grade petals sold online or in specialty stores.
Silicone molds — any small silicone mold works; ice-cube-size cavities (about 2 Tbsp) are ideal.
More recipes you might enjoy
Try other homemade essentials like massage lotion bars, shimmering dusting powder, bath bombs, chocolate-orange lip scrub, face serums, and natural toners for a full DIY skincare routine.
Please join our community on social media for more recipes and tips.
Please note: Products mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding medical concerns.
Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links; purchases made through some links may provide a small commission at no extra cost to you.