Skin Care Before And In The Infrared Sauna

Infrared sauna (blanket) sessions are beneficial to your health, starting with your skin, your body's shield. This vital organ protects us, and plays a crucial role in the production of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. This process is essential for bone health and immune function. The skin also regulates temperature and detoxifies through sweat. Read more about the scientific support for the benefits here.

However, to benefit optimally from the heat of the sauna, your skin needs good preparation. Incorporate the following steps into your pre-sauna routine to prepare your skin for the sauna session.

A quick tour of the blog post

Hydrate

Hydration isn’t just about what you put on your skin — it’s also about what you put in your body. Drink a good amount of water, around 2 to 3 cups, about an hour ahead of your sauna time. This preps your skin from the inside, enhancing its resilience against the sauna's intense heat. And not just in the sauna — staying hydrated matters in the blanket and on the PEMF mat too.

Such hydration not only primes your body for an increased sweat response, which is key in eliminating bodily impurities but also safeguards against the drying effects of the heat.

Keeping your body well-hydrated with water or nutrient-rich coconut water or browse our best drinks to sip before, during, or after your sauna session

Alongside water and skin-loving nutrients, some people choose to support their prep routine with gentle internal detox aids.

DETOX SUPPORT

One option we love: HigherDOSE Detox Drops — a plant-powered formula designed to help boost hydration, increase circulation, and support your body’s natural detox process. Each 60ml bottle contains 30 servings. These are the key ingredients:

Chlorophyll - Enhances oxygentransport & boosts antioxidant
Beetroot - Nutrient-rich, boosts performance and cognition
Magnesium citrate & Aquamin Sea Minerals - Supports bone health & microbiome
Milk thistle - Support liver function

Just mix 2 full droppers (2ml) into 6–8 oz of water before your sauna or workout.

$29 at HigherDOSE

Cleaning Process

Thorough cleaning before a the sauna sessions cannot be overstated. It ensures that your pores are clean and ready to release toxins effectively. Cleansing allows your skin to optimally perform its natural functions, and makes your sauna session a rejuvenating experience.

Start by thoroughly cleanse your face and body before you get into the sauna.

Facial cleansing

Wash your face well to remove any dirt, oil, or makeup. Although not mandatory, using a facial cleanser is beneficial because it's specifically designed to clean deeply without blocking your pores. Choose cleansers that keep your skin's natural oils and help maintain its health.

Pick a gentle cleanser that keeps your skin's pH stable. Your skin's pH, normally between 4.5 and 6.5, is slightly acidic [1]. This acidity protects against harmful microbes. Some cleansers can disrupt this balance, leading to dryness or acne. Foam, cream, or gel cleansers can all be good choices.

Ensure they align with the mentioned conditions before applying them prior to entering the sauna. If you have acne, choose a cleanser made for it. Pick one that's gentle to avoid extra irritation from the sauna's heat.

Occasionally use a mask with activated charcoal, bentonite clay, or kaolin clay before sauna. It is good for removing dirt and unclog pores.

Shower

After washing your face, enter a warm shower to cleanse your body. This eliminates impurities and unclogs pores, enhancing detox in the sauna.

Additionally, the warm shower slightly boosts blood circulation and heart rate, which can be likened to a light cardiovascular warm-up. This readies your body for the sauna's intense heat, improving the experience.

Exfoliate

After showering you can remove dead skin cells by exfoliating. You can choose to exfoliate a day before or just before the sauna, based on what suits your skin best. Trust what feels right for you. Exfoliation maximizes the detoxifying effect of the infrared sauna. It can be done mechanical, using scrubs or tools, or chemical, using products that dissolve these cells.

This process unclogs pores, preventing clogs and paving the way for the sauna's heat to work more effectively, but exfoliate gently. Harsh scrubs or chemicals can irritate your skin, making it overly sensitive to the sauna's warmth.

For a softer approach, consider using a salt scrub or sauna honey, or a loofah sponge for a mild exfoliation. After the exfoliation you can rinse away any loosened cells and residues, leaving your skin clean and ready for the sauna.

Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, Gua Sha tools—often made from jade, rose quartz, or buffalo horn—gently exfoliate the skin, stimulate circulation, and support lymphatic flow

Dry Brushing

Incorporate dry brushing into your pre-sauna routine as a unique, natural method to complement your exfoliation routine. Unlike conventional exfoliants that primarily remove dead skin cells through chemical or mechanical means, dry brushing also stimulates the lymphatic system and enhances blood circulation, a holistic approach to skin health.

But it's not, one or the other, dry brushing and traditional exfoliation coexist in proper skin care. This combination has complementary benefits, but tailor this integration to your skin's tolerance and the specific results you are looking for.

While dry brushing primarily focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system and boosting circulation, traditional exfoliation methods target the removal of dead skin cells more directly.

In our blog post 'Dry Brushing' we cover the art of dry brushing — from materials to common myths

Sensitive Skin

While dry brushing can be beneficial, it's perhaps not suitable if you have sensitive skin. In that case, or should you have a skin condition, consider consulting with a dermatologist before incorporating dry brushing into your routine. Using a softer brush and lighter strokes can also help mitigate irritation for those with sensitive skin.

Complementary, Not Compulsory

Dry brushing amplifies the benefits of a sauna session and regular exfoliation, but it's not a necessity for everyone. Listen to your skin and adjust accordingly.

Scheduling

If you choose to include both practices in your routine, consider spacing them out to avoid overstimulation. For instance, you might dry brush in the morning before a sauna and use chemical or physical exfoliants on alternate days, depending on your skin's sensitivity and recovery ability.

Gentle Approach

If you’re new to dry brushing or with sensitive skin, starting with a softer brush and lighter pressure is advisable. Observe how your skin reacts and gradually adjust the frequency and intensity.

How to Dry Brush Effectively

Use a natural-bristle brush with a long handle to reach all areas of your body. A favorite in our routine is the HigherDOSE Copper Body Brush.
Start from your feet and move upwards in long, smooth strokes towards your heart. Use circular motions on your abdomen and joints.
Dry brush for about 3-5 minutes before your sauna session, avoiding over-exfoliation.

SUPERCHARGE COPPER BODY BRUSH

Here’s why we like this brush:

Copper + horsehair exfoliate and energize the skin
Boosts circulation and supports lymphatic flow for deeper detox
Generates negative ions, helping to rebalance and recharge the body
Gentle yet effective, great for pre-sauna or morning use
Well-crafted with beechwood, leather strap, and durable design

$69 at HigherDOSE

Moisturizing

Moisturize your face and body right before or as you enter the sauna. You can opt to prep with a hydrating serum. Choose one with hyaluronic acid, glycerin or ceramides, this helps to attract and retain moisture in the skin. It prevents your skin from drying out due to the infrared heat, keeping it hydrated and full.

After the serum, protect your skin further with a moisturizer rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, E, or green tea extract. These ingredients help protect the skin from potential heat-induced oxidative stress. You can use heavier creams around delicate areas like your eyes.

Tailor your approach to moisturizing based on your skin type for optimal protection and benefits during your sauna session:

Oily Skin: These skins benefit from the sweat in a sauna, which can help regulate oil production. A light moisturizer will suffice.
Dry Skin: Opt for a richer, more nourishing option like coconut oil to deeply hydrate and protect.
Sensitive Skin: Choose non-comedogenic serums (non-comedogenic means these serums don't clog pores). A barrier repair cream, which includes niacinamide, can help to soothe and strengthen the skin's protective layer.

Use these products in moderation before a sauna session. A light application is key; too much product can mix with sweat and potentially lead to irritation or clogged pores.

Smart Prep for Deeper Benefits - Add This to Boost Your sauna Session

HigherDOSE knows infrared—inside and out. Their skincare is designed to prime your skin before heat, enhancing absorption, increasing sweat, and taking your session to the next level.

skincare before sauna transderma magnesium spray

Transdermal Magnesium Spray — For a Double Effect

Get more from your sauna and your sleep with this pure Zechstein magnesium spray. Applied to the skin, it absorbs quickly—bypassing digestion for faster results.

Spritz it before your sauna or PEMF session to open pores and boost magnesium uptake, supporting muscle relief, balance, and deeper recovery.

Use it before bed to relax your body, calm your mind, and ease into restorative sleep.

You spray it directly onto your skin before heat sessions or bedtime.

$35 at HigherDOSE

Endorphin Oil — Turn Up the Heat

Endorphin Oil is your pre-sauna secret weapon. With organic castor oil, Jojoba, Broccoli Seed Oil, magnesium, and a warming essential oil blend, it boosts circulation, enhances sweating, and soothes sore spots—perfect for targeting areas like thighs, core, or joints.

Apply before your sauna or PEMF session to deepen detox and support muscle recovery. For extra effect, spritz Transdermal Magnesium Spray first, then layer Endorphin Oil on top.

$75 at HigherDOSE

From bundles to seasonal offers, HigherDOSE regularly promotes deals—check their site for a HigherDOSE discount code and treat yourself for less!

Considerations when choosing skincare products

When you use skincare products with sauna sessions, it's important to bear the impact of sweating on your skin. Some insights:

Enhanced Benefits

Certain lotions not only unclog pores but also enhance circulation and sweating, leveraging the detoxifying benefits of sauna sessions for improved skin health and potential fat loss through perspiration.

Choosing the Right Products

Select non-comedogenic skincare. Non-comedogenic products won't clog pores. The sauna's heat and sweat can increase the risk of breakouts, making it crucial to select products that allow your skin to breathe.

Lighter Is Better

It's wise to avoid heavy creams or oil-based products before sauna use. These can mix with sweat, potentially leading to clogged pores and undermining the sauna's cleansing effects.

Finding Your Perfect Pre-Sauna Skincare Match

Still searching for the perfect skincare to pair with your sauna? Young Goose offers lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas designed to keep your skin clear, hydrated, and glowing before and after heat sessions.

Adaptogenic Anti-Aging Cleanser

A gentle, soap-free cleanser designed to refresh and hydrate without stripping your skin. Perfect for sensitive or post-procedure skin, it removes sweat, dirt, and impurities while soothing and replenishing moisture—making it ideal before and after your sauna session.

Formulated with botanicals like Chamomile Extract, which helps support youthful skin by boosting NAD+ levels, and Marine Peptides that promote hydration and collagen, this cleanser softens fine lines and improves texture without irritation.

$40 at Thera Optimal Health

Green Tea Phyto-Serum

This soothing moisturizing gel hydrates, calms redness, and reduces sensitivity while delivering a high concentration of EGCG, a powerful antioxidant from green tea. It enhances the benefits of red and near-infrared light therapy, helping improve skin regeneration and minimize sun damage.

Perfect for all skin types, especially for people with redness, sensitivity, or oily skin.

$175 at Thera Optimal Health

YOUth Daily Moisturizing Cream

Tapping into the power of micro-encapsulated NAD+ precursors, Spermidine, Enhanced Copper Peptide Complex, and Fermented Resveratrol, this cream targets all 12 hallmarks of skin aging. It revitalizes cellular health, accelerates skin repair, and strengthens defenses, revealing a radiant, youthful complexion.

More than a moisturizer, YOUth Daily is a science-backed ritual that restores your skin’s natural glow and resilience every day.

$176.50 at Thera Optimal Health

Sun protection

If you're using an outdoor sauna or plan to spend time in the sun immediately after, it's crucial to protect your skin [2]. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to shield against the sun's UV rays.

Opt for sunscreens with physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are gentle and less likely to irritate your skin.

HigherDOSE’s sauna blanket and wellness tools use nature-inspired tech to boost mood, recovery, and glowing skin naturally

Power pairing: HigherDOSE + Young Goose Skincare

At Saunace, we’re all about smarter self-care—especially when it syncs with your wellness tools. That’s why we love both HigherDOSE and Young Goose: two brands that elevate your skin routine by working in harmony with the body’s natural rhythms.

HigherDOSE brings their expertise in infrared therapy into skincare designed to work with heat, enhancing circulation and detox for a deeper, more effective sweat.

Meanwhile, Young Goose delivers clinical-grade formulas that support skin regeneration and resilience before and after your session.

Together, they make the ultimate pre- and post-sauna ritual—one primes and amplifies, the other repairs and strengthens. Science-backed, bioactive, and built for results—this is skincare that truly works in sync with your body.

PEMF mat - Preparing Your Skin from the Inside Out Before Sauna (blanket)

And what if we tell you there’s a way to take your prep deeper than just cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating before your sauna session? PEMF therapy works at the cellular level to enhance your skin’s natural functions. By boosting your cells’ energy production, it helps skin cells perform at their best, while also improving circulation so your skin receives more oxygen and vital nutrients.

The gentle warmth from the infrared PEMF mat opens your pores gradually, preparing your skin for the intense heat of the sauna. If your mat includes red or near-infrared light, it goes even further by stimulating collagen production, which supports firmer, more youthful skin.

Beyond skin benefits, PEMF also reduces inflammation by calming redness and irritation, making your sauna session more comfortable. Plus, it promotes relaxation and stress relief, helping your body ease into the heat smoothly.

Check out the top PEMF mats we've curated for you — ideal for those looking to upgrade their recovery, skin health, and at-home performance stack.

Infrared PEMF Mat Therapy: Top Benefits for Your Skin

Boosts cellular energy by enhancing ATP production, supporting optimal skin cell function.
Improves circulation, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to skin tissues.
Gently widens pores and warms the skin through low-level infrared heat, creating the ideal conditions for deep sweating.
Stimulates collagen production (if your mat includes red or near-infrared light), helping reduce fine lines and improve skin texture.
Reduces inflammation, soothing redness or irritation before sauna exposure.
Promotes relaxation and stress relief, helping your body ease into a calm, parasympathetic state before heat immersion.

How to Use PEMF mat before your sauna (blanket) session

Before your sauna session, spend about 20–30 minutes on your PEMF + infrared mat to gently warm the body and activate circulation. Keep the heat low to moderate (around 100–120°F) so you don’t start sweating too early.

After your mat session, take a short break (5–10 minutes) to hydrate and let your body reset before stepping into the sauna (blanket).

Hydration is even more key when you stack PEMF and sauna therapy — your body’s detox pathways are in overdrive, so make sure to fuel the process with plenty of fluids before, during, and after.

higherdose-sauna-blanket-vs-infrared-pemf-mat

Wondering how PEMF mats differ from sauna blankets? We’ve broken it down for you - PEMF vs Infrared Therapy, Synergies And Differences

Other pre-sauna practices

Building on the foundation of pre-sauna skin care and hydration, there are a few other practices that can elevate your sauna experience.

A light, nutritious meal—like a medley of fresh fruits or a revitalizing smoothie—gives your body the energy it needs without weighing down your digestion.
Gentle movement, such as stretching or a leisurely walk, helps awaken your muscles and boost circulation, setting the perfect stage for the heat ahead.

These are just some of the ways to prepare, and we’d love to hear what works for you!

Feel free to share your pre-sauna rituals with us through our contact form.

Skin care during sauna

You have prepared your body well for the next step: It’s time to relax, using your sauna. Let the heat work its magic on your skin and enjoy the benefits of a good sweat. Here are some skin health tips for during your sauna session:

Stay hydrated: Keep drinking water to stay hydrated. Adjust the heat to stay comfortable and pay attention to how your body feels.

Choose the right towel: Use a light linen sauna towel. It helps manage heat without making you too hot.

Protect sensitive skin: Cover your face with a damp cloth. A rose water compress can soothe your skin in the heat.

Incorporate aromatherapy: Enhance your sauna experience with aromatherapy. Select essential oils that complement the sauna's heat to promote relaxation and skin health.

aromatherapy for skin health

Aromatherapy can significantly enrich your sauna experience, not just by enhancing the ambiance but also by supporting skin health through the air you breathe. When using essential oils in a diffuser during your sauna session, consider these options for their specific benefits to skin health:

Chamomile: This gentle oil soothes skin inflammation and is ideal for sensitive skin types, infusing the sauna air with calming properties.

Rosemary: Great for those with oily skin, rosemary in a diffuser helps balance the skin's natural oils with its invigorating scent.

Lavender: A staple for relaxation, lavender also soothes the skin, reducing irritation and inflammation.

Geranium: Known to balance skin's moisture, geranium adds a floral note to the sauna.

Eucalyptus: This refreshing oil cleanses the air, supporting respiratory health and skin purification.

Orange: With its uplifting aroma, orange oil can brighten the mood and skin alike.

Cedarwood: Improves various skin conditions with its grounding aroma.

Patchouli: Helps in reducing skin imperfections, adding depth to the aromatic experience.

Birch: Known for enhancing skin health, birch brings a crisp, clean scent to your session.

ou can find detailed guidance on incorporating these oils into your infrared sauna sessions in our blogpost: 'How to Use Aromatherapy in Infrared Saunas'.

These skincare tips aren’t just for infrared sauna sessions — they’re just as helpful when using a sauna blanket or PEMF mat

Questions and answers

Can I put makeup on in an infrared sauna?

It is advisable to remove any makeup and wash away all impurities before using the sauna. Make-up products prevent the skin from breathing thus inhibiting cleansing and purification in the sauna.

Can I mask my face in an infrared sauna?

In an infrared sauna, it's still generally advisable to allow the skin to sweat freely and maximize the sauna's benefits. However, the decision ultimately depends on personal comfort and preference. If you choose to mask your face, be mindful of how it feels on your skin during the sauna session.

Can I exfoliate in sauna?

Exposure to heat and sweating in an infrared sauna widens the pores and promotes the release of toxins from the skin. This might create an environment where exfoliation could be more effective. However, it's crucial to exercise caution and follow best practices: Use gentle products suitable for your skin type, stay hydrated, and be mindful of skin sensitivity.

If you experience discomfort or irritation, it's best to stop exfoliating. Ultimately, the decision to exfoliate in an infrared sauna should be based on your skin type, sensitivity, and comfort level.

Exfoliate before or after a sauna?

Whether to exfoliate before or after a sauna is up to personal preference. Some swear by exfoliating before to remove dead cells and boost circulation, while others skip it altogether. If you choose to exfoliate before, pick a gentle product to avoid irritation.

Can I use sauna with a sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin or skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, it's best to consult with a dermatologist before using a sauna, as the heat can sometimes exacerbate these conditions.

So, as you embark on your next sauna (blanket) session and/or PEMF mat, remember: wellness starts with your skin. Treat it well before, during and after.

Saunace is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission. Find our affiliate policy here.

Diane Sargent

Want more insights? Check out these related articles, and discover more tips, reviews, and insights on sauna blankets, PEMF mats, and wellness tech over at saunace.com.

What Do You Put On Your Skin After A Sauna?

Is Infrared Sauna Good For My Skin?

Can Infrared Saunas Help With Skin Conditions?

References

1. Saba M. Ali and Gil Yosipovitch, Skin pH: From Basic SciencE to Basic Skin Care, Acta Dermato-Venereologica, https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-1531

2. United States, Environmental Protection Agency, Sun Safety Tips, https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/sun-safety-tips