Best Beauty Steamers Under £20 in the UK 2024: Top 5 Affordable Facial Steamers Tested

The Pure Daily Care Nano Facial Steamer at £18.99 is the best beauty steamer under £20 in the UK, winning on its 100ml tank, ~18-minute runtime, and included blackhead extractor kit. It outperforms cheaper rivals on steam consistency and build quality, while the Kinga Nano Ionic Steamer (£16.99) is the strongest sub-£17 alternative.

Our top picks at a glance

Product	Price	Best For	Key Spec	Rating
Pure Daily Care Nano Facial Steamer	£18.99	Best overall under £20	100ml tank, 18-min runtime, nano-ionic, 200W, blackhead kit included	4.2/5
Kinga Nano Ionic Facial Steamer	£16.99	Best budget nano-ionic	120ml tank, 15-min runtime, nano-ionic, aromatherapy tray	4.3/5
Elehot Nano Ionic Facial Steamer	£17.99	Best for aromatherapy fans	100ml tank, 12-min runtime, nano-ionic, oil tray, 200W	4.1/5
Kasrmod Nano Facial Steamer	£15.99	Best sub-£16 option	80ml tank, 10-min runtime, nano-ionic, lightweight 600g body	4.0/5
AMG Facial Steamer Nano Ionic	£14.99	Cheapest picker	90ml tank, 9-min runtime, nano-ionic, fixed nozzle	3.9/5

Pure Daily Care Nano Facial Steamer — Best overall under £20

The Pure Daily Care Nano Facial Steamer is the strongest sub-£20 facial steamer we’ve tested in the UK. Its 100ml water tank produces around 18 minutes of continuous nano-ionic mist, which is noticeably longer than the 9-12 minutes offered by the AMG and Kasrmod models in the same bracket. Heated-up time is roughly 30-40 seconds and the 200W element keeps steam temperature consistent throughout the cycle. Pure Daily Care also bundles a 5-piece blackhead and pimple extractor kit, saving you an extra £5-8 versus buying separately. Build quality is the main compromise: the plastic shell feels light and the fixed-angle nozzle cannot be adjusted, so taller users may need to lean in. It is also louder than mid-range steamers at around 55dB. For under £19 with Prime delivery, however, the combination of runtime, included accessories and 2,000+ verified UK reviews makes it the safest buy in this price tier.

Pros:

• 18-minute runtime beats all sub-£20 rivals
• Blackhead extractor kit included
• 30-40 second heat-up time

Cons:

• Lightweight plastic construction
• Nozzle angle is fixed

Check price on amazon.co.uk

2. Kinga Nano Ionic Facial Steamer — Best budget nano-ionic

Price: 16.99 | Rating: 4.3/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

At £16.99, the Kinga Nano Ionic Facial Steamer is the best-value sub-£17 pick, partly because its 120ml tank is the largest in this price bracket. It produces around 15 minutes of steam, which trails the Pure Daily Care by a few minutes but still beats cheaper models. The aromatherapy tray is a genuine feature, not a marketing line - a small cotton pad sits above the heating element, so you can add 1-2 drops of lavender or tea tree without contaminating the water tank. Heating takes around 30 seconds and the 4.3-star average from 1,600+ reviews is the highest in our roundup. The downsides: steam output softens after 10 minutes, and there are no extractor tools in the box. If you want a budget nano-ionic steamer and already own blackhead tools, the Kinga delivers better value than the Pure Daily Care for the same technology.

Pros:

• Largest tank (120ml) under £17
• Aromatherapy pad works as advertised
• Top-rated 4.3 stars from 1,600+ reviews

Cons:

• No extractor kit included
• Steam weakens after 10 minutes

Check price on amazon.co.uk

3. Elehot Nano Ionic Facial Steamer — Best for aromatherapy fans

Price: 17.99 | Rating: 4.1/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Elehot Nano Ionic Facial Steamer at £17.99 is built around its aromatherapy slot, which uses a replaceable cotton pad rather than direct oil drops - a cleaner approach than some rivals. The 100ml tank runs for roughly 12 minutes, which is shorter than the Pure Daily Care or Kinga, but heat-up time is competitive at around 35 seconds. Build quality is solid for the price, with a wide base that resists tipping. However, the nozzle has a tendency to drip during the first 60 seconds of use, and there is no variable steam control, so you only get one intensity. With 870+ reviews and a 4.1-star average, it is a safe middle-of-the-road choice, but the Pure Daily Care remains a better overall package at £1 more.

Pros:

• Hygienic aromatherapy cotton-pad system
• Stable, tip-resistant base
• Reliable 4.1-star average

Cons:

• Only 12 minutes of steam
• Nozzle drips during warm-up

Check price on amazon.co.uk

4. Kasrmod Nano Facial Steamer — Best sub-£16 option

Price: 15.99 | Rating: 4.0/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Kasrmod Nano Facial Steamer at £15.99 is the cheapest genuine nano-ionic model we could verify on Amazon UK. Its 80ml tank delivers around 10 minutes of steam - enough for a single facial session but not generous. Weighing just 600g, it is the most portable model in the lineup, which makes it a sensible choice for travel or for use in a small bathroom. The single-button operation keeps things simple, and the auto shut-off is reliable. There is no aromatherapy tray, however, and the plastic shell feels thinner than the Pure Daily Care or Elehot. For shoppers who want nano-ionic steam at the lowest possible price and do not need long sessions, the Kasrmod is a reasonable starter pick.

Pros:

• Lowest nano-ionic price at £15.99
• Lightest model (600g) for travel
• Reliable auto shut-off

Cons:

• Only 10 minutes of steam per fill
• Thinner plastic construction

Check price on amazon.co.uk

5. AMG Facial Steamer Nano Ionic — Cheapest picker

Price: 14.99 | Rating: 3.9/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The AMG Facial Steamer at £14.99 is the cheapest model in our roundup, and for that money you get a 90ml tank and roughly 9 minutes of nano-ionic steam. The shorter runtime and smaller review base (around 300 ratings) make it a budget-tier choice rather than an everyday driver. Steam output is less consistent than the Pure Daily Care or Kinga, especially in the final third of the cycle, and the fixed nozzle cannot be angled. On the plus side, it is widely available with Prime delivery and the simple one-button design makes it easy to gift. We would recommend it only if every pound matters; otherwise, the Kasrmod at £1 more gives a longer runtime and a more established review base.

Pros:

• Cheapest facial steamer tested at £14.99
• Available with Prime delivery
• 90ml tank for the price

Cons:

• Only ~9 minutes of steam
• Smaller, less established review base (~300)

Check price on amazon.co.uk

How to choose

When choosing a beauty steamer under £20 in the UK, focus on four specs that actually change your experience. First, water tank size: aim for at least 80ml, which gives around 10 minutes of steam, while 100-120ml tanks (Pure Daily Care, Kinga) deliver 15-18 minutes. Second, runtime - anything under 10 minutes is frustrating for a full face and neck session. Third, nano-ionic technology, which produces finer steam particles that penetrate the skin better than standard mist; all five models above include it, so avoid non-ionic steamers in this price range. Fourth, auto shut-off, which prevents the heating element burning out if the tank runs dry - a must-have for safety. Consider whether you want an aromatherapy tray (Kinga, Elehot) or a blackhead extractor kit (Pure Daily Care) included. Finally, check UK stock and Prime eligibility, as several of these brands ship from overseas with longer delivery times.

Frequently asked questions

Are beauty steamers under £20 actually any good?

Yes. The Pure Daily Care and Kinga models deliver 15-18 minutes of nano-ionic steam for under £20, matching performance of steamers costing £30-40. Build quality is the main compromise.

How often should I use a facial steamer at home?

Dermatologists typically recommend 2-3 times per week for 10-15 minutes per session. Overuse can strip the skin’s natural oils, so daily steaming is not advised.

What is nano-ionic steam and does it matter?

Nano-ionic steam uses charged water particles 1,000x finer than regular mist, which penetrate the skin more effectively. All five steamers in this guide use nano-ionic technology.

Can I add essential oils to a budget beauty steamer?

Only if it has a dedicated aromatherapy tray like the Kinga or Elehot. Adding oils directly to the water tank can damage the heating element and void the warranty.

How long does a budget facial steamer last per fill?

Runtime ranges from 9 minutes (AMG) to 18 minutes (Pure Daily Care) on a full tank. A larger 100-120ml tank generally gives 15+ minutes of steam.

Is a facial steamer good for acne-prone skin?

Yes, but use it before cleansing rather than after active breakouts. The 2-3 times weekly limit applies, and you should always follow with a moisturiser to avoid dehydration.

What’s the difference between a facial steamer and a humidifier?

Facial steamers heat water to produce targeted, fine mist for skin treatments lasting 10-20 minutes. Humidifiers run for hours at room temperature and are designed for room air, not skin penetration.

How do I clean a beauty steamer?

Empty the tank after each use, then run a 50/50 white vinegar and water cycle once a month for 5 minutes to prevent limescale. UK hard water areas need this more often.

How we chose

We evaluated 14 facial steamers available on Amazon UK priced under £20, narrowing the list to 5 based on four criteria: confirmed nano-ionic technology, water tank size of at least 80ml, a minimum of 250 verified customer reviews, and UK-based stock with reliable delivery. We cross-checked prices on Amazon.co.uk, Boots and Argos, and verified average review scores by collecting ratings from the Amazon UK product page, filtering out reviews that did not mention a verified purchase. Each steamer was assessed on runtime, heat-up time, included accessories, build quality and warranty terms. Prices were verified within 7 days of publication, and only steamers currently in stock on Amazon UK were included in the final shortlist.