Period blood face masks are a big beauty trend — experts warn they’re dangerous
We’ve got bad blood with this beauty hack.
This trend is a thing of dermatologists’ nightmares: TikTokers are smearing their own period blood on their skin. Between the marinated, crying and “I’m cold” viral makeup looks, there was bound to be something new that caused a stink online.
Cue: period blood face masks.
The hashtags “periodfacemask” and “menstruationmasking” have a whopping 6.4 billion and 3 million views, respectively, on TikTok and show multiple women daring to paint menstrual blood on their skin. Taking the more DIY route, these content creators are touting the use of readily available blood — albeit once a month — as the key to staying youthful.
One TikToker — whose face is smeared with a red, sticky substance — wrote “period blood face mask” across her clip, which topped 8,00 views and a handful of concerned comments. “This isn’t a joke,” she added in the comments, where people said they were “scared” of the trend.
“This is acc rlly [sic] healthy for ur skin and it connects u to ur feminie [sic] energy,” one believer commented.
Another brave soul who apparently attempted the so-called “hack” coughed at the stench of blood as she smeared it on her cheeks. The user’s original clip was a split-screen with a woman who found the trend hilariously disgusting.
“I’ll basically try anything,” the desperate creator blurted out between gags. “OK, OK, OK, I hope it’s working.”
“Don’t judge me. I would literally do anything in the name of beauty,” she added, flaunting her painted-on, blood-red complexion.
Some face masks, like the Ordinary’s AHA and BHA Peeling Solution, have a blood-like consistency and color, making it difficult to tell who’s really putting secretions on their skin and who’s just fronting.
Clearly, someone’s doing it. The trend was featured in a Dazed Magazine article, but skin experts warn youth-seekers to keep it in their pants — this at-home method could turn, and smell, sour.
“Please, I beg of you, do not use your period blood as a face mask,” advised dermatologist Dr. Joyce, who stitched a TikTok video of a woman using the DIY skin hack. “There is no way that you’re collecting that blood in a sterile way, so there’s probably bacteria and sweat and other things that are in that blood.”
In short, this trend is bloody disgusting — and potentially dangerous.
Users beware: the non-sterile collection of menstruation blood can bring with it some nasty complications. Bacteria, yeast and viruses — oh my! — can congregate in the uterus and vagina, and the concoction could infect your skin.
“How would you like to learn you have a sexually transmitted infection by waking up one morning, post-period-facial to chlamydial conjunctivitis or a herpes outbreak on your face?” Blair Hayes, a board-certified aesthetics physician assistant, told E! News.
Similar to the pheromone trick called “vabbing,” which involves swiping vaginal discharge on your wrists and neck instead of perfume, this unsanitary beauty secret might be one to keep under lock and key.
But this isn’t the first time blood has been worshipped as the elixir of youth. The trend is eerily similar to the “vampire facial” once made notorious by none other than Kim Kardashian. However, it’s supposed to be performed by a trained professional and typically involves drawing vials of the client’s blood — no menstruation necessary.
Despite saying it’s the one treatment the 42-year-old reality star “will never do again,” this seems to be the one time people just won’t listen. Enamored by the possibility of baby-smooth skin and a visibly younger appearance, the blood-curdling trend can be traced back to 2016, when eager skincare fanatics tried their hand at the treatment via the at-home way.
While attempting to draw your own blood is risky and ordering a personalized blood-infused cream is too pricey, period blood seems to be the next best thing.
One woman claimed her menstrual blood is “pure medicine” and regularly smears the “refreshing” goo on her face — and even drinks it straight from her menstrual cup.
“When I drink my period blood, I will usually squat on the toilet, remove my menstrual cup and take a sip,” Jasmine Carter, 30, previously dished of her gory habits earlier this year. “I’m so connected to my body that I know exactly how much blood to drink.”
Despite Carter’s health claims, the method just isn’t very effective, Hayes said. In fact, it’s difficult for the blood-derived nutrients to seep into the skin. Its anti-aging properties are only powerful when applied through “needles, micro-needling or lasers,” she continued.
For “vampire facials,” medical professionals would typically spin the blood to separate the platelets, increasing the concentration and therefore boosting the healing effects, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Koo told E! News.
But in the case of the DIY method, “there is zero scientific evidence” supporting “whole blood” application on the skin, Hayes added.
The apparent message: Put that DivaCup down and leave it to the bloody professionals.
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