Vagina Facial

Vagina Facial

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Chrissy Teigen: "Yeah, I like to steam my vag."
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I'm a self-proclaimed beauty daredevil who is down to try anything once (after proper website stalking and research, of course). Just when I thought I'd done it all—hydrating, brightening, LED, microdermabrasion, lymphatic drainage, and classic facials included—I discovered the vagina facial (opens in new tab) . Yes, this is a real thing, the V-Steam offered by VSPOT Medispa (opens in new tab) to be exact. It is also known as a "Vajacial," which is honestly so fun to pronounce. Say it with me: "Va-ja-cial." It kind of rolls off of your tongue, right? Naturally, I booked an appointment right away. I thoroughly enjoyed bragging to all of my friends about my upcoming va-ja-cial, which I enunciated in syllables because I'm extra like that.
My friends’ hilarious reactions when I told them about the facial.
It was the week of Valentine's Day and I had no Valentine...nothing new there. Being the self-care addict that I am, I knew this would be the perfect time to love on myself and do something nice for my body. What better way to celebrate love day than to show love to your lady parts?! Vagina facial it is.
Naturally, I was apprehensive and had all the questions. Is it invasive? Are needles involved? Will it be painful? What does it do really? I quickly found out that no, needles are not involved and there is no pain—on the contrary, the treatment is rather relaxing and enjoyable.
The medispa is in a cozy nook tucked away from the bustling streets of the Upper East Side. As soon as I entered, the combination of the vagina-shaped artwork, fuzzy area rug, and glass of bubbly that was handed to me upon arrival made me feel right at home. All the nerves of not knowing what to expect instantly drifted away. The spa felt like a girls den and a safe space for self-love.
I was led to the dimly lit room and my technician, Tina Shala, who had the warmest spirit, instructed me to undress from the waist down and lay down on the spa bed in a comfortable position. She gently positioned my legs open, covering them with warm compress towels that felt like heating pads. She set up a make-shift teepee for my legs. Underneath the towels was the steam machine, which blew out warm therapeutic herbs, with the aim of detoxifying my vagina. Shala warned me to let her know if I ever felt over-heated (there have been reports of burns (opens in new tab) from vaginal steaming), but the steam actually felt soft and gentle, not overpowering or unbearable. Scents of comforting herbs quickly filled the room—it smelled like a garden of greenery. I later learned that it was a blend of basil, calendula, mugwort, marshmallow root, wormwood, and rose petals. The herbal infused steam dilates the blood vessels, which in turn increases blood circulation by bringing oxygen to the area, while relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. It felt like a sauna for my vagina at the most idealistic temperature. I didn't sweat at all, but I certainly felt the heat.
While the steam was going, Shala massaged my abdominal area with a natural oil, which felt so soothing. "It increases libido and relaxes your pelvic floor," Shala told me, after mentioning this area of the body is usually neglected, and needs more movement. (Note to self: Do more abdominal massages, especially when it's that time of the month.) About a half-hour went by and my treatment was coming to a close. The final step in the $125 treatment involved an LED blue light machine placed directly on top of my vulva. According to V-Spot's Dr. Carolyn DeLucia, D.O., a registered OB-GYN, studies show blue LED “has antibacterial effects on Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aurius, which are commonly found on the vulva and may cause odor.”
Celebs have been praising vaginal steaming (opens in new tab) for years. Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the first to unabashedly introduce the U.S. to the practice in 2015, when she recommended the V-Steam treatment at Los Angeles’ Tikkun Spa (opens in new tab) . Chrissy Teigen has posted a picture of herself steaming. She was later asked about it on a TV show. “Classical vaginal steaming...yeah, I like to steam my vag,” the model said. “Listen, I don’t like to do it, but if GP [meaning, Gwyneth Paltrow] tells me to do it, I’m kinda into it,” Teigen continued. Count me in now, too.
As Shala explained, the V-Steam increases libido, relaxation, detoxification, cleansing, and helps with menstrual cramps. "Historically the V-Steam is known as a Yoni steam, which began in ancient Korea thousands of years ago. It has been used in South America and parts of the Caribbean, and now is gaining popularity in Hollywood because of its amazing benefits," she said. The VSPOT website (opens in new tab) describes the treatment as an experience that "revitalizes the uterus, effectively reducing discomfort associated with menstruation. The treatment can help with painful periods and dryness during sex." Dr. DeLucia recommends getting a V-steam at least once a month for vaginal detoxification and purification purposes. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (opens in new tab) has no official position on the treatment, adding that there is "no medical indication for their necessity or effectiveness."
Whether the treatment actually did something for me medically or not, as I stood up from the spa bed, I felt so much lighter. My body felt like it had completely flushed out all of the bad stuff. The combination of the steam and expert massage must have rid me of God knows what, but I felt amazing. Since the procedure was so gentle, I didn't have any soreness or side effects. I only reaped the rewards, and will 100-percent be going back whenever I need some extra lady parts lovin'. Here's to more vaginal TLC in 2019 and beyond.
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Maya Allen is the former Digital Beauty Editor at MarieClaire.com where she covered makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness, you name it! She has a 15-step skincare routine, owns over 200 red lipsticks, and enjoys testing the latest and greatest in beauty. On most weekends, you can find her at her happy place, which is her makeup vanity. There, she’s usually blasting her speakers while singing along to lyrics at the top of her lungs, and making sure her highlighter is on point.

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Vagina Facial: What Is the “Vajacial” And Is It Safe?

September 27, 2021

The “vagina facial” is pop culture's favorite unnecessary vulva treatment.

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When you think of getting a facial at a spa, you probably imagine lying back while an esthetician applies creams, toners, and scrubs to your skin — maybe a pair of cooling cucumber slices over your eyes for added dramatic effect. What you’re probably not picturing is exfoliation in your bikini area or an LED light between your legs. But if you’re getting a vagina facial — AKA a “vajacial” — that’s likely what’s going down.
The vagina facial (which is really a treatment on one’s vulva, not the vagina) has been around for several years now, though it seems to resurge in pop culture every so often. Case in point: the season 4 episode of The Bold Type that focused on Jane’s vajacial experience...aaaand subsequent yeast infection, which was exacerbated after using an “intimate perfume” to combat a vaginal odor that made her self-conscious. (Big yikes.) The HBO series Insecure also brought up the treatment, with Molly undergoing a vajacial in the first season. And there are plenty of firsthand accounts of the procedure from folks who have tried a vajacial IRL.
But given how sensitive the vulvar area is, it begs the question: are vagina facials safe? What are the risks? And if you try one, how likely are you to end up with painful, itchy irritation like The Bold Type ’s Jane? For those answers, we turned to two experts in the field: Dr. Mary Jane Minkin , a clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University and practicing gynecologist, and Dr. Sherry A. Ross , Women’s Health Expert and Author of She-ology and She-ology, the She-quel: Let’s Continue the Conversation .
The truth is: it depends. Some salons offer cleansing, exfoliation, ingrown hair treatment and/or removal, while others include abdominal massages, vaginal steaming, and the use of LED lights for antibacterial purposes. A vajacial might also include a “v-mask” (like a mud mask for one’s vulva) or a “high frequency wand” to enhance blood circulation. The procedure, while spa-like in nature, may also be used to treat vulvar acne , and to help add moisture and hydration to the vulva.
Dr. Sherry tells Teen Vogue that, like anything else, if you do decide to have a vajacial, you should make sure you’re in experienced hands. “Vajacials are safe in the hands of a trained esthetician who is comfortable and experienced in working in this sensitive area,” she says. “Vajacials being performed by inexperienced or poorly trained estheticians could result in infection, disfigurement, and pain — among other unnecessary side effects.”
In Dr. Minkin’s opinion, the less “mucking around” vagina owners do in that area, the better. “When you're dealing with the most sensitive tissue in the body, and you start putting foreign chemicals and substances on there, you never know what you're going to end up with,” she says.
Both Dr. Minkin and Dr. Sherry advise that skin irritation and infection are possible after undergoing a vajacial. “The major things that people might experience are itching or pain,” Dr. Minkin says, explaining that certain topical products used in a vajacial might upset the natural pH balance of one’s vagina. “The key thing that people don't understand is that the vagina is an acidic organ and we want it to be acidic. Acid is good in the vagina. When people start using all of these soaps with deodorants and things like that, it causes irritation.”
Dr. Sherry notes that skin irritation can also occur due to dirty instruments or unclean razor blades during a vajacial. “An old or dirty razor blade carries unwanted bacteria that can cause razor burns, bumps, acne and other irritations to the skin,” she explains, adding that skin in the pubic area is especially sensitive and vulnerable. “Harmful bacteria can get into a hair follicle, which can cause acne or folliculitis .”
“Since the vagina is very sensitive to changes in your daily environment, anything that affects its pH balance will also affect the smell and consistency of discharge and odor,” Dr. Sherry explains. If you notice a “strong, foul, fishy vaginal odor with a thin, grayish-white discharge,” Dr. Sherry advises that you should go see your doctor. She says that many vagina owners might be inclined to self-diagnose discharge, itching, and odors as a yeast infection and opt for over-the-counter medicine, but this could delay proper diagnosis and treatment if a patient has another type of infection or condition.
Oh, and PSA: there's no need to spray any “intimate perfumes.” It’s totally normal to have some kind of smell down there at any time. As Jane on The Bold Type ultimately concluded: “Your vagina is supposed to smell like a vagina; not freshly baked cookies.” Dr. Sherry notes that it’s always a good idea to know what your vagina naturally smells like, so that you can properly identify new or concerning odors.
Dr. Minkin says the number one way to keep your vagina healthy is to keep the tissue “as clean as possible.” She explains that there’s a number of over-the-counter products on the market that are pH-balanced and safe to use on one’s vaginal area, such as moisturizing washes. Dr. Minkin also says probiotics can help boost the “good bacteria” in the vagina, but stresses that such OTC options should never be a replacement for seeing a doctor. “Again, if you think you have a significant odor, then talk to your gynecologist, nurse practitioner, or health care provider to see if there is a bacterial infection,” she says.
According to Dr. Sherry, a vagina needs the same kind of TLC that you’d give to any other part of your body. “Between urine, sweat, and its location so close to the anus, cleaning the outside of the vagina...is critical to prevent dirty bacterial buildup that leads to acne and to avoid odors that develop throughout the day,” she says, emphasizing that cleaning should be done externally. “Using a gentle, unfragranced intimate wash is ideal, especially one that is made specifically for the vagina. The vagina is not ‘dirty,’ but it does need to be cleaned daily like any other part of your body where heat, sweat, and bacterial build-up can occur.”
Many of Dr. Minkin’s patients ask her the same question: “Am I normal down there?” It’s a common concern, especially in a time where porn is easily accessible, creating “idealized” versions in our heads of what vulvas are “supposed” to look like. Such a worry, Dr. Minkin says, might lead a person to seek cosmetic treatment on their vaginal area — like hair removal, brightening, and other procedures, some of which occur during a vajacial.
But it’s important to keep in mind that there’s not one “right” way for a vagina or vulva to look. As Dr. Minkin puts it: “The key thing is that there is not one perfect, ‘normal’ looking vulva; they have many, many, many shapes.” And, it would seem, they don’t really “need” mud masks at all.
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