Tag Archives: facials

Mind Of Man: All That Jizz

John DeVoreJanuary 13, 2012 //
What Men Want In Bed
Do these things and he'll be a happy man. Read More »

A recent essay about “facials” really got me thinking.  Why is it that the act of ejaculating on a woman’s face is called a “facial”? Is semen an astringent? It seems to me that the act could be called something manlier, like “spackling,” or more … inviting? Women love cupcakes. Why not call the sex act “frosting”?

This essay was posted on Jezebel, and it was written by Hugo Schwyzer.  The piece seeks to explain why men want to “jizz” on a woman’s face. Apparently, this sex act is highly controversial. Some women find it degrading, some find it liberating. Is it a way for men to mark their territories? Or is the act a symptom of the AIDs epidemic, when semen became a potentially lethal substance? Has porn popularized this climactic ritual?  Does porn influence men, or is it a reflection of the evolving sexual desires of the day? (I’m going to answer this in a hot minute.) Keep reading »

I Got A Vagina Facial

Susannah BreslinNovember 15, 2010 //
vagina photo

OK, I didn’t get a vagina facial — or “vagacial” — or “Peach Smoothie,” as it’s called — but Alex Kuczynski’s personal story for Harper’s Bazaar of getting one was so freakin’ intimate that I feel like I got one by proxy. What the hell is a vagacial, you ask? It’s a facial. Except it’s on your vagina. Like, if someone was going to see your vagina, and you wanted it to look fresh and new, you could get a Peach Smoothie. Yes, there is one more beauty regime you must now worry about not having done yet. Don’t worry. Your vagina can wait. Keep reading »

Anti-Aging Update: Bee Venom Beauty Products “Sting” Your Skin (Ouch)

Leonora EpsteinJuly 30, 2010 //

The following might seem a bit crazy, but sounds a heck of a lot more appealing than sticking a needle into your face: Skin care addicts are now turning to beauty products containing bee venom as an alternative to Botox. These products don’t come without pain, however. The ingredient “stings” the skin, increasing blood flow to the face, which causes rejuvenation and improved elasticity. Bee venom is not a new thing to the health and beauty market. (It’s been around for centuries.) Apparently, it’s also marketed in capsule form as a pain reliever for arthritis (kind of counter-intuitive considering what we’ve just learned). You can also find it in soaps as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient. At the very least, bee venom is natural, which makes us more inclined to try it as we’re more and more cautious of the chemicals in our beauty products. [Daily Mail] Keep reading »

The Pee Facial: There Are No Words

Leonora EpsteinMay 27, 2010 //

Prepare to be traumatized. Earlier this week on “The Doctors,” a panel of experts discussed the use of—gag—urine in skin care. “Urea,” explains one doctor, “on the skin potentially has some benefits,” before then applying pee-soaked cotton balls to each other’s faces as “urine facials.” There’s a lot we’d go through to get great skin … but putting piss on our faces surely isn’t one of them. [Gawker TV] Keep reading »

Tried & True: Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser

Annika HarrisMay 6, 2010 //

As much as we like experimenting with new products and trends, there are some items we purchase over and over and over again. Why mess with a good thing? Tried & True shares fashion and beauty goods that keep us coming back for more because they never let us down.

Did you know benzoyl peroxide is one of a few acne fighters that bacteria doesn’t become immune to eventually? Yeah, neither did I until my dermatologist prescribed a benzoyl peroxide cleanser for my formerly breakout-prone skin. I saw an immediate improvement after using the cleanser for a few weeks, then my health insurance stopped covering the medication. Luckily, Johnson & Johnson’s Clean & Clear makes a cleanser containing 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, just like the prescription cleanser. I tried the Continuous Control Acne Cleanser on a whim because it was the only face wash my drugstore had in stock, but now I refuse to use anything else. It’s relatively cheap and since you only need a dime-size drop to clean your whole face, it lasts for a long time. The cleanser lathers really well and doesn’t strip your skin of much-needed moisture while still making your face feel clean. I even use it on my chest and back, which are prone to acne in the summer. Wow, who knew a lifesaver could come in a purple tube? [$5.99, Drugstore.com] Keep reading »

The Weirdest New Beauty Treatment Ingredients

StyleListApril 24, 2010 //

Since the beginning of time, people have been slathering themselves in all sorts of bizarre substances in the hopes of becoming more beautiful.

Modern technology has exposed a lot of these concoctions to be worthless (or, in the case of Elizabethan-era women using lead paint to lighten their skin, very harmful) and also given us less disgusting alternatives (like synthetic dyes replacing bat poop in mascara).

And yet, the weirdness continues.

Here are some odd ingredients used in beauty products and treatments today. Read more … Keep reading »

Would You Pay $1,000 For A Facial?

Erin FlahertyApril 5, 2010 //

We’re big fans of Paul Labrecque and his eponymous salon: From their divine hair treatments to kick-ass spray-tanning sessions, they’re quite the Manhattan beauty destination, no doubt. But a facial that costs more than some people’s rent? We’re a tad skeptical. The Cut blogger Aja Mangum tried it out, and here’s what she had to say … Keep reading »

What The Hell Is A “Vagina Facial”?

Jessica WakemanFebruary 12, 2010 //

I know what you’re thinking and it’s not that, you perv. A vagina facial — or a “vagacial,” as it’s called — is a post-waxing treatment at the Script Wax Bar in San Francisco available to women one week after they’ve gotten a Brazilian. According to BellaSugar, for $60, the spa’s estheticians will cleanse your vulva with anti-bacterial body wash and witch hazel (witch hazel?), exfoliate, pluck out ingrown hairs, apply “an anti-freckle, anti-acne, or calming mask,” and then a lightening cream.

My oh my, where to start … ? Keep reading »

Can A Facial Fend Off The Swine Flu?

Leonora EpsteinJanuary 4, 2010 //

When the going gets tough, there are those who get knocked over, and then there are folks who figure out how to profit from a bad situation. Looks like the beauty industry is looking to the latter by facing the swine flu epidemic with expensive, fancy treatments. High-end spas have started offering healthy-sounding preventative care treatments like “immune boosting” facials and detoxes. Many of these offerings feature antibacterial ingredients meant to ward off sickness—a few examples include bee propolis (bee goo, basically) and high-pH, Japanese water.

So does this stuff work? One doctor tells New York magazine’s The Cut: “There is no question that these treatments will protect against winter illnesses, even the flu and swine flu.” [Interesting. Doesn't sound like any doctors we've ever interviewed. -- Editor]

The cynics in us are intrigued yet doubtful that a facial could replace a flu shot. Either way, pretty clever business-wise, no? [The Cut] Keep reading »

Beer In Your Beauty Routine?

Leonora EpsteinAugust 18, 2009 //

Mmm … beer, the delicious soda that makes you feel good. And, apparently, makes you look good, and we’re not talking about beer goggles. Recently, beauty blog BellaSugar reminded us that the beverage has some great beauty benefits. Because of its astringent qualities, beer can help remove hair product buildup when used as a pre-shampoo treatment. You can also make a homemade facial with it, adding avocado, vinegar, and honey. As a last suggestion, you can pour it into your bubble bath … which doesn’t seem to have much benefit other than it feels good (apparently). [BellaSugar]

We’ve also come across some other uses for ale—there are countless recipes out there for beer shampoos and conditioners (you can mix it with jojoba oil, for example), and you can also use it as a styling spray. The question is, would you really want to? Keep reading »

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