The beauty superstition has officially re-entered the global beauty chat. As it collects a convoluted response, we take a look at what the practice is and what it means to our beauty history
In the beauty world, a new day marks a new beauty obsession. A slew of makeup techniques and skincare practices continue to emerge with the hope to earn a seal of approval, while social media makes the final verdict. By fair means, it did give way to an ample of mainstay, but it also shed light on a plethora of tutorials that are questionable at best—anyone who’s fallen down the beautytok rabbit hole would agree.
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Sunscreen contouring, teeth filling, and tan tattoos are some standouts in the beauty spectrum. However, a new perplexing trend captured our attention—only this time, it hits home. Enter: Moon Masking.
In the name of beauty
Red masks are no stranger to a beautytok resident’s dictionary. In 2020, the world’s FYP was dominated by patrons wearing a blood-like peeling solution. It’s fair to say that the visual similarity is uncanny, but unlike the preceding trend, moon masking uses actual blood.
@dayaderya #dayaderya ♬ original sound – Derya • Personal Retreats
“Moon masking” or “menstrual masking” is a practice of using one’s period blood for beauty and spiritual beliefs. It’s taboo, yes, but it’s not a niche considering TikTok’s ‘periodfacemask’ videos garnered a total of 6.4 billion views from users worldwide. A dive into the thread also unveils a number of women who adopted the practice. One of which is Derya, a content creator who’s been menstrual masking for a year now. “My skin feels so smooth after I do it,” she claimed in one of her videos. Despite the convoluted response, a lot of users supported her statement.
The beauty superstition
Moon masking might be marked as an unconventional TikTok trend, but it is an old beauty practice in our country. In fact, it’s been done traditionally and superstitiously for generations. A mandatory beauty ritual for anyone who grew up in a traditional household, it is believed that applying the blood from your first period on your skin can clear and prevent future breakouts while providing a healthy glow. Unlike beautytok’s version, menstrual masking is only done once during the puberty period, and the magic is said to last forever.
The superstition has always been omnipresent in our culture, but its popularity sheds light on our rich beauty history. Aside from print and advertisements, beauty superstitions defined early beauty relationships. It’s a nod to the time when most of the aspects of the beauty spectrum are unexplored and the ingredients we rave about are still inaccessible. It might have sounded silly or strange but at some point, it became a beauty girl’s saving grace.
A reminder from the experts
As moon masking re-enters the global beauty chat, the practice still lacks scientific research to support its claims. Period blood can easily attract bacteria and sweat if it’s not collected in a sterile way. Aside from that, anyone who potentially has a genital infection can easily transmit the virus onto the facial skin.
Yes, using blood as a facial procedure is nothing new. A good example of this is the vampire facial or Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy that utilizes the patient’s own blood. But the process safely extracts the plasma from the blood and re-introduces the plasma to the skin. Unlike moon masking, PRP extracts blood in a sterile way to avoid infection.
Our point of view
In spite of warnings, there are still fans who are more likely to continue moon masking. Then again, most women perceive it as a ritual to empower their femininity or connect with their bodies on a deeply personal level. It is not exactly a process we highly recommend due to hygiene and safety concerns, but it’s something that we can respect.
Moon masking might have earned a lukewarm reception, but it also raised the importance of exploring our bodies and making periods less taboo. There’s much more work to do, but cultivating a healthy conversation about it can help a lot of women.