Skin deep
THE EXPERT Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe, skincare specialist, founder of Skndoctor
Lately, skincare has gone… south. By which I mean there’s been a lot of talk about how to care for the skin around your most private of parts, from sheet masks for the bikini line to vaginal creams and… vajacials.
A vajacial is a ‘facial’ that’s specifically designed to treat the pubic area. The goal? To exfoliate dead skin cells, even out texture, extract ingrown hairs, promote hydration and reduce hyperpigmentation. It will primarily focus on the bikini line and the mons pubis (the mound where hair usually grows) though some will also incorporate the outer labia, too. The treatment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and can be anything from a double cleanse to a moisturising mask. Hair removal before treatment isn’t required, but trimming is ideal.
This isn’t the first time we’ve spoken about vajacials. They had a moment in 2015, when they were the talk of Essex, taking over from the ‘vajazzle’ (see: TOWIE). But it’s the uptick in interest in all things body care that’s put them back on the agenda. And they’re just as controversial as they were the first time around.
It’s important to say upfront that a vajacial is really a futile treatment; some skincare professionals will go as far as to call it ridiculous. A pubic area with bumps, grooves and pigmentation is normal and if you’re after this treatment out of shame over the way you look down there, I’d urge you to reconsider. That said, I’m of the view that women should do whatever makes them feel happy and confident in their own skin. And provi
