Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop propel vaginal steaming to top spot as most popular beauty trend of 2019
It looks like the world is following the trend set by Goop! According to a new report by Yelp, vaginal steaming or V-steaming, which as the name suggests involves squatting or sitting over steaming water containing herbs is one of the most popular beauty trends of 2019. Fans of the treatment say it can get rid of the funky smell down there as well as relieve cramps.
The treatment has been criticized for being unsafe with allegations that it can result in vaginal burns and that there is no scientific proof that it relieves cramps. The vagina has also been scientifically proven to be self-cleansing. Some scientists also say that vaginal steaming in women who have recently given birth raises the chance of an infection and could also increase postpartum bleeding.
Celebrities have been fans of the treatment, however, with model Chrissy Teigan posting a photo of her getting the treatment last year. Gwyneth Paltrow, founder of Goop is also known to be a huge fan of V-steaming. "At Yelp, we’re seeing that people are going for beauty treatments that are reflective of a more natural look ditching the fake tans and permanent makeup," Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis told Elle, adding, "People are] opting for treatments like dermaplaning and microneedling that improve the texture and appearance of skin, so they can let their glowy complexion steal the show."
The report also found that people are moving away from treatments like bikini waxes and lash tinting and going in for treatments like hydrafacials and microneedling. The report said that hydrafacials have seen a "meteoric" rise in the last five years while Keratin, lash extensions and Brazilian waxing have seen a gradual decline. Among the most popular trends is also Kybella and Collagen treatments among others. Kybella is an injection that "destroys fat cells in the treatment area under the chin to improve your profile". The treatment is done using deoxycholic acid.