All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Oh, Gwyneth Paltrow—you're always good for a WTF. Only you could have everyone sitting around talking about vagina steaming today.
In case you somehow missed this, yes, Gwyneth is now singing the praises of steaming one's vadge. On her site, Goop, she describes a favorite treatment called the Mugworth V-Steam at a Korean spa in L.A. called Tikkun. She writes, "You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al. It is an energetic release—not just a steam douche—that balances female hormone levels."
After we finished laughing about this—fine, we're still chuckling a little—we realized that Gwyneth's suggestion somehow did leave us with a sudden urge for some hot midwinter steam action. Here are a few steamy beauty rituals we love, none of which involves anything remotely gynecological.
1. Pore-cleansing facials Steaming your face is a debatable beauty habit; many skin care experts say it can exacerbate acne and/or dryness. Still, we'll always be fans of the good old-fashioned extraction facial, which starts with some light steam to relax pores and let deeply embedded gunk slide out more easily under gentle pressure. The steam's pretty much the only soothing part of these facials—extractions are not comfy—but when it's over, you feel like your cleaned-out pores can breathe so much better. So satisfying.
2. Steam curlers Everyone's all about the curling iron these days, but there's something to be said for the retro method of setting hair on curlers. (The resulting bouncy waves are one of the style signatures of this crazy-chic former Glamour.com editor, who sets her hair on curlers each morning). Steam curlers in particular are known for really locking volume into fine hair long-term. Plus, they take up less bathroom space than dry-heat curlers.
3. Vapor caves Someone transport us here now. Or to any naturally occurring hot spring in spa surroundings, where we can just float and soak up minerals for a while. I can think of nothing I would enjoy more in life at this moment. But I'm pretty sure the closest I'll be getting is the steam room at the gym.
4. Bedtime humidifiers Filling and cleaning a humidifier can be a drag, but using one during fall and winter can have spa-like results when it comes to keeping skin looking alive, plump, and glowy. This is one of those boring beauty rituals that's so underrated. Look for a warm-steam version, which feels cozier near your bed. My personal fave: PureGuardian humidifiers—no gross filters to deal with.
So, ladies, how many of you would possibly maybe someday try a vagina steam treatment? What about these other steam beauty treatments—are you feeling in the mood for a little mist right now?
