From washes to serums, welcome to the world of V-beauty.
It’s 2021 and we’ve got full-blown beauty regimens for just about every part of our bodies.
From the face and neck to the back, chest and scalp, there’s a product out there to deal with your beauty gripes, wherever they may be.
But at some point, beauty brands were bound to end up running out of places on our bodies to flog us products for. And we think that day might have come.
Introducing beauty’s latest craze: vulva beauty. Yes, you read that right.
There are currently a whole bunch of products hitting the shelves designed to be applied to our vulvas. With the help of these new washes, serums and oils, the idea is that we should be treating our vulvas with a little bit more care and attention than we currently are. Makes sense, right?
However, when one high-end beauty brand announced the release of its vulva wash and soothing serum earlier this month with prices starting at £55, it caused what can only be described as a V-beauty rift online.
While some celebrated the idea that beauty brands were finally offering alternative products specifically for the vulva, others were outraged at the expense.
The reasons being that gynaecologists warn our vulvas should only be washed with water and that applying anything else to the area could be bad news.
Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Cadogan Clinic, Dr Zahra Ameen says: “I would not recommend anyone spend their money on any such product.
Through implementation of evidence from the National Institute of Healthy and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), I have never medically advised any woman to use specific washes, serums or deodorants on their vulva/vaginal area.”
You see, it all comes down to our vaginal microbiome, which is constantly fluctuating throughout our cycles and lives.
“The primary bacterial, Lactobacilli, play a very important role in protecting women as a first line of defence from an overgrowth of other bacteria and organisms which cause unpleasant symptoms such as smelly discharge caused by thrush and bacterial vaginosis,” explains Dr Ameen.
So how exactly does this relate to V-beauty products? Well in short, gynaecologists argue that any product used on our vulvas can totally throw off the vagina’s natural balance. Experts advise using nothing besides water on the area.
Dr Ameen explains: “There are no benefits to using vaginal washes, creams, ointments or moisturisers and their use is not evidence-based.
“They can have an adverse effect, disrupting the organisms normally residing in the vagina, often causing bacterial vaginosis and thrush.”
With that being said, it’s still hard to ignore the desire for something more hard-working than plain ol’ water in our washing routines.
With new products hitting the shelves that promise to protect the vagina’s natural ‘flora’, is it actually time we gave them a go? Founder of DeoDoc, Dr Hedieh Asadi says: “Many of my patients had issues with irritation from intimate care products.
This is the main reason why so many OB/GYNs recommend their patients to just used water, because the market hasn’t offered any proper solutions.”
But with many doctors saying we simply don’t need a separate wash (let alone lotions and serums), it begs the question why we would bother at all.
“We have sweat glands in the vulva, the same as in the armpit, and I knew that just using water wasn’t enough for many people.
Many of the intimate care brands on the market are founded by men, not one had been created by a female doctor,” adds Dr Asadi.
As a result, she created DeoDoc, an intimate skincare range specifically for the vulva, including a Daily Intimate Wash which has been formulated to maintain natural pH levels.
So the answer as to whether or not we need V-beauty products is... not really.
However, with that being said, if you feel as though you would like to try something for added freshness, be sure to shop smart.
Look for unfragranced products that promise to protect your natural pH if you want to avoid upset.
This article originally appeared on GLAMOUR UK: Author Shannon Lawlor
