WTF: Urine Therapy Is the Next Big Trend in Skincare
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as finding the latest lip trend or tracking down the hottest new looks taking Instagram by storm (hello, #MalePolish!). There are downsides to living and breathing all things beauty, however, as sometimes you discover things you wish you hadn’t. Like the gross news dampening our K-beauty mask obsession. There’s also the discovery of urine therapy (!), the latest new beauty trend that’s very real and very confusing.
So what’s it all about? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like: Washing your face or other body parts with your urine when it contains peak nutrients and antibodies (particularly your first of the day). Before you get COMPLETELY grossed out, just try to remember that urine is actually said to be cleaner than distilled water (try being the key word).
In fact, if you really want to read up on its history and potential benefits, Coen van der Kroon has written an entire book on the matter, titled The Golden Fountain: The Complete Guide of Urine Therapy. In it, he examines the “ancient Eastern tradition,” which uses your body’s very own natural antibodies to do everything from fight colds and allergies to clear up acne, rashes and dry skin.
As dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., recently revealed to Marie Claire, there are various ways to use urine therapy. Thanks to its anti-fungal and antibacterial benefits, it can apparently work wonders as a toner to clear up acne and blemishes, moisturize your face better than any cream you’ve ever tried (“Urea acts as an ‘exfoliant’ of sorts by breaking down the rough skin and exposing a smoother, softer skin,” Dr. Nazarian told MC) and even get rid of various spots, scars and dry skin — huh!
Madonna, for one, adopted the trend years ago and gave it her celebrity seal of approval when, during an interview with David Letterman, she revealed that she regularly pees in the shower to fight athlete’s foot.
We’re sorry to break this news to you, but you might have actually already bought into the trend, as well: As Dr. Nazarian revealed, “We already use urea, a component of urine, in a lot of skincare products. Urine is essentially mostly water — but a small percentage is urea.” We. Had. NO. Idea.
Even so, this is one beauty trend we might still pass on completely.
Would you be brave enough to try urine therapy? Tweet us @BritandCo.
(h/t Marie Claire, photos via Getty)