By will-buy
A woman on TikTok claims to have found a more natural option to expensive cosmetics- by using a friend's semen as a face cream.
But before trying it for yourself, we've asked some experts to weigh in, to find out whether it's worth a go (or whether or not this should be avoided at all costs-).
New Yorker Kelly Zolanski was motivated to use the bodily fluid after seeing a relevant video online about how much 'nutrients and protein' it has.
As just one gal, Kelly didn't have someone available to provide a supply for her, so she asked a friend if he would mind helping her out.
The friend obliged, arriving and 'depositing' the semen in a tub on her, so she could keep it in her own fridge.
So, so how exactly does Kelly use it? And will it actually work?
So far, she's only used the semen for a few days – mixing it in with her moisturiser. She has conceded that while using bodily fluid directly goes 'flaky' on her skin and thus mixing it helps with a smoother application.
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Another reason for mixing the semen with moisturiser was because 'it were built with a weird smell.'
'He's not the healthiest person,' she adds.
It also makes it go further, as she notes – it's 'hard to maintain the supply' if you're single.
In the footage, the 26-year-old can be seen tapping her friend's semen onto her skin, and commenting on its 'illuminating' effects.
Kelly's video has now racked up more than 3.3million thoughts about TikTok, with more than 299,300 likes and 11,800 comments.
She says: 'It's a cheap, homemade alternative to expensive brands' and notes that they stores it in her own fridge, to keep it fresh.
Rather than leaving it on, Kelly lets the semeb dry, then washes it off.
'The semen has a lot of nutrients inside it,' she said. 'I didn't really observe that a improvement in my skin because I use skincare products around the regular, but I still desired to check it out.'
She adds that she has had to inquire about her friend for any further supply, saying: 'I called my pal and said “listen, I might take some much more of this”.'
'There wasn't that much but when I mixed it with the stuff, there was enough for 2 days.'
Kelly is cautiously recommending the merchandise to brighten skin – but fears it might result in a 'bad reaction' for many.
But is there any sense with what Kelly is doing?
According to Hollie Simpson, skin specialist and who owns Our Skin Academy, in theory, some of the components of semen could be great for the skin.
'Semen consists of water, plasma, mucus and nutrients including calcium, citrate, fructose, glucose, lactic acid, magnesium, potassium, protein and zinc,' she tells Metro.co.uk.
'Some of those can be beneficial to your skin, especially zinc, as it is shown to assist with oil fluctuations and skin infections.
'Additionally, lactic acid is a hero ingredient for all of us skin practitioners, using its exfoliating and humectant properties.
'It can also be debatable that mucus could possibly prevent bacteria and allergens from penetrating the skin's barrier.'
However, Hollie adds, there is a 'but'. Despite these components, there is not actually any clinical evidence to support using semen on our faces.
It also comes with perils of UTIs and STIs that could transfer onto the skin.
Skin specialist Laura-Jo Samuels is very clear that using semen on your skin might cause all sorts of problems. 'Apart from the general sense of ickiness, STIs are a potential issue,' she says.
As well as this, she adds that: 'Eye infections and skin irritation are both very likely, out of the box a systemic allergic reaction.'
Additionally, Laura-Jo states that, although semen contains protein along with other components that are known to be good for the skin we have, the quantity and quality is determined by the donor's diet and general health.
Kelly's comment about her donor not being 'healthy' then, will be a concern.
Laura-Jo notes that semen does also contain small amounts of spermine; an all natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
'However,' she adds, 'it doesn't contain enough to justify utilizing it in the “source”.
'Synthetic spermine may also be made in a lab so there's truly no requirement for a fresh sample.'
She adds that there are not any retail products that contain spermine, but some establishments provide spermine facials.
Addressing Kelly's approach to mixing semen in to a moisturiser, Laura-Jo advises from this.
As well as the fact that it is almost always easier to layer skincare products, rather than mix them, she says: 'Using semen in this way is much more prone to damage the efficacy of the moisturiser.'
Hollie is in agreement. 'My advice would be to stick to skincare that's been formulated specifically for experience the skin, because the ingredients that constitute semen are also in several other skincare products,' she says.
