A woman who felt “dirty” about her period has learned to embrace her menstrual blood – by using it as a face mask.
Gina Frances hid her first bleed from everyone and used birth control to swerve her time of the month.
But things started to change when the 28-year-old came off hormonal birth control and learned about the power of the womb.
She now sees menstrual blood as “nature’s facemask” – using it for skincare, to water her plants and paint with.
Gina, who is originally from New Jersey, USA, said: “For most of my life, I hated my period. I was on birth control for eight years and used it to manipulate my cycle and skip my period.
“When I finally came off birth control, I didn’t get my period for about a year and I started going to women’s circles and learning about the womb.”
She continued: “I think the majority of women with menstrual cycles feel a bit disconnected with their periods and have a deep-rooted embarrassment about their monthly bleeds.
“When you’re in high school, you hide your sanitary pads and tampons from everyone and that shame continue over time.”
It wasn’t until Gina started learning about the womb that she started celebrating her monthly cycle.
She said: “I had this realisation that the womb and menstrual cycle was this amazing thing that I wanted to dedicate my life to and that I wanted to share my work with the world…
“Our periods are a powerful time to slow down and connect with ourselves.
“I use my menstrual blood to paint. Your cycle is a wonderful time for creativity – whether that’s writing, drawing or painting.
“You can actually collect your blood in a menstrual cup and paint with it. It’s a feminine and deeply healing form of self-care.
“You can also water house plants with your menstrual blood. If you use period panties for example, you can squeeze your blood out into a bucket of water and give it back to mother earth.
"Your menstrual blood is an amazing fertiliser plants. It’s a beautiful way to give back to nature what nature first gifted to you.
“Another really cool fact is that menstrual blood is the highest source of stem cells. It’s so nourishing for the skin and you can use it as a facemask.
Gina added: “I understand that this practice can be confronting for some people but you can actually collect your blood in a menstrual cup and apply it on your skin. It’s like nature’s facemask.
“It’s extremely healing if you have acne or skin problems. On a more spiritual level, the practice helps you connect with your period and reveal how clean and pure your menstrual blood is.
“Seeing yourself in the mirror with your blood can be very powerful and primal experience. It’s a way of reclaiming your feminine energy and confidence.
“On the first day of my period, I sometimes put a dot or line of my blood on my face as a physical symbol that my menstrual cycle is here.
“On day two, I will put more blood on my skin as a facemask. When you become connected to your cycle, you just don’t want to waste that nutrient-rich menstrual blood.”
Gina – who is now based in Western Australia – hopes sharing her story will help to fight the stigma that surrounds period.
She admitted: “I understand some people might be fearful or disgusted hearing about these practices that I’ve mentioned. My work is meant to elicit a response and make people question their existing beliefs.
“Of course, I don’t ever want to force or push anyone to do something. But I want to create a world where our periods are celebrated.
“I know not everyone wants to put their menstrual blood on their face. But I would love to see more women switch to using period panties or menstrual cups as opposed to sanitary pads and tampons which can be toxic and wasteful...
“When you embrace your menstrual cycle, it has ripple effects into other areas of your life whether that’s your sex life, your career or your health.
“There’s a growing online community who see this. In time, I hope that it’ll be more natural and normal for women to accept and honour their periods too.”
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