A United States cryptocurrency enthusiast known online as Sarah Talley has sparked massive reaction after posting a video of herself applying menstrual blood as a face mask while declaring it the “new liquid gold” in a bizarre fusion of period positivity and trading slang.
In the 42-second clip uploaded to TikTok and X, the 29-year-old content creator collects fresh menstrual blood in a small glass bowl using a menstrual cup, stirs it gently, then spreads the crimson fluid across her cheeks, forehead and chin with a makeup brush.
While the mask dries, she stares directly at the camera and says, “The market is having a bloodbath right now, so we buy the blood, we wear the blood, we become the blood. If traders aren’t afraid of red candles, why should women be afraid of red days?”
The caption accompanying the post reads, “Symbolising that we’re not afraid of the blood in the market. Is blood the new liquid gold?” The video has already surpassed a million views in less than 48 hours, with thousands of duets and stitches ranging from horrified reactions to satirical recreations using safe red-tinted skincare serums.
Sarah Talley, who boasts 180,000 followers across platforms for her mix of trading tips and body-positive content, later explained in follow-up comments that the act was meant to destigmatise menstruation while playfully nodding to crypto culture, where “blood in the streets” signals buying opportunities during market crashes.
She insisted the blood came from her own healthy cycle and was applied immediately after collection. Medical experts have moved quickly to caution against copying the trend.
A board-certified dermatologist reveals, “There is zero scientific evidence that menstrual blood offers any benefit to facial skin. On the contrary, it can contain bacteria, endometrial tissue, and pathogens that raise the risk of infection, irritation, or even blood-borne disease transmission if proper hygiene is not observed.”
Dr Michelle Henry, a New York-based skin specialist, added that while menstrual blood does contain stem cells being researched for regenerative medicine, those studies involve highly controlled laboratory conditions, not direct facial application.
“This is not a safe or effective skincare routine,” she stressed. The menstruation mask ritual is not entirely new. Similar videos have surfaced sporadically on TikTok since early 2022.
Wellness influencers have previously promoted the idea that menstrual fluid is “rich in nutrients and stem cells”, claims repeatedly debunked by gynaecologists and dermatologists.
Public reaction remains sharply divided. Some women praised the bold move as a statement against period shame, while others branded it “biohazardous clickbait”.
Crypto communities largely treated it as dark humour, with memes flooding timelines showing traders painting red charts on their faces “for good luck in the dip”.
Major beauty platforms, including Sephora and Ulta, quickly issued statements reminding customers that all recommended skincare ingredients undergo rigorous safety testing.
TikTok has attached community guidelines warnings to the original video, citing potential health risks, though it remains online as of Thursday morning.
As the menstruation mask ritual continues trending across social media, health professionals urge viewers to admire the creativity from a distance and stick to proven, sterile products for facial care, regardless of how poetic the metaphor between market bloodbaths and menstrual cycles may feel to some crypto enthusiasts.
