Unless your face has a yeast infection, maybe don’t put Vagisil on it

Reddit is one of my favorite places to look for beauty tips. Even as a beauty editor, the Skincare Addiction and Makeup Addiction threads open my eyes to buzzy new products and ingredients that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about. But this morning, during my daily scroll, I stumbled upon a product hack that made me actually groan out loud in my desk chair.

Apparently, people (like, a lot of people) are slathering their faces with Monistat—as in, the same brand you’d likely pick up from the drugstore if you were dealing with with a particularly itchy yeast infection—for the sake of a smoother makeup application. One woman took to the r/makeupaddiction thread to share that she swears by Monistat Complete Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel as a primer. Now, I’ll concede that it’s a chafing gel, but in the past, I’ve heard rumors of people using traditional Vagisil Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Creme to do the same thing.

The reason? A key ingredient in these products is dimethicone, a silicone-substance that, when used in primers, coats the skin to allow for an even makeup application. Don’t get me wrong, anti-itch creams are totally helpful when there’s a fiery situation down south, but for the love of all things beauty, please, please stop putting vagina and chafing creams on your face.

Even for those who suspect that they’re dealing with “fungal acne,” this isn’t the way to go. One Reddit user said that after trying the trick, she started getting breakouts, and this claim checks out, according to Virginia-based Lily Talakoub, MD of McLean Dermatology Center. “Those products contain mineral oil which can clog pores and can actually get rid of the healthy bacteria on the skin, creating the potential for unusual rashes,” she explains, noting that she “100 percent doesn’t recommend using this on your face.”

I know, I know: It supposedly works well, and has the same ingredient as top primers for a fraction of the cost, but why not just… buy an affordable primer? Might I recommend E.L.F. Hydrating Face Primer ($6) or Glossier Priming Moisturizer ($22). I’m a firm believer that your vagina deserves just as much beauty TLC as your face does, but for the sake of my soul (and your skin) let’s agree to keep those two things separate.

While we’re on the subject of taking care down there, here are some of our favorite vaginal products (which we also don’t recommend putting on your face. Plus, everything you’ve ever wanted to know about butt hair,