Look, I’m no doctor – just a girl who hates letting her period crash her plans. Whether the makeup sponge trick period is “unsafe,” can cause toxic shock syndrome, or whatever else is beyond my scope. Do your research, talk to your own provider, and make your own decisions. I’ve used it twice, and a few of my unicorn friends have too. For us it’s been a great go-to in a pinch – especially when things are light or just spotting – for 1-2 hours tops. Anything heavier or longer and I stick with safer alternatives like cups, sea sponges, or good old tampons. Still, I keep a couple of fresh, unused makeup sponge wedges tucked in my bag… just in case.
You’re dressed to undress, your play partner’s ready, or you’re about to go live on cam…and then your period shows up. Enter the “makeup sponge trick,” a not-so-new hack made popular by Lifehacker magazine in 2017 and summarily drew backlash shortly after. It promises tampon-like results with less visibility and more comfort – but is it actually safe? Let’s break it down.
Don’t forget to check out more newbie swinger advice in our Vanilla Swingers podcast.
💄 What Is the Makeup Sponge Trick?
The concept is simple. Instead of a tampon, you insert a brand-new, latex-free wedge of makeup sponge (the kind used to blend foundation or concealer). The sponge sits high in the vagina and absorbs menstrual blood. Because it has no string, it’s invisible during sex or on camera, which is exactly why it’s become popular with cam models and swingers who don’t want a tell-tale tampon string spoiling the mood or a plasticy diva cup crinkling up inside.
People in the lifestyle scene often talk about this hack in forums and at events -especially when standard period products feel bulky or plasticky and ruin the “in-the-moment” vibe.
📝 How To Use the Hack?
Choose a brand-new, latex-free makeup sponge wedge (not one that’s been in your makeup bag). Cut it in half length-wise.
Rinse it with clean water only. Skip soaps, fragrances, or makeup removers.
Insert it like you would a tampon, pushing it gently into place.
Remove it by hooking it with a finger. (Some people cut a tiny notch to make it easier.)
It’s quick, discreet, and cheap but it’s also completely off-label use. Makeup sponges are not medical devices, so it’s not medically approved but may help in a pinch.
✅ Pros of the Makeup Sponge Trick Period
Great in a pinch: If you’re traveling, on set, or at an event without your usual products, it can feel like a lifesaver.
Spongy comfort: It’s softer and less “plasticky” than a diva cup or tampon. It molds to your body instead of holding a rigid shape. Easy to play and it remain undetectable.
Sex- & cam-friendly: No string, no visible cup edge. That’s why cam models, dancers, and swingers still use this trick when they absolutely need to be “period-proof” for a scene or a spontaneous encounter.
Inexpensive & accessible: You can pick up a multipack at any drugstore for a fraction of the price of specialty sponges.
PSST! Don't Miss!
How I Learned to Squirt
⚠️ Cons of the Makeup Sponge Trick Period
Not medically approved: Makeup sponges aren’t sterile and aren’t designed for internal use.
Toxic Shock Syndrome risk: Just like tampons, sponges can trap bacteria – but with no testing or regulation.
Removal issues: No string means fishing it out yourself. Forget it’s in there, and it could lead to infection or odor.
Unpredictable absorption: Makeup sponges aren’t designed to handle blood, so they can leak or break apart.
Bottom line: while it might “work” in an emergency or for a short camming session, it’s not considered safe for routine use.
💬 Voices from the Community
“Menstrual sponge aka soft tampon. You can buy them online. Makeup sponges can have nasty chemicals in them.”
Cam girls, swingers, and even a few brave civilians aren’t shy about the makeup sponge trick period (I’ll admit, it’s worked in a pinch twice for me!). Scroll Reddit and you’ll see everything from glowing reviews (“total lifesaver for cam nights!”) to horror stories about sponges getting stuck or smelling funky. It’s proof the hack isn’t just myth – it’s alive, messy, and very much part of the underground period toolkit.
My go to is definitely disposable makeup sponges. The white ones shaped like little triangles?? I get a 100 pack on Amazon. Shove that up there and there will be no blood.
🚨 Makeup Sponge Trick Under Fire
The makeup sponge trick didn’t just fall out of the sky. It had its big mainstream moment in 2017 when Lifehacker dropped a jaw-dropping piece hyping cosmetic wedges as the secret to “bloodless period sex.” Cue the chaos – a chorus of OB-GYNs clapped back, warning of infection and toxic shock risk. Honestly, sponges in vaginas aren’t new – natural menstrual sponges (especially sea sponges) have been floating around alternative-health circles since the 1980s, but even those got dragged in studies for bacteria. The difference now? The makeup-sponge hack is a totally modern, off-label twist that’s only recently gone mainstream.
💭 Kat's Final Thoughts
Find all of this and more on this episode of our top-rated swingers podcast for new couples to the lifestyle, the Vanilla Swingers podcast!
Swinger Lingo (check Swinger Dictionary for more!)
Swingersphere: Kat & Leo’s favorite place on earth, the wild, sexy, anything-goes world of swingers – clubs, parties, hotel takeovers, swinger apps, Reddit threads, and way too many pineapple puns. 🍍 Like a pineapple at checkout—some things are just meant to be scanned and shared.
Swizzlers: Kat & Leo’s favorite saying! Like the straw that stirs the drink, just like Kat & Leo, these social butterflies of the swinging scene are the movers and shakers who add the extra fizz to every party, stirring up excitement wherever they go!
◀️ Previous Blog Next Blog ▶️