Facial

Illustration of a man ejaculating onto a woman's face.

A facial (also facial cumshot or cum facial) is a term for the sexual activity in which one person ejaculates semen onto the face of one or more sexual partners.

A facial is a form of non-penetrative sex, though it is generally performed after some other means of sexual stimulation, such as anal sex, intercourse, masturbation, or oral sex. Facial cumshots are regularly depicted in Western and Japanese pornographic media, often as a way to close a scene.^[1][2]

Overview

The performance of a facial is typically preceded by activity that results in the sexual arousal and stimulation of the ejaculating participant. After the prerequisite level of sexual stimulation has been achieved, and ejaculation becomes imminent, the male will position his penis so that the semen that is discharged will be deposited onto his partner's face.

The volume of semen that is ejaculated depends on several factors, including the male's health, age, degree of sexual excitement, and the time since his last ejaculation.^[3] Normal quantities of ejaculate range from 1.5 to 5.0 milliliters (1 teaspoon). Seconds after being deposited onto the face, the semen thickens,^[4] before liquefying 15-30 minutes later.

Prevalence in pornography

An illustration of a man ejaculating onto a woman's face

Facial cumshots are regularly portrayed in pornographic films, videos, magazines and internet web sites. In addition to mainstream pornography, the popularity of facials has led to creation of its own niche market.^[5] Hugo Ohira, director of marketing for Silvercash, rhetorically asks "Who doesn't like spewing their load on a pretty young face?"^[6]

The adult entertainment industry has responded to consumer demand for facial oriented material by producing such video series that specialise in showing the act. Vivid Entertainment's national sales manager Howard Levine in a press release for an adult film described the movie as "It's [her] first movie ever, it's got high production value and lots of facials."^[7]

On the internet, many sites specialize in offering this content to the market. Internet based content is distributed in the form of picture galleries and videos made available as downloads or streaming content. Content is distributed freely or by means of subscription based services.

Predating the modern age of pornography, facials were also described in literature. As an example, the French aristocrat Marquis de Sade wrote about performing facials in his work The 120 Days of Sodom, written in 1785. One passage of the novel reads "... I show them my prick, then what do you suppose I do? I squirt the fuck in their face... That's my passion my child, I have no other... and you're about to behold it."^[8]

Content analysis of best-selling heterosexual pornographic videos has shown that over 96% of all scenes concluded with a male performer ejaculating onto the body of his female partner. The mouth was the most common area to be ejaculated upon. When all regions of the face are included, facial cum shots comprise approximately 62% of scenes where external ejaculation occurs.^[9]

In a 2001 interview with Martin Amis, pornographic actress Temptress revealed a trick which is used when male actors are unable to ejaculate; "You get some pina colada mix. The cock's in your mouth and you let it, like, ooze out around it."^[10]

Cultural perceptions

In pornography

The emotional, psychological, and sociological significance of the depiction of facials in pornographic media is a source of controversy, with no consensus being reached. There are a variety of views ranging from facials being an act of misogyny, degradation, or humiliation to being a healthy expression of human sexuality.

Feminist critiques of the depiction of facials are primarily critical. Sociologists Gail Dines, Robert Jensen and Russo echo these sentiments in the book Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality it asserts "In pornography, ejaculating onto a woman is a primary method by which she is turned into a slut, something (not really someone) whose primary, if not only, purpose is to be sexual with men."^[11] Linda Williams concludes that facials are a fetish or a perversion. She states "The money shot is thus an obvious perversion -in the literal sense of the term, as a swerving away from more "direct" forms of genital engagement- of the tactile sexual connection."^[1] Anti-pornography activist Andrea Dworkin stated at a conference at the University of Chicago, "It is a convention of pornography that the sperm is on her, not in her. It marks the spot, what he owns and how he owns it. The ejaculation that is on her is a way of saying (through showing) that she is contaminated with his dirt; that she is dirty."

Other critics suggest different meanings. Author Lisa Moore suggests that Dworkin's explanation does not take into account that it is the pleasure the actresses exhibit that the male partners enjoy, and that it is more accurate to think men want their semen to be wanted.^[12] Women's activist Beatrice Faust stated "Since ejaculating into blank space is not much fun, ejaculating over a person who responds with enjoyment sustains a lighthearted mood as well as a degree of realism." She goes on to say "Logically, if sex is natural and wholesome and semen is as healthy as sweat, there is no reason to interpret ejaculation as a hostile gesture."^[13][14] Sex columnist Nina Anthony also views the practice of facials in a non-threatening light, feeling that it adds variety to the sexual experience. In one of her weekly articles she wrote "But let's give credit where credit is due: The money shot, by itself, is great for a number of reasons. Blowing it on someone's face is like a change-up pitch - if you've been throwing the heat for a while, maybe you should consider hooking the curve ball." She continues with "Also, being on the receiving end of the shot can satisfy the secret porn star in everyone and it's minor kink for beginners".^[15] Joseph Slade, author and professor at Ohio University,^[16] wrote of her work that "Williams thinks of ejaculation as a leitmotif similar to those that punctuate musical comedy, a genre she thinks resembles the hard-core film. Although Williams' thesis tends to reduce porn films to a single heterosexual genre, Hard Core is remarkable because the author actually engages the subject instead of pontificating from distance and because she insists that feminists must learn to reevaluate sexual expression."^[14]

In her essay "Speaking Out: Teaching In" Cindy Patton simply reached the conclusion that critics have devoted too little space to discovering the meaning that viewers attach to specific acts such as cum shots.^[17][14]

In society

The frequency at which facials are performed amongst the general public is unknown, as no academic sexual survey has addressed the subject. It is generally thought that it is performed far less frequently than it is practiced in pornography.^[14] This is based on the assumption of other sexual activity portrayed in pornography versus society at large. As an example, anal sex is nearly ubiquitous in modern heterosexual pornography, but performed regularly by only about 10% of the general population.^[18][19]

Cosmetic usage

Though Cosmopolitan founder Helen Gurley Brown, as part of an interview regarding the making of the film Deep Throat, suggested that women should "spread semen over [their] face, [it's] probably full of protein as sperm can eventually become babies. Makes a fine mask—and he'll be pleased", its effectiveness is unproven.^[12][20][21] The Norwegian based company Maritex sells processed cod sperm for use in lotions and makeup, selling several tons annually.^[22][23]

Health risks

Transmission of disease

Any sexual activity that involves contact with the bodily fluids of another person contains the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Semen is in itself generally harmless on the skin or if swallowed.^[24][25] However, semen can be the vehicle for many sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and Hepatitis. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration categorizes semen as "other potentially infectious material" or OPIM.^[26]

Aside from other sexual activity that may have occurred prior to performing a facial the risks incurred by the giving and receiving partner are drastically different. For the ejaculating partner there is almost no risk of contracting an STD. For the receiving partner, the risk is higher.^[12] Since potentially infected semen could come into contact with broken skin or sensitive mucus membranes (eyes, lips, mouth), there is a risk of contracting an infectious disease.

The research paper The Adult Film Industry: Time to Regulate? co-authored by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and UCLA noted "All the more concerning, high-risk practices are on the rise. These practices include sex acts that involve simultaneous double penetration (double-anal and vaginal-anal intercourse) and repeated facial ejaculations."

The authors make recommendations for eliminating the risk of performing facials by suggesting "Facial ejaculations could be simulated through the use of inert materials such as liquid antacids combined with filming techniques, which would eliminate any health risk to the performer."^[27] Industry publication AVN Magazine scoffs at such suggestions. Considering the idea of simulating facials to be ridiculous, writing "Simply put, the viewing public isn't that easily fooled - and it wants its facials."^[28]

Allergic reactions

In rare cases, people have been known to experience allergic reactions to seminal fluids, known as human seminal plasma hypersensitivity.^[29] Symptoms can be either localized or systemic, and may include itching, redness, swelling, or blisters within 30 minutes of contact. They may also include hives and even difficulty breathing.

Mild cases of semen allergy can often be overcome by repeated exposure to seminal fluid.^[30]

See also

Look up facial in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Facial cumshot

• Bukkake
• Cum shot
• Sexual slang

References