No matter how much you think you understand human beings, they will ALWAYS surprise you. Case in point: one of the most popular genres of viral video these days is the “pimple popping” video. It’s exactly what it sounds like–a video of someone, usually a dermatologist, popping a gnarly skin blemish. Some folks, (like me), find these videos to be disgusting and their popularity inexplicable. But others find them satisfying and even stress-relieving. This is why Youtube channels like Dr. Pimple Popper have collected millions of views, and it’s also why there is now a toy that lets you pop pimples to your heart’s content.
Welcome to 2018. Only ten more months ’til it’s over!
The toy in question is called the “Pop It Pal,” and it’s the creation of husband and wife Billy and Summer Pierce. The Pop It Pal is a chunk of fake skin dotted with several pores, each of which is filled with simulated pus you can squeeze out.
Here it is in action. I am very sorry about this.
The Pop It Pal retails at $19.99 and is available in two colors, “Brown” and “Peach.” It comes filled with imitation pus, made of a mixture of beeswax and olive oil. Once you’ve squeezed out all the pus, you can refill it with a $5 bottle. Even if you blow through a bottle a day, that’s still less than $2,000 a year, which shouldn’t strain your fake pus budget.
Here’s another GIF, because I am a glutton for punishment.
As disgusting as all this might seem, it actually makes sense why pimple popping has become so popular. Squeezing out a big red whopper on your nose is inherently satisfying, and the science backs it up. According to neuroscientist Heather Berlin, our brains reward us with dopamine for expunging a zit. “There’s a cycle of anxiety or arousal before the act and a sense of relief after,” she told Refinery 29. “So there’s a physical release of pressure from the extracted blackhead or squeezed whitehead, as well as a mental sense of calm and pleasure. It’s hard to fight that combo.”
And with the Pop It Pal, you can enjoy all the catharsis with none of the potential scarring or infection that comes with popping your own pimples.
Here’s one more, because if I had to look at all of these, you should too.
So far, the Pop It Pal has gotten plenty of positive reviews. On the toy’s Facebook page, one customer called it “A great stress reliever.” Another recommended it “To anyone who enjoys picking.” While a third said her daughter describes the Pop It Pal as “The next fidget spinner.”
No matter what you or I might think, the Pop It Pal is here to stay.
And that’s why I just invented the Booger Buddy. Who wants to invest?
h/t: Bustle