You know what nourishes your skin best and you’ve stuck to your skincare routine for quite some time. You swear by a certain brand’s beauty products or are more of a DIY person whipping up your own skin recipes at home using ingredients found in almost every household. Face packs or masks, whether homemade or store bought, have a permanent spot in your bathroom cabinets and even refrigerators. Aunts and grannies pass on their best skincare secrets which may also be bizarre but work wonders.

Then Kim Kardashian gets a ‘Vampire Facial’ where her face was injected with her own blood and all hell broke loose. Google was buzzing with queries regarding this new ridiculous trend. Seriously, why inject your face with your own blood? Some laughingly rejected it while others phoned skin specialists to inquire more. Kim K has not stopped at the infamous blood facial, which she later said she regretted. She goes on to experiment with LED light facials, etc, making us tilt our heads in wonder.

Scrolling through Instagram or Facebook feeds, we come across an array of strange beauty and skincare hacks that pushes us out of our comfort zone and also give us a good laugh. Example, the bubble mask which puffs up making you look like a cloud about to burst or maybe a cream cheese mask mixed with strawberries which sounds delicious as well. 

Then K-Pop or Korean pop music becomes all the rage and you see these stars from South Korea with their flawless skin on your screens and we want to know their secret.

Let’s check out some of the weird skincare hacks that have people buzzing.

PEPTO BISMOL FACE PACK

Yes, this age-old cure for heartburns, acidity, diarrhoea and upset stomach is also used to get rid of acne and can help tighten your pores. It contains salicylic acid that can help fight acne and beta hydroxy acid to unclog pores. It is also known to work well on blemishes. Since its quite runny, you can use a foundation brush to apply it on your face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes till it hardens. You can then rinse this pink solution with lukewarm water. We suggest not to try this if you have sensitive or dry skin or are allergic to aspirin or a mineral-based makeup.

DONKEY’S MILK

It is a rather old trend used to preserve beauty which dates back to ancient Egypt. It is believed that queen Cleopatra and even last Roman emperor Nero’s wife used to bathe in donkey’s milk to avoid wrinkles and leave the skin youthful. The trend has returned following multiple skin products beings released by South Korean beauty brands using donkey’s milk as a key ingredient. It is said to be an excellent moisturiser for the skin and contains more vitamin C than cow milk apart from other nutrients like vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, D and protein.

GEISHA FACIALS USING NIGHTINGALE POOP 

 Another bizarre beauty invention which was popularly used by geishas in ancient Japanese culture. The excrement of a Japanese Bush Warbler bird was initially used to remove stains from kimonos but was later added to beauty treatments to remove makeup and even fine lines. The use of this nightingale’s poop in a powder form has made a come back in Japan and well as the west with many high-end spas offering skin treatments using it. The bacteria in the poop is killed using ultraviolet light and then sun-dried. It helps to exfoliate the skin as well. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham and even Tom Cruise are said to have undergone this facial treatment. 

SNAIL MUCUS OR SLIME

Grossed out yet? It almost sounds like we made it up. The slime trail which a snail leaves behind is said to have glycol acid and protein which have numerous skin benefits. It helps keep the skin soft, hydrated and has anti-ageing properties. It is easy to find face masks that have snail slime in them.

BEE VENOM

Being stung by a bee is frightening enough, but its venom can help with a range of skin issues and has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. A number of products have been introduced in the market that includes bee venom and are safe beauty products when used in a right manner. It is advised to perform a patch test before applying it on your face to check for reactions or allergies. If you are allergic to bees then stay away from using any cream which has bee venom in it.

PLACENTA FACIAL

This may sound again disgusting, but human or sheep placenta is being used in beauty regimen for skin rejuvenation. The placenta is rich in proteins, vitamins and has other nutrients that can help treat skin acne and signs of ageing. But it also has a few side-effects that may include itching and dryness.

There are new beauty trends being introduced every day some of which may appeal to you or maybe not. Dermatologists and other skin specialists are your go-to professionals when it comes to deciding what suits your skin best at the end of the day. It is fun to experimenting but it is extremely important for you to also be cautious while using these products. But if you decide to pick up a new mask or cream which makes your skin feel great and does no harm to it then why not use it?

Autumn’s Here, It’s Time to Update Your Skincare Routine

Do you spot those aromatic pumpkin spiced lattes and hot cocoa topped with fluffy marshmallows around you? Or, the sweet-smelling Read more

Skincare Tips for After Your Facelift

When you choose to have a facelift, you are taking an important step toward improving the health and appearance of Read more

How to Care for You Skin When You’re a Busy Woman

Your work schedule may be crazy, but it is always easy to squeeze in a few minutes for your skincare. Read more

What Your Skin is trying to Tell You?

As you can see, there are underlying reasons why your skin could be acting up, and it is important to Read more

Rebecca writes to share her personal regimen of skin care for tattoos, piercings and other body art.