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-----Transcript-----So with skincare being “a thing” nowadays, a lot of people are experimenting with their faces in different ways. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes poorly, sometimes it just doesn’t go anywhere. Let’s checkout a few of those cases.Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of skincare secrets.You’ve all been there - had long nights and go to bed without washing our face. And even with makeup on if . However, when it’s a one-night occurrence, we do a thorough cleansing the next morning and get on our way. In the UK, Anna Pursglove, who already had an interesting relationship with washing her face, decided to not wash her face for a month.No cleansers were used in the shower - her skin was only allowed to get wet. Our no-skincare experimenter reported her awful skincare symptoms – her skin felt “dry and taut,” “flaky and lumpy,” and she even developed an eye infection from leaving on her mascara. Not the worst of all, she also had eyelash dandruff. What happened when dermatologists examined her skin at the end of the experiment? It was dehydrated, irritated, and uneven; however, even scarier…she had aged 10 years in 30 days. So don’t go without washing your face for too long.Nowadays, snails involve more than escargot and a good glass of wine. A study published by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2005) reports that back in the 18th Century, snail “preparations” were recommended for external use in dermatological disorders. The use of snails dates all the way back to the works of the ancient Greeks. Thus, the therapeutic use of snails is nothing new. What makes snail mucin so attractive?Snail mucin has hyaluronic acid, some good enzymes [glycoprotein] enzymes, [antimicrobial] and copper peptides.” In the same 2005 study, they studied the effects of the snail secretion on photoaged skin. It was shown that daily application showed a “significant degree of improvement in fine lines after 8 weeks”. In an article by Everyday Health, we learn about a woman who smeared snail slime over her skin for one month. So what happened? Not what you would expect. That person was most looking forward to the hydration potential of snail mucin. In the first week or so, she felt like she had struck “liquid gold” – there were no side effects besides instant softness. Because the “slime” was also double-tasking as her moisturizer, she started upping the use of her retinol from every other night to every night.Coming up on a month of “sheer bliss,” she was waking up to softer, smoother skin, fewer breakouts, and less sebum production. But then there was a problem. She left for a week, and while she took her slime, she left her retinol at home. Her skin went crazy. Was her good skin due to her upped retinol usage after all?If there’s anything that everyone agrees upon, it’s that retinols are the most studied and one of the most effective skincare ingredients. The jury was hung, but that person was not planning to break-up with her snail mucin anytime soon.  There are rumors that baking soda can be used to help clear acne and help exfoliate the skin; yet, there are also facts that show it can destroy the skin’s natural acid mantle, which acts as a barrier to viruses, bacteria, and other skin enemies. In a 2019 study published by Dermatology and Therapy, the efficacy of baking soda in mild psoriasis was reviewed. 30 patients tried this for 28 days. Did baking soda have positive effects on the skin? In the end, the psoriatic lesions had not improved. In this story on LittleThings.com, our experimenter believed that baking soda could act as a daily cleanser, face mask, and an exfoliator, unclogging the pores and removing dirt and oils from the skin. So what happened? Using baking soda and water to form a paste, our experimenter began with oily skin and a few pimples. She hoped that this concoction would help relieve some of the extra zits she had, relying on the “fact” that baking soda helped to clear up acne.While first giving a matte and smoothing effect, as the days progressed, her skin got oilier and oilier…and the pimples increased. Our experimenter began to worry about the pH levels of her skin.  By day 4, the oiliness and greasiness of her skin had taken over. The anger was present and there was no acne reduction, clear skin, or unclogged pores. There was only…oily skin. There were more zits, more pimples, and more blackheads. By day 6, her skin was begging for her old skincare routine. Day 7? Our experimenter’s skin was oilier than ever before, and her old skincare products were calling her name.So not a great outcome, but keep in mind many ingredients that are great for you if you take a small amount, like retinol, you cannot use 100% pure. Vampire facials, also known as PRP facials (platelet rich plasma), might be a nightmare for some. But for this beauty enthusiast, spending the day getting her face pricked with tiny needles and then smothered in her own blood seemed worth it. The PRP facial involves getting blood drawn, spun to isolate the plasma from the red and white blood cells, and then the liquid is microneedled into the skin. Supposed benefits range from decreasing the appearance of fine lines, reducing acne scars and hyperpigmentation, and stimulating collagen.Various studies have examined the efficacy of PRP on the skin, with it being one of the newest therapeutic innovations in the field of dermatology within the past decade. Specifically, PRP has gained attention for helping to reduce acne scarring. In a 2019 review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, it was concluded that the addition of PRP “provides improvements in acne scarring, higher patient satisfaction, and decreased postprocedure downtime.”Moreover, a 2019 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology reported that PRP offered “modest benefit” in treating the effects of skin aging and photodamage.Because you’re giving yourself a facial with something your body is familiar with and naturally produces, there is no potential for allergies. Who wouldn’t want more youthful looking skin due to stem cells becoming new collagen and elastin? The procedure begins with a heavy dose of numbing cream and blood being drawn from the arm. Then, the microneedling begins. Feeling like “metal sandpaper,” this beauty enthusiast declares it’s like a slight sensation of something penetrating the skin—and this is before the plasma is applied to the skin. What were the results? On day 3 after the procedure, there was a bit of lingering redness, but most importantly: her hyperpigmentation seemed to have already lightened up, and her skin is glowing.