Skincare should be a priority in everyone’s daily routine, and this includes facials. Whether professional or at home, a facial helps improve skin in different ways. These trending facials make us question what extent people will go to for flawless skin.

Vampire facial  

Made popular by Kim Kardashian, the vampire facial is not for the squeamish. Its proper name is the platelet plasma rich facial. An aesthetician draws blood from your arm and places it through a centrifuge to separate out the platelets. A microdermabrasion tool pricks tiny cuts into your face, and when the platelets are ready, they’ll be slathered on top to be absorbed into the skin. The jury is still out on the safety of the facial, but some do swear by it. It comes with an average $1300 price tag in the US.  

Sheep placenta facial 

The stem cells found in placenta are now harvested into a serum and used as a facial to lift and rejuvenate skin. Sheep placenta is popular because it is relatively cheaper than human placenta for providers to acquire, but the facial itself is still priced at an average $200 for a professional facial. It can be bought in a bottle and used at home.  

24K gold facial  

Why wear gold jewelry when you can cover your face in it? The 24-karat gold facial is not as expensive as it sounds, as you can purchase them in the drugstore for ten dollars. To get one professionally done will run about $100. The idea behind it is that gold reduces wrinkles, inflammation, collagen depletion, and leaves skin glowing. Ancient Egyptians used gold before us on their faces to keep them looking young and healthy.  

Fire facial  

This is one hot facial. Huǒ liáo is a popular facial in China. Taking an alcohol-soaked face rag, an aesthetician will cover your face and light the towel on fire for a few seconds, removing before the facial skin burns. Supposedly burning the face briefly helps improve blood circulation and reduce wrinkles. If you’re bold enough to try it, you may see the benefits for yourself.  

Bird poop facial  

Think bird poop on your car is annoying? Imagine paying to have it on your face. Yes, really. People are paying $200  to have sterilized bird droppings spread on their skin to assist in moisturizing and anti-aging. The droppings are imported from Japan where nightingale birds are farm raised with organic seeds. When the deed is done, the droppings are put under a UV light to sterilize them and are then turned into powder and shipped. The powder is mixed with rice bran to create the mask.  

Snail facial  

If you love slime, this is the facial for you. For $250 you can have a few snails on your face leaving trails of their slime to help reduce aging, wrinkles, and scars while hydrating. The enzymes in snail slime are also sold in bottles and used in skincare routines.  

Bee venom facial  

The next time a bee flies by, you can remember this eccentric facial. The venom in bee stingers is known as “nature’s Botox” for its ability to plump, firm, and boost the immune system. Be careful not to get this done too often, as applying the venom frequently can break down important cells and cause a bee allergy. The science isn’t sold yet on this one, but people are still eager to try it.  

Now that you know about these quirky facials, go out and try one for yourself if you’re looking for a new experience in your skincare routine. Of course, always consult a doctor before trying something new with little research behind it.  

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