Tester: Colleen, executive editor

First things first: Don't start a conversation with a stranger in line at the drugstore when you have hemorrhoid cream in your basket. It makes for a very awkward, please-pretend-you-didn't-see-it moment when you're checking out. Now, about using Preparation H as a poor girl's cure for puffy eyes: In the name of research, I stayed out late and drank waaaay too much so the skin under my eyes would look properly swollen and overworked.

In the a.m., I smeared a baby pea-sized dab of the anti-inflammatory hemorrhoid cream under my eyes. It contains 1 percent hydrocortisone, which should reduce some of the swelling, and it did. I guess. But I've gotten the same results from a cold compress or pair of cucumber slices on my eyes. And when you're sleep-deprived, trying to put hemorrhoid cream near your eyes is a really terrible idea -- some of those ingredients will cause worse problems than puffiness if they get in your eyes.

Final verdict: From now on, I'll buy embarrassing products online. And eat more fiber. And get more sleep. But I'll never put hemorrhoid cream on my face again.

Tester: Claire, editorial intern

Soaking your feet in Listerine is rumored to soften calluses and freshen your worn-out feet. We'll see about that. I used a bottle of Cool Mint Listerine and soaked my feet in a small basin for about 10 minutes. After soaking, I noticed my feet felt refreshed and well, like I had soaked them in Listerine, but as far as softening goes, I didn't notice too much of a difference. I probably could have been more patient and soaked them a little longer, but if I need a fast fix for rough feet, I'll just reach for a pumice stone.

Tester: Erica, assistant editor

I usually hold the mayo on my sandwiches and burgers, but I decided to give the condiment a go on my hair. Mayo is full of egg yolk and oils, which promise to moisturize extremely dry hair (like mine). After opening a jar and slathering mayo on from roots to tips, I let it sit for half an hour in a shower cap, then rinsed it out. My hair did feel much more moisturized, my ends look much less fried, and my hair looked a good deal shinier. The only downside -- the smell. For that reason alone, I'll probably stick to my usual deep conditioners to keep me (and my bathroom) from smelling like a deli, but I'd give an old-fashioned mayo hair mask another go in a pinch!�

Tester: Megan, production intern

As a long-time acne sufferer, I was interested to find out whether this trick would work. Had I been wasting my time all these years with benzoyl peroxide and Proactiv? I used Colgate Total Advanced in my test because a) it's what I had on hand and b) my Internet research informed me that for this tip to be effective it's important not to use a gel-style toothpaste.

While I understand the science that backs up this tip -- toothpaste kills bacteria, which are a leading cause of zits -- I'm sad to report that this at-home trick was not overwhelmingly effective. It didn't cause a breakout, but it didn't make my acne better, either. Plus, the strong mint smell made my eyes water. My recommendation? Keep the toothpaste in your mouth where it belongs.

Tester: Lila, editorial assistant

Many people revere baking soda for its "gentle" face scrub qualities ... but as a gal with somewhat sensitive and dry skin, I was less than enthused. Full disclosure: I had spent the entire day at the beach when I tested this treatment, and my post-sun face didn't appreciate the exfoliating attempts. It felt like I was lightly buffing my face with fine grain sandpaper, which some people are into, but I am not.

On the plus side, baking soda and water is pretty simple, and dirt cheap. My guess is if you have oily skin, or you're acne-prone, you'll benefit from baking soda's redness-reducing qualities ... but because it's also drying, use it sparingly.