I think we can all agree that the presidential race has been full of ups and downs, but the most shocking thing I’ve heard from any candidate so far is Elizabeth Warren’s skincare routine. When asked how she maintains such glowing, flawless skin, Warren responded that her secret is simple: she just doesn’t wash her face. As someone who has washed my face religiously twice a day for as long as I can remember, I was shocked, and honestly a little judgmental. However, a few days later, I found myself lying in bed with my pajamas on, my teeth brushed and tucked into my blankets when I realized I hadn’t washed my face. Out of pure laziness, I decided to give Warren’s method a try and went to bed.
The next morning, I woke up, afraid to look in the mirror and see how much I had broken out overnight. To my surprise, my skin was dewy and soft, and the few stubborn blemishes I’d had the day before were completely gone. Over the next few days, I leaned into my laziness and kept up the routine (or lack of one). Even though I was waiting for some terrible breakout, nothing happened. My skin just kept looking better.
Despite how good my skin looked after ditching face cleansers, I was still a little skeptical about going without washing my face completely. So, I did a little research to see what dermatologists have to say. Apparently, washing your face with cleansers can throw off your skin’s pH and strip it of its natural oils, leaving it more prone to breakouts. However, it’s still good to get rid of the layer of dirt and oil that accumulates on your face during the day by rinsing it with warm water or using a gentle cleanser in the evening.
Before you go off and try this lazy non-skincare routine, here are a few disclaimers:
- My skin is not particularly prone to acne. I have mildly oily skin, but my skin tends to be decently clear to begin with. If you deal with severe acne, washing your face regularly is probably the way to go.
- I don’t wear makeup. Most days I just wear mascara, and I never wear any makeup on my skin. If you do wear makeup, it’s really important to take it off before bed. Going to bed without taking off your makeup is basically asking for a breakout.
- I have never had much of a skincare routine aside from washing my face, so my skin isn’t used to a bunch of different products. If you do have a skincare routine, more power to you, but your skin will probably go through an adjustment period if you stop doing your routine.
With that being said, enjoy your new excuse to be lazy, and please don’t come after me if you break out.