A Woman Went Off Her Skin Care Regimen For 30 Days. Here’s What Happened.

In an article published today in the Daily Mail, one woman describes a month-long experiment in which she refrained from removing her makeup every day. Writer Anna Purgslove had her skin evaluated by a dermatologist after eschewing both cleansing and moisturizing her face for 30 days and simply applying more makeup over what she was already wearing — and the results, as you can imagine, were not pretty.

It turns out that the right skin care really does make a difference in the health of your skin, according to Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, Cosmetic Dermatologist and founder of 5th Avenue Dermatology Surgery and Laser Center. “The biggest benefit of anti-aging products and procedures is the exfoliation and turnover of dead skin cells, which allows for renewed skin to emerge," he explains. "Adding makeup on top of makeup doesn't allow the skin to 'breathe'" — which, in turn, can prevent skin from healing itself.

And, to those of you that are under the impression that your organic, mineral makeup is an exception to the rule, take heed: sleeping in any kind of makeup can cause some degree of damage to your complexion, says Dr. Frank. "Even the most sensitive, organic, mineral-based makeup is a bad idea in this scenario, as the basic idea of cell renewal is still inhibited." So, get thyself a quality cleanser — or cleansing wipes —and make it a point to get fresh n' clean before bedtime every single night. We promise that those extra five minutes before hitting the hay will be more than worth it. (The Daily Mail)