What an Expert Said Could Happen: On the last day of the experiment, I was ready to set myself up for major skin failure.
"Applying makeup over one day of makeup that has been caked into pores and has trapped dirt and free radicals could potentially cause a huge acne flare, cause significant irritation to the skin and eyes, and may takes weeks to recover from," says Marcbein.
Image via Getty
Photo 9/10
Sin #4: Applying New Makeup Over Old Makeup
What Actually Happened: I forged ahead against dermatological advice (and my better judgment) and swiped on another coat of foundation (I chose one with SPF 15 so that I didn't feel too awful about not applying sunscreen in the morning), mascara, eye shadow and lip gloss on the last day of the experiment. Not only did my skin look crazy-shiny by midday, my foundation started to pill around my nose. What's more, my lashes felt really dry and my eyes started to itch. I had dinner plans with friends that night, so I decided to take off my makeup in my office bathroom before leaving work. I was officially done with the experiment and was excited about getting back to living my makeup-free life.
Image courtesy Christina Heiser
Photo 10/10
Pro Tips for Lazy Girls
I'll be real: There are still going to be days when I pass out in bed without washing my face -- and luckily, I now know that if it happens occasionally, the results won't be that awful. Of course, washing your face is always the better option than not doing it. But if you can't summon the energy to use face wash and water, cleansing wipes are a great option, says Marcbein. My faves are Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Wipes, $5.99 (and here are some other top-rated face wipes to try). Now if only I could get myself to wash my makeup-stained pillowcase.
