Not Washing or Water Only

My spiritual Auntie saw I was breaking out and told me that a Dermatologist told her one time to only use water to wash my face...I looked at her like she was crazy lol I said no cleanser?!! WHAT! She said yes no cleanser just luke warm water. I kinda didn't listen to her to be honest then my face started breaking out even more! So I was texting my best friend about my breakouts and she said the same thing that she stopped using products on her face because it would dry and irritate her face, she was like just wash with warm water. I completely agree with her about products irritating and drying the skin I was experienced that using products with Benzoyl in it. We have similiar skin types so I decided to try that to see if that will make a difference. I will also use astringent, tea tree oil, aloe vera from my mom's plant (use these every other day)...drinking nothing but water and taking hair, skin, nails vitamins along with D3 vitamins. It's not just about working on the outside of your body but also within. I'm thinking about documenting my progress on doing this through video not sure yet but I'll let ya'll know my update in about a month.

After using numerous different cleaners including Clinique, Liz Earle and natural soap, I came to the conclusion that they were only irritating my skin. After washing with commercial products, my skin dry and red. I have not used any products at all on my face for three days and my skin is looking better than ever. All I do is wash my face in the morning and evening with warm water and try to avoid over washing. You may think it's too early to post a review but the results are so incredible that I thought I must!

I was at a training camp for a month. During that month, I had no time to use cleansers or stuff like that. I only occasionally rinsed my face with water and moisturized my face. I also swam everyday. We weren't allowed to wear any makeup. As the month progressed, I noticed my skin started to SIGNIFICANTLY clear up, but the some of other girls skin was breaking out. By the end of the month, my skin was the best it had been in years. But for some of the girls, that wasn't the case. What I'm getting at is that this doesn't work for everyone. But there's no harm in trying it.

I hate whoever claimed this would work. It really doesn't. My skin is now worse than it ever has been.

I tried this method after coming off the regimen. It could have been because I stopped using the regimen, but I got awful breakout. Clogged pores, disgusting skin. I tried for about a month but couldn't show up to school with nasty skin anymore so I exfoliated and it felt amazing. Try it out, but not for everyone.

I am reviewing the water only method, not the "not washing" method. If the water is of good, clean quality, then go for it. But if your tap water is questionable, either opt for deionized water or use a bit of facial wash (with no SLS), or spray your face with evian spray or some other mist.

IT WORKS .... I've used this method since 2006 and I still do get an occasional zit it works because it doesn't irritate the skin.

Before: Face: Mild Acne (2-5 active pimples and 1 cysts every other week) - High inflammation Body: Severe Acne (Follicultitis) with about 5-20 pimples and 3-8 cysts - High inflammation - Affected everywhere: Chest, shoulders, sides, lower back, buttocks (the worst place ever) I have tried washing frequently and ended up with dry-oily bacne. I have tried not showering as frequently, and ended up with oily bacne. I have tried "non-comedogenic" washes/lotions/moisturizers on my face and body, only to have more breakouts. I have tried eczema washes and gentle soaps and cleanser, to no avail. I have tried washing my face multiple times a day or just every other day, both different, yet acne prone results. Tried head and shoulder as a wash, anti-fungal washes, BP washes, Anti-bacterial washes, and for dandruff, both my acne and dandruff get worse. Shampooing with typically sold shampoo, causing large scalp folliculitis. Sports washes made my skin itch and break out. Antibiotics improve face acne/redness and INCREASES body acne/redness!!!! (Like doubled or tripled breakouts!!) Currently Face: Occasional small pimples (1-2 per week) that go away in a day or two, no cysts. Low inflammation. Scarring FINALLY healing from my moderate acne days. Easily cover the tiny zit or two with concealer, but most days I am fine bare faced. Smoother skin, less oily, and only slightly dry. (Also dark circles under eyes went away since upping my water and sleep a bit) Body: 1-2 pimples per week (small) and no cysts, and low inflammation. Scarring and post-inflammatory marks fading. Less oily and dry, smooth and perfect balance rather than being oil AND dry combination. What I do now: Shower 1-2 times a day. Short showers, 3-5 minutes. Only use non-dyed shampoo. Use cool to lukewarm water. Only use dr. bronner soap in the groin and "crevasse". No body wash or conditioner. Lightly splash cool water on face. Never wash my face or use moisturizer. I change bed sheets a few times a month. Two weeks without changing MAX! Guzzle water. Like 12-24 glasses of tea, coffee, or water. (I used to drink 5-10 glasses) I use baking soda to wash clothes, or occasionally get expensivish unscented hypoallergenic detergent My new "routine" actually saves me time and money (TONS OF $$$), along with clearer, softer, and smoother skin. I feel comfortable with my partner rather than opting for a shirt to cover zits. And apparently, I am "angel-soft", have "beautiful skin" and smell "extremely clean". Little does he know I used to have horrible acne covering the entirety of my body a few months ago. I wish someone had told me about this technique sooner! I have wasted so much money and time to literally make my skin red, dry-oil, inflamed, and prone to infection.

I was very skeptical of this method. I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews before trying it. What really drove me to try it was the fact that, since I was about 12 years old, I've been trying different chemical and natural cleansers to try to control my very oily skin and get rid of my acne. I also tried different moisturizers/sunscreens, always wearing a hat in the sun. Nothing has really worked. It only added constantly flaking and sickly-looking pallor to my facial skin. I'm now 26, and over the years my acne has fluctuated between mild and moderate, with occasional flare-ups of perioral dermatitis. Pimples always took forever to go away and they left behind hyperpigmentation. My skin is always best when I'm on an antibiotic, but since experiencing how antibiotics mess with my body, I would never take them again just to treat my acne. It should be noted that I've never worn heavy makeup except for special occasions like being in a wedding party. I used to daily wear Neutrogena's sunscreen, powder foundation, and blush, then cut down to sunscreen and blush only, then stopped wearing sunscreen and makeup altogether a couple years ago. These changes were attempts to let my skin breathe and hopefully improve it. If it helped at all, the results were minimal. My point is, if I still wore sunscreen and makeup, I might need something stronger than water to clean up. If I have to use sunscreen or makeup nowadays, I'll try using raw organic honey to get it off. That's what I had been using as a cleanser for over a year until now. My method has always involved washing my hands before washing my face, and washing my face before brushing my teeth--no saliva or toothpaste residue on my hands. So, after washing my hands with Dr Bronner's tea tree liquid soap for the antibacterial properties, and rinsing it off really well, I now wash my face with cool or slightly warm water, repeatedly splashing my face and rubbing all over with my fingers. I can feel my facial oils on my fingers, and I wash the parts of my face that are prone to flaking last, distributing the oils there. Lastly, I pat my face dry with a towel that I use only on my face and that dries thoroughly between uses. I do this twice a day--when I wake up and before bed. I've been using water only for almost 3 weeks now and my skin has never been better. I still get pimples, but they surface quickly, I pop them, and they go away without scarring! No more huge, red, angry, blind pimples. No more tiny, red, itchy pimples around my nose and mouth. Much less flaking, and I anticipate that the flaking will disappear entirely if I continue this method. It's awesome! My husband and others have commented on how good my skin looks lately. I'm no longer embarrassed by my pimples, because they're not very noticeable and I know they'll go away quickly without leaving behind a scar that takes months to fade. Judging by the comments, maybe this method doesn't work for everyone, but it sure is working for me. Why has no dermatologist ever suggested that I try this? Maybe because water is basically free while acne products, medications, and facial procedures cost money and contribute to their business. Obviously, hormones have played a role in my skin problems, but since trying this method, I'm convinced that if a dermatologist hadn't said, 'Stop using bath soap on your face, but replace it with these expensive cleansers, toners, moisturizers, etc.,' pimples would never have been a big deal in my life. If they'd said,"Stop using bath soap on your face. Try using water only," I might've been feeling confident about my skin for the past 14 years of my life, and I could've saved a lot of money.

Ok, long story short - I've been dealing with adult acne for 6 years. I (like so many others,) have tried EVERY product under the sun. AHAs, BHAs, benzyl peroxide, all natural products, every acne fighting line every made. I've tried changing my diet, increasing water intake, drinking lemon water, taking every supplement under the sun. I was on doxycycline and other topicals for a year. Although, this did eventually clear my acne, - as well as destroy my stomach and make me allergic to the sun - once I went off it the acne slowly started coming back. Fast forward to two weeks ago. My sister came over with these Lush Fresh Face Masks. They had clay in them and are designed to draw out your pimples. Boy did it work. Too well. I woke up Monday with literally 15-20 giant pustules covering the bottom half of my face. I looked like I had a beard of pimples (I'm a girl, btw.) I was devastated. I couldn't leave my house. I had to get a medical leave from work because I couldn't bare to be seen. My boyfriend was totally unsupportive and I'm currently staying at my parents house, at the ripe age of 26. It literally destroyed my life. I became so despondent, I just said EFF it. Nothing works. And I stopped wearing makeup and washing my face. All I do is take a cloth and warm water and gently scrub/ wash and ta-da. That's it. I've been doing this for a week now and I can't believe my eyes. By no means am I "cured." I still have red marks, but they are fading more and more each day. I've gotten maybe one or two new pimples, which I believe are remnants of my last mega-breakout. They even look better, though. No nasty whitehead, no soreness or itching. My face no longer feels oily an hour after washing. It's amazing. Seriously, give it a try. Even if you think it's hormonal, which I'm certain mine is (I get a period maybe every month and a half, two months.) I would recommend trying to cut back on carbs and sugar while doing so. But I am amazed. If you have nothing to lose, give it a go. And despite all the hell I went through from those masks *Mask of Magnaminty, and one of the garlic tea tree ones, I'd even recommend doing one before hand to help draw out all the gunk which your face most certainly will purge. If you can bare to be seen and/or afford time off. Give it a go.