Think skipping your nighttime cleanse just once won’t hurt? You might want to reconsider after hearing this.
Gao, a 37-year-old woman from Jilin, China, has gone viral for revealing a shocking beauty habit: she hasn’t properly removed her makeup in 22 years. What started as an occasional skip turned into more than two decades of simply rinsing with water, and nothing more.
Now, the long-term effects are catching up. Her face has become so painfully red, swollen, and irritated that netizens have compared her to Guan Gong, the legendary Chinese warrior known for his iconic crimson face.
It’s a sobering example: that neglecting proper skincare doesn’t just dull your glow—it can lead to serious damage over time.
Her Usual Skincare Habits
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Gao’s love for makeup began when she was just 15. Like many teens, her curiosity was first sparked after sneaking a swipe of her mother’s lipstick. That moment quickly turned into a full-blown beauty ritual—one that became part of her daily life.
But while applying makeup became second nature, removing it never quite made the cut. Gao confessed that she found the process too troublesome and, for over 22 years, relied solely on rinsing her face with water. No cleanser, no makeup remover, nothing.
Her reason? “Why bother removing it if I have to put it back on the next day?” she said, candidly. Unfortunately, what started as a habit rooted in convenience has now led to serious consequences for her skin.
When It All Went Downhill
For years, she ignored the warning signs—small breakouts, the odd patch of acne—shrugging them off as nothing serious. But her skin had been quietly sounding the alarm, and earlier this year, it finally hit breaking point.
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Almost overnight, her face erupted into an angry, inflamed mess. It was red, swollen, and so distorted that even she struggled to recognise herself in the mirror.
But even then, instead of turning to a dermatologist for help, she placed her trust in a “skin booster” injection at a local aesthetic clinic, hoping for a miracle fix.
What she got was the opposite. The treatment triggered an even more severe reaction: her skin hardened unnaturally, and a strange purplish tone began to spread across her face.
Experts Weighed In
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Some medical professionals have raised eyebrows at her claim. Can makeup alone really cause such extreme damage, even after 22 years?
Dermatologists suggest there may be more to the story. Possible culprits include failed aesthetic procedures, long-term use of steroid-laced skincare, or even the repeated use of harsh, unsuitable products that compromised her skin barrier over time.
Underlying conditions such as rosacea or steroid-induced dermatitis are also being considered. Both are known for causing chronic inflammation, redness, and swelling when left untreated.
What C-Netizens Are Saying
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The internet had plenty to say, ranging from brutally mocking to surprisingly reflective.
Some users didn’t hold back, joking, “This isn’t makeup—it’s paint,” and asking, “How many coats did she plaster on her face?” Others speculated that her appearance was the result of failed cosmetic procedures, dubbing it a blend of “high-tech and high-risk beauty hacks.”
But amidst the snark, a few voices offered a more empathetic take.
They pointed to the deeper issues at play, like the relentless pressure to look flawless, the stigma of ageing, and the fear of being judged without makeup.
A Hard (and Painful) Lesson
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Whether or not every detail of her story holds up under scrutiny, one thing remains clear: it’s a timely reminder of the fundamentals.
Cleansing is the foundation of any skincare routine. Skipping it may seem harmless in the moment, but over time, it can lead to consequences that are far harder to reverse.
When your skin starts to signal distress, it’s worth listening to. While DIY treatments and off-the-shelf fixes might offer temporary relief, they often miss the root of the issue. Seeking help from a qualified professional is both the safer and smarter route.
At the end of the day, good skin isn’t just about appearance. It’s about health, prevention, and treating your skin with the care it deserves.
What She Looks Like Now
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Thankfully, there’s a hopeful turn to Gao’s story. After a long and patient recovery, her skin has shown visible improvement.
While she hasn’t disclosed the specific products she uses, what’s clear is that she’s now committed to a consistent and thorough cleansing routine, finally giving her skin the care it desperately needed.
