Think skipping your nighttime cleanse just once won’t hurt? You might want to reconsider after hearing this.
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: neglecting proper skincare can lead to serious damage over time.
Her Usual Skincare Habits
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Gao’s fascination with makeup began when she was just 15, sparked by a curious swipe of her mother’s lipstick. That innocent experiment quickly evolved into a daily beauty ritual.
But while she devoted time to perfecting her look, removing it was a different story. Gao admitted that cleansing felt like too much of a hassle. For 22 years, she never used proper skincare—only rinsing her face with water before bed.
Her mindset? “Why bother removing it if I have to put it back on the next day?” she shared. Unfortunately, this mindset of convenience eventually came at a steep cost.
When It All Went Downhill
Over the years, Gao brushed off small warning signs—occasional breakouts, patches of acne—assuming they were harmless. But her skin had been quietly crying for help, and earlier this year, it finally snapped.
Her face erupted. Practically overnight, it became red, painfully swollen, and almost unrecognisable—even to herself.
Credit: Douyin
Instead of seeing a dermatologist, she turned to a quick fix: a “skin booster” injection at an aesthetic clinic. What followed was even worse. The treatment caused her skin to harden unnaturally, and a purplish hue began to spread across her face, turning her condition from alarming to disturbing.
Experts Weighed In
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Not everyone is taking her story at face value.
Medical professionals are questioning whether makeup alone—no matter how long it’s worn—could really cause such extreme skin trauma.
Dermatologists suggest other likely causes: botched aesthetic treatments, steroid-laced skincare products, or prolonged use of overly harsh ingredients that compromised her skin barrier.
Some have also pointed to potential underlying conditions like rosacea or steroid-induced dermatitis, both of which can cause chronic redness, swelling, and sensitivity when mismanaged or left untreated.
What C-Netizens Are Saying
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As expected, the internet had opinions—plenty of them.
Some comments were ruthless. “That’s not makeup—it’s paint,” one user joked. Others asked, “How many layers did she pile on?” Some speculated that failed cosmetic procedures were to blame.
But not all responses were mocking. Some took a more reflective tone, pointing out the pressure women face to maintain flawless appearances, the fear of ageing, and the shame often attached to being seen without makeup.
To them, Gao’s story was a window into how deeply beauty standards can affect behaviour.
A Hard (and Painful) Lesson
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Whether every detail in her story checks out or not, one thing is certain: it’s a wake-up call. Cleansing is the foundation of every skincare routine.
Skipping it might feel harmless in the moment, but over time, neglect can cause lasting damage. When your skin shows signs of distress, it’s important to listen. Quick fixes and aesthetic trends may be tempting, but without proper diagnosis and care, they can do more harm than good.
What She Looks Like Now
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Thankfully, there’s a silver lining.
After a long and difficult recovery, Gao’s skin has started to clear up. While she hasn’t revealed the exact products she now uses, one thing is clear: she’s finally taking the time to cleanse thoroughly and care for her skin consistently.
