Beauty Tips

Here's What Happens When You Stop Showering for a Month (See the Pictures)

Could the secret to perfect skin lie in giving up soap, shampoo and all beauty products? We threw hygiene out the window for 30 days to find out

by Jill Provost | COMMENT

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The No-Soap, No-Showering Rules Just as it took the early settlers time to build Jamestown, it takes weeks for beneficial microbes to colonize and flourish. To help speed along the process, I eliminate all variables that could endanger my fledgling flock. Its list of enemies is long: hot water, overexfoliation and most conventional beauty products. Anything with preservatives or antibacterial properties is verboten. I also do away with showering to see just how effective this bacteria in a bottle is at keeping me clean.

But since I, and the rest of my team, have doubts that I can last 30 days without a shower, I convince our editorial assistant Jessica to give up her beloved hygiene products, too.

Here's what our hygiene routine will look like for the next 30 days:
• Spray Mother Dirt all over twice a day, or more frequently as needed
• No baths, showers, pools or hot tubs
• Rinse face, armpits and groin with water every three days, if necessary
• No soap*, deodorant, shampoo, dry shampoo, lotion, lip balm, baby wipes, makeup or any other product that touches the skin or scalp. Brushes, hair accessories and tools are OK
*Hand soap -- for the sake of health codes and everyone around us -- is allowed

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Problem With Soap

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