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

PHOTO 12/20

Day 14: How to Smell Clean When You're Not During a run on the beach, I pass a homeless man sleeping in the sand. I wonder what his skin's microbes are like, and whether he smells. After all, he sleeps in dirt (where the good bacteria live), probably has no beauty products nor much opportunity to shower. After some intense Googling, I learn that, when it comes to B.O., wearing dirty clothes is way worse than not showering. So if you have the choice between bathing or doing laundry, take the latter.

When I get home, I spray myself liberally with the Mother Dirt mist (the microbes feast on sweat and work better when it's present, says Aganovic), then set about prepping food for a dinner party. It's liberating -- and a total time saver -- to not have to worry about getting myself ready. At the last minute, I change into a clean, long-sleeved shirt and hug our guests hello. "You must be doing so much laundry right now," says my friend. My cheek sticks to her face as we pull apart. "You don't smell, but your skin feels really tacky," she says.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Day 15: We Have Officially Reached Pigpen Status

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