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| 22 Years Without Cleansing: Viral Chinese Woman’s Makeup Habit Stuns Professionals (Weibo) |
Here’s your daily reminder to actually wash your face.
A 37-year-old woman from Jilin, China — known online as Ms Gao — has gone viral for a jaw-dropping claim: she hasn’t properly taken off her make-up in over two decades.
Twenty-two years of just rinsing with water and reapplying cosmetics the next day. No micellar water, no cleansing balm — not even a wet wipe in sight.
Now? Her skin’s paying the price. Severely inflamed, swollen, itchy, and hardened to the point of being described as “crust-like,” Gao’s face has taken on a deep red hue that netizens jokingly compared to Guan Gong — the legendary Chinese deity famous for his striking crimson complexion.
In a viral clip, Gao, visibly emotional, said:
“The itch is unbearable. I hide at home every day. I don’t dare to go out.”
Her face, nearly unrecognisable, looked puffed and painful, with rashes so aggressive she could barely open her eyes.
“My whole face is wrinkled and hideous,” she added. “I don’t dare to meet people or make friends.”
From Mum’s Lipstick to Daily Habit
Gao says her obsession with make-up started at 15 after sneaking on her mum’s lipstick. The spark turned into a full-blown addiction — but she found the removal process “too troublesome.”
“Why bother removing it if I have to put it back on the next day?” she shrugged.
So, for 22 years, she just splashed her face with water before bed and called it a night. Occasionally, she got the odd pimple or two — but nothing alarming enough to stop.
That is, until earlier this year.
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Her skin suddenly flared up in a full-blown allergic reaction, swelling so much her facial features became nearly unrecognisable. And instead of heading to a proper dermatologist, Gao made a detour to a medical aesthetics clinic — where she received a “skin booster” injection.
Big mistake.
Post-injection, her complexion worsened. Her skin became stiff, dull, and even turned a disturbing purplish tint.
Medical Experts: “It’s Not Adding Up”
While Gao’s story has gained traction online, not everyone’s buying the whole thing. Several dermatologists and skin experts have raised doubts over whether her condition could really be caused just by skipping make-up removal.
Some professionals pointed out that her symptoms more closely resemble steroid-induced dermatitis, rosacea, or even reactions to aesthetic procedures gone wrong.
“Going 22 years without a proper cleanse is bad, sure — but what we’re seeing here is more complex,” one dermatologist said. “There could be a mix of harsh products, possible steroid misuse, or repeated injections involved.”
Some even suggested she may have used skincare products with hidden steroid content or engaged in over-cleansing later on, which might’ve worsened the barrier damage.
Netizens React: Between Sympathy and Sass
Online, opinions were sharply divided.
Some showed concern, saying Gao’s story reflects deeper issues around beauty standards and the social pressure to look a certain way.
“She’s not hiding her face — she’s hiding from judgment,” one user wrote.
But others were far more sceptical, accusing her of using the viral moment to gain online attention.
“Now she’s using her ruined face for traffic,” one blunt commenter said.
Another joked:
“This isn’t make-up — it’s paint. How many coats did she plaster on?!”
There were also conspiracy theories floating around. Some users believed she may have had chin implants or other minor procedures done in the past, saying her features looked altered even before the skin disaster.
More Than Just a Beauty Mishap?
While Gao’s skin story is certainly extreme, it’s also sparking bigger conversations online — about skincare ignorance, obsession with perfection, and how easily misinformation spreads.
Whether her 22-year make-up habit is fully accurate or slightly embellished, one thing’s clear: ignoring your skin’s needs, skipping expert help, and diving into DIY fixes can end in disaster.
And if you're tempted to sleep in a full face of glam tonight, maybe just remember Ms Gao — and the tomato-red cautionary tale that’s now etched across her face.