By
Danya Issawi,
a fashion news writer at The Cut.
She previously worked across the newsroom at the New York Times, including on the “Style” desk and the Pulitzer Prize-winning COVID-tracking team.
I spent the majority of my adult life undeservedly acne-free. In college, I’d come home from nights out and not even bother washing my full face of foundation, contour, and winged eyeliner off before crawling into bed. Sometimes, I’d even keep that makeup on until the following night, slapping another layer on top. I didn’t use anything other than moisturizer, I didn’t nourish my body properly, and I barely slept, yet there I was, young, foolish, and unblemished.
