My Skin has been doused in every type of chemical approved by the FDA for decades. If it'll degunk my pores, lighten my under-eye circles, or zap my zits, I'll pile it on. But every few years, I call for a cleanse. I put all my heavy-duty products in a box, shove it under my sink, and swap in natural, organic skin care. A few weeks ago, I stocked up on one of my favorite organic brands (which shall remain nameless, as it's not relevant to today's investigation) and prepared for a month of clean living. Ten days later, my chin was dotted with tiny, angry bumps that lasted several weeks, until I tweaked my regimen.

Why had the skincare gods forsaken me? It had been years since my cystic acne was banished by a five-month supply of Accutane, and I rarely experienced any annoying, surface-level zits. It wasn't "that time of the month," nor had my diet changed dramatically. No late-night ice cream binges, and my water intake was steady. Could it be the organic products? Had my skin become so dependent on chemicals that the natural cleanser didn't make an impact? Was my skin purging, the way it does after an intense facial brings everything to the surface?

I consulted two dermatologists to find out what could have happened.