If someone told you they haven’t washed their face in years, you’d probably expect them to look like they’re in dire need of a trip to the dermatologist.

But that certainly isn’t the case for Chinese actor Chen Xuedong, who shot to fame with his role as Zhou Chongguang in the Tiny Times franchise.

In a recent episode of Chinese variety show Mr. Housework, the 31-year-old revealed his rather unconventional skincare regimen: “I have not washed my face with water in almost 10 years. I only use cleansing wipes or make-up remover, and after I’m done, I don’t need to use water to wash my face.”

When his co-star, Chinese pop idol Xu Jiaqi, asked if he at least uses wet wipes, Xuedong said he does not, prompting her to exclaim, “That’s it? Then your skin is very good!”

Washing his face isn’t the only routine Xuedong does without. He also rarely brushes his teeth, and usually uses floss and mouthwash only.

“I don’t know if the water is the problem, or if it’s ‘cos our bodies secrete a kind of oil that has a protective effect or something,” he mused, adding that he has many female celeb friends who have great hair despite not washing it often.

However, Xuedong emphasised that he’s only sharing his own personal experiences and that his theories don’t have any scientific basis.

It’s working really well for him, though, as he admitted that he has “never gotten acne on [his] face”.

After hearing all this, Jiaqi quipped, “Would it be better if you tried not taking a bath for 10 years?”

“Then I will have no friends!” was Xuedong's hilarious response.

Unsurprisingly, not all netizens seem to agree with Cheney’s unusual self-care practices, with some expressing their doubts about whether he’s even telling the truth or not.

“Does he not use water to wash his face when he’s showering or washing his hair? That’s just abnormal,” one remarked, while another scoffed, “Does he cover his face with plastic wrap when he’s showering?”

Xuedong himself eventually caught wind of the comments and issued some responses on his private Weibo account, saying, “There’s no point in nitpicking, I meant it literally. I don’t use water or facial foam to wash my face, I only use cleansing products, get [it]?”

“I have applied skincare products after removing my make-up and without washing my face with water for almost 10 years,” he continued. “My skin is not bad, in fact, it is very good.”

Some fans also came to his defense, pointing out that he was merely opening up about his own experiences and that it might not be suitable for everyone.

Photos: Chen Xuedong/Weibo