I'm clueless. What causes mold to grow in face wash?

Concerning preservatives, she said "most skincare products have preservatives to prevent microbial growth," but they're going to eventually "degrade." The only way Allen feels this is preventably is for us to "check expiration dates and replace face wash every 6-12 months (or sooner if it lacks preservatives or is organic)."

Noted, but how can I tell what the mold will look like?

We've probably seen mold growing on old fruit or food we've left uncovered in the refrigerator, but does it look the same in face wash? Allen says, "Mold in face wash may appear as discoloration (black, green, or white spots), texture changes (clumping or separation), or an unusual smell (musty or sour)."

Now that we think about it, we've used face washes in the past that looked like it was separating or had an awful smell whenever we used it. It just never occurred to us that they could've had mold in them!

The bottom line, Allen says, is "any change in consistency or scent should be a red flag!"

How would moldy face wash affect my skin?

What should I do if I notice a problem with my face wash?

Stop, drop and roll! Just kidding — that's not the answer in this situation. Allen's advice is a little more than a suggestion, however. "Immediately stop using it, discard the product, and sanitize the area where it was stored," she advises. But this isn't the time to get to the internal root of the problem. "Avoid trying to 'scoop out' the mold, as contamination spreads deeper than what’s visible," she mentions.

If there's a chance you're experience irritation in the wake of finding mold in your face wash, Allen doesn't think your life will never be the same. Instead, she wants you to "wash the face with a gentle cleanser and apply a soothing, fragrance-free moisturizer."

In other words, keep it simple post-exposure to mold!

To be on the safe side, you should always stop using beauty products if you notice they're irritating your skin. It could be that the ingredients are too harsh OR mold has secretly found its way inside your daily cleanser. But as long as you follow Allen's advice, you'll be okay!

1. Most of us are saying it wrong.

The correct term is actually "daylight saving time" — singular, not plural. Despite common usage, "saving" is used as an adjective describing the act of conserving daylight, not a plural noun.

2. The time change has been linked to more hospital visits.

The American Heart Association found that the time change showed an increase in cases of heart attack and stroke. A scientific study found a rise in cases of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a condition that resulted in irregular heartbeats with symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue. The increase was more prevalent among women and occurred only during the spring daylight saving time shift, not with the fall clock change.

3. There are more car accidents during this time.

Losing an hour of sleep can also impact your road safety. A study found that the spring daylight saving time transition increases the risk of fatal traffic accidents in the U.S. by 6 percent.

4. DST can increase your cortisol and stress levels.

Losing sleep and disrupting your body’s natural rhythm can do more than just leave you feeling groggy — it can actually spike your cortisol levels, the hormone linked to stress. Research shows that sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment can trigger an increase in cortisol, along with inflammatory markers and cytokine imbalances. Since cortisol and inflammatory proteins are released in response to stress, chronic elevations could contribute to long-term health issues.

5. We're at higher risk of depression.

Many people report mood disturbances during this time, but for those with bipolar disorder, the effects can be particularly destabilizing. For instance, a 2020 study found that the change impacts mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. An Australian study revealed a significant increase in male suicide rates in the weeks following the start of daylight saving time, compared to both the weeks after the return to standard time and the rest of the year.

6. Benjamin Franklin first suggested the concept.

He didn’t technically invent daylight saving time (as some have reported), but he did conceive the idea a century before it was credited to George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand artist who formally proposed it in an 1895 paper. Benjamin Franklin observed that if people in France adjusted their schedules to sleep when it was dark and wake with the sunrise, they could save hundreds of francs on candles — making artificial lighting less necessary.

7. There's already buzz to make DST permanent.

The Sunshine Protection Act is a proposed U.S. law aiming to make daylight saving time permanent, eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.

8. Farmers actually fought against it.

Contrary to popular belief, farmers have never supported daylight saving time. In fact, they opposed its implementation and, in 1919, an agricultural lobby even pushed for its repeal.

9. We may actually consume more energy because of it.

While many believe daylight saving time conserves energy, research suggests it may actually do the opposite. A University of California-Santa Barbara study indicated that daylight saving time might increase consumption. A 2017 study in the International Association for Energy Economics Journal further supports this idea, noting that longer daylight hours can lead to more air conditioning in summer and heating in cooler months.

10. Daylight saving time was extended in 2007.

First started in Germany, the U.S. adopted daylight saving time in 1918 and standardized it across the country with the passage of the 1966 Uniform Time Act, which gave the federal government oversight over the time change. It originally called for the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. President George W. Bush’s Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended it from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, starting in 2007.

11. About 70 countries observe daylight saving time.

Countries like Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and those in the European Union observe daylight saving time either nationwide or in select regions. Meanwhile, most African and Asian nations — including India, China, and Japan — opt out of the time change entirely.

12. You can beat the clock.

Despite the health risks and safety concerns of daylight saving time, you can take steps to combat fatigue and adjust within a week. Here are B+C's 5 Best Ways to Beat Daylight Saving Time Fatigue.

Sadie Sink will have a "significant" role in 'Spider-Man 4.'

Tom Holland confirmed that Spider-Man 4 is set to start filming in the summer of 2025, and Deadline reports that Sadie's role is "significant." Brit + Co reached out to Sony and Sadie Sink's reps for comment.

While we don't have any official news on the specifics of Sadie's character, considering the movie comes a couple of months after 2026's Avengers: Doomsday, I think there are a few characters Sadie would knock out of the park.

Is Sadie Sink playing Jean Grey?

With Sadie Sink's red hair, she would make a perfect variant for Zendaya's MJ (who is, herself, a version of Mary Jane from the comics). But with her sunny disposition and confidence, I could totally see her as Gwen Stacy too. My lead theory surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is that the characters we know so well will wind up in another universe — and could finally bring the X-Men into the MCU.

Even before Sadie's casting was confirmed, the leading rumor was that she'd join the MCU as Jean Grey/Phoenix, a role held by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in previous X-Men adaptations. And this is the role I hope we see her in!

Spider-Man fans will remember that No Way Home ended by erasing Peter Parker's existence from the world...but if Peter meets characters from another world (ahem, Jean), or if all our favorite heroes wind up in another world, the spell shouldn't affect them. And fighting to get back home is exactly the kind of theme I'd love to see in Spider-Man 4.