Many of us have had busy days that leave us with zero energy to do anything else afterwards. On days like these for those who wear makeup, the thought of taking it off is an even more exhausting feeling. As exhausting as it may be, dermatologists and beauticians warn against the habit of sleeping with makeup on.
If you have been sleeping with makeup on, Bio Republic Skincare shares the following list of damages that may happen to your skin and eyes. Your skin may develop:
Acne – Adult women can and do get acne, and if you’re at all prone to it, leaving foundation on overnight is very likely to cause a flare-up. This is particularly true if you use oil-based foundation rather than powder. Not removing the foundation can also cause premature wrinkles and, of course, clog your pores. Simply washing your face before you go to bed will get rid of that foundation. Routinely sleeping with makeup can cause breakouts even in people who don’t normally have any problems.
Dry skin – Makeup residue can dry out your skin, and it can also make your moisturiser less effective. Dry skin leads to itching, cracking, and even bleeding. This, in turn, increases your risk of infection. While this is more likely to happen on your hands and places prone to dryness like your elbows, you probably don’t want to take that chance. If you have eczema, this can also cause a flare-up. Your skin will also lose elasticity.
Trapped pollutants – Your skin doesn’t like free radicals that float around in the air. Makeup tends to trap them next to your skin, which can cause inflammation and irritation. Over time, this leads to premature ageing. It can even create age spots. Not wearing makeup for too long is the best way to avoid this, and sleeping in it definitely counts as “too long.”
Eye irritation – Eye makeup can really mess you up. When you sleep, you rub your eyes against the pillow, which rubs that mascara into your eyes. You’ll wake up with itchy eyes and, worst-case scenario, you might even get an eye infection. Long-term, you can damage your eyes and your vision. Leaving on mascara can also damage your eyelashes, meaning you might not have much mascara to put on for a while. Finally, makeup can clog the pores around your eyelashes, resulting in the development of a stye, which might put you in the doctor’s office.
