Ever fallen asleep with your makeup on? This is what it does to your skin
WE’RE all guilty of doing this every now and then after a big night out — but making a habit of it could have more severe consequences than you might think.
WE’RE all guilty of falling asleep in our make-up after a big night out — but making a habit of it could have more severe consequences than you might think.
Of course, when you’re bombarded with constant beauty tips it can be difficult to know which ones to take seriously — especially when some people even recommend sleeping in your slap to achieve the ultimate rock chick chic.
But now, Bustle have revealed dermatologists’ gruesome truths about the havoc your make-up can wreak on your skin — and it’ll leave you reaching for the nearest face wipe.
Even when you do take your make-up off, it can sometimes seem like way too much effort to remove every last smudge of eye make-up — especially if you’re wearing waterproof products.
But experts have warned that not doing so could lead to unsightly infections — which could even have implications for your vision.
Leaving eye products on overnight puts you at risk of redness, itchiness, allergic reactions and even pink eye.
On top of that, you could end up with an unpleasant cyst, or blockages in the hair follicles and oil glands on your eyelids.
According to Eric Schweiger, clogging these areas can lead to the build-up of bacteria and uncomfortable inflammation.
Dr Schweiger told The Huffington Post: “As a result, small bumps called styes or hordeolums can form. These bumps may resolve spontaneously, but many require treatment from your doctor.”
SKIN
Unless you happen to have a really good surgeon on speed dial, chances are you’re going to get wrinkles at some point. But there are loads of tips and tricks recommended to slow down the ageing process, and — you guessed it — removing your make-up before bed is one of them.
The science behind it is pretty straightforward. Erin Gilbert, a New York-based dermatologist, told The Huffington Post: “During the day you accumulate a lot of oxidative stress. When you sleep in your makeup you are not giving your skin a chance to recover from those insults, which can lead to premature ageing.”
Dr Schweiger added: “Free radicals from the environment (often in the form of pollution) remain on the skin when you do not clean your face properly at night. Free radicals cause collagen breakdown over time, which results in the development of fine lines and prematurely aged skin.”
Denying your skin the opportunity to regenerate itself while you sleep also creates a perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria.
Dr Schweiger explained: “Each night you sleep in your makeup, your pores become more clogged. Eventually, this can result in the formation of a microcomedone, which attracts the acne-causing bacteria to your pores.”
And you should be especially wary if you use foundation or an oil-based primer — as they’re more likely to lead to blackheads and dullness as well as angry spots.
LIPS
Thanks to the likes of Kylie Jenner, liquid matte lipsticks are all the rage right now — which can leave lots of our lips feeling dried out at the best of times.
But even if you wear a creamier formula, it contains chemicals that cause moisture to evaporate. So if you leave it on overnight, you’ll be left with sore, chapped lips in the morning — making your lipstick look uneven and flaky.
EYELASHES
It’s not just our skin which can suffer at the hands of cosmetics — spare a thought for your eyelashes too. Mascara is obviously brilliant for making lashes appear more voluminous and luscious than they actually are — but forget to take it off and you may be left with worse lashes than ever before.
Leaving product on the fine hairs can cause them to dry out, and become thinner and more brittle over time — and there’s nothing glamorous about that.