The Gross Things You Didn’t Realise Were Happening to Your Skin When You Sleep in Your Makeup

Even if you’re usually committed to a full double cleanse, tone, eye cream, serum, and moisturise 99% of the time, we all have evenings that we just cba to take our makeup off. Sometimes the thought of grabbing the flannel is just way too much effort - whether that’s because you’re tired or because you’re falling face first into a 3am kebab - and even reaching over to find a face wipe is one big case of nope. Soz about that.

Zero judgement, but it’s important to make sure that sleeping with your makeup on isn’t a habit that you get into too often. Hitting the sheets with a load of product on your face is pretty much a recipe for disaster for your poor, beautiful face as, like the rest of the body, it works on a daily circadian rhythm (or 24 hour cycle). 

Night time should be the time for renewing and recovering rather than battling bacteria, so brace yourself to hear about the GROSS stuff that can happen to your skin when you have a lazy moment before bed.

Sore eyes (and even infection, bleurgh)

Your Instagram baddie eye makeup might look slay-worthy in the evening, but heaps of mascara, primer, eyeshadow and liner sitting on your delicate lashes and lids all night can cause all sorts of problems. Think dryness, redness, irritation, corneal abrasions. and maybe even infection if you’re really lucky. Not cute.

Ageing skin (yup, actual wrinkles)

One of the fastest-developing problems that you’ll spot on neglected skin is dehydration, and when your skin’s dry, it loses all the glow that normally radiates. Less elasticity means one thing - WRINKLES, as skin is attacked by harmful free radicals, which cause serious damage to the skin’s structure and collagen production. You can say see ya later to any youthful bounce or plumpness that you’ve got going on.

Breakouts (well, duh)

Perhaps the most obvious, but leaving foundation, concealer, powder and all of that good stuff on your skin overnight creates a breeding ground for inflammatory spots, blocked pores and trapped oils that lead to bacteria build up and breakouts. Oil-based foundations and skin primers are the worst culprits for this, as they’re literally designed to be longer-lasting, less-breathable and more heavy duty on your pores. It’s not just the makeup itself either - you’re leaving your face covered in all the crap it’s been covered in throughout the day. Ew, pollution.

Dullness and dryness

Far from an ideal combo, but dullness and dryness are top of the menu if you’re not melting/scrubbing/wiping away the dirt and grime that will have accumulated throughout the day. Not only will your skin be parched and crying out for moisturiser, but there’ll be a whole heap of dead cells just sitting on the surface and slowing down the usual renewal process, which is what causes the dull effect. Ew.

Painful styes (ouch)

The perfect effortless, slept-in, I Woke Up Like This rockstar look probably isn’t worth it, because every night you choose to hit the pillow while still wearing your liner, is a night that your lashes are seriously suffering. The teeny, tiny hair follicles and oil glands on your eyelids can become clogged, and before you know it? HEY PRESTO, you’ve got yourself a big fat, super shiny, bright red stye. No thank you.

Not so lovely lashes

Three layers of mascara might have seemed like a good idea last night when you were fluttering those lashes like a pro, but be careful when it comes to leaving them clumpy and coated overnight. Left-on mascara will lead to lashes becoming brittle, fragile and breakable, meaning that they’ll snap easily and even fall out faster. Noooooooo.

Chapped lips

Not exactly a big surprise, but catching some Zs while still rocking your lipstick (whether it’s liquid, matte, gloss, it makes no difference) is only gonna leave your pout looking dry, chapped, and neglected.

- Words by Lucy Wood. 

Wanna some sneaky insider inspo for styling your outfit from day into night? Check this out then…