7 Things That Can Happen to You If You Sleep With Makeup On

Leaving your makeup on overnight isn’t as harmless as it may seem. In addition to ruining your bedding, it can damage your looks. If you regularly go to bed with tons of product on, you may be exposing yourself to some serious risks.

We at Bright Side have also been guilty of falling asleep with makeup on, and we decided to find out how it can affect you. Also, don’t miss the bonus instruction at the end of the article.

1. It clogs your pores.

Many makeup products, especially those that contain silicones or acrylics, can block your pores. These ingredients seep into your pores and trap the bacteria and natural oils inside them. The combination of oil, sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells may lead to clogged pores. It can happen even when you’re wearing makeup during the day, but leaving it on overnight increases these chances.

2. It causes breakouts.

When you don’t remove your makeup before going to bed, your skin gets less oxygen. Irritating chemicals in makeup are also staying in contact with your skin for longer. If your skin doesn’t get a break at night from makeup, harmful chemicals and a lack of oxygen may eventually lead to pimples and acne.

3. It may lead to premature aging.

Artificial colors and other ingredients in makeup can cause damaging chemical reactions and speed up the aging of the skin. Our skin acts as a protective barrier to our environment, and if we don’t help it ‘reset’ at night, its defenses weaken and unwanted changes to our gene patterns may occur. Makeup can allow free radicals, that we are exposed to during the day, ’stick’ to our skin.

4. It may cause eye infections and damage your lashes.

Optometrists warn us that many eye makeup products contain formaldehyde, heavy metals, and other toxins. Sleeping with toxins on your skin can lead to irritation and even cause your lashes to fall out early. If you don’t remove your mascara regularly, it can result in inflammation of the eye and conjunctivitis, according to a case study.

5. Your lips become chapped.

When you wear lipstick during the day, it usually doesn’t stay on perfectly all the time because eating and drinking make it wear off quickly. But when you sleep, lipstick has enough time to absorb the moisture from your lips. If you don’t wipe your lipstick off before going to sleep, chances are you will wake up with dry and chapped lips.

6. It may lead to greasy hair and skin.

When you go to bed with your makeup on, it can leave stains on your bedding and get on your hair and skin. Your hair can get coating of lip-gloss or lipstick throughout the night and become greasy and tangled. Properly removing your makeup before going to sleep is especially important for those with oily skin, as it can make the condition worse.

7. Your skin becomes dull.

Leaving your makeup on overnight can make your skin look lifeless because the product sits on your skin for a long time. Environmental pollution and other toxins get stuck in your makeup, and if you don’t give your skin a break at night from decorative cosmetics, it could lead to more dullness and fine lines.

Bonus: What to do if you fell asleep with your makeup on?

• Take off your eye makeup using a makeup remover that is fragrance free and contains soothing agents to calm skin.
• Use eye drops to soothe your eyes.
• Opt for a very gentle scrub or cleansing oil to completely remove makeup, and follow with the rest of your normal skincare routine.
• Help your lips recover by using an ultra-rich balm for the next 24 hours.

Have you ever slept with your makeup on? How did it affect your skin?