After a long day at work or a night out, it’s tempting to just collapse into bed without removing your makeup. It’s easy to think, “I’ll just wash my pillowcase tomorrow,” and skip your nightly skincare routine. While skipping makeup removal occasionally might seem harmless, it can become a real problem if it turns into a habit. A shocking 30-day experiment conducted by The Daily Mail showed that one woman aged her skin by 10 years by not removing her makeup! If you want to avoid similar damage, here are five important reasons why you should always take off your makeup before bed.
Makeup Disrupts Your Skin’s Natural Exfoliation Process
Just as your body needs rest to regenerate healthy cells, your skin needs to breathe and renew itself overnight. During sleep, your skin undergoes a natural exfoliation process where dead skin cells are shed, making way for fresh, healthy skin. Wearing makeup to bed interrupts this process, leading to congestion and a dull complexion over time. If you can avoid that, why wouldn’t you?
Makeup Hinders Collagen Production
As your skin renews itself at night, it also produces collagen, which is essential for maintaining that plump, youthful appearance. Although collagen production naturally decreases with age, sleeping in makeup can further impede this process, accelerating the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It Clogs Your Pores
This is perhaps the most obvious reason to remove your makeup before bed. Sleeping with makeup on clogs your pores, leading to oily skin, acne, blackheads, and breakouts. If you skip makeup removal, don’t be surprised if you wake up with a few unwelcome pimples the next morning.
Harmful Chemicals Sink Into Your Skin
While the trend toward natural, organic makeup is growing, many people still use products loaded with harmful chemicals. These chemicals can penetrate deep into your skin, leading to hormone disruptions, an increased risk of certain cancers, and skin irritation.
You Risk Infections
While makeup itself doesn’t cause infections, leaving it on can increase your risk, especially if you have an open sore or abrasion, such as a scratched or popped pimple. When your skin’s barrier is compromised, leaving chemicals on your face for extended periods can lead to further irritation and even infection. It’s better to be safe than sorry—take off your makeup before bed.
Taking a few extra minutes to cleanse your face before sleep can save your skin from long-term damage and keep it looking its best.
