Is it okay to sleep with makeup on?

We’ve all done it. 

You’re too tired to wash your face and want nothing more than to just go to bed. You don’t want to do your night time routine because it just seems like too much right now. Sleeping with makeup on for just one night, on rare occasions is going to happen to the best of us. And it probably won’t hurt you long term. Just don't make it a habit!

Just one night is a minor thing because it happens. But there are people who don’t wash their face on a regular basis. They might wash in the shower, but haven’t made makeup removal before bed part of their routine for many reasons. Maybe they don’t want their partner to see them with a naked face. Or maybe they don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Whatever the reason… it IS a big deal.

Sleeping with makeup on is harmful

If you’re lazy about cleansing your face before bed, you’ll eventually start noticing premature aging. Why? Makeup can trap dirt, pollutants, bacteria, and even your own dead skin cells. Over time, this builds up and can cause breakouts or worse. When “stuff” builds up on the surface of your skin, which causes pimples, blackheads, and even cysts. It also makes your pores larger because the building up on the surface of your skin sits inside your pores and stretches them out. 

The excess pollutants, dirt and dead skin cells will also cause your skin to look dull and uneven. More makeup will only make that problem worse. If you have dry skin, the surface of your skin may become more flaky. Irritation is also common, even if your skin isn’t generally sensitive. 

Sleeping in makeup can do even more harm. It can cause an increase in free radicals. 

What’s so bad about free radicals? A lot! They break up your cells because they want to pair with electrons. Because this results in cellular damage, it can cause mutations, break down collagen and elastin, which triggers premature aging. Free radicals have been linked to more serious things like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s, and even cancer.

Bacteria may also be setting on the surface of your skin if you are wearing makeup to bed. When bacteria spread, they can cause inflammation, which could be a sign of an infection. If eye makeup isn’t washed off, it could cause major trouble; watering, irritation, and possibly even vision problems.

So long story short… if you have the occasional night where you pass out before you wash your face, it won’t hurt. Just be sure to wash up when you wake up. But if not washing your makeup off is a regular thing, you could be creating problems for yourself down the road. 

Finding a skincare routine

Your skincare routine can be as simple or complicated as you need it to be. Every step is important to keep your skin healthy and clean.

Cleansing

In order to remove makeup, along with bacteria, dirt, and pollutants, you need to wash your face with a cleanser made for your skin type. These come in all forms, from simple washing, to a foaming cleanser, or even a cleansing oil. You need to use what feels most comfortable for you. 

Removing eye makeup is especially important! There are products that are usually oil based that help loosen up mascara and eyeliner. Make sure that you are gentle because the skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive. You can buy special eye makeup remover or disposable facial wipes.

Once your eye makeup is off, you can cleanse. Some people do prefer to wipe their  makeup off with a cleansing cloth or micellar water before using their cleanser. It’s an extra step that isn't always needed. 

Exfoliate

There are a lot of reasons you should be exfoliating! It’s important for your skin, no matter what skin type you have. Exfoliation helps to slough off those dead skin cells so that you can stimulate the cellular turnover cycle, leading to beautiful skin. 

There are a couple of ways to exfoliate. You can combine your cleansing and exfoliating steps with an abrasive cleanser. These contain small, rough particles so that you can physically scrub your skin. There are also special exfoliating treatments and masks, though it isn’t recommended that you use them nightly. 

A chemical exfoliation product is safe to use every night. These contain an acidic ingredient that works to break down the bond between the top layer of your skin that contains dead cells and what lies beneath the surface. Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids are safe for most people to use, are available over the counter, and are very powerful. When you first start using them, you might notice some slight irritation or even skin purging, but over time, your true skin will shine through. 

Moisturize

The role of moisturizer is pretty obvious- it keeps your skin hydrated and supple. You’ll want to find a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type and isn’t too heavy. Products containing hyaluronic acid are always a great choice! We’ve written a whole article on this amazing ingredient.

If you have oily skin, you should still be moisturizing. That’s because you are likely using cleansers and exfoliants that have a trying effect on your skin. Adding a light moisturizer will help seal in enough hydration to keep your skin looking healthy and plump.

What skincare products should I use?

There are a lot of products out there, ranging from cheap-to-expensive and good-to-downright awful. Ingredients can be confusing as well. So how can you know for sure if what you use are perfect for what your skin needs?

Qyral has your back! We have a skincare assessment quiz on our website that you can take. You just answer a few questions and that gives us enough information to formulate your products exactly for you. If you need AHAs for dry skin, or BHAs for oily skin, we not only know which one, but how much we need to use. 

Our products can be bundled together as part of a skincare regime, containing everything you need! We have a three step option that covers everything except cleanser (but we’re working on adding that to our product line!). Or, you can opt for a four step regimen that adds another important part of your skincare routine- supplements. Our research has shown that what you put inside your body benefits your skin! You can also buy any of our products individually as well.

Just wash your makeup off!

When it comes down to it, it’s best to make sure that washing your face is a habit. This will prevent problems in the future, and you’ll know for sure that your skin, and your whole body is going to benefit from this simple, nightly routine.