Why you need to stop sleeping in your makeup

Whether it’s been an exhausting week at work, you’ve enjoyed a few too many cocktails or fallen asleep on the sofa watching Friends reruns, spending the night with your foundation or mascara still on seems harmless, right?
Wrong. So wrong.
Every now and again, we’re bound to slip up and fall face down on our pillow with our “going out” face on, but it harms our skin. Okay, I’ll be the first to admit, it’s been my closet beauty sin - and I really am ashamed about it. Trust me. But it turns out, this lazy girl habit of mine is doing serious damage - and one time is all it takes for the wheels to take motion.
Dennis Gross M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, told Refinery29 that sleeping in your make-up is “one of the biggest mistakes” a woman can make where her skin is concerned.
“Doing so can block pores, leaving oil trapped inside… This leads to bacteria build-up, breakouts and enlarged pores,” he explains - and these are many of the reasons we wear make-up in the first place!
On top of this, outside pollution mixes with our make-up, dirt and oil, and this combination is proven to cause premature ageing of the skin. Not. Okay.
So while you might have had an incredible night out, don’t leave the evidence on your face.
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Are you guilty of sleeping in your make-up from time to time?
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74 Member Comments
Even if I am absolutely and totally exhausted, I’ll never ever EVER sleep in my makeup. I can’t go to bed without having a shower and washing away the days dirt and grime.
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I don't think I've ever gone to sleep without taking my makeup off. A recipe for breakouts!
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Luckily I have always washed my face and cleaned my teeth at night
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I have got myself a routine when i get home from work, get out of work clothes wash face and change into comfy clothes then start my home life.
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Upon scrolling up...how creepy is the picture of the girl in this article - yikes! Half murderous cavewoman...half art..? haha
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OMG I've never slept in my makeup - not even when I'm blind drunk and about to hit the hay lol!
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Sleeping in make up = half my face on my pillow and a sticky feeling the next day!! It's never any fun!!
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Not good for your skin.
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I know I need to double cleanse, as you need to get rid of all the makeup
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The importance of double cleansing, sometimes I cleanse and I feel as though I have not removed all my makeup
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Everyone knows you shouldn't sleep in makeup!
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I do this all the time and it is so bad!! But sometimes I can't be bothered to remove my make up before bed and I wake up totally regreting it in the morning because my skin is soo dry and gross!! I definitely recommend you do your daily routine before bed of removing make up and moisturising before you sleep!
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If I slept in my makeup I would have a complete breakout - my skin is quite pimple prone!!
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thankfully this is not one of my sins, can't imagine waking up looking worse
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I used to sleep in my makeup every night. I have since changed my ways.
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I never do , but I imagine it would hard tp get out of your pillows too
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I might have slept in makeup once, or twice. But never never never again. It was so bad for my skin. I now have some wipes handy. Although I seldom need to resort to them! I always make time for my nightly cleansing and moisturising routine!
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I don't recall ever sleeping in any makeup
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I am religious about removing my makeup every night.
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I used to be guilty of this!! Now I ensure I always take my make up off at the end of each day regardless if it's a very late night!! My skin appears heaps better
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Very interesting article. Love reading things like these. Beauty heaven has some really great informative articles. always double cleanse before i got ot bed
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Oh dear, i am guilty of this - i'm not going to lie ! But i don't do it as much as i use too. I am just so exhausted in the evening i couldn't be bothered and i always regret it in the morning though.
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Always take my 'face' off!!!! Nothing worse than waking up with a smudged face!!!
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I cannot recall if I have ever slept in makeup
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I'm so glad I don't do this any more! My skin really shows it if I don't look after it.
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