What to do if (God forbid) you’ve slept in your makeup

You’ve gone and done it; committed the ultimate complexion crime. You’ve slept in your makeup. Cue internal shudder. 

Yes, it’s awful and yes it’s a serious skin sin, but hey, sometimes it happens. And when extra alcohol gets involved (hello, December), it happens more than it should.

But because we’re all so scared of admitting that we’ve done it, we’re often ill equipped to handle the skin hangover. And when your face has spent the regenerative hours of the night coated in cosmetics, it’s highly likely it will feel pretty rough the next morning.

Here’s what you need to do to get on the road to recovery (AKA replenished radiance).

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STEP 1: Get the damn stuff off your face

Obviously. Grab your wipes, your makeup remover, your cleansing towel, whatever you’re working with and get to work, quick smart. Start with the eyes; get off all the shadow, liner and sleep (gross, we know) that’s settled in and around your eyes overnight.

Hit your brows and lips next (we hope you weren’t snoozing in a full red power pout, but hey, it happens). Then finish by removing whatever foundation is left on your skin (your poor, poor pillow) so you can get straight to your actual complexion with cleanser.

STEP 2: Cleanse SUPER thoroughly

Okay, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that a significant amount of yesterday’s base has already been eaten by your skin (freaky, right?); the good news is that a thorough cleanse will get off anything left above the surface.

We recommend reaching for a formula that contains salicylic or glycolic acid to gently exfoliate, reinvigorate skin and unblock any clogged pores. This is no time for a substandard single wash either: lather, rinse, repeat.

bh loves: Ultraderm Skin Renew Cleanser

STEP 3: Get the grime out of your hair

Remember how last night you spent ten minutes blending your foundation flawlessly into your hairline? Well, that might have been ideal for pics, but it won’t be ideal when pimples show up as a result of trapped bacteria. Give your mane a thorough cleanse if time permits, and throw in a scalp scrub to be safe.

bh loves: Kiehl’s Deep Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Treatment ($33, myer.com.au)

STEP 4: AND your ears

Reckon this seems random? Really think about it. If you’re a side sleeper (a good call when there’s throwing up potential after a night on the booze), you’ve been forcing the foundation, highlighter and whatever the hell else you applied in the name of beauty into your ears.

A good clean is a must, but grabbing the cotton swabs isn’t the only (or best) option. Simply wipe the area with a warm, damp washcloth, OR a makeup wipe if you want the gross satisfaction of seeing just how much foundation and gunk is hiding in and around your ear hole.

STEP 5: Throw on a clay mask in the name of purity

Your conscience is giving you enough grief; you don’t need to deal with blackheads too. A pore-clearing mask is your best bet; apply then leave on for 10 minutes while you suffer the indignity of watching the Instagram Stories you absolutely do not remember posting. Remove with a damp washcloth to reveal purer, happier skin.

bh loves: innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

STEP 6: Douse yourself in oil

There are times where you can scrimp on serum, but this isn’t one of them. Pack on a decent few drops of your favourite face oil to get your face back on its feet fast. Not sure whether dryness, dullness or irritation is the more urgent matter? Opt for a multitasker like rosehip oil which will work to aid in a few areas.

bh loves: Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

STEP 7: Double down with a hydrating mask

A regular moisturiser just isn’t going to cut it today – dire times call for deeply hydrating measures. Apply a hefty helping of a hydrating cream mask concoction, and leave it on for as long as you possibly can; ideally, for around the same amount of time you would sleep at night (on a good evening, not a stretch of time to match the 2-6am snooze stint you got last night).

bh loves: Bobbi Brown Face Mask – Skin Nourish

STEP 8: Use a cool tool

Whether or not you believe in the holistic claims of jade rollers, you can’t deny that a cool tool feels great on struggling skin. Pop your roller in the fridge (or your beauty fridge if you’re bougie) before you jump in the shower to ensure it’s adequately icy when you get out. Roll to your heart’s content; the temperature and motion will help to de-puff, soothe and help you hit the whole ‘looking human’ brief.

bh loves: Samson & Charlie Jade Facial Roller

STEP 9: Lock it all in

Seal all the good stuff into your skin with a few spritzes of a soothing mist. We recommend opting for a formula with vitamin E, cucumber or aloe vera to ensure your complexion is as calm as it can be after the horrors of the night before.

bh loves: Natio Refreshing Face Mist

STEP 10: Attempt to make it up to your eye area

Alright, now it’s absolutely time to settle in for a nap, eye masks in tow. Your orbital area is no doubt swollen, sunken and struggling in general, so it will seriously thank you for whacking on a pair of patches pre-snooze. Now just give your face the time it needs to rest and recover and you’ll be as good as new in a few hours. And for the love of good skin, switch your pillowcases ASAP.

bh loves: Simple Reviving Under-Eye Hydrogel Mask

Main image: @zaralarsson

Do you have any tried-and-true strategies for when you’ve slept in your makeup?