What Happens If You Sleep With Makeup On?

 

What Happens If You Sleep With Makeup On?

It’s been a long day. Maybe it was a wedding, a party or a late shift, and all you want is your bed. The thought of standing at the sink with cleanser and cotton pads feels like too much, so you fall asleep with your makeup still on.

Almost everyone has done it. So let’s talk honestly about what it actually does, because there’s some real risk, some exaggeration, and a few easy ways to make the habit stick.

The short answer

One night of sleeping in makeup is unlikely to do lasting harm. The dermatologists asked about this tend to agree on that. HuffPost quotes New York dermatologist Erin Gilbert saying a single night is unlikely to cause long-lasting damage, but that each night you do it, your pores become more clogged.

The trouble is the pattern. Regularly skipping the cleanse can affect your skin, and especially your eyes. Here’s how.

1. Eye problems: the most important reason to cleanse

If there’s one part of your makeup you should never sleep in, it’s eye makeup. The skin and surface of the eye are delicate, and mascara, liner and shadow sit very close to them.

According to dermatologist Hadley King, quoted on Makeup.com, sleeping in eye makeup can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and in more serious cases infections or a scratched cornea. Another dermatologist quoted by The Healthy lists eye inflammation, infections, red eyelids and corneal abrasions as risks, caused by makeup particles rubbing the eye’s surface.

Why it happens:

• Mascara and liner can flake or smudge onto your pillow and into your eyes while you sleep.
• Repeatedly sleeping in eye makeup can clog the tiny oil glands and hair follicles along your eyelids. Gilbert explains that when these get clogged, bacteria can build up and cause inflammation. That’s how styes and eyelid irritation start.
• Mascara left on makes lashes stiff. Dr. King notes that pressing them against a pillow can cause breakage.

What you might notice: Red, itchy or sore eyelids, crusty lashes in the morning, a gritty feeling in the eye, or a stye.

2. Breakouts and clogged pores

This is the best-known effect, and it makes sense. Foundation, concealer and sunscreen sit on your skin along with sweat, oil and the day’s dirt. Left overnight, they can block pores.

Gilbert says this can eventually lead to microcomedones, tiny blockages that attract acne-causing bacteria. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, you’re more likely to notice the effect, and blackheads and whiteheads are the typical result.

It doesn’t always happen. Some people sleep in makeup occasionally and see nothing. Skin type, the products you use and how often you do it all matter. If you’re prone to breakouts, though, it’s worth making cleansing non-negotiable.

3. Dry lips: what’s true and what isn’t

The original claims lead is “commonly found” in lipsticks and makes lips dry and chapped. Let’s separate the facts.

About lead: Trace amounts of lead can show up in lipsticks, since it can be present as an impurity in colour ingredients. The FDA tested hundreds of lipsticks and reported low levels, averaging around 1 part per million. The agency’s guidance on lead in lipstick recommends a limit of 10 ppm, and says that levels up to that limit wouldn’t pose a health risk, since exposure is mainly from swallowing small amounts. So lead isn’t what dries out your lips, and the traces in typical lipstick aren’t considered a safety concern by the FDA.

About dryness: Some formulas, especially long-wear and matte lipsticks, can feel drying, and wearing them overnight gives them more time to do it. Combine that with licking your lips or dry weather, and you can wake up with tight, flaky lips.

What helps: Remove lipstick with a gentle cleanser or an oil-based remover, then apply a plain lip balm before bed. If your lips are persistently cracked or sore, see a doctor. It could be an allergy to a lip product or another condition.

4. Fine lines and early ageing: be careful with this one

The original says leaving makeup on leads to wrinkles because it “attracts free radicals”. Some dermatologists do make this argument. Samer Jaber, quoted in The Healthy, says makeup can cling to free radicals from pollution, which gives them a longer time to damage the skin.

But the evidence behind it is thin. Gilbert says sleeping in eye makeup alone won’t cause fine lines or acne on the skin, and Best Life reports that some dermatologists consider the concern overblown. A more cautious way to put it: sleeping in makeup may contribute to dull-looking skin and could add to the effects of pollution on skin over time, but it hasn’t been shown to cause wrinkles in the way that sun exposure does.

If you want to protect your skin from ageing, daily sunscreen and not smoking will do far more than a perfect makeup routine.

What else can happen

Beyond those four, there are a few smaller effects people mention:

• Dull, tired-looking skin. Residue can stop your skin from shedding dead cells normally, and it can stop night creams and serums absorbing well.
• Dirty pillowcases. Makeup transfers to bedding, which then touches your face for hours. Washing pillowcases once a week helps.
• Irritation and dryness, especially if your makeup includes fragrance or other known irritants.

An easy night routine (under five minutes)

If removing makeup feels like a chore, the trick is to make it as simple as you can.

1. Keep your tools where you’ll see them. Put makeup remover, cleanser and cotton pads next to your bed or on the bathroom counter.
2. Start with the eyes. Soak a cotton pad in an eye makeup remover (or micellar water), hold it on your closed eyelid for 10 to 15 seconds so the product loosens, then wipe gently. Don’t scrub. Rubbing damages delicate skin and breaks lashes.
3. Remove face makeup. Use a cleansing balm, oil, micellar water or a gentle cleanser. If you’re wearing heavy or waterproof makeup, Dr. King suggests cleansing twice (an oil or balm first, then a regular cleanser).
4. Wash your face. Use lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, then pat dry with a clean towel.
5. Moisturise. Apply moisturiser, and a lip balm. This is the step that protects your skin barrier overnight.

If you’re exhausted: Even a makeup remover wipe, followed by a quick splash of water, is better than nothing. Keep a pack on your bedside table for nights like that.

Tips to make it a habit

• Do it before you get into pyjamas, while you’re still awake and alert.
• Choose products you enjoy using, such as a creamy balm or a pleasant-smelling cleanser.
• Don’t aim for perfection. If you skip a night, just clean up in the morning and carry on. You haven’t undone your skin.
• Consider lighter makeup on days you know you’ll be tired, like a tinted moisturiser instead of a full face.

When to see a doctor

Most effects of sleeping in makeup are minor, but get medical advice if you have:

• Eye pain, persistent redness, discharge or swelling
• A change in your vision
• Sensitivity to light
• A stye that won’t clear up after a week or so
• Severe or persistent acne

If you wear contact lenses, make sure you take them out before sleeping, too, as sleeping in them is a separate and bigger risk for eye infections.

FAQs

Is it really bad to sleep with makeup on?

Once in a while it’s unlikely to do lasting harm. Doing it regularly is more likely to clog pores, irritate your eyes and leave skin dull.

Is sleeping in eye makeup worse than sleeping in foundation?

For safety, yes. Eye makeup can cause irritation and infection, so make sure you remove it every night.

Does sleeping with makeup on cause acne?

It can contribute, especially if your skin is acne-prone. Makeup can clog pores over time, but it varies from person to person.

Does sleeping in makeup cause wrinkles?

There’s no strong proof of that. Some dermatologists say it may contribute to dullness and ageing, while others think the concern is overblown.

Is lead in lipstick dangerous?

The FDA has found only trace amounts in lipsticks and says levels up to 10 ppm wouldn’t pose a health risk. Lead isn’t what makes lips dry.

What’s the best way to remove waterproof makeup?

An oil-based cleanser or a double cleanse works well. Hold the remover on the eye for a few seconds, then wipe gently.

What should I do if I fall asleep in my makeup?

Don’t worry. Wash your face and remove your makeup in the morning, moisturise, and carry on. Just make a note to remove it tonight.

Can I use baby wipes or regular wipes to remove makeup?

Makeup remover wipes are fine in an emergency, but they can be harsh if used every day. Follow with a cleanse and moisturiser when you can.

The bottom line

Sleeping in makeup now and then won’t ruin your skin, but making it a habit raises the odds of clogged pores, irritated eyes and dull skin, and eye makeup is the part that matters most. Cleansing doesn’t need to be a big production. A few minutes with a gentle remover, a cleanser and a moisturiser is enough, and your eyes and skin will thank you.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional medical or dermatology advice.

References

1. HuffPost. Is Sleeping In Makeup Really That Bad? (dermatologist Erin Gilbert). https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2289084
2. The Healthy (Reader’s Digest). How Bad Is It to Sleep in Your Makeup? https://www.thehealthy.com/?p=234557
3. Makeup.com. What Really Happens When You Sleep in Your Makeup, According to a Derm. https://makeup.com/skin-care/skin-care-tips/sleeping-in-makeup
4. Best Life. What Happens If You Fall Asleep With Makeup On, According to Dermatologists. https://bestlifeonline.com/what-happens-sleep-with-makeup-on-news/
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Limiting Lead in Lipstick and Other Cosmetics. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/products/limiting-lead-lipstick-and-other-cosmetics