Is sleeping in makeup bad?

Alice Quinn
Jan 9
1 min read

Even those with the best regular skin routines can occasionally be tempted to hit the pillow with a full face of makeup, but is it ever ok?

In the same way you wouldn’t wear the clothes you had on during the day to bed, the same applies to makeup. Make-up can trap dirt and impurities, which can result in clogged pores and spots so if you leave it on overnight, the skin won’t have chance to breath and repair. Leaving mascara on hinders the natural skin shedding and renewal processes, blocks oil glands, hair follicles and can trap bacteria around the eye which can result in styes, or an inflammation of the eye called blepharitis.

To help ensure you take your makeup off before hitting the pillow, you could keep an emergency bottle of micellar water along with some cleansing pads beside your bed. Not only will you skin thank you but so will your pillowcase (especially if it’s white)!