Sleeping in your makeup
–the new fad

THE beauty sphere has, in recent months, been churning out a slew of products and stories that have touted sleeping in makeup for the sultry, rocker-chic effect that it tends to give.From products that boast 12, 14, or even 16 hours of wear (Seriously! Who wears their makeup that long!) to tinted products like Dr. Jart+’s BB Night Beauty Balm made specifically for those looking for added coverage in their night-time skin care routine, it appears that sleeping in make-up is now in vogue.
But, contrary to what some will have you believe, the ‘pros’ have confirmed what we suspect you have always known: Sleeping in makeup is bad for your skin!

In fact, according to Dennis Gross, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, sleeping in makeup “is one of the biggest mistakes” a woman can make where her skin is concerned. “Doing so can block pores, leaving oil trapped inside,” he said. “This leads to bacteria build-up, breakouts, and enlarged pores — which are many of the reasons women wear makeup in the first place.”

But it’s not just makeup; environmental factors come into play as well. “Pollution from each day accumulates on the skin, mixing with makeup, dirt, and oil. This combination of free radicals and environmental stress has been shown to cause premature aging of skin,” says Dr. Nazarian. Plus, since skin renews itself at night, residual makeup and dirt on your skin can interfere with the skin’s natural healing process and cellular turnover.

While sleeping in any kind of makeup can have negative effects on the skin, Dr. Nazarian believes the worst culprits are oil-based foundations and primers, which are “less-breathable and more pore-clogging than other products.” And leftover makeup residue (especially of the oil-based variety) can also “inhibit the absorption of skin-care products by creating a barrier that prevents beneficial ingredients from penetrating the skin’s surface,” says Dr. Gross.

But, every now and then, we all slip up and fall face down on our pillow in eyeliner, mascara, and whatever else. When that happens, ‘Madamme Cleo’ suggests that you nip in the bud the effects of last night by effectively removing all traces of your makeup first thing in the morning — and doing a little damage control.

If you’re prone to forgetfulness and find that you regularly fall asleep in your makeup, ‘Madamme Cleo’ recommends opting for lightweight, non-comedogenic products that are less likely to trigger pimples (although an eye irritation or infection is still a risk).

So while that “I’m with the band” sultry-smoky look is certainly desirable, we’d rather achieve it with precise smudging – and without doing more laundry.