Is it true that leaving makeup on your face overnight is bad for your skin? (read details...)?

Question

So, you've had makeup (foundation, blush, powder,etc.) on for most of the day. What difference is another 6 hours (at least, in my case), as the residue will be washed off in the morning then and then maybe re-applied?

- What damage is actually done? This is where I'd like to read some concrete MEDICAL/SCIENTIFIC answers.
- Or is there no damage and it's a "makeup myth"?

In other words, how many times can I get away with being lazy before my face falls off? LOL! *just kidding* If you don't do that everyday, you should be fine, right?

Also, I understand that it's annoying to get makeup on your pillow and sheets. I'm talking about actual skin damage here. Just the facts please.

Thanks for all the answers so far. They make a lot of sense.

Also, I do wash off the makeup usually, but sometimes I'm just really tired and I fall asleep wherever I sit or lay. When I wake up, it's morning. :(

I use Neutrogena/Dove skin products and Maven cosmetics.

Recently, it is was confirmed my acne (a normal amount) was related to hormones. I took some powerful medicine for months (4 an unrelated medical issue) and my skin was completely clear during that time. It was great (despite other side affects)!

Anyway, I don't need an extra acne caused by not getting the makeup off fast enough, so I will be more mindful of that going forward. Thank you all for confirming that this is not a medical myth. Certainly, some people are lucky with their skin and can leave makeup on with no issues. I know that I may be fortunate in some areas, but that's likely not one of them. LOL!

Answer 1

Besides just keeping the skin and pores clean, as everyone has pointed out, we don't often think of our skin as a vital organ. As a matter of fact, it is the largest organ that protects everything inside our bodies (bone, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, etc.)

The skin is made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, dermis, and sub-cutaneous tissue. The dermis is where our sebaceous glands are located. These glands, which surround and empty into our hair follicles and pores, produce an oil called sebum (pronounced: see-bum) that lubricates the skin and hair. Sebaceous glands are found mostly in the skin on the face, upper back, shoulders, and chest.

Most of the time, the sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum. As a person's body begins to mature and develop during the teenage years, though, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum. This can lead to acne when pores become clogged by too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. As we get older, these glands produce less sebum, sometimes contributing to dry skin in older people. So maybe leaving makeup on at overnight is less of an issue as we get older.

Answer 2

Makeup clogs your pores. Leaving it on all day is bad enough; leaving it on all night as well gives the zits that much more time to form. Remember, too, that the clogging is with your own oils and sweat as much as with the makeup, and you may very well do more of secreting while you sleep than while you are awake. The side of your face you put on the pillow will be guaranteed to sweat more, and you will have an asymmetrical outbreak of zits to prove it. If you habitually sleep on your back and don't press one side to the pillow, there's still the back of your neck to sweat.

I have a better idea. Try the experiment of going out without makeup one day and see if you can't get used to the look of your face just being clean. Then when you fall asleep without washing, it will only be a normally thin coating of dirt, oil and sweat on your face, not the makeup. And you may find that when washing your face is that much easier (because there's no makeup to disturb), just a quick cool splash of water before bed will be enough to make you feel good and sleep well.

Answer 3

Leaving makeup on overnight isn't a good idea for your skin, as everyone else has stated, but not for real health reasons. Cosmetically, it can be terrible. From experience, I had acne terribly when I was in my tweens, but in my teens (when I started wearing makeup) I had none. I've always left all my makeup on... for no reason. I just don't care to take it off.

It all depends on your skin type.

A dermatologist could probably tell you how susceptable your skin is to having breakouts, especially when something is left on the face.

Answer 4

I sometimes fall asleep where I lay also. And I use Almay and Neutrogena makeup. nothing has fallen off thus far. I used to use cover girl or maybelene and those would make me break out if I slept in them one night. now, i can foorget about the bathroom and washing off and applying creams and lotions. Honestly, these makeups have made my skin better than it has been since I was like 11. I'm 27 now, and I always had a zit, but now that zit comes once a month, ya know what that is.

Answer 5

It may not seem like another 6 hours of sleep with makeup on will make a whole lot of difference. But add up those 6 hours per night is a full 42 hours per week....that your skin's optimal repair period isnt working. Your pores will clog, you increase your chances of breakouts, blackheads, and blemishes.... by leaving those impurities and dirts , free radicals on your skin all night long and your skins not rejuvenating. The best benefits from using a cleanser are at night , while you are sleeping and your skin cells are at rest and your pores are clean and free from clogs. All skincare lines have "proven results" & are "clinically tested" on partcipants and by dermatolgists, they have to have scientific data recorded...before they can actually sell their products to the public to support what they are claiming their products are safe and in compliance with the laws. So yes their is "evidence and proof" that taking care of your skin at night and washing away pore clogging daily makeup.Continually using a cleanser will not only wash away the free radicals, it also rejuveniates your skin and promotes healthier,clean, fresh younger looking skin ,and new skin cells.
Think of it this way......you shower before you go to work...because??? It not only washes away the sweat, the bodily dirts, oils, etc....and you feel more awake and clean and fresh. And if you didnt shower before you go to work how would your skin feel and you feel? And why do the extra laundry from your makeup getting on your pillow cases or sheets or both? Why not get some benefits to the way your skin feels and looks....out of cleansing at night? As far as breaking out.......try a lighter, oil free moisture at night ? Most cleansers do not cause breakouts...its mostly because the skin isnt cleansed regularly and exfoliated regularly... to keep those pores from clogging . If you exfoliate, the scrub will pentrate the pores for a deeper cleansing and it will scrub the surface of your skin's oil excess, for a deep down clean.
Benefits : Less frequent breakouts, less blemishes, less blackheads...and hopefully to NO Breakouts! And healthier younger looking, cleaner skin !

Answer 6

Your skin needs to breathe. Day makeup (plus the layer of dust) clogs your pores, despite of all the claims of the opposite on the bottle. Your skin needs to be re-hydrated, especially if you have dry or combination skin, (no re-hydtartion = early wrinkles). Night is the time when your skin has a chance to repair itself from wind/sun damage. To help the process, it needs to be clean.

Yeah, you shouldn't make it a habit, but if you happen to fall asleep like this once in a while it's not a huge problem. At least, my face didn't fall off so far. The first sign that I see is I start breaking out.

I think it's similar to sleeping with your day clothes on. You don't do any terrible damage, but you don't feel well-rested in the morning.

Answer 7

This is a very true fact:
MAKE-UP CLOGS PORES!
A lot of teenage girls don't know what could happen to their skin if they leave their make up for too long. Especially with foundation and various types of powders. Here's what happens to your face while you sleep with foundation.
The foundation on your face starts to get sticky because everytime you go to sleep, you sweat-it's a fact. And when your sweat blends with the powder from the foundation, it gets sticky and thick. It then sticks to your skin(you can wash it off though) and clogs your pores. Now that your pores are clogged, it prevents your skin from breathing, which you need to keep your skin looking its best. Your face starts to get greasy which causes every teenager's worst enemy- acne.
So wash your face and re-apply your make up so your face will stay fresh and you will be clog-free!
My recommendation would be not to use too much foundation/powder. It's not healthy for your skin. And NEVER leave your make up on over night. That just causes more trouble for your skin.

Answer 8

There is skin damage. Ur skin has little pores from which air pass thru. U c, ur skin can acutally BREATH (this is the word our teacher used while tellling us and I still use it lol) . Also, a lot of dust particles which stick to our skin are usually rubbed off automatically. When u wear make-up, these pores are blocked. A lot of dust and other harmful stuff gathers up under ur skin. Ur skin cannot breath. It leads to a lot of complications. New skin may not develop resulting in cancer. Even if skin cancer does not develop, ur skin gets "old" more quickly than normol. It gets all dried up and ....... weirde. (I have seen someone's like tis, believe me its horrible. She used to be an actress and didnt care when she left make-up on. Now she regrets it)

My advice is, wash ur face everyday. It's for ur own good. Atleast, ur skin gets to breath and saves u from a whole lot of trouble in the future.

Answer 9

I believe that it can damage your skin if you dont wash it off daily. A few times here or there wont kill you howevevr. Leaving it on all night keeps your pores clogged and does not allow them to breath. By denying your skin of oxygen it is bascially suffercating and will become pale and unhealthy looking because it is unhealthy. Your skin NEEDS oxygen. Oxygen can also help balance the oil levels in your skin which may help prevent breakouts. Ive also heard it prevents premature aging altough im not positive on that one. So bascially wash your face before bed if you can. It only takes a minute or 2.

Answer 10

yes, it is bad for your skin. first of all, the makeup and oils get on your pillowcase while you sleep, making you even more blemish prone. also, your skin really needs a break at some point during the day, and at night, who needs to be all made up anyway? leaving makeup on overnight WILL clog your pores, trust me. i used to do that all the time, till i started washing my face every night. my skin is waaay clearer now. try it for awhile. if you decide im full of it, then go back to leaving your makeup on all night. hope my advice helps u!!