What Happens if You Sleep With Mascara On?

You’ve probably heard about the dangers of leaving your makeup on overnight. But after a grueling day, getting rid of the gunk on your face is probably the last thing on your mind. And sure, a full face of makeup might be worth a trip to the bathroom — or at the very least, a haphazard attempt with makeup remover wipes — but that may not always be the case. Sometimes, all you’ve got on is a few coats of mascara, and you might not even remember you’ve got any makeup on.

Regardless of whether you’re fully or minimally made up, you might be wondering what the repercussions of going to bed with mascara are. Spoilers: Forgetting to remove your makeup once won’t harm you significantly, but don’t make it a regular habit because its effects will accumulate and worsen over time.

The eyes are a particularly vulnerable part of the body. Even if your skin can handle a beating (not to say that you should let that happen either), your eyes are more prone to health risks. Though mascara and other types of eye makeup aren’t applied directly to the eye, they’re in close enough proximity to potentially affect your eye health. So what happens when you sleep with mascara on?

What Happens if You Wear Mascara to Bed?

Your Eyelashes will Dry Out

Mascara consists of pigments, polymers, and thickening agents that can absorb the moisture from your lashes. However, waterproof mascara contains additional water-resistant ingredients such as waxes and silicones that are particularly drying on your eyelashes. Leaving mascara on overnight can dry out the hair and make them brittle over time. Dry eyelashes are more prone to damage and lash breakage.

You May Experience Lash Loss

Wearing mascara can dry and thin out your natural lashes. Over time, this can weaken the hair and cause your lashes to fall out. This can be exacerbated by rubbing and pulling on your lashes during makeup removal. A case study conducted in 2013 observed a positive correlation between mascara use and lash loss. It also noted a higher percentage of lash fallout among those who used water to remove waterproof mascara.

Your Eyes May Get Dry and Irritated

After applying mascara, you may notice that it hardens throughout the day. That’s because the formula dries the longer it’s exposed to the air. That said, it will continue to dry and clump if left on your lashes overnight. The more brittle the mascara is, the more likely it is to flake off. The eyelash or dirt particles can then get into your eyes as you sleep or when you rub your eyes, causing irritation, inflammation, and injury to the eye and the surrounding skin. In the worst-case scenario, these particles can cause permanent damage to your cornea.

It Can Contribute to Premature Skin Aging

Mascara alone doesn’t cause skin aging, but the bad habits associated with mascara (and general makeup use) can. Any kind of makeup can trap dirt and pollutants inside the skin. Sleeping with mascara can increase the free radicals that degrade the skin’s collagen and lead to premature skin aging. Moreover, mascara continues to dry overnight, making it harder to remove in the morning. The skin around your eyes is particularly delicate; aggressively rubbing and pulling the skin during makeup removal can make your skin lax, which can contribute to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. The mascara particles can also settle into the fine lines around the eyes and emphasize the appearance of dark circles.

You Increase the Risk of Bacterial Infection

Your skin and eyelashes naturally harbor bacteria that can transfer to your makeup products and tools during application. Over time, this can cause bacterial growth and contamination, which is why it’s often recommended to throw out your makeup and clean your brushes regularly. If you’ve ever wondered why mascara and eyeliner have a shorter shelf life compared to other types of makeup, that’s because the eyes are especially vulnerable to bacteria.

Unfortunately, mascara tubes (which are dark and moist) provide the perfect breeding ground for harmful microorganisms to grow, making them more prone to contamination than other types of makeup. Keeping mascara on for prolonged periods of time increases your exposure to the bacteria and puts your at greater risk of developing an eye infection, the most common ones being a stye, pink eye, or blepharitis.

Can You Sleep With Mascara On?

Avoid sleeping with mascara on as much as possible. Though it won’t damage your lash and eye health overnight, its harmful effects can accumulate and worsen over time. And just because you can get away with it once or twice, doesn’t mean you should allow it to happen often. If you occasionally fall asleep with makeup on, don’t let it become a regular habit. Always remove mascara before going to sleep.

What to Do if You Slept With Mascara On?

If you wake up and realized that you accidentally slept with mascara on, there’s no need to worry. Double cleansing will help remove the makeup residue, dirt, excess oils, and dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of your skin overnight. Soak a cotton ball with micellar water and gently press it over your eyelashes. Leave it on for a few seconds to allow the solution to break down the dried mascara so that it’s easier to wipe off. For waterproof mascara, opt for an oil-based makeup remover. Then, follow up with a gentle cleanser to wash your face and eyelids. If you slept with a full face of makeup, applying a hydrating face mask will help bring back moisture to your skin. And if you can, give your lashes a break from mascara so that they have time to recuperate.

source https://degreesofvanity.com/what-happens-if-you-sleep-with-mascara-on/