What Happens to Your Skin When You Don't Take Your Make-Up Off

After a long day or night, it's all too easy to stick a toothbrush into your mouth, and then fall sideways onto the covers fully clothed with the lights on. You're a rare person if you haven'tdone this, but how bad is going to bed without taking your makeup off, really?

Tune out now if you want to continue living in ignorance (not us!)—straight ahead, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian at Schweiger Dermatology Group shatters our illusions about what failing to do even the bare minimum really does to your precious skin.

IT MESSES WITH CELL RENEWAL.

When the sun goes down, new skin cells come out to play. "One of the most basic problems that occurs when you don't clean your face before bedtime is that natural skin sloughing, where dead skin is replaced with new cells, is impeded," Dr. Nazarian says. "Dead skin cells accumulate, leading to dull, dry skin."

THE MICROPOLLUTANTS FROM OUTSIDE? THEY'RE STILL THERE!

And they're trapped beneath layers of foundation, sunscreen, and dirt. Like when the cut side of an apple browns, these free radicals cause oxidative stress, which in turn leads to early aging: wrinkles, sagging, cheeks that don't spring back when you poke them. Ready your Melisandre necklace, that's all we've got to say.

IT CAUSES INFLAMMATION NOT ALL THE TURMERIC IN THE WORLD COULD FIX.

Whether your blush is food-grade or drag-show-proof industrial-strength, overnight, grime will build up in your pores, agitating the skin. This means small blood vessels bursting, conditions like rosacea flaring up and zits.

THE BAD STUFF ON YOUR FACE ➡️ YOUR EYES

Which doesn't just leave gluey, inky residue in the inner corners when you wake up—the transfer of bacteria, dirt, and oil can lead to eye infections and eyelash breakage.

​Via