Sleeping in your makeup is a basic skin care no-no, but it can be seriously tempting. Here’s a simple routine that minimizes the damage once laziness hits.
If you want to avoid acne and maintain your skin’s natural glow, then consider sleeping in your makeup a skin care sin. But chances are, many of us have done it at least once or twice. The good news is that although it’s definitely not great for skin, sleeping in your makeup doesn’t mean you have to say good-bye to healthy skin forever.
The number one thing I like to focus on the morning after I’ve slept in my makeup is making sure that my skin can breathe. That’s why I start with a 3-step cleansing process centered around removing any residual makeup and opening up my skin.
Micellar Water: Juice to Cleanse Calming Clean Water
I usually don’t incorporate micellar water into my regular routine, but I always keep some around the house for times when I wear heavy makeup. Makeup is even more stubborn when you’ve had it on for a while, and micellar water does an excellent job removing that first layer.
Oil Cleanser: Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Purifying
This oil cleanser is great because it not only ensures that any makeup the micellar water didn’t pick up is now mostly gone, but it is also formulated for sensitive skin. Since sleeping with makeup on can be harsh on your skin, I find that it’s best to grab as gentle of a cleanser as possible.
Water-based Cleanser: Acwell pH Balancing Bubble Free Cleansing Gel
In the same vein, this Acwell cleanser is a fitting follow-up to the Banila Co Clean It Zero Purity because it is just as simple and effective. On top of making sure your skin is clean, you also want to avoid any irritation.
Steam Your Face
After all of my cleansing steps, I like to steam my face for a couple of minutes, which helps to open up your pores and let your face naturally purge some of the toxins. To steam my face, I boil some water, pour it into a wide bowl, and lean my face over it with a towel over my head, covering all sides so as not to let any steam escape. I like to put lemon slices in the water, too, for a touch of natural fragrance. After I steam, I then return to my standard routine.
Toner: Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner
I put some of this toner onto a cotton pad and swipe it across my face. After that, I apply a second layer by putting some into my hands and patting it into my skin. I like this toner a lot because it doesn’t dry my skin out, and despite having a thicker consistency, it absorbs really well.
Essence: Dewytree Ultra Vitalizing Snail Essence Water
I’m a big fan of this essence because it traps moisture into your skin, which I think helps save your skin from the dullness that might result from having slept in your makeup. I also love the unique, lightweight texture of snail mucin!
Facial Oil: Rosehip Oil
Because I find that my skin is usually a little more sensitive than usual, I tend to skip the serum step and just use pure rosehip oil. Rosehip oil is not only super moisturizing, but it also helps brighten your skin. When I apply rosehip oil, my favorite thing to do is a one-minute face massage. I will actually put a timer on my phone because it always surprises me how long a minute actually lasts! The combination of the rosehip oil and the face massage help reinvigorate my sleepy skin, in turn making me feel more awake.
Moisturizer: Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream
This moisturizer is perfect for when you’re craving pure hydration. It’s pretty much no-frills, which is exactly what I want after a night of sleeping in my makeup.
Sunscreen: Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen
Last but not least, I top off everything with sunscreen to make sure that I’m minimizing any further damage done to my face.
Bottom Line:
Makeup can be really drying, and dryness over time can lead to long-lasting skin problems. That’s why it’s important to try to reduce the negative impact sleeping in your makeup can have by making sure that your skin gets all the moisture it needs the day after. Supplementing your skin care routine with a fresh diet and lots of water is also equally important!