Makeup can help accentuate your most gorgeous features. In addition, it can also be tempting to wear your makeup for longer than intended. Most people don’t see the harm of falling asleep with a glamorous face, but it should be avoided at all costs.
Mascara is a commonly used cosmetic product to lengthen, volumize, and thicken your lashes. It can help create the illusion of longer and fuller lashes. In addition, mascara can be quite long-lasting, and it can be hard to remove, especially if it’s waterproof.
There are a few reasons why most people won’t bother with properly removing their mascara before bed. For one, it saves time and effort, so you don’t have to reapply mascara, and it can also keep your lashes looking voluminous. However, that’s not always the case.
Is it bad to sleep with mascara on? Most estheticians and professional makeup artists will advise never to sleep with your makeup on, including mascara. This is because the eyes can be sensitive, and bacteria can quickly form. It can also cause harm to the surrounding skin.
Overall, sleeping with mascara on will do more harm than good. Of course, if you accidentally fall asleep with mascara, it won’t be the end of the world. But, continuously falling asleep with mascara on your lashes will result in some uncomfortable side effects.
Why You Should Avoid Sleeping In Mascara?
Sleeping in mascara, or any makeup product for that matter, can cause harm to your skin and eyes. However, the proper skincare or makeup removing routine can prevent any form of irritation because your mascara will be properly removed.
Eyelashes have a purpose, and their main job is to ensure that no dust, debris, or lint is entering the eyes. So, it’s crucial to ensure your lashes are clean and don’t carry additional products like mascara. Mascara can quickly build up on the lashes.
It can be tempting to keep applying multiple layers of mascara, but that can lead to clumps forming on the lashes, which can dry out and crumble into your eyes. In addition, sleeping with mascara can irritate the eyes, tug the skin around the eye area, and the mascara can eventually flake off the lashes.
Have you ever woken up with raccoon eyes? This can be a result of not removing mascara properly before sleeping. While you toss and turn, mascara can transfer into the eyes, lash line, and surrounding eye area, leaving a weird residue.
Overall, continuously falling asleep with mascara on can impact your eyes’ health. What are some other adverse impacts?
Negative Side Effects Of Sleeping In Mascara
Putting your eye health at risk is one of the many side effects of long-term sleeping in mascara. However, falling asleep with mascara on every once in a while won’t cause any extreme harm. So if you fall asleep with it once, you don’t have to panic.
As soon as you realize that you’ve slept in mascara, it’s best to wash your face immediately. This will help remove any remaining mascara debris, and you can eliminate potential irritants. But, what can happen if you always sleep in mascara?
Bacteria can quickly form around and in the eyes if you sleep with mascara on. Mascara is a product that has a short shelf life, so it’s also crucial to replace your mascara every three months. This will help prevent bacteria from spreading.
The last thing you want to do is sleep in dry, old mascara or have an expired formula. Using an expired mascara can amplify any potential issues that can happen from sleeping in mascara. So, always replace your mascara every three months.
1. Eye Irritation
Unfortunately, there is a lot of eye irritation that can take place if you sleep for extended periods with mascara on. Eye irritation can lead to irritation of the eyeball itself, including irritation of the lash line or eyelids.
Mascara can leave your eyes feeling dry, especially during sleep. In addition, waterproof mascaras can also irritate them because they are much more difficult to remove.
In addition, flakes of mascara can fall off the lashes and into the eye, leading to irritation.
Mascara flakes can potentially scratch your cornea, leading to further eye issues down the road, like impacting your sight. These flakes can also irritate the lash line and result in side effects like itchiness and dryness.
If you find yourself in this situation, try to gently cleanse the area to remove the mascara and avoid rubbing your eyes at all costs. Also, added pressure can worsen your symptoms or spread the issue to other parts of your eyes.
2. Bacteria
Your eyelashes are meant to protect your eyes. So, it can be counterproductive to leave makeup on your lashes overnight. Instead of shielding your eyes from dust and debris, you can risk bacteria forming around the eyelashes and the eyes.
Uncomfortable dry clusters can form around the eyes or you may noticed increased redness. An ophthalmologist should look at these side effects to ensure there is no harm coming to your eyes. They will also be able to determine the correct treatment.
If you have any bacteria forming in or around the eyes, it’s crucial to seek a medical professional’s help. Ignoring these issues or continuing the unhygienic practice of sleeping with mascara on can even lead to blindness.
Mascara may be fun to apply, and yes, it’s not harmful to accidentally sleep in it once, but it’s not worth letting it transform into a severe issue that can lead to blindness.
3. Styes/Swelling
According to the Veterans Optometry Partners of America, “failing to remove mascara and eye makeup can lead to concretions, solid masses that form underneath the eyelids after material accumulation.”
In addition, sleeping in mascara can also lead to other kinds of swelling around the eye. This can be from not cleaning your makeup, having an adverse reaction to the ingredients in a mascara, using an expired mascara, or using a waterproof formula.
Styes can also occur if lash follicles or glands around the eyes become infected. Unfortunately, multiple issues like swelling or concretions can arise if mascara isn’t removed correctly from the lashes.
4. Dry/Brittle Lashes
Mascara can eventually dry out your lashes. Not all formulas will be nourishing, and those with a waterproof formula can be particularly harsh on your lashes. In addition, too many coats of mascara can cause some unnecessary consequences for the eyelashes.
Leftover mascara can leave your lashes feeling brittle in addition to feeling dry. Also, these side effects can hinder the softness and growth of your lashes. Brittle lashes can eventually lead to your eyelashes breaking off, which nobody wants!
Broken lashes can be challenging to heal from, so it’s best to remove all of your mascara nightly to keep them long and soft. Sleeping in mascara can cause product build-up and can hinder your lashes’ growth in this aspect.
Overall, leaving layers of mascara on the lashes overnight will increase the risk of dryness, and your lashes can potentially fall out. Added pressure or friction during sleeping can expedite this process if you aren’t too careful.
5. Other Skin Conditions
If you already have sensitive skin or are prone to specific skin issues, sleeping in mascara can worsen your problem. Falling asleep with mascara on isn’t helpful for anyone, especially those who have more sensitive skin types, so beware.
Dealing with psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions already comes with its challenges. So, whenever possible, avoid sleeping in mascara to ensure you don’t further irritate your different skin concerns. Your skin and eyes will thank you!
Mascara is sometimes formulated with questionable ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction. It can also result in skin conditions you may not even be aware of. Regardless, all skin types, even sensitive ones, should avoid sleeping in mascara.
How To Properly Remove Mascara
Now that we know all the hidden side effects that can result from sleeping in mascara, it’s crucial to learn how to take it off. Unfortunately, mascara can be tricky to remove. Unless you have blonde or fair lashes, it can be hard to see if the mascara is gone.
Have you ever removed mascara and still woke up with raccoon eyes? Sometimes mascara can be challenging to detect, and you can still have product lingering around your lashes. So, creating an in-depth cleansing and makeup removing routine can help.
Beware of waterproof mascara because this formulation of mascara can be a huge task to remove. Waterproof mascara was created never to budge or move from the lashes, and then the only thing that will help break it down is an oil-based product.
Thankfully, removing mascara isn’t as impossible as it may seem. With the right tools, you’ll be able to remove mascara without needing to rub or add additional pressure on your eyes. In addition, your natural lashes will still be kept in a healthy state.
1. Oil-Based Eye Makeup Remover
If there is one product you need to remove mascara, it’s an oil-based eye makeup remover. An oil-based eye makeup remover will gently apply to the eyes while still efficiently breaking down your mascara.
Whether you wear regular mascara or waterproof mascara, having an oil-based eye makeup remover on hand will ensure the removal process will be a breeze. Eye makeup remover will gently break down mascara so it can be cleansed away.
Waterproof mascara will need the extra help of an oil-based remover to ensure every little bit is eliminated. Regardless of your mascara formula, using an oil-based remover will ensure no traces of mascara are leftover while you sleep.
Overall, mascara can be challenging to remove, so investing in a high-quality makeup remover is crucial.
However, having an oil-based remover will ensure you eliminate all your mascara without causing unnecessary additional damage to the eyes.
2. Cotton Rounds
Cotton rounds are a classic beauty tool that everyone needs. They come in handy, especially when you need to remove mascara or eye makeup. Cotton rounds can soak up oil-based eye makeup remover and provide a simple removal process.
In addition, cotton rounds can easily wipe any excess product that is smudged around the eyes. Removing mascara can be messy, but it will be a breeze with tools like an oil-based eye makeup remover and cotton rounds.
However, cotton rounds can be wasteful if you use them nightly to remove mascara. Thankfully, reusable cotton rounds are an excellent purchase to invest in to ensure that every trace of mascara is properly removed.
You can wash them and use them whenever you need them without creating excess waste. And the best part is that you don’t have to sacrifice your eye health and you can still eliminate mascara correctly.
However, there are some other ways to remove mascara successfully.
3. Double Cleanse
Incorporating double cleansing into your nightly skincare can also efficiently remove your stubborn mascara. Double cleansing involves using two cleansers to break down makeup, sunscreen, dirt, pollutants, debris, and more.
For the first cleanser, you’ll want to use an oil-based cleanser. Like the oil-based eye makeup remover, oil-based cleansers will also break down the toughest layer of makeup.
It will make way for the second cleanser to get the job done and eliminate all traces of makeup. Next is to incorporate a water-based or regular cleanser to remove leftover residue that the oil-based cleanser didn’t pick up.
Cleansing twice is a surefire way to remove any particles leftover from your mascara. In addition, because you are incorporating both an oil-based and regular cleanser, you’ll be able to remove all mascara formulas with ease.
4. Cleansing Balm
An excellent option for an oil-based cleanser is a cleansing balm. Cleansing balms are creamy, thick, and almost solid like a bar of soap. They are usually oil-based and can help break down and eliminate traces of makeup, sunscreen, and more.
Cleansing balms are also a fantastic alternative to using cotton rounds. Instead, gently use your fingers to massage the product carefully over the eyes to eliminate the mascara. In addition, cleansing balms wash away with ease.
What makes cleansing balms so unique? Cleansing balms are usually in a solid form, but when you warm the product up in between your hands, it will immediately emulsify into an oil. The oil can then break down and remove makeup efficiently.
You can then follow up with your regular cleanser. Overall, cleansing balms provide a no-fuss way to remove mascara, so you don’t have to sleep with potential irritants. Your skin will also thank you in the long run for removing makeup properly.
The Takeaway
Sleeping with mascara on isn’t the best. While it’s harmless if you accidentally sleep in it once, you don’t want to be making a habit out of sleeping in makeup. Not only can it irritate your eyes, but it can also harm your vision and your skin.
Mascara can provide a breeding ground for bacteria and develop other eye/skin issues. No one wants to risk their sight or suffer from swelling and styes. So, removing your mascara nightly is the best practice to avoid any eye discomfort.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to remove mascara effectively and safely. Choosing an oil-based eye makeup remover or a cleansing balm/oil-based cleanser will offer the best results. Oil-based products will eliminate mascara traces with ease.
Mascara can make your lashes look long and luscious but skip sleeping in it so you can keep your eyelashes strong and healthy. Don’t stress if you sleep in mascara once or twice on accident; just avoid turning it into a habit.
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